by Dinah McLeod
"Well, I'm up now," Robert whispered in her ear. "Make that every part of me."
"That's too bad," she sniffed, yanking the sheet to cover it around her. "I'm closed for business. Now I'm going back to sleep."
"Oh, come on… You got on the phone and left me high and dry yesterday." He laid his hand on her thigh, but she snapped them together, effectively closing him out.
"If you want any hope of letting little Robbie out to play, I need some rest."
"Little?" he echoed in disbelief. "I mean, I don't know if I'd call him little."
"I don't have time to argue the finer points of your penis right now, dear. Sleep."
"Okay, okay." He pulled his hands back and held them up in surrender. "Got it."
"Thank you." Sadie turned over in bed and yanked the cover to her chin, gratefully closing her eyes. She had very nearly drifted off when she heard the baby begin to coo over the monitor. Her ears strained, listening to see if he would fall back asleep so she could too. When soft coos became animated babble, she turned to her husband. "Rob, would you mind—"
Just then, his phone began vibrating on the bedside table. He yanked it up and after one glance he was out of bed. "Sorry, hon, I've got to take this."
Before she could respond, he'd already left the room. In moments, Lucas went from babbling to whining. She knew that it would only digress from there. With an exhausted groan, she threw off the covers and walked the very familiar journey down the hallway to his room.
When he saw her, his eyes lit up and he gave her the biggest, toothless baby smile. Lucky for him, the magic of it hadn't worn off yet, so she found herself smiling back. Okay, she could admit it—it might never wear off. People had told her that having a boy would be different and while it definitely was that, it was also uniquely special.
"Hey, Little Man." She reached for him. "Let's get you some breakfast. Dada will come eat with us, if we're lucky."
Sadie carried him down the hall and into the kitchen, setting him into his Bumboo before beginning to make his oatmeal. He had just begun eating baby food, and much to her surprise, he tended to eat every bite, which again differed from her girls. When they'd started with infant cereal, they tended to wear more than they got in their bellies.
She added a bit of banana puree to his cereal and blended it together before she began to spoon feed him. He lunged for the spoon and slurped hungrily.
"Yeah," she heard Robert saying in the other room. "Sure, I might be able to get the time off... no, I understand. I'll make it work."
Her ears perked up. What was that about? As she fed Lucas, she stole looks at her husband who was no longer talking, but nodding at whatever the person on the other end was saying. He didn't even say goodbye, but simply hung up the phone. Hmm. Mysterious and getting more so by the moment.
"Who was that?" she called out.
He visibly startled when he saw her watching him. "Oh, hey. When did you get down here?"
"A few minutes ago," she said with a shrug.
He walked toward her with his easy, charming smile. "I tell you what," he said, taking the spoon from her grasp. "Why don't I finish feeding LJ and you can go back to bed?"
It was like he'd read her mind. "Thank you," she gushed, standing on tiptoe to kiss him effusively on the cheek. "You're my hero."
"Say thank you with gifts," he teased.
"You mean blow jobs," she snorted, rolling her eyes.
"Shh, there's a baby in the room!"
Giggling, she turned to leave, yelping when he gave her a playful swat on the ass as she passed.
Sadie fell back asleep nearly as soon as her head hit the pillow. It was a deep, dreamless sleep, the kind you wake up feeling completely refreshed from. She woke up stretching in the feel of warm sunshine streaming in from the window.
"Morning, sleepyhead. Or should I say afternoon?"
She cracked an eye open to see Robert staring at her. He was wrapped in a towel, his gorgeous tanned skin lined with beads of water. Her eyes were drawn to the rippling muscles in his shoulders and back and as she watched him move around the room and get dressed she could feel her pussy dampen with longing. When he reached for his gray slacks, she frowned. "Are you sure you have to go into work today?"
"I wish I didn't," he said, chuckling. "But you're going to need to get out of bed and pick the girls up from school soon anyway."
