Brax had taken time off work to care for her, only going back three days ago. He’d only gone after exacting a promise from her that she wouldn’t leave the house and would rest.
Well, enough was enough. She felt much better. A bit tired still, but well enough to make dinner and do some housework. Which she’d already done. And after a brief rest to regain some energy, she was now totally bored.
She chewed her lower lip as she thought. There were only so many places he could hide her laptop, so where could it be? Grabbing a chair, she decided that searching the top cupboards in the kitchen would be a good place to start.
An hour later, she still hadn’t had any luck and was fast running out of places to search. She glanced up at the ceiling. Would he really have put her laptop in the attic? She reached up and grabbed the rope, yanking hard. The stairs didn’t look sturdy enough to hold her, let alone Brax’s not inconsiderable weight.
Oh well, she didn’t have anywhere else left to look.
*****
Brax walked into the house, eager to see Holly. He loved having her in his home—the sooner she moved here permanently the better.
He’d had his proposal all planned out before she’d grown ill. Now, he just had to wait for the right moment.
“Holly?” he called out, sniffing deeply. Something smelled delicious, and as much as he appreciated that she’d cooked dinner, he hoped she hadn’t worn herself out.
She’d been busy doing more than just cooking dinner, if his sparkling house was anything to go by. Damn it, he’d left her with orders to rest. She’d really scared him with how ill she’d been and he wasn’t about to let her regress. She’d worn herself down working long hours so she could take some time off. He blamed himself for not noticing how much it had been wearing on her.
“Holly?” he called out, quieter this time, thinking she could be asleep. But she wasn’t in the bedroom. A noise came from above him.
Surely not.
He strode to the end of the passage and saw a pair of legs clad in black pants coming down stairs that weren’t anywhere near sturdy enough for her to be walking on. They were on his list of things to fix when he finally found the time.
Suppressing a growl, he reached up and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her down. Holly squealed in fright.
“Brax! You scared me.” She hit him lightly on the shoulder as he placed her on her feet. Brax pushed the stairs back into place before turning and hugging her.
He gave her a soft kiss then leaned back to look down into her face. Still too pale and she hadn’t regained all the weight she’d lost, but her eyes were brighter and she no longer wheezed with each breath.
“Hello,” she said with a smile. “You’re home earlier than I thought.”
He ran his thumb over her cheek, loving the silken feel of her skin. “I missed you. Want to explain to me what you were doing in the attic? Those stairs aren’t sturdy. You could have fallen and hurt yourself badly.”
Holly bit her lower lip, looking extremely guilty. “Ahh, well, I was bored. I’d already done the housework and dinner and I had nothing else to do.”
“That’s another thing,” he said, his voice a low croon. “You know I wanted you to rest today, not wear yourself out running around doing the housework.”
“I didn’t run,” she countered. “And I did rest. I lay down for an hour after lunch.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. You’ve been ill. You need to take better care. What were you doing in the attic?”
She sighed and he heard a slight wheeze. “I was looking for my laptop.”
Her laptop? “Why would you think it was in the attic?”
She shrugged. “I couldn’t find it anywhere else. The attic was all that was left.”
Brax ran his hand through his hair. “It’s in my truck. For God’s sake, why didn’t you just ask me?”
Her gaze turned sceptical. “You’d let me work?”
“Hell, no.” Was she crazy? She was meant to be on holiday. “But at least you wouldn’t have climbed into the attic, searching for it.”
He grabbed her hand and tugged her into the living room. “Sit,” he ordered.
“But dinner,” she protested.
He waggled that finger. “I’ll get dinner ready. You are going to rest. Then after dinner we’re going to have a little talk.”
*****
Holly ate dinner as slowly as she dared, knowing exactly what Brax had meant by ‘a little talk’. It wouldn’t involve much talking, not by her anyway. She was sure he’d be doing plenty of scolding.
Brax sat back and watched her with a knowing gaze. Finally, she pushed the plate away.
“Full?” he asked.
She nodded. Her stomach had shrunk quite a bit over the last few weeks and she couldn’t eat near as much as she used to. Not a bad thing she figured, although Brax let her know in no uncertain terms if he thought she wasn’t eating enough.
Picking up their plates, he cleared the table. Holly washed the dishes and Brax dried. They worked in companionable silence until the kitchen was clean. Then Brax held out his hand. With a sigh, Holly took it and let him lead her into the bedroom where he proceeded to strip her. He sat on the bed and drew her to sit on his lap.
“You know how much you mean to me, don’t you?” he murmured. “I love you more than anything in the world. I think it was pretty much love at first sight and I’ve never believed in that.”
She nodded, she hadn’t either believed in it, either. Not until she’d met him.
“You were so ill, and I hate the idea of you sick or in pain. I hate even more that I can’t always be there to take care of you. I have to rely on you to look after yourself. Only that didn’t happen this time, did it?”
Guilt swamped her. She hadn’t meant to scare him.
“I’m sorry I worried you. I should have stayed in Houston.”
