When Alex woke up, she gave him a bath, filling the kitchen sink with water and placing him inside, letting him splash and laugh for a while as she watched.
“Pretty soon, you’ll be too big for this space,” she said, flicking water at him and loving it when he giggled at her. When he was clean, she dried him off and dressed him before putting him in the playpen to get ready to go to Bea’s house, looking forward to the evening.
*****
“Didn’t I turn this on?” Michelle pointed to the alarm panel, which remained silent despite the fact she’d just unlocked the door. She focused on Alex, who did nothing more than yawn. “Come on Alex, jog my memory. Did I turn this on when we left for Bea’s, or not?”
He yawned again and she sighed heavily. “I don’t know if I should be worried about this or not.” She stood there for a few minutes, debating about what she should do. She was sure Alliot was right, and the Thaxtons wouldn’t be coming back. But still, it unnerved her to think she’d set the alarm before she’d left, and it was not set now, when she returned to the house three hours later.
Alex started to fuss at the inactivity, and she bounced him on her hip. He still wasn’t happy, though, and so she walked into the kitchen and fixed him a bottle.
“Maybe I should call Luc, what do you say?” She glanced down at the baby, who drank hungrily. “No, maybe not. I’d feel like an idiot if he got up here and there was nothing wrong. Still, I’d feel like more of an idiot, I guess, if I went upstairs and Mrs. Thaxton was waiting with a knife.”
Her nerves hit full blast then, and her hands shook just a little. She should call Luc. Then he could come up and check things out for her. She reached for the phone, and then pulled back, biting her lip. She would feel stupid if she called, and there was nothing wrong.
Alex spit out the bottle and started to cry. It took her a few seconds to realize he was probably feeling her anxiety. She took several deep breaths and held him close, kissing his forehead.
“It’s fine, sweetie. I’m just being a moron. I bet you’re tired. Let’s go upstairs so you can go to bed. I’ll read, and we’ll have a good night.”
When she’d calmed Alex down, she sat the alarm for the doors and windows, she climbed the stairs, trying to keep her emotions in check so that Alex didn’t start crying again. She changed him, and then put him to bed, checking Alliot’s room before going into her own.
It was just past nine, and she knew it was way too early to go to bed. Deciding to take advantage of rare free time without Alex, she went downstairs to the pantry and selected a bottle of wine, popping the cork and taking it and a glass into the bathroom where she drew a bubble bath.
She checked on Alex one more time before selecting a book from the stack in her bedroom, and immersing herself in the water. It felt wonderfully wicked to sit in the warm water and drink. The claw-footed tub was a drawback to the days of old, and it was huge. There was room in her for two, or more. She would have to tell Alliot that, and perhaps they could play in here one night.
The thought hit her that she should have called Alliot, but she tried to push it aside. After all, he hadn’t called her. She opened the book to read, and then mentally slapped herself in the forehead. He might have called while she was at Bea’s house. She hadn’t gone upstairs to the office to check the answering machine.
The wine felt smooth as she drank it, and she set the book aside and allowed herself to relax. It had been a stressful time lately, and this was the first moment she’d really had to be alone for a while. Of course Alex was nearby. She checked the monitor she’d brought in with her, hearing no sound from the baby’s room.
She’d just taken another sip of wine when there was a creak from the hallway, like someone had stepped on a loose board. Her heart went into overdrive and she chastised herself for not calling Luc to come and check the house. She knew she’d set the alarm when she’d left.
The sound came again and she sat, rooted in the tub, her hands clutching the sides. And then she thought about Alex, sleeping alone in his bed. Whoever it was could hurt him. She shot upright, water splashing over the sides. She knew the sound would let the intruder know where she was, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t about to let anyone hurt Alex.
She reached for the towel as she climbed out, stopping dead in her tracks when Alliot’s amused voice said, “Did you bring a glass for me?”
Her fear and shock turned to anger, and she bundled the towel up and threw it at him.
“What are you doing here?” She stood, naked, her hands on her hips, her anger making her blood boil.
“I live here.”
“You’re supposed to be in Paris!”
“I decided your spanking couldn’t wait. When I found you gone, I thought you’d gone to Luc and Bea’s for dinner, and would come and find me when you saw the alarm was off. Wasn’t that little fact your first clue you weren’t alone in the house?”
“No, I thought I’d forgotten to set it.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Damn it, Alliot. You scared me half to death. Where have you been?”
“In the office. I was sorting through the mail you left on the desk. A strange letter arrived today. A bill, from a testing center in Paris, demanding payment. I’ve never seen the original, and the bill doesn’t say what the test was, or who it was run on. I was up there checking everything to see if I could find out what it was.”
