“I don’t need you to take care of me, Tanner!” She didn’t want to be an obligation or a burden. She wanted to be his partner. She wanted Tanner in her life. But not if he saw her wanted Tanner in her life. But not if he saw her as someone he had to look after, boss around.
“Well, obviously you do, since you cannot even follow some simple instructions.” His voice didn’t rise, but she felt him tense beneath her. However, Callie had had a whole afternoon to stew and her temper was reignited.
“I have a business to run, Tanner. I can’t just drop everything and take to my bed. This is my life; it’s my business that is going down the drain!”
She went to jump off his lap, but as always he was one step ahead of her. As she rose he grabbed her arm, and turning her, spanked her three times.
“Don’t!”
“Listen to me. I’m not going to spank you tonight, Callie—”
“Then what was that?” she cried.
“That was to get your attention. You’re injured, your cheek has to be hurting, no matter what you say. And I am not about to spank you when you’re hurt.” His look of concern threw buckets of water on her temper and she relaxed slightly.
“I want you to sleep, Callie. Really sleep.
I’m going to get you some of your sleeping pills while you get ready for bed.” She slowly got ready for bed, feeling a bit lost. When Tanner returned, she was lying on her side, staring into space. Tanner sat beside her, helping her sit so she could swallow the tablets. Then he helped her back down, tucking her in.
“I’m going to spend the night on your couch, all right? Just to make sure you sleep okay.” He ran his hand over her hair, massaging her head lightly.
massaging her head lightly.
“But the couch is so short and lumpy.
Why don’t you sleep here and I will-” She made to get up but he pushed her back down gently. “No you won’t. You’ll stay in this bed and get a proper sleep. I’m worried about you, Callie. I don’t like how tired and worn out you look.”
“I feel all wound up, I don’t know if I can sleep, even with the pills,” she admitted.
“I have an idea,” he said. “Take your pyjama top off and lie on your belly.” He disappeared into her bathroom. When he returned, she was lying on her front, her head turned to the side to watch him approach, a bottle of scented oil in his hands.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to give you a massage, now close your eyes and relax.”
close your eyes and relax.”
She did as he said, listening to him squirt the liquid onto his hands. Then he was rubbing the muscles on her back. It was heaven on earth.
He kneaded, smoothed and massaged until she was groaning. But even she lost the tension in her muscles, another tension grew.
Low in her belly, it spread throughout her body, leaving licks of heat in its wake. His hands, slightly calloused, warm and so sure, aroused her. She wanted more.
Shifting restlessly, she rolled and held her breath. Tanner held his hands up, staring down at her in surprise. She grabbed his hands before she could second guess herself and drew them towards her breasts.
“Keep going,” she said breathlessly.
“You sure?” he drawled.
“Oh yeah.” She stared up at him; his blond hair was longer than usual, falling around his ears. Normally he kept it quite short, but she liked it this way. It gave him a more playful air, made him look less intimidating.
Leaning down, he took her mouth with his, playing his tongue against her lips until they parted, allowing him entrance. Pleasure swamped her, drowning her. She writhed wanting more. His hands took up her silent plea, tweaking her nipples, pinching lightly.
“Please, Tanner, I need you,” she begged as his mouth left hers.
He stared into her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“God yes.”
“We do this, Callie and you are mine. For good. No turning back.”
She swallowed heavily. “What do you mean?”
He ran his hand down her face. “You’re mine, Callie, all mine. If I make love to you now, that will seal it. I love you, Cal. I always have. Even when you were too young for me, even when you went away to College, even when I was with other women, it was you that I loved, you that I needed, that I wanted. And the thing is, squirt; I know that deep down you feel that way about me.”
Callie let out a deep sigh and clasped him close.
“I love you, too. I didn’t know how you felt about me. I knew you wanted me, but I thought maybe you just thought of me as an-an obligation. Someone you had to take care of.” He clasped her cheeks with his hands, his gaze intent as he stared down at her. “You could never be an obligation. I want to take could never be an obligation. I want to take care of you, to look after you, protect you, love you.”
“Oh, Tanner,” she sighed before his mouth descended once more, taking hers.
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“I’m sure.”
With a wicked grin he stood and stripped.
Callie lay there, gaping at him in admiration.
He was beautiful. His skin was smooth, tanned all over except for the patch around his hips.
She flicked her gaze down over his muscular chest, to the cock standing firm and upright.
She swallowed heavily, wanting to touch him, needing too.
“That’s umm, rather large.” She couldn’t take her eyes from his shaft, wondering how the hell he was going to fit inside her.
He placed his hand beneath her chin, raising her face up so her gaze left his cock and met his eyes.
“It’s going to be all right. Trust me?” She nodded.
“Lay back then, baby. Let me love you.” Callie rested back, watching as he sat beside her, his thighs brushing against her skin.
He dropped his mouth to her nipples, sucking sharply. Callie grabbed his head, holding him close, whimpering at the sensations that raced through her. Her clit had developed a pulse of its own and she moved her legs restlessly, trying to ease the ache.
