by Starla Kaye
“Wonder what the problem is?” Mandy questioned, focusing on her older brother.
Then Erik spotted “the problem.” A small airplane sat just this side of the paddock.
“Damn them,” Erik grumbled, knowing exactly why the plane was here.
Mandy glanced at him, tense. “I take it that's all about you.”
Samson sidestepped anxiously beneath his legs and Erik worked to calm him down. “My partners evidently are a little impatient.”
Drew came up in front of them and stopped. As Erik and Mandy reined in, Drew motioned for the others to keep on riding to the main area. With curious glances, the hands and guests continued onward.
“The plane somehow managed to land and taxi in a couple of hours ago. Surprised the hell out of us.” Drew looked straight at Erik. “There are a couple of very determined men waiting for you. Something about not letting you find another excuse to stay a day longer.”
“I'm sorry if they did any damage to your field. We'll pay for any repairs.” Erik was thinking about how he would deal with his partners. If they weren't such good friends, he would buy them out and be done with the whole mess. Except he liked them. Except he loved his business.
He looked sadly toward Mandy, who he loved even more. Tears glistened in her eyes, but she held her stubborn chin high. “This isn't the end,” he said grimly.
“What's the point, Erik? Really. What's the point? Just let it go.” The last was said on a sob and she forced her horse into a trot as she headed for the paddock.
Erik started to head after her, but Drew rode up next to him. “Go back to California. Seriously think about this. I don't want my sister hurt.” He sighed and blew out a breath. “I'd hate to see you hurt either.”
Chapter Seven
“So,” Tanya said loud enough to catch Mandy’s attention where she stood waving good-bye to the last of the latest batch of ranch guests, “when are you going to California?”
Mandy spun in her friend’s direction and shook her head. She tipped her hat lower to avoid the glare of the mid-day sun. “And why would I be going there?” To see Erik, of course. The man she loved so much it hurt and who hadn’t returned to the ranch as he’d sworn he would when he’d left a month ago. No, she wasn’t going to his turf. But she also wasn’t comfortable on her turf here any longer either. She didn’t know where she belonged.
“If you don’t stop mooning around here all love struck and miserable and go see Erik, your brother is going to get involved.” Tanya walked closer to the arena fence and leaned back against it. She rubbed her mounded stomach tenderly. “Between my mood swings and yours Drew is hard-pressed to play nice with us.”
“He needs to mind his own business.”
Tanya glanced around and seeing they were alone, lowered her voice anyway. “Your brother is grumbling about the need for his well-applied hand around here. It’s been a few months since he toasted my bottom, because he was worried about the baby.” She frowned. “Darn doctor told him a trip over Drew’s knee would probably do me more good than bad. I can’t believe he asked the man about spanking me.” She huffed in irritation.
Mandy smiled at her annoyance. “I can. And I’ve seen him holding his temper in with you, wondered how long he could stand it.”
“I’m not the only one he wants to turn bottom up.” Tanya looked pointedly at her. “Just this morning he mentioned that he’s been far too patient with you. He thinks Erik has too. I think he’s planning on confronting you later today. And by that I mean he’s going to do all of the talking…part of it with that big hand of his. Just warning you.”
Darn, darn, darn. Not something she wanted to hear or deal with. Not totally unexpected, though. She’d seen her brother all but biting his tongue a few times when she’d stormed around lately. It seemed like her attitude got worse every day when Erik called, only talked a few minutes, and then didn’t mention coming back here. He had also stopped asking her to come there.
“I’m a married woman now. Drew has no right to spank me, only Erik….” Her face flamed. She’d spent far too much time thinking about the last time she’d gone over her husband’s knee. In play. Before they’d had marathon sex. She felt warmth low in her body, moisture beading.
Drew walked out of the horse barn, spotted them, and bee-lined in their direction. The scowl on his face didn’t bode well. Mandy noticed Tanya stiffening, noted her cheeks turning pink. No doubt she was in trouble with her husband for something, but Mandy didn’t want to get involved in their personal business. She was pretty sure she had enough problems of her own as far as her brother was concerned.
