At Home In Corbin's Bend
Page 73
She jumped when Sean appeared behind her in the mirror. She had been daydreaming and missed him coming into the room. He was already ready, looking like a GQ model in his black tailored suit.
Damn, he is the best looking man in town and he's all mine.
Sean leaned down to hug her from behind. Their eyes met in the mirror as he leaned close to whisper into her ear. "We were supposed to leave five minutes ago. You know what happens to naughty girls who make us late, don't you?"
The glimmer of mischief in his grey eyes had her heart rate spiking with excitement—the kind of excitement that had a girl in danger of needing to change her panties. Sean's lips brushed her ear lobe before trailing kisses down to the sensitive place where her neck joined with her bare shoulder, bringing trembles to her whole body.
"Oh no. Do we have to go to church? Couldn't we just stay home?"
Sean's passion-filled eyes told her he wished they could indeed stay home. "We'd better not. Troy and Hallie are saving us seats and Ashley is looking forward to the party at the community center afterwards."
With a sigh, Traci grabbed her clutch purse. She stood and turned to catch one last kiss before they headed out. Sean's hands strayed from her waist to cup her ass, massaging her still tender bottom through her skirt. Memories of the erotic spanking her HoH had delivered just the night before had them locking lips.
Ashley's, "Oh, not again. You two should get a room!" from the open doorway of their bedroom forced the couple apart.
Sean didn't take his eyes off Traci as he answered his now sixteen-year-old daughter. "I'll remind you this IS our room, young lady. Don't come peeking in if you don't like what you're going to see."
Ashley laughed. "Are you kidding me? I love seeing you guys so happy. Can we go now?"
Traci grabbed her clutch. "That's a great idea. Let's go."
Like the year before, there was a light dusting of snow falling, lending the perfect atmosphere for Christmas Eve. After Traci, Sean, and Ashley moved through the greeting line, they saw Troy and Hallie sitting near the front of the church next to Gina and Adam. They'd saved them seats and as Traci slid in to sit between her brother and Sean, she felt a peaceful calm she'd never felt before. As if they'd planned it, the two most important men in her life reached out to grasp each of her hands. As the candlelight service began, she knew God had answered her prayers from the year before.
After the beautiful service ended, they all headed over to the annual Christmas party at the community center. Like the year before, friends crowded in to spend time together. Carrie Ann greeted them again, passing out welcoming gifts like the year before. At least this year, Hallie was happy to receive the pain-reducing cream she'd been so unhappy with the year before.
A large group of their friends had gathered in the open party room. Sean and Troy enjoyed opening their HoH gifts. This year it was a ping-pong paddle.
Sean's eyes sparked with excitement. Traci assumed it is because he was imagining using the paddle once they got home.
"I don't know, Troy. It's nice that they passed the cream out to the girls, but I think Traci deserves a better gift than that this year."
Traci scoffed at his suggestion. "Hey, don't knock that cream. It works like a miracle so unless you plan on throwing that Ping-Pong paddle away, you step away from my cream, buster."
Sean grinned. "Oh, I'm not going to take away your cream. I just thought I might add another gift to it is all."
"Well, we agreed we're going to exchange our gifts tomorrow morning."
Ashley egged her dad on. "I'm pretty sure even you can come up with a gift better than a tube of cream, Dad. Don't you think so too, Uncle Troy?"
It took Traci a second to catch the change in salutations. "Wait. Did you just call Troy, Uncle Troy? Since when did that start?" Traci wasn't upset. In fact, she loved how it sounded. She liked the grin on Troy's face even more.
It was Sean who gave her the answer. He dropped to one knee, taking her left hand in his as he held out a black velvet jewelry box. Time moved in slow motion as their close friends and family crowded in around them, catching onto the exciting event that was unfolding.
Traci trembled as she saw tears in Sean's eyes. "I was hoping she could start calling Troy and Hallie her uncle and aunt as soon as you say yes. Traci Jackson. I love you. Will you be my wife?"
The huge room full of people had quieted. It was as if everyone was collectively holding their breath, waiting for her reply. Traci glanced up to see the love in Troy's eyes. She suspected he'd known the proposal was coming ahead of time. Hallie had tears falling down her cheeks she was so happy for her sister and friend. Traci saw a look of hope on Ashley's face before she glanced back down to see Sean still waiting, looking apprehensive.
Doesn't he know he's just made me the happiest woman in the entire world?
"Sean Campbell, I can't wait to be your wife. Yes!"
The room full of on-lookers heaved a collective sigh of relief before erupting into jovial cheers. Sean opened the box to show Traci the most beautiful square-cut diamond ring she had ever seen. He took the ring out and slowly slipped it onto her ring finger. He leaned in to kiss her hand first before he jumped to his feet to scoop her up into his arms.