"Holy crap!" she screeched, bolting up in bed. "Already? How long did you let me sleep?"
"Now, honey, you know you don't like to think I let you do anything."
She rolled her eyes at his attempt at humor. "Very funny. I just thought you'd wake me."
"I tried that earlier, remember?"
When she looked at him again, shirtless this time with his manly, broad shoulders and perfectly muscled chest on display, she not only remembered but regretted that she hadn't let him climb under the sheets with her. "Maybe I can make it up to you?" she suggested in her softest, most seductive voice.
"I'd like nothing more, you know that. But I've got to go."
With a sigh of defeat, Sadie glanced at the alarm clock. When she saw it, she did a double take. She really had been sleeping for a while. "You're getting to work late."
"I know, but you needed a little help. The baby's been fed and changed and I put him down after his bottle. And yes, before you ask, I remembered to burp him."
"Wow, I'm impressed," she admitted. "And thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm happy to help."
Except when I ask you first thing in the morning, she thought to herself. Wisely, she kept the thoughts internal, where they belonged. Besides, she really couldn't fault him. It was obvious that he was trying to make it up to her, and she had definitely needed it. She couldn't remember the last time she'd awakened feeling so refreshed.
"Is the baby still sleeping?"
When Robert nodded, she fell back against the pillows and took her time enjoying the view. Her husband was a very good looking man—otherwise, she never would have married him. Okay, so maybe that wasn't true, but still, she relished his broad shoulders, his hairy, manly chest—which he sadly was beginning to cover with a crisp white dress shirt—and the fact that every inch of him was well-muscled. Looking at him always made her proud that he still found her beautiful, even after three children and lingering baby weight.
Idly, she wondered what Lexi's husband looked like. Nowhere near as good as hers—of that much she was certain. As he began to pass her, she caught a whiff of his lust-inducing cologne and felt the muscles in her belly tighten with longing. Throwing back the covers, she hopped onto the edge of the bed and made her move by grabbing his perfect left buttock in her hand and giving it a squeeze. It wasn't his favorite thing for her to touch, but it was what was within reach, and if nothing else, it would make her intentions clear.
He turned toward her with a wide grin on his handsome face. "Babe, I wish I could…"
She groaned at the regret in his voice. "Why not? You're already late."
"Exactly. And I can't afford to be any later."
She widened her eyes the way she knew he liked, just enough to look sultrily innocent, and pulled up the slip she was wearing to reveal her golden tanned thigh. "Not even for me?"
She could feel her thigh warm when his eyes landed on it. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes away, and she was sure she had him just where she wanted him. Determined to take advantage, she shifted subtly so that the slip rose even further, offering a peek of the thin lace panties she wore.
"Ugh, the things you do to me, woman!" he groaned.
"Come on, baby. Come keep me warm. Just for a little while—you know you want to."
"You have no idea, but I can't. Sorry, baby, but it's time to bring home the bacon." She arched a brow and he added, "I noticed the fridge was looking a little sparse."
"Oh, very funny," she snorted. "Ha ha."
"Don't pout. It doesn't suit you."
On cue, she stuck out her lower lip in a thea
trical pout and put her hand on her hip.
"I admit, you're adorable, but the answer's still no."
"Baby…" She inched forward and took the opportunity to grab his crotch. For the smallest fraction of a second, he relaxed and enjoyed it, but then he was giving her stern eyes again.
"I know you heard me. Now be a good girl and get on your belly."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?"
"Try because I told you to," he suggested, the tone matching the eyes now.
"But—"
"I don't have time to argue, either. Now."
The command behind the word sent a shiver skipping along her spine. She obeyed, albeit begrudgingly, not that her lack of enthusiasm seemed to bother Robert. As soon as she'd flipped over, his hand came down hard, smarting each cheek half a dozen times before he stopped. When she rolled back over, she was considerably more subdued.
"So you have time to spank me, but not to have sex?"