“It doesn’t sound familiar.” She reached for another towel. “I can call them tomorrow.”
“Don’t bother.”
She turned to him, afraid he was going to tell her not to bother because he wanted her to leave. But then he hadn’t said that, had he? He was back because he planned to spank her, for her childish behavior last night.
“I mean don’t bother about the towel, you don’t need it. Step back into the tub.”
“I thought you were going to spank me.”
“I am. Do as I say.”
Her heart rate, which had calmed down just a bit, sped back up. “You’re going to spank me in the tub.”
“Do as I say.” He shook his head at her. “I’m willing to accept the fact that you have to understand everything that happens in your life. But, with me, that just won’t work. I am in charge. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
“Well, it’s hard for me to argue with you, isn’t it, when I’m standing here naked.”
“Exactly. Now, get in the tub.” He sounded a little irritated now, and Michelle decided not to fight him. She did as he said, crouching down so that most of her body was in the water.
“Get on your knees, and bend over the end here, away from the fixtures. Put your hands on the floor.”
She stared at the edge of the tub, then back at Alliot, who nodded even though she hadn’t said anything. “You’re right. The porcelain might be too hard on your body.” He placed a towel over the tub, then stepped back and indicated with his hand that she should bend over.
Once she was in position, he walked from the room, coming back moments later with a chair which he sat next to the tub.
“Now, suffice it to say, there is something between us. I know it, and you know it. But last night you choose to act like a jealous child. This spanking is happening because of that. I won’t put up with your attitude. Is that clear?”
“Yes, but Alliot – ouch!” He slapped her ass.
“I didn’t ask for a but Alliot. There are no but Alliot’s in this conversations. You need a strong hand, Michelle. You’ve been allowed to roam, and flit from relationship to relationship, but no more. You are mine now.”
He started to spank her, his hand coming down hard as she struggled to move way. The sting on her wet skin was harsh, and she cried out in pain.
“Alliot, stop!”
“No. I won’t allow you to sulk as you did last night.” The slaps were harder, the sting more intense. “You are an adult, and will act like one.”
He gave her a few more hard slaps, and then she sighed when
he poured liquid over her back and buttocks. She knew the water was warmer than that, so the only thing left was the wine. It soothed her aching behind, and made her relax just a little bit. The spanking hadn’t been that hard, only about twenty swats.
The next slap however, shook her out of her relaxation. It wasn’t his hand that came down, but something wooden, and smooth. The paddle? She turned toward him to see him swinging a hairbrush through the air and bringing it down. It connected with her bottom, and the wetness from the wine intensified the sting.
She cried out as the brush came down repeatedly. Her behind started to ache and she kicked out, water spraying over her and him. But the water didn’t faze him a bit. He continued to spank her, even harder it seemed.
“When I ask questions, I expect answers, do you understand?”
“You’re being unfair, and it hurts. Stop!”
“Answer me!”
“I can’t change the way I am!”
“You can!” Four hard slaps landed on her upper thighs and she cried out. “You don’t have to act the way you do, you choose to act that way. You can learn to face things head on without thinking of different scenarios in your mind.”
She struggled to get away as he landed swat after swat on her throbbing bottom. “Life is not perfect, Michelle. You can’t think about what you’re going to say over and over until you come up with the ideal words. You have to take the good with the bad.”
The spanking stopped, and he caressed her bottom, cupping water in his hand and pouring it over her bottom. “Did you not think I knew what you were feeling last night?”
“Did you?” She sniffled.
“Of course I did. And I would have loved to discuss it with you. But, I wasn’t going to force you.”
“You must think I’m an immature child.”
“No. But I know we see the world differently. We need to sit, and discuss things. That is partially my fault. But I admit I was unprepared for your reaction to my trip to Paris.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for what you feel, Michelle. Be sorry that you were unwilling to share it with me. That’s what we need to work on. Understand?”
“Yes.” Warmth spread through her belly, and when he gave her ten more swats on each cheek she didn’t protest, or fight. She heard him stand and start to take off his clothes. Seconds later he was in the tub with her, pulling her back and entering her in one swift thrust. She groaned as he kneaded her aching buttocks.
“Tell me again, Michelle. Are you mine?”
“Yes, Alliot.”
“Good. Then we share everything from now on, good or bad, physical or emotional.”
“But what about when I have to leave? What about…”
He pulled away from her slapped her ass repeatedly until she cried out softly. “We will discuss those things later. Right now, we concentrate on us.”