“I wish you had taken better care when you first got ill so a simple cold didn’t turn into pneumonia. If you’d rested instead of continuing to work on like you’re superwoman then you probably would have recovered much more quickly.”
“I know.” She coughed and he tipped her face up.
“Are you sure you’re feeling all right?” he asked with concern.
She could lie. It would get her out of the spanking. But she couldn’t do that.
“Yes,” she said reluctantly.
“You’re breathing okay?”
“I’m fine. I promise.”
“Do you think you don’t deserve this spanking?” he asked her. She knew he would listen to her if she said no. They’d had a long talk about what sort of role both of them would take in their relationship. She loved submitting when it came to sex and they’d both discovered that erotic spankings were an incredible turn-on.
There was a part of her that needed his dominance, his discipline, even beyond the bedroom. He made her feel so safe. With Matt, she’d never known where she stood. Brax always talked things through with her, including when he was about to discipline her.
Well, mostly. He didn’t see things like giving her a few smacks for lifting something he considered too heavy grounds for a conversation first.
“Do I really have to answer that? Can’t you just get on with it?”
Brax chuckled. “Get on with it?” He grasped her chin and turned her head so she was looking up at him. “Are you that eager, honey?”
She wrinkled her nose at him.
“Do you think you don’t deserve this spanking for putting your health in jeopardy?” he repeated the question more firmly. “For pushing yourself, for travelling here when you were so ill?”
“No, I deserve it.” She sighed. “I didn’t take care of myself. I’m really sorry that you had to take time off work to look after me.”
“Hey now.” He cupped her face with his hands. “Don’t for one moment think I begrudge you that. I feel guilty that I didn’t go to Houston straight away to take care of you. I’ll be
much happier once we’re together all the time. Although your butt may not.”
He lifted her, tipping her over his lap. He took his time, positioning her just how he wanted her, with her torso supported by the bed.
A smack to her butt stole her breath. He didn’t give her much time to recover, his wide palm making an impact on her bottom. It had been a long time since her last spanking and it didn’t take long until her butt was aflame.
She wiggled on his lap, but he held her easily, steadily warming her bottom. Even as pain flared, she felt herself growing aroused, her clit swelling. Tears dripped down her cheeks in long, slow rivulets.
Suddenly, Brax stopped and she turned her head. Was that the end?
His hand rubbed her back. “Breathing okay?”
“Y-yes,” she replied.
“Good. I’m going to help you stand now. I want you to pile up some pillows in the middle of the bed then lie over them, understand me?”
She nodded, following his directions as he left the room. What was he going to do? Her butt throbbed painfully and she blushed, thinking of the sight she must make, lying there on the bed, her bright red ass in the air.
Hearing him come back, she looked over her shoulder, her eyes drawn to the object in his hand.
Oh hell, a butt plug. He’d used one on her a few times, but usually during sex, not punishment. Holly swallowed heavily.
“Now, normally I’d be using my paddle on you for putting your health in such danger. But I’ve decided on something different tonight. You’re going to lie here with a plug poking out of your bright red cheeks and think about how you will going to avoid this happening again. Understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good, reach back and pull your butt cheeks apart.” With a low whimper she reached back, thoroughly embarrassed by the fact that she was completely revealed to him. Even though he’d played with that area frequently, he’d never required she participate.
Brax laid soft kisses down her back, surprising her. What was he doing? Oh God! She jolted up as he laid a kiss on her asshole.
“Brax!”
“Hush. Stay still,” he ordered. Then he placed his tongue right over her asshole, pressing it slowly inside her. Heat engulfed her, coming in waves that left her shivering in its wake.
Nerve endings came instantly into alertness as he claimed that part of her thoroughly. Holly was so immersed in pleasure that she barely felt him slowly push two fingers into her pussy. Back and forth his fingers thrust in time with his wicked tongue. Heaven. She forgot all about her burning buttocks, the dreaded plug and just lived in the moment.
Then suddenly he withdrew.
“No,” she wailed.
“Shh,” he crooned, pushing his still wet fingers into her bottom hole.
Holly groaned, trying to relax.
“Relax, baby, let me in. Good girl.” He drove his fingers into her, slow then quick until her breath was coming in short gasps.
He drew his fingers free. “I want you to take a deep breath in.”
Oh God, she knew what was coming next. But there was no way she could deny the command in his voice. As she took in a deep breath, she felt the tip of the plug poking her asshole.
“Now breathe out slowly,” he directed in a low, hypnotic voice.
The plug was slowly pressed inside her.
“Push back, Holly. Open yourself for me. This is what I want from you.” His voice weaved a spell around her and she focussed on opening herself for his invasion. On pleasing him.
Every inch or so, he’d pause and turn the plug, stretching her, but never once did he hurt her. He was always careful never to use his strength against her, never to harm her. Sure, he roasted her butt, but never to the extent that she bruised. Finally, Brax seated the plug fully inside her before giving her bottom a few hard pats.
“Now, stay there until I come back and get you. Do you need the heat turned up?” He was at the thermostat even as he asked, turning it up. Then he left her lying there on the bed, her butt throbbing, her clit on fire and her bottom clenching around the plug.
