by Alta Hensley
I was stunned to hear Caine apologize. I had no idea he had any remorse for how he treated Sara. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes made my heart melt. He genuinely felt bad for Sara. I looked at Sara who was sitting there dumbfounded. Tears were welling in her eyes, and she turned to Travis for reassurance. Travis patted her hand and lovingly smiled.
“Thank you, Caine,” Sara whispered. “But I’m glad you did, because I found love with Travis,” she added.
For the first time, I saw something real in Sara. She was not trying to be something she wasn’t. She didn’t seem fake or artificial. There was something in the way she looked at Travis that was genuine. She looked human, vulnerable, and frankly, she didn’t look perfect. I suddenly respected the fact that she didn’t offer a fake apology or pretend that she was my friend. The Sara I knew would have laid it on thick in order to look perfect. I actually liked the Sara sitting across from me.
I noticed that Travis rubbed her back tenderly, acting as her strength during a difficult time. She just gazed at him lovingly. She didn’t throw herself on him like she did with Caine, and she didn’t act like the loony bitch I knew her to be.
“I’m glad you did. You deserve a good man like Travis,” Caine replied.
“Well I bet you guys have a lot to do for the party so we’ll get going and see you two later tonight.” Travis stood and helped Sara out of her chair.
Caine and I both stood. “I’m glad we were able to calm the waters,” Caine said. “Travis, can I see you in the other room for a minute?”
Caine and Travis walked into the other room leaving Sara and I standing alone together. I braced myself for her claws to come out. We were alone, and this would be a perfect moment for her to lash out in a way only Sara could.
She looked at me knowingly. “I could see that Caine spanked you before our meeting.”
I was a little taken aback by the comment. It wasn’t mean or meant to be negative. It was just a simple statement. It felt odd to have someone else bring it up as if it were a normal piece of conversation.
“Yes,” I replied still feeling the pain from the paddle.
Sara nodded. “It’s not always the easiest lifestyle. But I really do think it works.” She smiled. “It kept you and me in line this morning, right?” Sara teased.
I smiled back. “Yes, I guess it did.”
There was a moment of awkward silence before I decided to be the bigger person like Caine asked.
“Sara, I don’t blame you for hating me. I could see how you thought this was my plan all along. It wasn’t, but I’m still sorry for it,” I apologized.
“I knew Caine wasn’t going to stay with me. It hurts admitting that, but the truth was, Caine was always searching for something that none of his girlfriends, including me, had. Hopefully he’s finally found that with you.” Sara offered.
“Thank you,” I said.
After Travis and Sara left, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. The cleaning lady was working her magic in the bathroom and all signs of my poor mood this morning were vanished. Caine came into the kitchen with a neatly wrapped box in his hands. He smiled lovingly at me and kissed me tenderly on the lips.
“Thank you, baby; you did a really good job.” He kissed me again. “I have a present for you.”
“Caine, you shouldn’t have,” I said even though I was anxiously waiting to open it.
He handed the box to me. “Open it.”
I slowly removed the satin ribbon that was perfectly tied around the box. I lifted the lid to find a beautiful champagne-colored dress inside. It was gorgeous!
“I want you to wear this tonight,” Caine directed.
“Oh Caine, I love it! Of course I’ll wear it tonight.”
Caine pulled me into a warm embrace. He wrapped his arms tightly around me, engulfing me in his love.
“I can’t wait until I can call you my wife,” Caine confessed.
I looked up into his brown eyes. “Then why wait? I don’t want a big wedding. Let’s just go down to the courthouse and get married. I want you as my husband,” I suggested.
Caine smiled. “Why don’t we take this one step at a time? First we have an engagement party,” Caine answered.
I pretended to pout a little bit. “Fine, but this conversation isn’t over,” I warned with a smile.
Caine kissed the tip of my nose and pressed his hardness against me. “Just know, Neely girl, that we will be having our wedding night very soon.”
Chapter Twenty Two
“I’ve never seen someone so beautiful in my life!” Caine gushed.
I spun around in a little circle. “Do you like the dress?” I asked flirtatiously.
The dress Caine had bought me fit perfectly. It was elegant, and it was classy. It flowed down to my ankles and spaghetti straps crisscrossed my back. The satiny fabric was soft against my skin. I styled my hair long, letting it fall softly below my shoulders. I had very little makeup on, relishing in my natural beauty. In Caine’s eyes, I was perfect and that was all I needed.
