As he entered, he watched as she eyed his beer with suspicion. For the past fifteen minutes she had thrown out random accusations where she seemed to believe he might actually want to break things off between them. He blew out a breath, and scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’ve done an awful lot of talking, love, but you haven’t said anything.”
“I think I’ve said quite a lot.” She stopped pacing, but her left foot tapped up and down. “Why did you convince Chase to move out here with Hayley?”
“First of all, I didn’t convince Chase to do anything. I only gave him the heads up on a job opportunity and offered myself as a reference. I did the same for Hayley.”
“Are you sure it isn’t because you don’t like me anymore? Or maybe it’s because you wanted someone to watch my every movement? You were waiting for some sort of screw up so you could send me packing?”
“What the hell has gotten into you, love?” He sighed, deeply frustrated. “If I truly wanted you gone, I wouldn’t be fighting to get us back on the same page. Yes, we’ve hit a rocky part, but it doesn’t mean I’ll throw what we have aside. I love you, Claudia. I love us. Besides, we’ve been through far worse than this.”
“No, I’ve been through worse,” she snipped. “You don’t even know the half of it.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t want to broach such a delicate subject, but you seem to have experienced some memory loss.”
At the very least, something was getting through her thick skull. Claudia had gone into shock after the police identified her relatives. He had stepped up and taken care of some of the major details, including wake planning and mass funeral arrangements. Things no one should ever have to think about. Thankfully, the majority of the expenses were either covered by the company that ran the cruise liners or taken care of by private individual insurance. Still, he didn’t want to dangle it over her head, especially right now. As horrible as everything was, he wouldn’t have wanted her to go through it all alone. Why were they at this juncture now?
“My brain is working perfectly fine, thank you.”
“Have you forgotten what eight years of marriage looks like?”
“What?”
“It hasn’t been all butterflies and roses. We’ve been through some really trying times together, but we’ve overcome it. This is a freaking ripple in the overall picture, right?”
“You’re not making any sense, Logan.”
“I’m saying I’m at fault as much as you are. I should have brought up your behavior and my concerns when I first noticed.” He took a swig from his beer, then set the bottle down. “Otherwise, it wouldn’t have built up to this point, right?”
“You’ll damage the table.” She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she swiftly slid a coaster underneath the glass bottle. “Cherry wood stains easily. At least that’s what Lyla over at the recreation park told me last week while we were jogging.”
“I don’t give a fuck about Lyla or her advisement on how to treat wood.” He grabbed her upper arms and tugged her to him. “In fact, I don’t want to hear another word about anyone else in this place or anywhere. Right now, the only thing I care about is getting us back on track.”
“How do you propose we do that?” She arched one perfectly waxed eyebrow and did not appear to be taking him seriously at all. “You’re just going to wave the magic paddle in the air and threaten me?”
“Oh, no. I plan on using the magic paddle on these lovely cheeks.” Logan punctuated his decree with a hard slap to each of her globes. She squeaked and jumped when he landed two more on each side. “I’ve got a feeling you’re going to have a very hard time sitting down over the next two weeks.”
“You can’t be serious!”
“I’m completely serious.”
They stared at each for a moment, then Claudia tore free of his grip. “I’m not going to let you punish me.”
“Go bend over the couch. Right now.” Logan motioned for her to comply. “I’m done talking.”
Claudia studied his face for a good thirty seconds, hoping to see some sort of amusement or anything that would indicate this to be a joke, but found no such musing. Not even a flicker of a smile showed in the lines of his mouth. Adding insult to injury, she felt her belly clench from the tone of his words along with her treacherous pussy. It dampened at his command and she felt liquid pool there. How dare her body be turned on! “No, I won’t.”
Striding across the living room with purpose, he surprisingly moved past her and toward the kitchen. A knot formed in her stomach, as earlier in the day she had considered the possibility of him using the paddle on her, and had hidden it. If he recalled her secret spots in the kitchen where she used to stash stuff away from her college dorm mates years ago, he would find it without her assistance.
“Claudia!” His voice yelled out from the kitchen. “Where is it?”
She worried her lip, while she thought of a reply, but she didn’t want to tell him. Several cabinets opened and closed, followed by the sounds of drawers being yanked out and pushed back in. Counting thirty-four seconds of silence, she let out a sigh of relief. Then Logan returned with the wooden implement held firmly in his right hand. “Would you believe this was an impromptu scavenger hunt?”
Ignoring her question, he continued to the couch. When he got there he set the paddle down, and then set to rolling up both sleeves of his thermal shirt. He seemed to do the motion with exaggerated slowness, as he saw her watching with rapt attention.
Even though the spanking was hot in their bedroom, she didn’t want a punishment one today. His furrowed brows seemed to hint at an entirely different feeling than yesterday. He gestured for her to come closer, but she wasn’t convinced it was a good idea.
“If I have to come over there and get you, it’s going to be much worse.”
Claudia pouted, but closed the distance between them. She shot him her best puppy-dog eyes, then folded herself over the nearest cushion.