"I always have time to spank you, sweetheart. It's part of my most sacred duties as your husband. Besides, I can always come home for a late lunch. Love you." He winked before giving her a quick peck and heading out the door.
Huh. Lunch. Why hadn't she thought of that?
Of course, like most good-intentions, it went to hell in a hand basket. Robert didn't end up being able to come home after all, which suited her fine because she'd had to go pick up McKenzie from school because she'd vomited in gym class. Sadie wasn't sure if it was because she had the stomach flu that had been going around—which was what the PE teacher had suggested—or because she'd taken a volleyball to the stomach, but personally, Sadie was betting on the latter.
Either way, she'd spent the rest of her afternoon waiting at the doctor's office for a battery of tests and a five-minute consultation with the pediatrician that had resulted in a clean bill of health and orders for an ice pack for the injured tummy. And now he would be billing her insurance company and making at least a hundred bucks off that visit. I love being in the mom business, Sadie thought as they walked out of the office, but being a doctor is definitely much more lucrative. Dad was right—I should have ditched the history degree for medicine. Or married rich.
When she finally got home and laid eyes on her husband, all she could manage was a half-hearted smile. She was worn out from head to toe, her libido vanished, to where she did not know. Sadly, it wasn't a new phenomenon. In fact, it happened so frequently here lately that she often wondered where they'd found the energy to make baby number three in the first place.
"How's our patient?"
"My tummy hurts," Kenzie, who'd been fine all of five seconds ago, sniffled.
"Oh, come here and let Daddy take a look, sweetheart." She eagerly ran to her dad who lifted her shirt and observed her tummy. It wasn't even red anymore, but Robert tsked his tongue and patted her back as though she deserved all the sympathy in the world. It was what made him a great father—and a gullible one. McKenzie didn't seem to mind, and lapped up the attention like an eager puppy.
"Mommy, what's for dinner?" Maddison, who Robert had picked up on his way home, asked.
"Well, hello to you too, dear. I was thinking meatloaf."
"Ew!" the twins cried in unison.
Sadie gave Robert a hard look when she noticed him trying not to smile.
He caught the look and at least had the grace to look abashed. "Girls, enough. Go wash up and get ready for dinner."
When they scampered off, he joined her in the kitchen. "Sorry you had a rough day, hon."
"It's okay," she said as she shrugged. "It's what I signed up for, I guess."
"Please," he said with a grin. "We thought we were signing up for hugs and bedtime stories, not tantrums and tornados."
"True." She giggled as she began to pull out the ingredients for dinner from the fridge.
"So, no stomach bug?"
"Nope." She bit down on her bottom lip as searched for the meatloaf pan. "The doctor did say one thing though."
"Yeah? What's that?"
"It was about LJ, actually. He asked if he was rolling over yet, and I said he wasn't," she said with a shrug. "Nothing major, just something he should be doing already, I guess."
"I see."
Detecting a hint of sternness in his voice, she looked up. "What?"
"What have I been telling you that you need to do?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "Be nicer?"
"For starters. But what's the other thing?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Rob. Can you just tell me already?"
"It would be my pleasure." He walked around the counter and approached her with a look in his eyes that made her stand up straighter. "I have been telling you that LJ needs tummy time."
"Oh. That."
"Yes, that. And by the sound of things, and the fact that you can't even remember, I'd say that you still haven't been doing it. Is that a fair assessment?"
"I don't know, maybe, but—"
"No buts. It's important. If even the doctor is mentioning it, don't you think we should listen?"
"He said it's not anything to worry about, Robert."
"I understand that, Sadie, but at the same time, since there is something we can do to help it along, I think we should. Don't you agree?"
"But he hates tummy time," she protested, her voice nearing a whine.
"True, and when I'm home, I'll see to it. But when I'm not, I expect you to. Do you understand?"
"Fine," she huffed, rolling her eyes. She knew that he hated that, but just then, she didn't care. "I don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of this."
