Off of the Beaten Path

by Lizbeth Dusseau

  “Where are you going?” Jess said, seeing her plans.

  “I have to think!” she snapped. Her beautiful jaw was set so tightly, Jess thought it just might snap. And she’d put him in such a foul mood that he didn’t really want to talk to her anymore, so he let her go out into the night. Perhaps they both could catch their breath. Though for the life of him, he had no idea why she’d reacted so badly to such an innocent suggestion, when a simple “I’m not ready” would have sufficed.

  When Ashley didn’t return after an hour, Jess was wondering if he should be worried. Recalling another night in the middle of the Venezuelan jungle, when Ashley had hurt her ankle, he went out on the porch to sit and listen for her, though he was not about to go exploring.

  Another half hour, and he watched Ashley stroll up to the porch.

  “So, you’re not going to go screw up your ankle this time?” he said.

  “I suppose you’d like that, so you can rescue me,” she said.

  “I don’t know where you got the idea that I’m some chauvinistic asshole that wants you in the kitchen cooking waffles every morning, but I think you’re way off base on my intentions for marriage.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” He looked at her waiting for another snappy response.

  “Actually Jess, I’m sorry for my outburst. That was kind of ridiculous.”

  “I’m not going to argue with that.”

  “The sentiment was overstated, but it’s still true. Not the part about you being Neanderthal. I know you’re not like that, but as far as our getting married, I still think it’s a stupid idea.”

  Jess nodded. “Well, I didn’t expect that you’d change your mind that much, but at least you’ve calmed down.”

  “I’m not ready for marriage, nowhere near ready for that, and it just made me so angry that you’d put that kind of pressure on me, especially when we were getting along so well.”

  “So, we’ll forget about it,” Jess said, ready to put the matter to rest.

  “I’m not sure I can,” she said.

  “I don’t have to get married, Ashley. I mean after your outburst tonight, why would I want to marry you, if that’s what I have to look forward to.” He didn’t know how she’d take the comment, but he really didn’t care. The brat deserved a little back of what she’d so easily dished out. “And you don’t need to worry, I’ve rescinded the offer.”

  “You have?”

  “Yes.” Having said all he wanted to say, he rose from the chair and went inside.

  They spent the remainder of the night in a prickly silence, and didn’t even consider making love at bedtime. The only thing Jess could hope was that they’d be able to patch things up the next day, and salvage the remainder of their vacation.

  The next morning, however, as Jess woke, he was surprised to find that Ashley was gone. She’d vanished, obviously waking at a very early hour, because he’d slept right though her departure. Packing her bags under his nose, she left just a brief terse note. It’s message direct.

  I can’t do this Jess. I’m sorry. I’m going home. Call me when you get back.

  Ashley

  Chapter Nine

  It was three days later. Ashley was at the airport, planning a flight schedule to fill in her time since her early return from the mountains. Her boss was happy, since her trip had cut into his plans for her in the first place; and he was fast filling up her days with short hops to the small Northern California communities that the airport served.

  Ashley was delighted to get back into her plane after two days hibernating in her house, wondering all the while if Jess would call her. He didn’t. She didn’t blame him, but she was still disappointed. She hardly had a right to be upset after the way she left. Getting back to work was better therapy than staying at home, so when her third day home rolled around, Ashley pulled herself together and went back to the airport.

  “You want to tell me what happened with your professor?” Greg asked her, in one brief moment when she was relaxing at her desk, drinking a cup of coffee.

  “No,” she replied.

  “That bad, huh?”

  She sighed. “He asked me to marry him,” she said. She had no intention of telling anyone this, but it just seemed to spill out.

  “What’s the matter with that?” he asked.

  “I’m not ready, not now, and likely ever,” she answered mournfully.

  “I see. So is this relationship dead?” he wondered.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I suppose it is, because I haven’t heard from him.”

  Greg nodded his head, as if the information meant something to him.

