by Megan McCoy
Holly came wandering into the kitchen wearing a t-shirt and shorts, yawning, her silky blonde hair barely brushed and her feet bare, but her ankle sported the delicate ankle bracelet she hadn’t taken off since he’d given to her. “Coffee, now,” she mumbled.
Yeah, he’d worn her out last night. Where was that butt plug, come to think of it? Maybe he’d put that back in tonight. That had been fun.
Eric put a steaming mug in front of her hot and black, just like she liked it. “You coming fishing with us?”
“Nope. Not fishing. I thought we were all going on a trail ride,” she said.
“You still can. Ethan found out there was a fishing trip this morning and we’re making Ben go since he won’t get on a horse. Being good big brothers. Or uncles, I guess.”
“Oh. Okay. You bringing home supper?”
Eric smiled at his wife, she looked so adorable perched on the stool, clutching her coffee with both hands sleepily, hair mussed and no makeup. He loved this look on her.
“Lord, I don’t know. Think someone will clean what we catch?” he asked Ethan. “I don’t know how to clean a fish, do you?”
“Brother, I don’t even know how to row a boat. How did all these city folk end up out here in the middle of nowhere on this vacation?” Ethan refilled his coffee as Holly giggled.
“You can pick out a great wine to go with the fish dinner,” she said, generously.
“It’s true, I can,” he agreed.
“Ben up?” she asked.
“We hope so,” Eric said. “Haven’t seen Meredith or Liz yet. You want something to eat or going to the mess hall with the girls?”
“I don’t know." She motioned with her coffee cup, which made Eric frown at her.
“No. You need to eat. Coffee isn’t breakfast.”
Holly frowned back and wrinkled her nose. “What did you eat, bossy pants?”
“There’s a picnic basket full of food waiting for us in the mess hall. Not that you eating has anything to do with me.” Eric looked at his wife, sternly.
Holly rolled her eyes. “I’ll eat. I promise.”
“Eat breakfast,” he said. “Food.”
“Yes, sir, breakfast. With Meredith and Liz. At the mess hall. Decent food. More than coffee. Man, you wouldn’t think I was a grown up person with a decent job, the way you fuss like a grandma,” she sipped her coffee and looked at him pointedly.
“Fuss? You think I fuss like a grandma?” he asked, mock enraged.
“I do! Silly grandma, worrying about my…” Holly set her coffee down, shrieking as he strode over and grabbed her off the stool, popping her over his shoulder and popping her butt with his hand as he headed to the bedroom. “Back in a few, Ethan,” he called out.
“I’ll be here. Have a good time,” Ethan chuckled.
Eric flopped Holly down on the surprisingly comfortable bed. “Fussy?”
“Fussy!” she agreed, as he flopped down beside her. “Old woman, fussy!”
“You are asking for a good paddling,” he teased.
“Am not! I’m asking for a mediocre one,” with that she wiggled herself over his lap while he struggled to sit up.
“Mediocre! I’m not a mediocre kind of guy!” he gave her a sharp smack on her bottom that made her squeal.
“You might be!” she squirmed under his hand, still giggling. “Mediocre and fussy!”
Eric smacked her sharply four more times while she wriggled and squealed and squirmed under his hand, then pulled her up in his arms and kissed her hard.
“Damn, I love you.”
“I know you do,” she said smugly.
* * *
Matt pulled off a red shirt he never liked and pulled on a deep indigo blue one. Yeah, that was better. Not sure why he was fussing anyway. He was just taking a client out to have a good time. Maybe get him some. Tonight, tomorrow. He knew he would, he could tell by her reaction when he kissed her earlier today. So why he thought looking good was this important, felt idiotic. Yet, he wanted to. So why not?
He was picking Liz up in half an hour and taking her out to dinner. Picking her up in front of her two brothers and her son. Why didn’t he have her meet him in front of the lodge? That was his usual MO. This one, after, what, six or eight kisses, he said that he’d come by and get her? What had gotten into him? Mind controlling lipstick. It had to be the answer. There could be no other. Sticking a tissue in his pocket, he vowed to make her wipe her mouth before he kissed her again. Not caring how stupid that sounded, it was a goal to aim for. No more mind control for him. He was going to be the guy in charge, not a tub of pink lip dye.