Before she had the time to so much as blink, he'd taken hold of her shoulder and spun her around. He bent her over the counter, his other hand reaching behind to seize her buttock hard enough to make her gasp. "You're the one making this a big deal by refusing to obey. I told you he needs tummy time. I think this is the part where you're supposed to say 'yes sir' and be a good girl. I'm waiting."
"The girls will be back any minute," she reminded him, definitely whining now.
"Then I suggest you be quick about it."
She bit down on her lip, hard, to keep from crying out as he squeezed her cheek even harder. "Yes, Sir," she snapped resentfully.
"I'm sorry, that's nowhere good enough. Bedroom. Now."
She knew by the sound of his voice that he meant business, and while part of her hated him for always being able to whip out the HOH card, it was usually overshadowed by the way that firm voice, used to being obeyed, made her insides squirm. It was both delicious and fretful all at once. If she could bottle and sell the feeling, she was sure she'd be an instant millionaire. But since there was no hope of that ever happening, she supposed she'd enjoy having it all to herself—even if that meant enduring her husband's hand on her backside from time to time. Being able to thrill at his dominance, having the knowledge that he loved her and their family more than anything, made it well worth it. It also didn't hurt that exchanges like these—though she'd never admit it—made her so wet that she needed to change her panties.
Even as she slipped inside their bedroom door he heard Robert talking to the twins. She felt a pang of mother guilt—she should be outside, in the kitchen with them now. But she quickly pushed it aside. They'd probably get to watch an extra half-hour of TV, which they'd love, and she and Robert would… well… talk. At least, he would. She wasn't sure how much talking he would allow her.
She bent over the bed, as she knew he would expect, curling and uncurling her hands in anticipation. Every time she thought she heard footsteps, her tummy flipped nervously, but it turned out to be the cat outside the door, or one of the girls dropping a toy. By the time the door finally creaked open, she was a bundle of nerves.
"I put your meatloaf in the oven. According to the timer, we have exactly fifteen minutes, so I expect you to be very agreeable so that we can get this done quickly."
"I didn't hear the TV," she commented, turning
her head around to look at him.
Robert arched a brow at her. "The girls are doing a puzzle at the coffee table."
"But then how…"
"I guess you're going to have to be quiet, aren't you?" he spoke tenderly as he ran a hand down her back. Both the lightness in his touch and knowing what was to come made her shiver.
"I don't know if I—"
He bent over, putting his mouth close to her ear. "I believe in you."
Damn him, he could make punishment so downright erotic that it didn't seem like punishment at all. Her belly was flipping in a combination of nervous longing before he even lifted her skirt. He took his time, too, for all that he'd said about them being on a timer. The skirt she was wearing was a white linen, so soft that when he lifted it, it was like a whisper against her skin. Her pulse was racing, her belly coiled in knots that loosened and tightened within seconds and then went back again.
She clenched her fist around handfuls of blanket, waiting for the first swat. She knew it would sting and she knew it would only get worse when it was followed by other harder swats. She just wanted to get it over with.
Rob seemed to have different plans, however, and took his own sweet time rubbing the now exposed seat of her panties. She was wearing her favorite pair—a red satin bikini panty that made her feel sexy. She felt very sexy indeed as Robert rubbed circles over her barely covered ass. In fact, by the time he was done, all of her anxiety had fled, replaced with a lust that had her moaning in longing and arching her back ever-so-subtly.
Which was what made it such a surprise when the first short, hard spank landed on her upturned rear. She screeched in alarm, and almost spun around to demand what the hell he thought he was doing until she remembered. Oh. She was being punished. But damn it, she'd been having so much fun! But she supposed that was the point, wasn't it? He wasn't going to reward her; he wasn't going to give her the release she so desperately craved until she was his good girl.
She'd leave him for it, if she didn't like playing the good girl so much.
Just then, another hard swat landed, making her cry out. When still another came crashing down she remembered the girls in the other room just in time and reached for a pillow to muffle her moan into.