  “Why do you ask?” she wondered aloud, wanting to get behind his curious expression.

  “Oh, there’s just a guy here that would love to date you. Keeps asking me about you, and I told him you were taken, so to speak.”

  “I’m hardly taken now. Even if Jess is still in my life, I don’t think it’ll be as close as we’ve been. I’m sure he’s royally pissed.”

  “Too bad.”

  “It’s just as well, I’m not ready for marriage. I know that,” Ashley assured him, though she was really trying to convince herself. “So who’s this guy that’s so interested in me?”

  “Nick Torres.”

  “Nick? Really?” she exclaimed.

  “Yeah, you know him?”

  “Kinda. We talked a couple of weeks ago when he flew in here.”

  “You just might get your chance to talk again,” Greg said. “He’s due in here this afternoon.”

  Ashley looked pleased, though it seemed a little crass to be thinking of another man, when the one she surely loved, if only haltingly, was, for all she knew, still sitting in a mountain cabin wondering what had happened to their six days together. Nonetheless, she was heartened by the fact that another man had eyes on her. Maybe it was time to look in other directions anyway. Perhaps Jess was just in her life to get her back into civilization, where she could find the right relationship. Maybe he’d served his purpose. After all, there had to be something behind her violent opposition to his marriage proposal.

  Ashley thought about the prospects of her love life for a few minutes and then decided to push the whole quandary out of her mind. She went back to her flight plans for the next two days, and was deep in thought when she became aware that someone was standing very close to her.

  Looking up, Ashley stared directly into Nick Torres handsome face. Stocky, well built and very attractive, in a dark steamy sort of way, he made her heart flutter just a little, remembering the conversation with Greg.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “I just heard the good news,” he said, with a pleasant grin. There was a decided darkness in this man’s spirit, different than she was used to, certainly far different than Jess’s easygoing manner. It made Ashley jolt a little, and she wasn’t sure why.

  “What good news?” she asked.

  “You broke up with your boyfriend.”

  “Well, I can’t really say we’ve broken up,” she answered.

  “But you’re free to date?”

  Ashley considered the idea for a moment, not sure how she wanted to answer, but a date seemed innocent enough, especially when Nick Torres would be flying out the next day. “I suppose I am,” Ashley said.

  “Then tonight?” Nick said.

  “Sure,” she said with a smile, and she watched him walk away, something about the way he moved thrilled her in the most unusual way.

  Moments later, she heard her name sharply spoken, and looked up to see Jess standing almost exactly where Nick had just been.

  “Jess?” She looked surprised.

  “Just coming back through town, thought I’d see for myself if you made it back safely.”

  “I did, I’m here.”

  “How did you get home?” he asked.

  She blushed at little. “Hitched a ride.”

  “You what?” He couldn’t believe that.

  “It was
okay. The guy was really sweet, and was driving right into Santa Rosa.”

  “That was still stupid.” This news made Jess angry, but he wouldn’t make an issue of it … yet.

  “Well, if you were so worried, how come this is the first I hear about it? You didn’t call.”

  “Oh, I knew you got home okay,” he told her.

  “You did? How?”

  “I called Greg.”

  “Oh. He didn’t tell me.”

  “I told him not to.”

  Ashley was slightly touched by the gesture, but she didn’t say so.

  “I really think we need to talk a little more,” Jess said. “But behind closed doors, if you know what I mean?” Practically in the lobby of the airport, it was difficult to have a serious conversation.

  “In private?” she said.

  “In private,” he confirmed.

  Ashley didn’t like the look on his face; it was not one she was familiar with. There was something pretty somber and a little mysterious brewing in him. At the same time, she was aroused and a little frightened, not sure where his mood would lead.

  “Well, how about Greg’s office. It’s down the hall and very private. He left, in fact there’s really no one here right now.” She stared around the almost deserted building, it usually cleared out this time of day. She thought of Nick, but was pretty certain that he was on the tarmac doing repairs on his plane.