Sean took off towards the door with Traci in his arms. He called back over his shoulder. "Troy, can you make sure Ashley makes it home in an hour or two? I think your sister and I have some celebrating to do."
Troy rushed to catch up with them at the door. He kissed Traci on her forehead. "Congratulations, Trace. I'm so happy for you." He then turned to Sean and placed the Ping-Pong paddle on Traci's tummy. "Don't forget your paddle, Sean. My sister has waited a long time to find her HoH. You might need this some day."
Traci was mortified. "Troy!"
Sean just chuckled. "Your sister is an amazing woman, Troy. Lucky for me, she rarely needs a strict HoH, but I'm up for the job. For now, I'm pretty sure we'll be able to find a few other fun things to do with our new paddle, won't we, Trace?"
"Yes, sir."
"Merry Christmas, baby."
The End
Livia Grant
Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons... one a teenager, the other a furry rescue dog named Max. She is blessed to have traveled extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia started writing when she felt like she finally had the life experience to write a riveting story that she hopes her readers won't be able to put down. Livia's fans appreciate her deep character driven plots, often rooted in an ensemble cast where the friendships are as important as the romance... well, almost. She writes one hell of an erotic romance.
Please sign up for Livia Grant's newsletter to receive updates on future releases.
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Livia Grant and Blushing Books!
The Passion Series
Wanting It All
Securing It All
Having it All
Protecting It All
Expecting It All
Box Set, Books 1-3
Don’t miss the rest of the Corbin’s Bend Series!
Welcome to Corbin’s Bend
Return to Corbin’s Bend
At Home in Corbin’s Bend
Corbin’s Bend Homecoming
Love in the Rockies
The Red Petticoat Saloon Series
Melting Silver
Hero to Obey Series
Call Sign: Thunder
Connect with Livia Grant:
www.liviagrant.com
Melissa’s Saving Grace
Corinne Alexander
©2015 by Blushing Books® and Corinne Alexander
All rights reserved.
No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
/> Published by Blushing Books®,
a subsidiary of
ABCD Graphics and Design
977 Seminole Trail #233
Charlottesville, VA 22901
The trademark Blushing Books®
is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Alexander, Corinne
Melissa’s Saving Grace
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62750-933-6
This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.
Chapter 1
The music vibrated through Melissa’s body as she moved in time with the beat. Sticky heat permeated the air creating an inferno where her hair lay against her neck. Yanking it from where it lay, she hoped for some relief, but there was little to be had. Grinding against one person then the next, she paid no mind to anything or anyone else, allowing the music and alcohol to rule her. One minute she danced among the crowd, the next on a bar stool, so lost in the music she couldn’t remember climbing up. The crowd cheered her on as they handed shot after shot up to her, allowing their hands to linger on her legs inching their way beneath her dress. Tonight she didn’t care as long as she didn’t have to think or feel anything else. Throwing back a shot of the burning amber liquid, she allowed it to seep down her throat and into her veins, blocking out every single thing she was trying to escape.
The stool disappeared from beneath her feet. Without warning, she was pressed up against the chest of a greasy older man, his hands running free reign over her body. In an attempt to get away from him she turned, but he grasped her tightly around the waist before she could get free. His hard cock pressed against her ass as he murmured into her ear with sticky hot breath. “I’m going to give it to you good, baby,” he said, thrusting his cock harder against her ass.
No, she fought against the fog that consumed her brain, I don’t need this. Dancing away from him, she tried to get lost in the crowd. All she wanted was to feel the music coursing through her. Nothing else. Her vision started swimming, the room seeming to do circles around her. Queasiness tugged at the edges of her stomach just as the man yanked her back to him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He leered at her. “We were just getting started.” He breathed hotly at her, rubbing down the front of her body. The room spun harder around her as she tried to pull her hands away. She needed to get to the— he jerked her back to him again, and her stomach lurched. That was all it took. The next thing she knew she spewed vomit all over the creep’s shoes.
His face twisted in disgust. “You fucking bitch.” His hand curled cruelly in her hair holding her head away from him. Grabbing her arms in a bruising grip, he shoved her away from him. She landed face first on the ground. She was so drunk she couldn’t get herself upright again. Looking around for help, all she saw were faces leering at her, whispering to each other about the drunk girl who had just fallen on her face.
Wiping the remnants of vomit off of her face with the back of her hand across her mouth, she crawled over to the wall. Propping herself against it, the room stopped spinning so bad. I’m just going to close my eyes for one second. Everything went black.
