With a sharp jerk, she pulled herself free from Michael's embrace, leaped off the bed and wrapped her towel around herself.
"What?" Michael asked, bewildered by the sudden change in her behaviour. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
"No. I can't. Not that—not with you. Not now," Jill babbled distraughtly, grabbing her bikini top and running to the door.
In two strides, Michael had caught her by the arm. "Oh, I see," he growled harshly, his expression now set like granite. "You don't mind a little fooling around, so long as I don't get any ideas above myself, is that it? Well, you'll get away with it this time, but don't let me catch you half naked again. I shan't let you off so lightly next time." And with a look of utter contempt, he opened the door, all but pushed her out, and closed it sharply behind her.
Chapter Five
For a moment, Jill stood dumbfounded staring at the door, which Michael had all but slammed in her face.
Well, she thought bitterly, he couldn't get rid of me fast enough when he realized he wasn't going to get sex. Not even a good night!
Humiliated and hurt at his insinuation that she was a tease, she hurried across the yard to the house taking care not to be seen. A few moments later, as she lay in bed awaiting sleep, she tried to sort out the painful mix of emotions swirling inside her. She loved Michael completely and without reservation. Now that she had finally admitted that to herself, she had no doubts it was true. But how did he feel? What was happening between him and Rachel? Why was he trying to make love to her if he was already tacitly engaged? And why had he not even bothered to find out why she'd suddenly wanted to leave? He'd simply jumped to the nearest, cruellest conclusion and practically thrown her out.
Despite her emotional turmoil, the events of the day and evening had left her emotionally and physically exhausted and she quickly succumbed to sleep with the image branded into the screen of her mind of Michael's eyes burning into hers whilst he held her against him and spanked her. She awoke late the next morning to find the torrid heat of the past few days had evaporated along with most of her anger. There was a refreshing coolness in the air that revitalized her, and she felt able to see things more calmly and rationally.
Perhaps, after all, she hadn't been quite fair to Michael the previous evening. She had freely returned his kisses and then asked him to spank her. She knew why she had switched so suddenly from wanting his kisses and caresses to pushing him away, but he didn't. She could see how easy it could have been for him to jump to the wrong conclusion.
It was only a misunderstanding and it would be silly to let it spoil the growing intimacy that had been developing between them. With a shock, Jill realized that this was only the sixth day since she'd arrived. Although the time had flown, so much had happened it seemed like much longer, and there was still another week to go.
One thing that had become abundantly clear to Jill since her arrival was that she loved Michael, and truly doubted she could ever love another man in the same way. She had always known how much she loved River Gums and if there was the slightest chance she could have the two things she most wanted she was prepared to do whatever it took. So, it seemed she now had a choice: she could either give in to her foolish pride and say goodbye to Michael forever, or nurture the special, more than filial bond she was sure existed between them and somehow convince him that he would be making a terrible mistake if he were to marry Rachel.
As she dressed, Jill felt her heart lighten as she realized what she must do. If there was any chance that she could have Michael, and remembering the way he'd looked at her, the tenderness of his touch and the fierce blaze of his passion, not to mention the role of protector that he'd always assumed, she was sure there was, then she had to at least try. Resolving that she wasn't going to let Rachel have him without a fight, she went downstairs determined to create an opportunity to explain her actions of the previous evening to him, and convince him that she hadn't been toying with him and her feelings were genuine.
To her disappointment, however, she didn't see him all day, and after attempting a couple of casual enquiries and getting only quizzical looks from Vicky, she gave up asking his whereabouts. The day seemed to drag on until eventually evening began to close in. Michael still hadn't appeared, but there was an unexpected phone call from Tim.
"Merry Christmas, Sweetie," were the first words she heard after Elizabeth called her to the phone.
"Tim! Merry Christmas. What a lovely surprise. Did you have a good day yesterday?"
"Not bad, but there was one rather important person missing. It would have been much better if I had been spending it with you."