“Go take a nap, Tanya. I’ll be in shortly to discuss a matter with you.” He barely glanced at his wife, his tone curt.
Tanya opened her mouth to protest, clearly thought better of it, and walked away in resignation. But Mandy heard her grumbling about impossible men.
She, too, thought walking away was a good idea. But before she could even more Drew shifted in front of her, frowning down. “Nope, you’re not going anywhere. Except with me. You and I are going to the barn for a few minutes.”
She swallowed hard, pretty sure what he had in mind. Tanya had warned her. It had been a while since he’d burned her bottom. She didn’t particularly want the experience again. “It isn’t your place to—”
“I just had a long talk with your husband. He seems to be the only one trying to find some kind of compromise in your situation. And he’s getting damn tired of that.”
Compromise? She couldn’t remember Erik suggesting anything that might be a compromise. “There really isn’t anything to compromise about. He lives there. I live here.” But lately she wasn’t enjoying living here as much as she’d thought she would. She liked managing the guest part of the ranch, but it didn’t seem enough anymore.
Pulling her thoughts back to the present, Drew took her wrist and tugged her with him. “Erik has basically given me permission to warm your ass for continuing to be so blasted stubborn.”
She stumbled after him, constantly looking around to make sure nobody was watching them. This was so embarrassing. “Given you permission? What right does he have—”
Drew stopped in the doorway of the barn and faced her. His expression was fierce. “The man is crazy in love with you.” He shook his head. “God knows why. You’re a real trial sometimes.”
Crazy in love with me. “He told you that? That he loves me?” she asked quietly, hoping it were true, wishing Erik would tell her that himself. Demanding they make the marriage work wasn’t the same thing. He’d never said that he actually loved her. She felt more like he couldn’t accept failure.
Drew pulled his cell phone from the holder on his belt and shoved it at her. “Call him. Now. Ask him.”
“I can’t just ask him something like that.” Her stomach fluttered. What if he avoided answering her? What if he….
Taking a huge chance, she took the phone and punched in Erik’s number. As it rang, she looked anxiously at her brother. “I’m not sure I can do this.” She disconnected and tried to hand the phone back to Drew.
A vein pulsed in the side of his neck and he snagged her arm again. He led her into the barn to a hay bale between the first two stalls. Before she could resist, he sat down and pulled her over his lap. His hand blasted down on her denim-covered bottom even as her braid whacked the side of her face. Automatically she threw a hand still holding the phone back to protect herself. He shoved her arm down. “I said call him. Now.”
She attempted to wriggle off Drew’s hard thighs but he wouldn’t allow it. Instead he smacked her again and the sound echoed around the empty barn. Tears stung her eyes at the burst of pain . She gritted her teeth in frustration and dialed Erik, but she hoped he wouldn’t answer.
Of course he did. “I’ve got a meeting to go to, Drew. Is this important?”
The sound of his voice sent tingles through her. “It’s me. Mandy.”
“Mandy? Can I call you back in a couple of h
ours?” He sounded stressed and yet reluctant to let her go. “I don’t have time right now.”
She was feeling pretty stressed, too. After all, she was face down over her brother’s lap and he’d already swatted her twice. “I really need to—”
“I’m sorry, sweet thing, but I’ve got people waiting on me.”
Drew’s hand settled on her bottom and she sucked in a breath. “I’ve got someone waiting on me, too. Drew. His damn hand is even now resting on my bottom.”
“What?” Erik sounded confused.
Well, she would paint him a picture. “You talked to my brother, evidently expressed your frustration with me. You two discussed how I needed to focus on something besides my concern about our marriage. Right?”
“We talked, yes.”
She tried to get more comfortable but Drew’s hand remained in place and she was very unhappy about that. “Big bro said you gave him permission to spank me. Is that true?”
