She’d grown still now that he’d stopped spanking and her body tensed at the mention of additional punishment. Sebastian worried that she might fight him, but then she relaxed and replied, “Yes, Sebastian, I understand.”
He pulled her up to sitting then reclined back on the bed, pulling her with him so she was cradled against his chest. Her face was red and tear stained, and she seemed very sorry and contrite.
“How do you feel?” he asked, rubbing a hand over her hot bottom.
“My butt’s on fire,” she admitted. “But I deserved it. I truly am sorry, Sebastian. I realize that I need to slow down and not rush around to get out the door. It only takes a few minutes to check and make sure I have my phone. I really won’t let it happen again.”
She looked so earnest that Sebastian believed she’d try very hard not to forget again. “If you do, you know what will happen, so I hope that you make the effort to obey.”
She nodded like an eager puppy. “I will. I promise.”
He chuckled at her cuteness, then sobered and brushed a lingering tear off her cheek. “I hope that you don’t forget, but if you do, I’ll be here to remind you of the rules.”
“I know,” she replied softly, leaning in for a kiss. “And I love you for it.”
Chapter 10
Nancy, I love this shrimp macaroni salad. There’s something in there that gives it a little extra tang,” Brent’s wife, Char, said. “What’s the secret?”
Nancy smiled, enjoying herself despite the fact that she couldn’t sit down comfortably. Last night’s punishment had definitely left a lasting impression on her behind. “I replace about half the mayonnaise I’d normally use with sour cream. And there’s fresh dill in there as well. It’s a recipe I picked up from an old family friend.”
“It’s delicious and I want a copy,” Char said, then returned to her food.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, unaware of the fact that Nancy had been up since the crack of dawn and spent the morning and early afternoon running around like a madwoman trying to get everything set up. Sebastian helped with the tables and chairs outside, but then he left to pick Regan up at the airport. Her flight had been delayed to almost two o’clock and Nancy still had more work to do, and a stove full of food that had to finish cooking.
To her surprise, Sebastian actually made her go to bed right after they tucked Chloe in at nine o’clock. She almost tried to sweet talk her way out of it, but one look at his face had her changing her mind. There was no way her butt could handle another spanking, so she sucked it up and went to bed like a good girl. Or, more like a naughty girl being sent to bed early.
She’d fallen asleep quickly and woke at six, refreshed and ready to tackle everything that needed to be done, until she started on her list of tasks and realized just how much there was to do. But they’d worked together as a family, with Sebastian helping until it was time for him to go to the airport, and everything was ready by the time people started arriving at four. Even Chloe helped by carrying the plates and utensils outside.
Unfortunately Sebastian and Regan hadn’t returned until minutes before everyone else showed up so Nancy hadn’t had a chance to say more than a quick hello before they started greeting people and getting drinks.
“She’s known for it back at the hospital in Rochester,” Regan said. “People requested she bring it to every pot luck we had at work.”
The women were all sitting together at one table, the kids at another and the men at a third. Nancy hadn’t planned it like that but appreciated the privacy when Traci asked quietly from her left, “How did last night go?”
Nancy grimaced and looked around to see if anyone else heard, which of course they did because no one else was talking. All eyes were on her, waiting for an answer, so she decided to be vague. “About how you would expect, I imagine.”
“That’s not really an answer, Nancy,” Char said, not letting the subject drop. Nancy looked at Regan but she didn’t appear to be disgusted. She looked worried about Nancy’s response, and slightly curious.
“I’m not too comfortable today, that’s for sure.” There, that should be enough to stop the questions, Nancy thought, until Regan decided to pipe up.
“What happened last night?” Nancy wasn’t sure, but she suspected Regan had a very good idea of what happened and was torturing Nancy for not telling her about her interest in spanking sooner.
Before she could answer, Char did it for her. “Nancy broke a big rule and had her first punishment from Sebastian.”
“Oh,” Regan said, turning from Char to Nancy and pinning her with a stare. “What rule did you break, Nancy?”
“I left my cell phone at home and Sebastian had made a rule that I always have to have it with me. He says it’s because he’s worried about me driving on the mountain roads in the winter.” She watched closely for Regan’s reaction and was surprised when Regan appeared confused, like she hadn’t expected a reasonable answer.
“That makes sense.”
“Yeah,” Traci shook her head in feigned annoyance, “it makes so much sense that Sean jumped on the bandwagon and added it as one of my rules.”
“I’m sorry,” Nancy apologized, feeling bad for causing trouble for her friend.
“Don’t be sorry, it happens all the time. When the men get together and start talking and sharing their rules and opinions, you never know what’s going to happen.”
Regan looked like she was about to ask more questions that Nancy didn’t want to answer right now, so she jumped up and started gathering up the empty plates. “Who’s ready for dessert? I’m going to go in the house and bring out dessert.”
She moved away from the table with an arm full of garbage and headed towards the house, walking faster when she heard Regan say, “I’ll go in and help her.”
Nancy thought she might be able to get into the house, grab the tray of cupcakes and pie, and be back out the door before Regan even made it inside, but she wasn’t that lucky. The door opened and closed while she was still trying to cram all the plates into the garbage can.