Standing up straight, he heard Blaze’s usual, “Hey, old man,” as he walked in the door.
Returning with his usual, “Not old. What do you want?” He tucked his shirt in and came out of the bedroom.
“Going out?”
“Yeah. Well, unless I’m need somewhere?” Matt saw a look of concern on his son’s face. The boy had grown up to be empathetic to a fault sometimes.
“Need to ask you,” Blaze started.
“Ask me,” Matt said, sitting down on the comfortable chair in front of the fire and motioning Blaze to the other one. He knew Blaze’s MO and anytime he started a sentence with ‘need to ask you’ he needed and it was generally something serious.
“One of the kids I hang out with… I think he’s in trouble,” Blaze started.
“Illegal trouble or other kind?” Matt wondered if the cops needed called. If the kid worked here. If it was a client’s kid. They didn’t need trouble. Over fifty client families were here calling it home for the week or more, and there would be twenty some more coming in before the weekend was over. They’d had to ask a few clients to leave over the years as well as more than a handful of workers. The good of the many outweighed….
“Dad. I’m wanting some flex time to find out,” Blaze seemed uncomfortable, unlike his usual confident self.
“Do you need time off or do you just need time? How bad is this?”
“Not, not off, just some flex time.”
Matt pulled his boots on. “I trust you, Blaze. You do what needs done, okay? I’ll cover for you or help you out and if you get in over your head, talk to me or your grandpa, or Candy. She’s smart.”
“Okay, I will,” Blaze said, seemingly relieved. “Dad, it’s not bad bad. It’s just, I don’t know. I need to figure this out. I’ll let you know what I need, okay?”
“I trust you. You let me know what’s going on, okay?” Matt walked over, thought about hugging his boy, but punched his shoulder instead. “I’ll try to help out as I can, okay?”
“Love you, Dad,” Blaze said, as he strode out of the room.
“Love you, too, more than you know,” Matt whispered as he watched his son leave. This was probably nothing. Kids. They were so dramatic.
He just hoped it was nothing, anyway.
Grabbing his keys and wallet, he strode out the door, heading to pick up Liz for their date. Why did he suddenly feel his life was going to be totally changed before he got home tonight? Premonitions sucked.
Chapter Five
Liz looked around the crowded bar, relaxed and happy finally. It had taken three beers, but she had done it! Feeling lazy and warm and fuzzy buzzed, she’d never been to a place quite like before. All the bars at home she’d ever been to, were sports bars, big TVs, and quiet polite people, except for an occasional roar of approval or disapproval as the sports boys did their things. This bar reminded her of the movie where Jim Belushi sang to the cowboys. Of course it made her a little nervous.
However, she told herself, it was only the strange, new, and different place, and not the hot cowboy that made her nerves zing. So many bodies and so much noise, and it was very warm in here, despite the ceiling fans gently rotating air. That’s why the ice-cold beer in a very frosty mug slid down her throat so easily. Her hot cowboy was off getting them another, apparently. Was his evil plan to get her drunk and have his way with her? Damn, she
hoped so. She’d just ask him. Maybe. Better idea to wait till they got to the truck.
Watching Matt walk across the room with a big frosty beer and a glass of something else, she had to admire the way his jeans fit. The man wore them well. Maybe he would be equally as well… as good? As… hot! Yes! She thought triumphantly, hot! Out of them. Her brain seemed to be a bit zingy. Hippity hop like a bunny and not settling on anything. She liked it very much, however, maybe she should stop with the beer and start with the water. Was that water in his hand? She hoped so.
“It’s so nice, here,” she told him, hoping her words weren’t slurring, as he sat back down at the table next to her. Close enough to lean on. So she did. “Come here often, cowboy?”
“Not often enough,” he smiled at her with those gorgeous blue eyes, looking deep into hers. “And never with someone so pretty.”