  “We’re alone, that’s good. It will make things easier on both of us.”

  Ashley wasn’t sure what he meant, though she was about to find out. Marching down the back hall and into Greg’s office, Jess closed the door and locked it.

  “Is that necessary?” Ashley asked.

  “I don’t want any interruptions,” Jess said.

  “So what are you planning? You going to spank me for leaving you.”

  “I’m going to spank you. Not for leaving, but for being sneaky, inconsiderate and reckless about it.”

  “C’mon Jess, it’s over now… .”

  “For hitching rides, lying to me, and acting like the cowardly lion instead of being an adult …”

  “C’mon, Jess, you don’t need to get so upset …

  “Oh, I’m not getting upset, I already am. And I’ve had three days all by myself to think about it, and you know what? It’s not getting any easier. So, I decided that this would be the best course of action. You, my fair brat, need a good spanking for your thoughtless behavior, and frankly, I need to spank you because it’s simply justice.”

  In spite of the way he was looking at her, in spite of her resolve not to let this moment happen with him again, she knew he was right about the whole thing. If he was any man at all, he had every right to react. She’d be disappointed if he didn’t. And yet, as much as she was attracted to him for it, her need to control was fighting her every step of the way.

  She responded with flashing eyes, and anger beginning to brew right to the surface of her emotions. “Don’t you think we’re beyond this Jess?” she tried the calm ploy first.

  “No,” he replied. “

  Jess carefully, but very firmly grabbed Ashley’s arm, and thrust her over Greg’s cluttered desk. “Don’t move,” he ordered in an icy cold burst, and he stood back, finding his leather strap in his black travel bag—the very one she’d given him.

  “Jess please, we have to talk this out,” she moaned.

  “You talked enough in the mountains. I heard you clearly, now you can get what you deserve for running out on me the way you did, and we’ll call the whole thing quits. All the time and love I’ve expended on you, Ashley Bloom, I’ve decided that it’s not worth it. But I will have this last session with your ass, so maybe the next man will not go through what I have.”

  Talking was over. All the niceties were over. Jess quickly jerked down her pants, baring her bottom naked. He couldn’t wait to deliver the message.

  Drawing back the fat leather strap, he landed the first blow on Ashley’s bottom as ruthlessly as he ever had. He followed the first smack with another and another, and her bottom was already shocking red. He was not about to stop, however, even though Ashley was beginning to whimper softly. This was not one of their hot-fired tempestuous spankings. This was more deserved and both of them knew it. For that reason, Ashley was more willing to take the chastisement. She’d been reckless, thoughtless and selfish. Running off the way she did was a stupid move. She acknowledged that, knowing that she deserved Jess’s anger, even if the strap made her ass burn like holy hell.

  “Oh, please, Jess, enough,” she wailed at one juncture. But her passionate plea only made him back off for a few seconds, then begin again just as vigorously as the first time.

  Seeing the blushing, wiggling, jiggling rear cheeks glowing with a lovely red fire was satisfaction. He needed this as much as she did.

  Stroke after stroke, smack after smack the fierce implement of Ashley’s own choosing made trails across her rear, and even strayed low to her thighs. A half dozen rude smacks in that tender place and she was howling all too loudly for their compromising place. Apparently, she didn’t mind, and Jess certainly didn’t. He didn’t care if the whole world heard her woe. This was justice.

  When he suddenly stopped and dropped the strap to the floor with a resounding clatter, Ashley breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Don’t get happy yet, luv,” Jess told her, “I’m not done.”

  “What do you mean?” Ashley said. Still bent over, she looked back at his stern expression.

  “Today’s the day I cane you.”

  “What!” she exclaimed with widened eyes.

  “Do I have to repeat myself?” he asked.

  Her lip was trembling at the very thought. And when she saw the new implement that he withdrew from his bag, she shuddered so he noticed.