“I have to get Sebastian to come in and empty this,” she said, trying to brush past Regan.
“Hold on there, lady. We haven’t had any time to talk, and I think you’ve got some explaining to do.” Regan blocked the way to the door with her arms folded across her chest.
Nancy sighed, and decided that being direct was the best approach after avoiding Regan’s questions for so long. “Well, I guess you’re already aware that Corbin’s Bend is a community that openly practices domestic discipline.”
“Yes, I got that from looking it up online. What I want to know is when you and Sebastian got into this, and why you never told me?”
Regan sounded so hurt at Nancy’s deception that it made Nancy feel terrible. “I didn’t know how you’d react if I blurted out that I liked to be spanked. It’s such a taboo topic, and I couldn’t risk losing you as a friend.”
“Nancy, it’s not that taboo, and I happen to enjoy it occasionally myself,” Regan said, then narrowed her eyes. “Though only in the bedroom.”
For some reason Nancy wasn’t surprised by Regan’s admission. “I could see that about you now that you say it.”
Regan completely ignored Nancy’s comment and kept pressing. “So when did you get into domestic discipline?”
“It’s a long story that I promise to tell you this week, just not right now.” Regan started to protest but Nancy added, “Please. I just don’t want to get into it with everyone here. But, the short version is that I tricked Sebastian into coming here, but now that we’re getting comfortable with our new way of life, we both love it.”
“So you weren’t into this back in Rochester, before you came here?” Regan asked, clearly confused. “It wasn’t Sebastian’s idea?”
“No, I was into spanking and tried to get Sebastian into it, but I really wanted more of power exchange and that wasn’t something he would agree to. Until we got here and he saw how
it works.”
Regan studied Nancy for a few minutes before walking out of the kitchen and into the living room where she’d left her purse. She rummaged around in her bag for a few minutes, then came back into the room with an envelope in her hand. “I wish you would have told me all of this on the phone when I asked. From the way you dodged my calls and avoided my questions, I arrived at a completely different conclusion.” Regan paused, looking almost embarrassed for some reason. “Once I discovered what Corbin’s Bend was, combined with your behavior right before you left and when I tried to contact you, I became convinced that Sebastian had forced you into domestic discipline and made you move out here so he could take control of your lives.”
That didn’t even make sense to Nancy. “But I told you it was my idea to apply for a job out of state. Why would you think that?”
“I know, but I kind of let that fact slip my mind. Every time you didn’t pick up the phone, or refused to call me back, my imagination ran even wilder. I kept picturing you chained to your bed, not allowed to do anything or speak to anyone.” Nancy gaped at her and Regan, at least, looked sheepish. “That’s obviously not true.”
Nancy knew Regan was leaving something important out, something that had to do with that envelope in her hand. “What did you do?”
Regan hesitated for so long that Nancy thought she might refuse to answer.
“I may have pressured the hospital administration into making you an offer to come back to Rochester.” At Nancy’s outraged gasp, Regan rushed on. “Not that they didn’t want you back anyway. We’re dying without you there. I just put a bug in their ear that you might be interested in coming back if the price was right.”
“You told them I wanted to come back?” Nancy yelled, attracting attention from outside through the open window. “Why would you do that?”
“I thought you were being abused. I came out here to rescue you,” Regan shouted back. Nancy heard her, and knew she meant well, but her temper was winning the battle for self-control. She took a few deep breaths, exhaling for the last time when Sebastian walked through the door.
“What’s going on?” His worry and concern for her came off him in powerful waves, making Regan take a step back when he came into the room. He was at Nancy’s side in a second, an arm around her shoulders, protecting her and offering support.
Nancy sank into his side but didn’t answer him, instead addressing Regan. “I’m fine. I’m better than fine.”
“I can see that,” Regan whispered, still clutching the envelope. She held it out to Nancy, her hand shaking slightly. “Do you want to see what they offered you anyway?”
“Nancy, what is she talking about?” Sebastian growled and snatched it away from Regan, ripping it open and pulling out the piece of paper it contained. He read it over quickly, his eyes growing round with shock. “They want you to come back to Rochester?”
Nancy kept her eyes on her friend, afraid to see the words that might offer a temptation she wouldn’t be able to resist. “Regan got the idea in her head that I was here against my will, so she came out to Colorado to deliver that offer to me personally and try to convince me to come back with her.”
Sebastian’s gaze swept from Regan to Nancy and down to the paper. “Wow.” Whatever it said must really be shocking since he didn’t even acknowledge the fact that one of Nancy’s oldest friends thought he was being abusive.
Even though she didn’t want to look, didn’t want anything to interfere with her new found happiness, Nancy couldn’t not know either. “What’s it say?” she asked, even as she turned so she could read it herself.
She had to re-read it three times before the words made sense. “I can’t believe they’re offering to double my salary and make me the daytime attending radiologist. I don’t have enough seniority for an offer like that.”
“Everyone loves you there, Nancy. You’re worth it,” Regan said softly.