“And you say that to all the lonely women whose pants you want into, right?” She giggled.
“It’s not just your pants I want into,” Matt said.
“My shirt, too?” she pretended to sob. “Never satisfied, are you?”
“Oh, I hope to show you later just how satisfied I can be,” he teased.
“Yeah. Okay. So we are hanging out here exactly why again?” Her hand clutched his, and then she picked up what she hoped was water and took a tentative taste. Yes, water. A couple gulps later, she looked up at him looking at her quizzically. “What?”
“Nothing. Thought you wanted another beer,” he said.
Carefully, deliberately, she looked him up and down and said, “Nope. Alcohol is not fueling my needs right now.”
“What kind of needs do you have, pretty lady?” His mouth twitched in a way that she knew meant he knew exactly what she needed.
Leaning over she whispered in his ear, and he leaned back and roared with laughter. “If you were mine that would get you a mouth soaping and a good paddling.”
“I’m yours for the night cowboy, but those particular things were not what I was wanting,” she clutched his hand tighter.
“Obviously,” he said. “Let’s go.” He threw some tip money on the table without letting go of her hand, and they headed out of the bar.
Liz tried very hard to put one foot surely in front of the other. Tripping would not be good. She wanted to make a good impression and falling would not do that. Unless she fell in his arms, of course. But since he was leading her, she didn’t think that would happen. She’d end up falling in the lap of some stranger. Not what she wanted at all.
Happily, they ended up outside in the warm, humid summer air before she cuddled up some other cowboy than the one she wanted to be with. Inhaling deeply, she tried to clear her head. “Now what?” she asked him.
“Now we go for a ride out to the lake,” he said decisively. She liked that. Strong, firm man.
“Then do I get that paddling you promised?” she said, and giggled.
“Only if you’re a good girl,” he said, and opened the truck door for her.
“Oh, I’m going to be a very good girl,” she promised, settling into her seat, then scooting over to the middle of the seat. She didn’t want to be far from him, now that she was all hot and bothered.
It had been so long since she had sex. So long since she’d been out with a really attractive man. Sure, she’d done a few dating sites, but seemed all she found was frogs. So tired of frog tossing back, she was. Bad thing about frogs, once she tossed them back, they kept hopping back to her repeatedly. This guy, while handsome and hard enough, was probably another frog. The nice thing was he couldn’t keep hopping back to her. He’d be here and she’d be five some hours away. Why had she never thought of this before? Long distance dating! Sex them and leave them.
Matt climbed into the truck just a bit later, and she snuggled close to him. How obvious could she make this? She wanted him!
Putting one arm around her, he started the truck and threw it in reverse. She leaned back and nestled into his arm as if she belonged there. Suddenly, she felt as if she did. For the night, she reminded herself. She had a kid, hopefully sleeping in the cabin with his uncles, and two jobs waiting for her at home. She wasn’t anything more to this guy, Matt, than a quick and easy lay that he got every week…. “Shit.”
“You have to or what?” he asked. “Anyone ever tell you that you have kind of a potty mouth?”
“I don’t have to do that, sorry,” she said, just vaguely realizing what he meant, mind racing. “I don’t have any, well, protection, you know. Can we stop somewhere?”
“Oh, you think I’m a sure deal, do you? Pretty confident?” He pulled her ever closer.
“Oh. I don’t know. Are you?”
“One, I have protection. I always take care of my women, and two, I think we can satisfy whatever urges you seem to be having.”
“I do so love a confident male,” she sighed happily, and casually reached over to just below his belt. Just one little feel. That was all she wanted.
“I’m not going to complain about that,” he said, “But don’t forget we have that paddling issue to get through first.”
“I’m pretty sure we were teasing about that,” she said, stroking the rising bulge under his jeans firmly.
“I don’t think so. Not only do I protect my females but I also never lie to them,” he said and hitched his hips just a bit.