"Well, of course it would have," Jill replied, not taking his words seriously. "But I can't be everywhere at once, now can I? Wasn't the book fantastic? I can't ever thank you enough for helping me. I couldn't have done it without you, you know."
"Just remember I didn't take those great photos, you did. I might have helped with a few organisational things, but they're your photos."
"Even so, I still think you deserve some of the credit."
"All right. If you insist. I guess I can bask in a little reflected glory. Now, tell me how your holiday's going."
"Well, there's not that much to tell," Jill began, but ten minutes passed before she'd finished, even though she refrained from making more than a passing reference to Michael.
"Sounds great! I'm just sorry I haven't been there to enjoy it with you. I think I'm more used to having you around than I realized." Jill noted the wistfulness in Tim's voice and was assailed with a pang of conscience. Here she was in the place she loved, with people she loved and, in the main, having a wonderful time, and she hadn't really given a thought to Tim, while it seemed he had thought more than once of her. It saddened her to think that he might be lonely. He was, after all, one of her dearest friends.
"I'll be back soon," she reassured him. "We could get together over the weekend."
"Why don't I pick you up from the bus?"
"Would you mind? That would be great. I was just going to get a taxi, but if you like we could pick up some chicken and champagne on the way home and you can stay the night. Then I can thank you again for your help with the book and we can celebrate properly."
"It's a deal. I'm really looking forward to seeing you, Jill."
"Me too. Take care. See you soon."
Jill replaced the receiver. Tim was a good friend and despite her guilt at not having missed him as much as he had apparently missed her, it had certainly lifted her spirits to hear his voice.
She turned to leave, but stopped dead in surprise when she saw Michael leaning against the wall observing her through half-closed eyes. She hadn't noticed him come in, but he appeared to have been there for some time casually listening to her conversation.
Pleasure at seeing him, vivid recollections of the last time she had seen him, and relief that she'd refrained from saying anything about him to Tim which he could possibly have overheard all combined to make her blush scarlet.
"Oh, Michael," she stammered. "I didn't hear you."
"No." She was shocked by the iciness of his tone and the coldly mocking expression on his face. "But I heard you. Every word."
"Oh?" The joy at seeing him was replaced with a dread at what the hostility in his expression and voice portended. The flush of colour in her cheeks drained away, leaving them pale despite the tan she'd acquired over the last week.
"Obviously you feel less coy in the city," he said cruelly.
"What?" Jill gasped with shock as it dawned on her the inference Michael had drawn from her conversation. "You're mistaken…" she began, denying his implied accusation, but in two strides, he'd reached her. Grasping her roughly, and putting one arm around her waist, he trapped her arms at her sides before pulling the lower half of her body tightly against his. The fingers of his other hand meshed in her hair as he firmly held her prisoner, and his mouth came down hard, his lips moving savagely on hers.
Despite her m
ounting anger and confusion at his behaviour, she couldn't resist the chemistry between them and hot flames of desire instantly ignited her body at his touch.
"No, I'm not mistaken," he leered at her triumphantly. "You want me as much as I want you, so why the sudden rush of modesty last night?"
"Tim's a good friend…" again Jill tried to explain.
"Aren't I a 'good friend' too? You should've stayed longer last night. I was about to show you just how good and friendly I can be."
His tone was crude and taunting, his manner insulting, and Jill was now speechless with fury. She wanted to slap his sneering face but her arms were still firmly pinioned. Michael removed his hand from her hair and ran his fingers down her chest and over the curve of her breast.
"You should have told me you like it with champagne," he continued, grinning at her involuntary tremble at his caress. "I'm afraid I don't know all the tricks of your city lovers, but I'm a quick learner and with you as a teacher," again he ran his eyes and hands lewdly over her body. "I would be a more than willing student."
Blind rage finally gave Jill the strength she needed to wrench free from his grip. "How dare you?" she demanded icily.