Tanner pulled up. He grinned. “Hmm, a wriggler. I can see I’m going to have to tie you down often. Too bad it’s my day off. Hand cuffs would come in handy right now. For now, put your hands behind your head. Now, now, put your hands behind your head. Now, baby.” She reacted to the velvety steel in his voice, moving her hands back.
“Good girl, keep them there.”
He kissed his way down her body, taking his time over her breasts, down her trembling stomach until he reached the top of her pyjama pants.
“Raise your hips, baby.”
She did as he asked, holding her breath as he stripped her naked. She trembled a little as he moved to the bottom of the bed.
“Spread your legs,” he ordered.
She blushed. “Tanner,” she moaned.
“Spread your legs, I want to look at you. I won’t tell you again.”
He was a force of nature and she couldn’t deny him. So she spread her legs and he sat back, staring down at her pussy. Her breathing quickened.
“Beautiful,” he breathed as he leaned forward and pulled the lips of her pussy apart.
“You’re so pink, juicy, look at how moist you are for me.”
He dropped his mouth to her pussy and licked her.
“Ohh,” she groaned. “More.”
He tapped her clit with the tip of his tongue, two fingers thrusting inside her.
“More, more, more,” she yelled. She screamed as she soared, her orgasm saturating her with pleasure.
As her pussy clenched, he started to push his cock inside her.
“Callie, that feels amazing. You are amazing. You’re beautiful, sweetheart. I can’t amazing. You’re beautiful, sweetheart. I can’t hold back.”
He pushed fully inside her, filling her.
Pulling back, he thrust deep. In and out. Over and over until she felt herself coming again.
He joined her, throwing his head back as hi
s yell of pleasure filled the room. Callie’s eyes were already drifting closed as he rolled off her. She moved to her side and he tugged her close, spooning her from behind.
Exhausted, sated, she fell asleep with him behind her, protecting her, loving her.
CHAPTER FIVE
When Callie walked out of the bedroom the next morning she felt flustered, embarrassed, and a little unsure of herself.
Callie walked into her small kitchen, surprised Callie walked into her small kitchen, surprised to see Tanner standing at the stove cooking.
“Ahh, there you are. I was going to bring this into bed for you; sure you don’t want to go hop back in?” He smiled at her over his shoulder and Callie caught her breath at how handsome he was.
“What are you doing, Tanner?” she asked as he turned and poured some disgusting looking gloop into two bowls.
“What does it look like I’m doing, squirt? I’m making porridge.”
“I’m not eating that.” She stared down in horror at the grey, gluey looking substance.
“Don’t you have to work today?”
“Nope. And you will eat this stuff. It’s really good for you.”
He placed the two bowls on the breakfast bar, before sitting on one of the stools and staring at her.
“You couldn’t pay me to eat that crap.
Besides, I don’t eat breakfast.”
“Callie, eating regularly is important, you cannot skip breakfast. You also cannot lift heavy objects like oversized dogs, nor can you continue to work the hours you do, which is why you’ll be cutting your hours down. Now sit down and eat your oatmeal. You won’t like it if I have to get up and force you.” Callie opened her mouth to protest before shutting it abruptly as he glared up at her. This, she would give in on, besides she was a little hungry. She sat.
“I’ll eat breakfast, but I won’t eat this.” She pushed the bowl away from her. He pushed it back.
“You will eat this unless you’re looking for a spanking?” His voice was mild enough for a spanking?” His voice was mild enough but the threat was unmistakable.
“You can’t spank me!”
He frowned in confusion. “Ahh, yes, I can.”
“No, you can’t. You love me.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve loved you a long time.
Loving you doesn’t mean I stop spanking you.
I spank you because I love you. Each day I spend with you I love you more.”
“Oh.”
“You know, if you want to avoid my hand on your butt then you just need to do everything I say.”
She snorted. “Yeah, buddy. Not gonna happen.”
“Didn’t think so. Open up.” He held up a spoon of gray goo and she took it, grimacing as she swallowed.
Standing, she walked over to the coffee pot to get something to wash it down with; frowning when she saw it was empty.
“Where’s the coffee?”
“I threw it all out; we’ll get you some decaf today.”
“Ah-ah,” Callie shook her head. “Now you’re going too far, no one messes with my caffeine mister, how am I supposed to get through the day?”
“Hopefully you’ll get through it without being in constant pain.”
“What are you reading?” Callie snatched the magazine he was reading from off the counter and looked at the front cover, moaning in annoyance. It was one of the doctor’s pamphlets on ulcers; one of those things she was meant to read but never had time for.
was meant to read but never had time for.
“This is my life, Tanner.”
“I believe we had this conversation last night,” he spoke quietly. “I love you, Cal. I always have. This is why I’m going to make sure you take care of your health. I want you healthy, squirt, because I intend on spending the rest of my life with you.”
She felt a surge of pleasure.
“Do you know I’ve never even been to your house?”
“Well then, let’s remedy that today, shall we? I thought we’d go stay the night at my place.”
“Ahh, I can’t,” she said slowly. “I have to work.”