“Teasing is not a lie! Or a promise! And I’ve never been spanked. I’m pretty sure it’s not fun,” she said, her mind flipping back to an overheard spanking once. She’d been staying at Eric and Holly’s for a long weekend, woke up very early for some reason and wandered down to the kitchen for some food. As she’d walked by Eric’s office door, she’d head a distinctive sound of skin on skin contact and Holly whimpering and then sobbing. She’d stopped outside the door, waiting to see if she should stop what was going on. Was her brother beating his wife? She was not going to stand for that. She must have gotten there at the end of the fight, though, because the next thing she heard was Holly sobbing and Eric comforting her.
“I’m sorry, I won’t do it anymore,” Holly had sobbed out.
“I know, shh. I got you, you’re okay,” he’d soothed, and she remembered hearing those words as he picked her up from a bike accident when she was ten.
“My bottom hurts,” Holly had whined.
“If it didn’t, I wouldn’t have done my job. Come here, I’ll rub it for you.”
“Hold me another minute first,” she’d said.
Liz had tiptoed back to her room after that, all thoughts of food forgotten. Her brother spanked his wife. Her brother, who had the best relationship of any married couple she knew. She never asked either of them about it, but it had always stuck in her mind. Wondering what it would be like to have a strong, gentle, loving male upend her over his knee occupied many a nightly thought. Yeah, and sometimes during the day.
“Oh! I don’t want a mouth soaping. Ever,” she said, still stroking through his pants and wishing he’d lose them.
Were they there yet?
Matt pulled up beside a small boat dock, and held her close for a minute. “How about I paddle that boat instead of you?” he said.
A swift momentary stab of disappointment raced through her. But, hell, she wasn’t going to tell him that. Number one, she was rather looking forward to her first spanking. Sort of. Maybe. At least while she was lubricated enough it might not hurt and just be sexy. Number two, she doubted they could have sex in that rickety boat. Maybe he’d changed his mind and didn’t want her? Was this his way of letting her down easy? Dammit. She wanted a hot cowboy. Knowing part of her racing thoughts was the alcohol fueling her brain, she took a deep breath and decided a bit of time to sober up some was probably exactly what she needed.
“I like that idea, cowboy,” she said, sliding over to open the truck door. Misjudging the step, she stepped out, twisted her ankle, falling right on the ground. “Ouch!” she exclaimed, hearing Matt come around the truck.
“You okay?
” He asked reaching his hand down to help her up. “Anything hurt but your dignity?”
Liz laughed, “Nope, that thinks it pretty well covers it.” Testing her ankle to make sure she hadn’t twisted it, she took a few steps but didn’t let go of his hand. Pulling a small pen light out of his pocket, he gave her a quick once over under its surprisingly strong light.
“You look no worse for wear, come on. Let’s go for a quick boat ride and see if we can work out some of these pre sex nerves, ok?”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said, and was happily relieved to find nothing seemed to be hurt and that her head was clearing. Amazing what a jolt of pain would do. She couldn’t wait to see what a jolt of electricity did when he kissed her again.
“Come on, I’ll hold your hand till we get there.”
She liked that, Liz decided. She just imagined she was going to enjoy the rest of the night even more.
* * *
“I don’t think Ben needs to be left alone that much,” Eric said, worriedly.
Holly clutched his hand and tried to reassure him. “It’s not like he’s neglected. He’s well fed, had all his shots, gets to school most days…” her voice trailed off as her husband didn’t seem appeased.
“Why does she have to work that second job? He’s there asleep in the house all by himself. What if something happened while she was gone?”
Holly wasn’t sure what to say to that. “She leaves at 4:30, and gets home before 8:30 when he has to be at school. And that’s only a couple days a week. On the weekends, he sleeps while she’d gone. Eric, I imagine she needs the money or she wouldn’t be doing it, don’t you?”
“Well, there’s need and need. Damn Troy dying without enough life insurance. What was he thinking?” Eric squeezed her hand. “I won’t do that to you.”
“I’m not worried. I’m a big girl and don’t have kids or medical bills like she did after Troy died,” Holly said, snuggling in close to him. She didn’t like Eric being this upset. “Ben’s twelve, almost thirteen. I was babysitting other people’s kids when I was that age. He’s fine alone for a couple hours a day.”