“It’s going to be very hard for me to keep my hands off you tonight,” Caine growled.
Caine stood before me in a black suit. Never had I seen him look so distinguished. He exuded masculinity like never before. His brown hair was styled to perfection, and I could smell his delicious scent. I licked my lips wanting to get a taste of his manly body.
I sauntered up to him and pressed my breasts against his well-tailored suit. “Who’s asking you to,” I purred.
Caine grabbed my ass. “Ah!” I yelped.
My bottom was still very pink and very tender. I welcomed the constant reminder. I liked being reminded of the spanking. I liked being reminded of how confidently Caine took control of a bad situation. I loved the afterglow that the sound spanking gave me. Even though wearing panties was impossible tonight.
“Is someone still a little sore?” Caine teased.
I answered by kissing him passionately. I felt his tongue press against mine, intertwining. I felt his hot breath mix with mine. I let out a sigh as I felt a sign of my arousal ease down my thigh. I needed Caine now!
Caine pulled away and took a deep breath. “Later, we have to wait until later.” Caine softly pulled away. “Our guests should be here any minute.”
I formed my lips into a pout and was rewarded by Caine taking my lower lip between his teeth and softly nipping.
“Promise you’ll make love to me all night long,” I pleaded.
“Neely girl, that’s one promise I’m sure to make good on,” Caine agreed.
Our guests all started to arrive, and I was shocked to see everyone was dressed so elegant. I expected Caine and I to be the only two to be dressed up. I turned to Caine with a look of confusion.
Caine shrugged. “I let everyone know it would be a formal affair. I hope you don’t mind,” Caine explained.
I loved the idea. Seeing all of Caine’s good-looking friends in suits was absolutely mouthwatering. Rebecca was gorgeous in a simple baby blue dress. Coley looked exquisite in a scarlet gown that flowed to the floor. Kendall was standing next to Matt wearing a simple black dress. Everyone looked amazing, and it was fun to see everyone so well-dressed.
The house was astounding! Caine had gardeners arrive to hang white lights all over the backyard. Chinese lanterns were casting light throughout the entire yard. Caine had insisted on a caterer to provide all of the amazing food spread out amongst the tables. Light music played in the background, and the mood was one of love and friendship.
Caine never left my side as we greeted all of our friends. His hand possessively rested in the curve of my lower back, constantly reassuring me.
All of our guests had seemed to arrive ,and Caine decided it was time to make our announcement.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Caine boomed. His powerful voice instantly took command of the room.
Caine pulled me close to his side. “Neely and I have thrown this party to announce to all of y
ou that we are engaged to be married. I have asked this beautiful woman to be my wife,” Caine gushed.
The party became full of applause and congratulations. Coley came running up to us about to burst. “Oh my God! I’m so happy for the two of you!” She screamed with tears in her eyes.
Kendall and Matt walked up together, Matt having his hand possessively wrapped around Kendall. Matt shook Caine’s hand and pulled me into a friendly hug.
“Congratulations,” Matt offered.
Kendall smiled bright. “I’m so happy for you both.”
I was surprised to see that Kendall didn’t have a drink in her hand and apparently hadn’t been drinking all night. I looked at Kendall searching for answers. I still hadn’t spoken to her since hearing about her and Matt. She smiled warmly and just nodded. I had never seen her so content, so happy and so stable. She no longer looked like a lost little girl, covering her fears and insecurities with a party façade.
Caine and I spent the next hour accepting everyone’s congratulations until Caine excused himself. He pulled Coley into the next room, leaving me with the happy guests. Rebecca took this moment to pull me into her arms.
“You did it right this time. Know that this one is for good,” she encouraged.
I nodded. “I do. He brings out the best in me and makes me feel happier than I could imagine,” I replied.
“It’s obvious by the way he looks at you that he is deeply in love. You’re really lucky to have found that,” Rebecca commented.
Caine and Coley reentered the party. Coley was beaming from ear to ear. She looked as if she had been crying.
Caine walked up to me and kissed me lightly on the lips. He looked deep in my eyes and asked, “Are you happy, Neely?”