“I guess maybe I did. But—”
“So I’m in the barn now, with him sitting on a hay bale.” Now she craned her head around to scowl at Drew. “I’m bent over his knee about to get a spanking.”
“Really?” Erik sounded almost amused.
“This isn’t funny!” She shouted and again tried to wriggle off Drew’s lap.
Smack! “Settle down. Ask him your question.”
“I heard that. He actually spanked you. Did it sting?”
Mandy didn’t hear regret in Erik’s tone, which annoyed her. “Hell yes it stung! Drew has a hard hand, even through a layer of denim.”
“I heard Drew say something about a question. What did he mean?”
She really didn’t want to have to ask; she wanted Erik to just tell her on his own. But Drew’s hand had lifted and she knew he would smack her again to prod her into asking the question. “Do you love me?” she asked boldly and held her breath.
“Of course I do.”
“You’ve never said it,” she said in accusation. Still, her heart had swollen in pleasure at his response.
“I’ve tried to show you.” Erik sounded puzzled and harried. “I really do need to go now. We can talk later.”
Before he could disconnect, she said quickly, “Tell Drew to let me up. Tell him not to spank me. That this is totally unnecessary.”
“Sorry, but I’m in agreement with this. You’ve made us both crazy and I can’t be there right now to burn that sexy little butt of yours, so….”
Stunned and infuriated by his answer, Mandy punched End Call and tossed Drew’s phone onto the cement floor where it broke apart. She groaned as she realized the temper tantrum she’d just thrown. She’d pay for it. “I’m sorry. I’ll get you a new phone.”
“Sure will.” He tucked her closer to him, tightened his arm holding her in place. “Now settle in because this is gonna sting.”
She planted her hands squarely on the floor, tried not to clench her buttocks because that only made it hurt more. Then she sucked in a breath as Drew raised his arm.
Without further discussion, Drew rapidly swatted her bottom over and over until she was squirming all over the place. She held back as long as she could before she started quietly sobbing. On and on it went. She’d seriously upset him and her bottom was paying for it.
Finally she swore that she would be good forever. After a while the layer of jeans didn’t matter. Her bottom was on fire.
Finally he let her up and she faced him, desperately wanting to rub away the sting, knowing it wasn’t allowed. He didn’t look victorious about what he’d done, just accepting.
“I hope that’s the last time I have to burn your tail end, Mandy.”
She drew in a shaky breath. “I’d like to think it was the last spanking I’ll ever get, but….” She dashed at her tears and admitted, “But it seems I’ve married a man who also believes in spanking.”
Drew looked serious, worried. “Are you okay with that?”
“Are you really asking if I love him enough to be okay with it? Yes.” She did touch her sore bottom. “I’ll try to avoid this unpleasantness too often, though.”
She thought about the new guests coming in a couple of days, thought about the responsibilities she had here, and thought about how much she missed Erik. Drew watched her quietly. Finally she said, “I hate to ask, but—”
He cut her off. “Erik wants you to meet him in Maui at your apartment day after tomorrow. He’s already made your flight arrangements.” He smiled at her and Mandy regretted that it had been too long since she’d seen her brother smile, except when he talked about Tanya and the baby.
Cupping her bottom with both hands, she returned his smile. “I’d say thanks for helping me get straightened out on this, but I wouldn’t mean it.”
“No thanks necessary.” He stood and glanced toward his house. “While you go get ready for your trip, I’ve got some other business to take care of. My hand’s gonna be mighty sore tonight.”
Mandy stepped to him and hugged him. “I love you, Bro.” When she inched away and saw the pleasure in his eyes, she added, “Tanya loves you, too, though who knows why. So don’t be too hard on her.”
* * *
He ran a company rapidly getting to be worth billions. He had two doctorates and an IQ almost off the charts. Yet Erik had been worrying about what to say when he finally saw his wife again. A month. He couldn’t believe a whole month had passed since he’d left the ranch. There had been so much to deal with when he met with his partners, with his business manager, and with his attorneys. And he’d had an off-the-wall plan for their future that had definitely taken some serious convincing about. But he’d gotten his way. Everything was in motion now and he couldn’t wait to share it with Mandy.