One of his hands pressed against her lower back to keep her in place while the other tugged her leggings and panties down to her knees. Being bared in front of him, with all of her private places on display, embarrassed her more than she thought it would. Logan traced the fingers of his free hand over both of her bottom cheeks then dipped lower, caressing the outside of her pussy lips. He slid one finger inside her core, then another, stretching her and intensifying the moment.
“It seems you’re more excited than you let on.”
Claudia groaned in reply, first at the invasion and then at the loss as he withdrew the digits. Could this all be an elaborate ruse done as a precursor to sex? Or was he actually going to redden her butt like he kept mentioning? “All right, all right. I won’t be so stuck up anymore. Just put your fingers back. Make me come,” she pleaded.
He replied to her demand with four hard slaps to each of her bottom cheeks. She whimpered and arched her hips, but he held her fast. Four more slaps landed, then four more. On and on they continued all over her butt, down to her sit-spots, and back up to her thoroughly warmed cheeks.
Lighter strokes hit against her upper thighs but they stung all the while. His onslaught continued, far longer than she expected it to. Soon her entire behind burned like she’d been in a tanning booth too long, and she wiggled forward in an attempt to escape the next smack.
“I say when we’re finished, and we are not even close, love.”
“Please, Logan?”
“Please, what?” He ran his hand across her heated skin, and it felt cool in comparison. “I don’t think you’ve learned what this is all about yet.”
“A spanking? Oh, I’ve got it. Believe me.”
“Hmm? I don’t think so.” Logan shifted behind her, and something large pressed against one cheek. “From now on, this paddle is going to be my go-to implement to adjust your attitude. It’s not going to be pleasurable for either of us, but if I don’t take the reins here, love? We won’t ever get back on the same page.”
“
I trust you,” she said and swallowed hard. “I don’t like you right now, but I trust your methods.” Of course she didn’t mean it, this discipline nonsense was just so unexpected. Though her body didn’t seem to know that it was nonsense, it was humming with arousal. Everything about this set-up cranked her levers, and it was exactly what she wanted but didn’t know how to ask for. The paddle might prove itself as a mighty adversary, but she could handle it. As she pointed out earlier, she had been through worse. One badass looking paddle wouldn’t make her cave in, or so she hoped.
“Thank you for trusting me. I don’t take your words lightly.”
Claudia braced for the next blow, but nothing could prepare her for the awful weight of the wooden paddle. She didn’t know what it was made of, but it landed heavily on her right cheek, hard enough to make her cry out. “Ow!” The same force thudded against her left and she yelled in pain. “Ouch, Logan!” Adversary indeed! It really left its mark, and she realized with growing certainty, that Logan controlled how everything played out. This is what she’d secretly wanted, and he had stepped up. His handling of the situation would leave quite a reminder, as he promised.
Logan paused for several moments, then repeated the process, right then left, again and again.
Claudia sobbed into the couch, her poor behind ached in a way she had never felt before. Her face also burned from the shame of her husband coming home and having to deal with her in such a fashion. He flew airplanes for crying out loud, and instead of getting a restful break, his new plan involved correcting her behavior.
There was no excuse for her awful actions, and frivolous purchases. What the heck had she been thinking all this time? Why didn’t she tell him about her insecurities? Or at the very least ask if she could fly her best friend out to see her more often? Friends and family flew for free on some flights, and Logan even offered to arrange them. It would be no big deal, but Claudia couldn’t open up. No, she’d wanted Logan to believe she had a hold on everything. It was miles away from her harsh reality.
She jotted out a mental note to finally open up to her husband about her secret fears, then it slowly dawned on her. Despite the awful spanks to her ass, her body was incredibly turned on. To further her embarrassment her pussy dripped wantonly, begging for more attention. But how could she face Logan after he’d thoroughly punished her?
The paddle smacked across both cheeks, then was placed in her line of sight, signaling the end of her lesson. Tears poured down her cheeks, but she felt lighter. Her burdens didn’t feel so heavy anymore. Now if she could only get him to switch his target to the fire he’d created between her legs.
“Logan,” she moaned, deeply mortified by her reactions, but aroused nonetheless. “I’m all mixed up.”
“You took your punishment so well. You should definitely be rewarded.” One chaste kiss pressed against her back, then he inserted two fingers into her pussy. Logan found her sweet spot within seconds, and she writhed against his hand. “You like that, CJ? Hmm? You want me to finger fuck you, until you’ve come so hard, you can’t move?” Each question was punctuated by his fingers moving in and out, each time a little faster and deeper.
“Nah-no.” She managed to get out the words, then groaned when the speed of his fingers increased even more. “CJ was packed away in a box!”
“The only box important to me right now is the one I’m playing with.” Logan slapped his free hand on the fullest part of her ass, and she gasped. “Right?”
“Oh God, Logan.” Claudia arched her hips upwards. “How do you want me to answer?”
“The only answer I want to hear from your pretty little lips is ‘Yes, Sir.’ Do you think you can do that or should I be more convincing?” Logan asked then tickled his pinky finger across her tight rosebud, a spot that he’d never paid much attention to before.
The unexpected pleasure caused a giggle of pure ecstasy to bubble out of her mouth followed by a groan as the small digit slipped inside her back passage. “Yes.”