I nodded my reply. Caine enclosed his arms around me and held me tight for several moments. Our embrace was interrupted by Coley, Rebecca and Kendall coming up to us.
“Neely, can we speak to you for a moment?” Coley asked.
I looked at my friends puzzled and slightly concerned as to why they all needed to speak with me. I looked at Caine to see if it were all right to leave him.
“Go ahead. Girl talk,” he encouraged.
I kissed him one more time and followed the girls into what once was my room.
“Is everything all right?” I asked concerned.
Coley shut the door behind her and answered, “Better than all right. I have something I want to give you, and I wanted the girls here with me.” She paused, visibly fighting tears. “I want you to have this.”
She handed me a simple platinum ring made for a man. I looked at it a bit perplexed.
“It belonged to my father. I want you to give it to my brother when you marry,” Coley explained.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked into Coley’s watery green eyes full of love.
“Oh Coley, thank you!” I gushed. “This will mean so much to Caine, and it means so much to me that you would think of this.”
The moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. Kendall opened the door to Matt, Vance and another man I had just met tonight named Max. The gentlemen walked in and announced that everyone was ready. Matt hooked his arm in Kendall’s, Max did the same to Rebecca, and Vance followed suit by hooking his arm into Coley’s.
I stared at my friends confused. Matt walked over with Kendall in one arm and extended his other arm to me.
“It’s time for a wedding. May I?” Matt explained as I looped my arm around his.
“What… a wedding?” I stammered.
“Yes,” Coley answered softly.
I couldn’t form any words as the group led me out to the brightly lit backyard. Everyone was standing around with a small aisle ending with Caine standing under an archway made of flowers and Chinese lanterns.
Matt led the group to the archway and softly handed me off to Caine. Caine took both of my hands in his and beamed.
“You said you wanted to be my wife soon.” Caine brought my hands to his lips and softly kissed them. “Will you marry me tonight?”
Never had I felt so much love in my life. Caine had planned a secret wedding. The romantic gesture was overwhelming. I wanted to melt into his arms and never have him let me go. The pieces were falling into place. The dress, the formal attire, his father’s ring, and this beautiful backyard was all planned by Caine to surprise me with a perfect wedding.
I nodded. “Yes, YES!” I exclaimed.
Caine turned us to face the priest. He nodded to begin the ceremony. I noticed that I had my friends standing on my side and his friends standing behind him. We were surrounded by love and beauty. I couldn’t have asked for a better setting.
The ceremony spiraled in a wave of love, promises and devotion. Words were spoken, but my mind and my heart were focused on Caine. Standing before me was the man of my dreams. The love I felt almost hurt with the intensity. The trance I was in was broken when I heard the words I so desperately wanted to hear.
“I now pronounce you Man and Wife.”
Caine pulled me into his arms and kissed me like I had never been kissed before. I could hear cheers and applause around me as his mouth devoured mine. He captured my breath with his, demanding everything I could give. I kissed him with all I had, giving myself over completely.
Caine was going to be my husband. I was going to be his wife. We were going to be a family, a family with traditional values, an old-fashioned marriage, and a husband who spanked. We were going to be the married couple that everyone asks how they did it. How did the marriage stand the test of time? We were going to be the long lasting couple that would share a secret, a secret to a happy marriage. We would look into each other’s eyes and know the answer. A spanking marriage is a lasting marriage. For the most part, it would be our secret, our intimate way of working through conflict. A way to stay strong, committed and connected.
I couldn’t wait for the journey we would share together. Never before had I been so sure of my future, so sure that I would no longer be alone. I had such strength with Caine, happiness and resolve. I found what I needed in a man. I found what I so desperately needed to feel. I found my feminineness, my vulnerabilities, and my passion; with Caine… I found my love.
The End
Table of Contents
Traditional Love_1
Chapter One
Traditional Love_3
Traditional Love_4
Traditional Love_5
Traditional Love_6
Traditional Love_7
Traditional Love_8
Traditional Love_9
Traditional Love_10
Traditional Love_11
Traditional Love_12
Traditional Love_13
Traditional Love_14
Traditional Love_15
Traditional Love_16
Traditional Love_17
Traditional Love_18
Traditional Love_19
Traditional Love_20
Traditional Love_21
Traditional Love_22
Traditional Love_23