Walking to the window overlooking the beach, he battled down a renewed case of nerves. What if she didn’t like his plan? What if she didn’t love him? He was almost certain she did, but, like him, she hadn’t said those three little words either. Well, he’d told her the other day. But she hadn’t said them back.
He heaved a disgusted sigh. He was acting like girl now. All needy. Okay, he did have needs, for Mandy…only for Mandy. It still surprised him how fast and hard he’d fallen in love with her.
The front door opened behind him and he turned to face the woman who owned his heart. She made his heart race, made him want to sweep her into his arms. He forced himself not to move. Take this slowly. Don’t scare her off. “Thanks for coming.”
Mandy closed the door and stood with her hand on her rolling bag, worrying her bottom lip. She was so beautiful, so perfect. At least to him.
After a second, she said nervously, “Back where we started.” She glanced away, her cheeks growing pink. “What you must have thought of me that night. Drunk, having you take me home.”
Erik moved toward her as if she were magnetized, he unable to resist the pull. “Men were scum.” He smiled and stopped a few feet from her. “Still think that?”
Mischief danced in her brown eyes. “Big brothers can be at times.”
He grinned, knowing what she meant. “When they turn you over their knee and spank your sweet butt?” He’d been amazed at how turned on he’d gotten then, and every time he’d thought about it since. Still, he’d much rather give her the kind of foreplay spanking he’d….
He felt the stirrings of arousal. “From now on, I’m the only one who’ll do that.”
“Maybe husbands can be scum, too.” The warmth in her smile countered her statement. “Maybe a certain husband needs to dole out a bit of make-up sex.”
His heart pounded and his cock threatened to burst through his chinos. “I’m more in favor of a lot of make-up sex.”
She giggled and turned to race toward the bedroom. “Last one to the bed—”
He cut her off with a squeal as he caught up with her and scooped her into his arms.
* * *
Mandy’s throat felt raw from all the crying out she’d done over the hours they’d teased and pleasured
one another. She lie on her side, letting her fingers play over Erik’s hairless chest, stopping to tweak a nipple. She loved touching him, loved smoothing her hands over his pecs, his hard abs. He let her do as she wanted, didn’t say a word, just watched her with so much heat in his eyes. As if she couldn’t keep the words in any longer, she said quietly, “I’ve given you so much trouble. I don’t know how you can possibly care about me.”
He captured her hand and drew it to his mouth, kissing the palm. “It’s a good thing I have a high tolerance level for dealing with trouble.” He held her gaze. “I don’t simply care about you, wife; I love you with all of my heart.”
Tears misted her eyes and her heart pinched. “I’m stubborn as the day is long, so my brother says. I can barely cook. I detest housework. I’ll never be anything like a normal housewife.” How could he want a woman like her?
He tugged her against him and she slid a leg over his, her knee touching his balls. He sucked in a breath. “There’s nothing wrong with a certain amount of stubbornness. We can hire a housekeeper who cooks. And I’ll never be anything like a normal husband…whatever that is.”
She snuggled closer, feeling more content than she’d ever felt. “I still haven’t resigned from the airline.”
His hand played with her hair. “But you will. That part of your life is over with.”
“Yes. I guess I haven’t been all that happy doing those flights back and forth for a while now. I’m ready to settle in one place.” She hesitated and looked up at him, anxious. “Or two.”
The smile he gave her made her know she’d said the right thing. “Mainly one place, although we will have to do a certain amount of going to LA from time to time.”
Touching him like this, drawing in the scent of him and their lovemaking was making her needy all over again. She could hardly focus on the conversation. Yet something about his last statement grabbed her attention once more. “Going to LA? Won’t we be living there?”
His smile sparkled in his eyes now, too. “You’d do that? Move to LA with me?” He sounded surprised.