  “You can’t mean that!” she protested.

  Jess stood back and eyed Ashley’s red bottom, determining where the first cut would land. He decided the hot red center of her bottom would do. It had been years since he’d leveled such an implement against a naughty female bottom, always thinking it the most severe that he could use for punishment. But if ever Ashley was going to need it, this was the time.

  A fierce swish cut through the air, and the thwack of the implement was clear, as it landed right where Jess wanted it.

  “Oh nooooooo!” she blared loudly.

  Another swish, another thwack, and another howl. “Please nooooo!” Ashley implored him before he could draw back for the third cut. Never had she felt such fire on her bottom, never. The heat was ferocious, the burn ungodly. This just couldn’t go on, it couldn’t.

  A swish and a thwack, and the third cut blazed a third trail on her bottom. Jess could see the three clear lines laced on her tender skin.

  “Please, please no more,” she cried, and she stood for a moment, her feet dancing, as if she was trying to get away.

  Jess pushed her back down over the desk, “Three more and we’re even,” he announced, and Ashley prepared herself for the rest. There was no getting away, no trying to run, no way to change the course, even though she wasn’t sure she could take it.

  Another swish, and she clenched her ass cheeks tightly, as the cut landed across the others, with the same horrid sting and burn.

  Jess, not planning to make the punishment linger, aimed carefully and let the cane fly again; the swish the most horrible thing that Ashley could think of, except for the pain that followed. The last cut landed with the same fierce bite, though with this one she slumped against the desk, thankful that it was over at last.

  It seemed like forever that she remained bent over submissively. It took a long time to recuperate, emotionally and physically. And to her dismay, even as fierce as the punishment had been, there was that same surge of sexual energy that was always there after a spanking. Though there was no way she’d have sex now, and she was sure Jess wouldn’t want it either.

  Even now, with the punishment over, Jess was stern and cool and not a
bout to comfort her. Instead, he stood back and admired his handiwork; the six distinct lines made an interesting pattern on her lovely cheeks. The effect would remain for several days he guessed. Too bad he wouldn’t be around to admire it daily.

  Ashley slowly began to pull herself up.

  “So, I suppose you’ve had your say?” Ashley said.

  “Almost,” Jess replied.

  “Oh, you have more,” she wondered, as she turned around and retrieved her pants from her ankles. It was an uncomfortable struggle getting them back over her hips.

  “Hurting?” he asked, with a little smirk.

  She scowled at him, thinking that she didn’t owe him an answer.

  “So, what more do you have to say?”

  Jess looked at her, while Ashley saw his face soften slightly. There was that old affection in his eyes. “I love you Ashley. You don’t know how devastated I was having you leave the way you did. I don’t know how I’ll get over that, the coldness, the cowardice. I’m sorry our vacation took you beyond your limit; but it all goes back to the same thing. If we don’t commit to this, we have nothing. I can’t see it any other way. I’m going to leave you be for a while, just as I have before. If you want the relationship, then come back intending to make it happen all the way. I don’t want half of you anymore.”

  Ashley bit her lip and nodded. She looked very young and innocent and a little hurt, not just from the spanking and the cane. The hurt went a lot deeper. And what was worse, she knew it was her own doing.

  “If you want me, Ash, I’ll be in Berkeley. I’m convinced we can make it work, but it takes two people to make a relationship happen, I can’t do it alone.”

  He was packing up his bag and ready to leave.

  “This was cruel, Jess,” Ashley replied, looking at him with feelings that could go either way. She could be hurt or angry or in love, maybe all three; but it was like her to take just one feeling and ride it to the bitter edge, and she wasn’t sure which one it would be this time.

  However, on this occasion, Jess didn’t give her time to react, he was acting fast himself. Leaning forward, he gave her a genuinely affectionate peck on the cheek; and then picking up his things, he unlocked the door, leaving Ashley with nothing but anger rising in the middle of her pain.