Jason’s heart thumped in his chest at the sight of Melissa that filled his vision from across the dance floor. On his way home from a job he had in Denver a few minutes earlier, he caught sight of Melissa’s bright orange Camaro in the parking lot of the dance club next door. There was no mistaking her car, with the bright color and custom rims, as anyone else’s. His protective instincts had won out and he had gone in to check up on her.
Anger boiled in his veins as he witnessed some asshole’s hands all over his obviously well intoxicated friend. They had met several months earlier when he first moved into the community they both lived in. She was one of the first to greet him, bringing a coffee cake and offering to help him unpack. They were fast friends, and right now she was being man handled by some sleaze ball. There was little he could do with the sea of dancing bodies between him and Melissa.
Cursing, and stopping himself short of actually shoving people out of the way, he pushed his way through the crowd. When he emerged on the other side, Melissa was gone. Searching frantically, his heart thumping in his chest, he hoped fervently that she hadn’t gone home with that asshole. She had been doing so well. He wondered what on earth had happened to cause her to back peddle to this degree. Finally spotting her, a growl emitted from deep in his throat. She sat slumped in a heap against the wall on the sticky black floor.
Crouching next to her, he delicately brushed the long curly hair out of her face. “Melissa, what did you do to yourself?” He groaned inwardly. Still breathing, but passed out cold, she looked so small and vulnerable. Rage boiled anew in his veins. What was she thinking coming here alone and drinking so much? Something was going on and he was going to get to the bottom of it, but first he needed to get her out of this place and safe back home.
“Melissa, come on, sweetie. It’s time to get out of here.” Shaking her shoulder, he tried to rouse her, to no avail. He would just have to carry her out.
Her eyes fluttered open as he scooped her up. “Jason.” She smiled blearily up at him and snuggled into his neck. The next words she muttered, just before slumping back into a deep sleep, left him completely baffled. “I always knew you would be the one to rescue me.” His thoughts churned the whole ride home. Conflicting emotions pulled him this way and that. On one hand, he wanted to spank the living daylights out of her for putting herself into so much danger. On the other hand, he wanted to hold her in his arms the whole night just to reassure himself that she was breathing. Although they lived in a spanking community, they were just friends. Their relationship had never been like that. What he was feeling in this moment was anything but friendship. When he had seen her lying passed out in the club, his heart had almost exploded. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He loved her. He loved his beautiful friend.
Jason was not about to put his new found feelings on her, not tonight anyway. Melissa had never indicated that she felt anything but friendship toward him. Now was certainly not the time to burden her with his newly discovered feelings. She had been through too much as it was in the relationship department, she was young, and she was vulnerable. Giving himself a good shake, he made up his mind. He would not be pulling the rug out from under her by letting her know how he felt, but if he was given half a chance, he would be giving her a damn good spanking.
Worry tugged at the corner of his mind as his thoughts went to demons Melissa had alluded to when talking about her past. She had never gone into it much, and he hadn’t wanted to push. Something had led her into some deep trouble last year before he knew her. He knew that things had been rough for her, and she had worked hard to overcome it. He hoped those past demons hadn’t just caught up with her. One way or the other, he was going to figure out what was going on.
He woke her gently as they arrived at her house. Her eyes widened as awareness came back to her. Horror crossed her face as she fingered the puke that was still stuck to several strands of her hair. “Shh, it’s okay,” he assured.
“No, it isn’t,” she mumbled, her cheeks flaming as she dug keys out of her purse.
He took a deep breath to steady himself and blew it out. “No,” he said, “in all seriousness, it’s not. We really do need to talk about what happened tonight.” Plucking the keys from her hands, he walked around to her side of the truck. Opening the door, he scooped her into his arms once again.
Wriggling in his arms, she held herself as far from him as she could while he held on tight. “Pukey hair, remember?” She gasped, looking horrified.
“I don’t care a lick about the puke in your hair,” he said, looking directly into her molten chocolate brown eyes. He watched her cheeks flame anew at that.
Setting her down on the sofa, he sat next to her. He should probably let her sober up the rest of the way before having this conversation. Taking in the firm set of her jaw and ramrod straight line of her spine, she was obviously ready to have this out now. “What were you thinking, Melissa?” He started as gently as he could, but could feel all of his earlier emotions begin to boil again.
Melissa obviously felt them too because she immediately went on the defensive. Her eyes flashed. “You think there’s something wrong with going out dancing?”
He leveled his eyes on hers. “Is that really the stance you want to take right now?”
“Why not?” she spat. “I went out to have some fun. While I admit it got a little out of control, it’s over now. As you can see, I’m fine.”
His mouth dropped open in dismay. “A little out of control,” he sputtered. “Melissa, if I hadn’t found you, who knows what would have happened to you.” He clenched his fists. “You were passed out against a wall for God’s sake.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” she dared him.