He entered her again, thrusting hard as the water splashed against them. When he took her hand and guided it to her clit she followed his silent command, stroking herself until she shuddered in passion. She felt him climax after several more long minutes of thrusting.
When he settled onto her back, his chest heaving, she pushed back slightly.
“I think this is where I share with you. This is uncomfortable, with me pressed against the tub.”
His laughter was deep. “Then let’s go to bed, where we can talk, and love again.”
“I’ll go for that. Do you have to go back to Paris?”
“Yes. I just came back to spank you.”
“Wonderful. A three hour trip just so redden my ass.”
“Darling, I would travel from London for that if I had to, trust me.”
Chapter Ten
Michelle had opened the windows, allowing the cool morning air to drift into the kitchen. She’d thought about trying her hand at making bread, and then decided it probably wasn’t a good idea.
“This afternoon we’ll go into town, just the two of us, Alex. What do you think about?” She put a cracker in his hand and he smiled at her from his position in his high chair, then wiggled his feet and cooed out a yes. Or at least she thought it was a yes. For all she knew it could be an “I’ve seen you drive, hell no I’m not going,” coo.
“It’ll be fun,” she continued. “We’ll buy some bread, and some food, since it will be just the two of us the next few days. And then, I’ll even take you for a ride on the merry-go-round. What do you think about that?”
He banged his fists on the tray and made happy noises.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You like me, and you want to go, regardless of my skills in a standard shift car.”
With all the sorting done, and the bills sent to Alliot’s accountant, Michelle was at odds about what else to do. The house wasn’t too dirty, and the maids from in town would show up tomorrow. Plus, she hated cleaning house. She supposed she could read a book, or surf the Internet for a while.
Or she could take Alex out to the patio, spread a blanket and set up his blocks, watch him play. Maybe she could see if she could get him to scoot toward her. She wasn’t sure, but she thought he should at least be crawling by now. He tried, true enough, but he didn’t quite make it.
She needed to work with him some more. The thought made her laugh. A year ago, heck, even a month ago, if someone has said she’d have a baby to take care, she would have told them they were out of their minds. Now here she was, trying to figure out the best way to get him to crawl.
She’d just sent things up outside when the phone rang.
“I have to go into Paris.” Bea’s voice sounded harassed. “You want to come with me?”
“No, I’m going to stay home and play au pair today,” Michelle said. “Alex is playing in the sunshine, and then the two of us are going to take a trip into town. The first with me as the driver and navigator.”
“Good luck,” Bea said. “I have to pick up something for Luc’s mother. I’m not happy about it, but that’s the way things go.”
“Would you like to leave the Amelie here with me?”
“No, thanks. She’s at Luc’s mom’s house right now, staying for a few days with grandma. Hence her need for a favor, since she ‘can’t get away.’”
“Sorry. We’ll go.”
“No, stay there and have fun. But come to the house for dinner tonight. That will be cool.”
“Sure, the two of us will be there around seven.”
They hung up, and Michelle turned to find Alex curled up on his blanket, fast asleep.
“Little early for this,” she said, picking him up and carrying him upstairs. She placed him in his crib, making sure he was comfy before picking up the baby monitor and going into her own room.
Or at least it was her room for now. She wished she knew exactly where her life was headed. Alliot had told her she was his, and that he wanted her to stay. Did that mean as his wife, or his Au Pair, or as his mistress? She wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to be. All she knew was she wanted to stay.
She hated to think of the paperwork involved in staying in France. It was a good thing Alliot was a lawyer, and could handle it. A noise from downstairs made her ears perk up. A smile drifted across her face as she thought of Alliot, who had been gone that morning. Maybe he had come back now. Maybe he couldn’t stand to be away from her.
After a quick check on Alliot, she went to the top of the stairs. “I’m up here. I’m happy that you came home early, you know.”
When no one answered, she went down a few steps. “Alliot?” She gasped and turned toward the staircase that led in the other direction as a voice said, “Sorry to disappoint.”
“Who are you?” She backed up the stairs, glancing over her shoulder, her concern for Alex heavy in her throat.
“Mr. Thaxton, of course. My wife is upstairs, searching for our money. We’ll be gone shortly, so don’t get your knickers in a twist.” He turned a gun on her. “We have no intentions of hurting the boy, or you, unless y
ou misbehave. We just want our money.”
“The police have it.”
“You think that’s all of it?” Mrs. Thaxton came downstairs, her face full of rage. “There’s no telling where the stupid twit hid it all.”
“Who?”
Mrs. Thaxton shook her head in disgust. “Who do you think? That little bitch Luca, of course. She was smarter than I gave her credit for.”
The Reluctant Au Pair Page 13