“It’s Saturday, remember? You have the day off. Now eat your porridge. We need to day off. Now eat your porridge. We need to talk.”
Callie sat back down with a sigh, moving her spoon through the porridge that had, if possible, gotten even more disgusting.
“You know, I think the cure is worse than the disease.” She grimaced as she took another small spoonful.
“Yeah, it is pretty awful, isn’t it?” Tanner let out a small grin and Callie giggled.
“It looks like what came out of Mrs.
Jones’s hamster, and not from the front end.”
“Uhhh,” Tanner pushed away his bowl with a grimace. “Breakfast at the diner?” Callie nodded, smiling. “It’s a date.”
***
Callie sighed, crossing her arms as she stared out the window at the passing scenery.
“You gonna pout all day, squirt?” Tanner asked as they pulled into the long driveway that led to his cabin. Callie hadn’t been out to his place before. It was a few miles out of town, set on a bit of land.
“Will if I want,” she replied childishly.
“Callie,” his voice was a low warning.
“You can’t threaten to spank me every time I do something you don’t agree with, Tanner,” she protested. “Besides, I think I’m entitled to my bad mood, don’t you?”
“Sweetheart, I am not keeping you from drinking caffeine to punish you, you heard the doctor, you need to avoid it for your health.”
“It's my body; I can do what I like to it.” And right now, she wanted coffee. Her head was pounding with a headache and she felt tired and listless. Caffeine would cure all her ills. If he would just let her have some.
ills. If he would just let her have some.
Tanner pulled off the side of the road just as he reached his driveway. He turned off the car and turned in his seat, looking over at her seriously.
“Callie, I don’t want to fight with you about everything to do with your health and safety. I only want you well. Haven’t you had enough of being tired and sick?” She sighed and nodded. “Yeah. But I like to make my own decisions. I am an adult.”
“Even adults make wrong decisions. Me as well.”
“Yeah, so do I get to spank you when you do something wrong?” she asked cheekily.
His lips twitched. “That’s not the way this relationship will work and you know it.
But don’t worry; I’ll give myself a strong talking too.”
talking too.”
She snorted.
He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re so precious to me, baby. I don’t want anything happening to you.
You’re my world. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He pulled her over, hugging her tight.
“I don’t like to see you sick or hurting. It worries me.”
Callie immediately felt horrible, she was being selfish, making him worry.
She leaned back to look into his handsome face. “I don’t understand,” she whispered softly.
“Understand what, sweetie?” he asked, pushing the hair from her face.
“I don’t understand why you love me. I’m
“I don’t understand why you love me. I’m a mess, I’m sick; I’m hard work, why do you even want to be with me?”
“Well, sure, you’re sick, but that doesn’t make me love you less. No matter how sick you ever get or how much attention you need, I will always love you. Now, can we continue on without the pouting?”
Callie nodded. “Although, just for the record, I really, really miss my coffee and I can’t be held responsible for my attitude while I’m going through withdrawals. It really sucks.”
“Luckily, I think I have something to take your mind off that.” Leaning down he kissed her softly, gently, teasingly, a long, drawn out kiss.
“Anytime you find y
ourself needing a distraction, babe, just let me know.” Winking, he started the car and turned up the long he started the car and turned up the long driveway.
***
Callie was still feeling sluggish as she sat eating the fish Tanner had cooked for dinner later that night. She yawned, trying to hide it by standing and carrying the empty pates to the sink. But his eagle eyes narrowed in on her face.
“I’ll do the dishes, you need to get into bed,” he ordered as he rose and joined her at the sink.
“I’m fine.” She should have known it was impossible to keep anything from him.
“Callie, you can barely keep your eyes open. Get yourself into bed now.” His voice was pure steel encased in smooth silk as he ordered her quietly. Damn bossy, arrogant man.
“You cooked, I’ll clean. Them’s the rules,” she said cheerily as she cursed her shaking hands. Still, she continued to fill the sink with water even as she could sense him frowning down at her fiercely. “Besides its way too early for bed, I’d never sleep.” Suddenly he clasped her shoulders with hands, turning her to face him as he quickly turned off the running tap.
“You’re shaking,” he accused her, looking down at her piercingly, those sharp gray eyes seeing far too much. “You’re far too pale, Callie, and I’m not going to tell you again. Get into bed.”
Callie shrugged his hands from her shoulders. She tip-toed her fingers up his chest.
“Okay, if you join me.”
He smiled and kissed her. “All right. I’ll be there in a minute.” He turned her and with a smack to her butt sent her on her way.
smack to her butt sent her on her way.
She looked around his bedroom in interest as she got ready. She liked his place, it wasn’t too large, but it was open plan which made it seem roomier. It was simply furnished, no pictures on the walls and it could use a rug and some splash of color, still she could really brighten the place up.
Callie blushed a little at the thought.
They’d only just entered a relationship and already she was decorating his house.
“What are you smiling at?” He came up behind her, clasping his arms around her waist as he stared at her in the bathroom mirror.
Laying Down the Law Page 6