She pretty sure she’d rather have had the paddle.
*****
Brax came around to the passenger side of his truck to help Holly down. They were coming to the end of their three weeks together. She had a ticket booked to fly back to Houston tomorrow and he really didn’t want her to go.
If he had his way, very soon they would be spending every night in each other’s arms. He patted his pocket, nervously worried he’d lose the engagement ring he’d chosen for her. Tonight was the night he was going to propose.
“You okay?” she asked as they walked through the parking lot to Macy’s. Maybe he should have taken her to Waco, but he didn’t want to drive all that way. Not when she had an early flight in the morning.
“I’m fine,” he replied.
“Are you sure? You seem rather quiet.”
He turned to look at her just as her eyes widened, a look of fear crossing her face. He tried to swing around, to face the threat, but he never made it as blinding pain engulfed him.
Chapter Thirteen
Holly sat in the chair by Brax’s bedside, holding on tight to his free hand. His other arm had all sorts of tubes and contraptions attached to it. Why wouldn’t he wake up? She couldn’t believe that just last night they’d been on their way to dinner and now Brax was lying unconscious in a hospital bed in Waco.
If only she’d seen Mason Philips a few seconds earlier, she could have warned Brax in time. Instead Philips had managed to hit him with a tire iron. Holly had watched on in horror as Brax’s eyes had rolled back in his head before he’d dropped heavily to the ground.
That’s when she’d started screaming. Philips had run off as she’d kneeled beside Brax, her hands shaking, sobs wracking her body as fear engulfed her.
“Holly?” She glanced up, startled to see a large man standing in the doorway. He was dressed in dark jeans and a green shirt. His eyes looked Brax over in concern. “I’m Heath, Brax’s brother. How is he?”
Holly stood nervously. She hadn’t met any of Brax’s family yet. She knew she had to look terrible, her eyes were swollen from crying, her clothes wrinkled. Not that any of that really mattered. Not with Brax lying unconscious.
She’d called Heath an hour ago, having decided to wait for a semi-decent hour to wake him, knowing he had young children. Brax had spoken about his family a lot. She was envious of the close relationship he had with them and she knew he’d want them here.
“Thank you for coming.” She reached out a hand, but he surprised her by pulling her close and hugging her.
“Of course I came. He’s my brother. You should have called me straight away.” The last sentence was a definite reprimand. He pulled away to give her a stern look.
“Sorry, I wasn’t really sure what was going on for a start and then it took me a while to find his phone to call you. He hasn’t woken up yet. The doctor said that it’s really just a waiting game. He has some swelling in his brain and there’s nothing much anyone can do until it goes down.”
He raised a brow. “But I could have been here to support you.”
She took a half step back in surprise. “M-me? I don’t need anything.”
“No? Have you gotten any sleep? Have you eaten at all? You didn’t get dinner last night, did you?”
When she’d called Heath, she’d explained everything. Including how Mason Philips had run off like a coward. She hoped when they caught him that he spent a long time in jail.
“No, I haven’t, but I’m not hungry.”
Heath sighed and looked over at his brother, moving to his other side.
“The doctor’s due back here in a few hours. They’re hoping the swelling will go down soon. I just can’t believe this happened.”
“Neither can I,” Heath replied. “Has the sheriff been in to speak to you?”
She nodded. “Yes. He’s going to call me as soon as he has any news. I’m so angry tha
t no one told us Philips was out on bail. He could have killed Brax.”
And what happened if he never woke up? What would she do without him?
“Shh, shh, Brax has got a hard head.” Heath walked around the bed, drawing her into his arms again. Although he was basically a stranger, she couldn’t help but feel like she knew him and she leaned against him, drawing on his strength.
“He’s going to be fine,” Heath reassured her. “Right now, I’m more concerned about you, young lady. I’m going to get a hotel room close by and you’re going to go there for some sleep and food.”
She drew back, shaking her head.
Heath just watched her calmly. “You can wait until after the doctor has been by. But I’m here to watch over Brax now and he won’t appreciate waking up to find you completely worn out. I can just see his reaction, can’t you?”
She could. But she wouldn’t care, as long as he was awake.
“Why don’t you sit while I find us some food and coffee, all right?”
Holly sat, she wouldn’t admit it, but she was kind of glad to let someone else take over for a bit. She couldn’t seem to think past the fear clouding her head.
He had to wake up. He had to.
*****
After the doctor had been, with the good news that the swelling was going down, Heath bullied her into going to the hotel room. It was only a block and a half away, but he insisted on escorting her himself, brushing away her objections. He’d just given her a look that told her he wasn’t going to put up with any arguments.
She had a long shower before moving tiredly into the bedroom and laying down on the bed. Every time she closed her eyes, though, she saw Mason Philips raising that tire iron then Brax falling to the ground, unconscious.
She sat up. This was hopeless. She wasn’t going to be able to sleep. Standing, she reached for the clothes Heath had somehow found for her. Some of them still had the price tags on them, so she guessed he’d sent someone out to buy them.
His Old-Fashioned Love (Old-Fashioned Series) Page 15