“Yes, what?” Logan ceased all movement.
Several awkward seconds of silence hung over them.
His unspoken threat of withholding an orgasm flitted through her mind. She never thought he was the type to deliver a sound spanking, but he had proven her wrong. It was not the time to push buttons and find out where the line was drawn. Not when her buttons were in his reach. She craved his touches when he was away, more than she realized. His fingers expertly worked in and out of her again, bringing her to the cusp of an orgasm several times but not allowing her to climax.
“Yes, Sir.” Claudia finally answered breathlessly. “Please, Sir!”
“Much better.” Keeping his word, he brought her to orgasm. “Come again for me, CJ.”
She obeyed, and let wave after wave of pleasure roll over her. She lost count at three or four orgasms, then finally let go of everything else to free fall into pure bliss.
“Is this really necessary?” She bit down into her lip as three droplets of water flicked off the razor and landed on her bare skin. It felt cooler than normal, and she was turned on from the amount of attention being paid between her legs. Her nakedness added to the experience since he still wore pants and a tank top. Damn, he looked so good from this perspective.
Claudia agreed to follow whatever Logan instructed her to do for the rest of the day, after the awful session with the paddle, but she hadn’t anticipated this scenario in any way. Worse still, the whole prospect turned her on, and it left her questioning several recent life choices.
The two of them never should have listened to those endless decrees by those boring counselors. They’d advised Logan to treat her with kid gloves, and he’d followed without question. He certainly believed they knew the best environment for her, but it would have been better to follow his instinct. Claudia should have insisted on keeping things the same, but she’d been so out of sorts at the time. This break down of the past while offering insight, did nothing to soothe the need between her thighs. She loudly cleared her throat. “Logan?”
“Absolutely.” Logan’s brows furrowed with concentration as his skilled hands removed the hair from her most intimate places, and it added to her arousal. Drip. Flick. Swish. The noises continued as he moved down her mound then rested his hand at the outside of her pussy lips. Was he going to take all of her hair off? She blew out a breath but he leaned in and repeated the action, tickling his beard across her most private parts.
“If I have to be shaved, so should you!”
He replied by glancing up the line of her body, and cocking an eyebrow at her. Whatever flickered through his mind couldn’t be good. Logan pressed his mouth to her smooth mound then slowly licked downward until he reached the same spot he started at. Oh, his plan was downright devious.
“Oh! I hope you just got shaving cream in your mouth,” she mused. Sure, she could pretend every tiny movement didn’t turn her on, but they both knew better.
“I washed all the cream off, but you’re still dripping wet.” He worked two fingers into her slit, proving his observation correct. “Besides, the only thing I can taste right now is you.”
He always talked dirty to her, so his word choices shouldn’t surprise her, but something about his tone made her even wetter. Could it be the gestures coupled with his promise of a more dominating presence from here on?
“You’re going to make me come if you keep doing that,” she stated it simply, but wondered if he caught that her words laced in a secret, desperate plea.
“Yeah, if I let you.”
She contracted around his fingers, willing them to stay inside her, and desperately hoping he would bring her to climax. He moved them in and out, reaching her sweet spot, but not allowing her to experience the orgasm.
“Oh, please!”
“Hmm? I’m not quite finished.” Logan withdrew his fingers then brought them up to his mouth and sucked off her juices. He smirked like the cat who ate the canary.
Holy freaking hell! Her mouth fell open in
awe. “That’s not fair. You’ve got me practically restrained, knowing if I move in the slightest way you might nick delicate areas.” She groaned, more aroused than ever. “Please, baby?”
“Baby? Uh oh. Breaking out the terms of endearment? You must really want a release.”
She’d forgotten how naturally dominant he used to be. His personality consisted of sarcasm, intelligence, a sliver of slightly sadistic tendencies, all rounded out with equal measurements of evil methodology and sweet sentiments. “Fuck, Logan!” Claudia curled her toes, desperately seeking relief, but unable to shift her position.
“Is that a mental note for later?” His tone sounded playful with a bit of authority dripped in.
“Don’t make me beg.”
“Stay still and I’ll consider your request.” He chuckled. “I’m almost done.”
She stayed in place, but the exertion tired her out. Drip. Swish. Flick. Drip. Claudia counted sheep to keep her mind distracted, but their hooves were painted in brilliant colors for fun. Drip. Swish. She reached twenty-five. Drip. Swish. Flick. The sheep now jumped in ridiculous patterns over a staged half-crescent moon. Swish. They jumped in pairs. Flick.
“I can’t take it anymore.” She tapped her feet up and down, then sat up, taking care not to move her legs. “You’re there already! Come on.”
Logan set the razor on the counter, patted her dry with a fresh towel, then rested his chin on the space between her hipbones. “Beg me, CJ.”
Her eyebrows probably hit the top of her head, but she nodded several times, as if those words fell out of his mouth every day. “Please make me come?” she tried, but it sounded pitiful even to her own ears.
“You can do better than that.” He winked, then subtly shifted his hand to tug her clit in between his fingers. “Try again.”
“Oh!” Claudia nearly fell back to the floor. “Please!”
A Spanking Good New Year: Short Story Collection Page 29