Hearing her friend say that, and seeing the evidence on the offer letter, brought Nancy equal measures of joy and sadness. Sure it was nice to be appreciated, but she was happy here in Corbin’s Bend. Even though the job she used to love was giving her everything she ever thought she wanted, it wasn’t more than what she and Sebastian were building here… right?
Doubts swept through her almost bringing tears to her eyes before Sebastian noticed and took action. He folded up the letter and pulled her even closer, so all she could see were his loving eyes. “Let’s talk about this later, okay? We still have company here that we need to entertain for a little while longer.”
Nancy took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get outside and have dessert.” She glanced at Regan, standing across the room looking hesitant and ashamed. “I’m not mad, Regan, I know it’s partly my fault that you jumped to conclusions, and I’m still glad you’re here.”
“I’m sorry, Nancy. I didn’t mean to stir up trouble.”
“I know you didn’t.” She took another breath and let it out before picking up the tray of cupcakes and turning to the door. “Let’s go have dessert to make us feel better.”
Sebastian watched Nancy pull it together enough to give her old friend a hug and gather up the dessert to serve to their new friends, knowing that receiving this job offer had the potential to change everything. Nancy’s career had always come first in their lives, and having the hospital offer her a set schedule and huge raise was essentially a giant promotion from where she’d been before they left. It would be the best of both worlds for her. She could have a stable home life and all the action and excitement that went along with working at the hospital.
His thoughts spun while his stomach churned at the thought of leaving Corbin’s Bend.
He liked it here, Chloe liked it here, and he thought Nancy did too. The idea of working at the elementary school had floated around in his head all last night and all day today, and the more he considered it, the more he wanted to contact Kent first thing Monday to see what the options were.
Moving back to the city did not appeal to him, at all, and it must have shown on his face because Brent walked in and immediately noticed. “Is everything all right? First Nancy and her friend were shouting at each other, and now you look like someone stole your favorite toy. What’s going on here, Sebastian?”
Sebastian smoothed out his features, hoping he hid it enough to make Brent believe everything was fine. “We had a little surprising news from back home that Nancy and I need to talk about tonight. Nothing you need to be worried about, Brent.”
He didn’t look convinced, but let it drop. “If you need anything, you know where I am.” Sebastian nodded, acknowledging and appreciating the offer, before Brent continued. “I just wanted to say goodbye. Char ate too much of that macaroni salad and we need to head home.”
“Thanks for coming, and for all your help since we’ve been here, Brent. Nancy and I really appreciate it.” They shook hands and Brent made a quick exit with Sebastian following him outside.
Once Char and Brent left, everyone else soon followed. Although Nancy tried to keep her emotions hidden, it was obvious to all that something was troubling her. After helping clean up, Regan called a cab to take her back to Denver even though Sebastian offered to make the drive, saying she wanted to get out of their hair as quickly as possible. He knew she felt bad about the shit storm she’d caused, but there was no going back now. The offer was out there, and he and Nancy needed to figure out what to do.
This wasn’t something he could use his power as Head of Household to force on her either. They’d both invested too much time and effort into her career for him to unilaterally make the decision that they were staying. But if it was solely up to him, that’s exactly what they’d do.
No. They had to talk it out and come to an agreement. Of course, Sebastian planned to do everything in his power to convince her that Corbin’s Bend was the right place for them to be, forever.
Chloe unknowingly helped his case when they put her to bed an hour later,
hugging Nancy and loudly exclaiming, “I love our new home, Mommy. I’m so happy we moved here.”
Nancy let out a small sob she quickly hid from Chloe, giving her a kiss before hurrying out of the room. Even though Sebastian didn’t like to see her upset, it reassured him to know that she was struggling with the decision. The old Nancy was so focused on her career she probably wouldn’t have thought twice about going back. Now, seeing her distress, Sebastian suspected he might not have to be as persuasive as he’d originally thought.
After finishing giving Chloe his goodnight kisses, he found Nancy in their room, sitting on the bed with the letter in her trembling hands. She didn’t look up when he closed the door and crossed the room to sit down next to her
“I don’t know what we should do,” she whispered. “This is everything I thought I wanted, right there in black and white. I thought it would take me five more years to get an offer like this.” She waved the paper in front of her, like the words would go away if she only shook it hard enough.
“Is that still what you want?” he asked, stilling her hand with his own.
“I don’t know.” Her voice held more misery than he’d ever heard from her before. “I liked working in the hospital, it was challenging and exciting, and I had the opportunity to save lives on a daily basis.”
Sebastian’s heart would have cracked if he didn’t hear an unspoken ‘but’ at the end.
“I like living here too, though. And it would be much better for Chloe to grow up here, rather than the city. The people are nice, and we’ve made friends we actually are able to spend time with since I’m not working so much.” She turned to look at him, and seeing how distraught she was, made Sebastian have to hold her.
He pulled her onto his lap so she was snuggled up against him, and he waited to see what else she had to say. There was one very important thing she hadn’t mentioned yet.
Corbin's Bend Homecoming Page 33