"Come on," he taunted her. "Why don't you cut the pretence of virginal outrage. Look, how about I get a bottle of champagne. I'll even get a chicken to go with it, if that's what you like. I promise I'll still respect you in the morning, and your boyfriend need never know. Now, what do you say? Meet me after dark between the sheets?"
"Never," Jill told him coldly, her anger and pain making her want to hurt him as he was hurting her. "Your lack of finesse as a lover is so obvious that I doubt it would be worth it."
She saw him flinch as the barb went home, but instead of feeling any pleasure at wounding him, she just felt more miserable still. She couldn't understand why they were saying such hurtful things to each other. Part of her longed to throw herself back into his arms and beg him to forgive her and forget the past, to forget Rachel, to just love her and let her love him, but she could do nothing. Could only stare at him, watching their friendship dying before her eyes.
She could see he was struggling to control himself and was momentarily frightened by the dangerousness of his expression, but then, without another word, he took her by the hand, pulled her to the backdoor, through it and out into the warm evening.
"Michael!" she protested, but the strength of his hand as it imprisoned hers, the tenseness of his body and the stony set of his jaw told her protest was useless. Walking through the yard and behind the sheds, Michael stopped in the shadows.
"You need a lesson, little girl," he growled, tipping her chin up so she was forced to look at him.
"I need you to let go of me," she retorted, sounding far more confident than she felt. She knew Michael would never do her any real harm, but she wasn't quite sure what he was going to do right now, although it seemed very unlikely it would be anything pleasant.
"You think you're a pretty smart little chick, don't you? But some men don't like teases," he went on, ignoring her. "Some men even think that women who tease deserve whatever they get."
"I'm not a tease," Jill protested, but after her behaviour last night and the insult she'd just thrown at him, she knew her words sounded hollow.
"I'd never take a woman by force, though," Michael continued. "No matter how much I want her. She has to come willingly. Not all men feel that way, and girls like you wind up getting more than they bargained for. Your charms may give you some power over men, but it is a dangerous power and one which can turn against you if you misuse it."
"Michael," Jill tried once more, as he set off again, pulling her after him. "Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere we can't be heard," he answered abruptly. "I thought you would have learnt your lesson after that incident with Steve Young, but I see now you didn't at all."
"No, Michael!" There was a sudden catch in Jill's throat as she realized the meaning behind his words. She tried to stop, but he kept dragging her forward, through the shearers' quarters compound to the moonlit area behind. He's going to spank me again, she realized aghast. With a supreme effort, she struggled to free herself, but as if she were no more than a small sack of chaff, he caught her around the waist, tucked her under his arm and marched on.
Finally rounding the end of the buildings, he set her down facing the wall, caught her around the waist with his left arm bending her slightly forward at the same time, and flipped up her skirt with his other hand.
"No, Michael, please," she begged, her worst fears realised. He fully intended to spank her, there was no longer the slightest doubt about that. "What have I done?"
Her question momentarily postponed the inevitable. Jerking her back into an upright position, he looked hard at her. The only light was from the moon, but she could still see he didn't believe her question was ingenuous.
"I think you know the answer to that, Roo."
"No, Michael," she cried. "I don't... I didn't..." but she couldn't talk through the tears that had risen from nowhere. Dammit! She didn't want to cry. She wanted to be able to discuss this sensibly, as an adult, not blubber like a little girl.
"I'm not sure I really believe you, Roo, and I will spank you all the harder for this little scene you are making now, but I will explain it one more time just in case you really don't know. You led me on last night."
"No!" Jill cried again. How could he think that? She wanted him. She loved him. But, a little voice whispered, you ran away with no explanation, left him standing there like a fool. You didn't care about how that would make him feel, didn't take the time to explain.
"And then I come in to hear you flirting on the phone. I don't like being taken for a fool, Roo." His voice dropped ominously, and she shivered despite the balmy night. "Like I said, you should count yourself lucky that I care enough about you to spank you now. A lot of men might think you deserve something much worse. I suggest you think carefully about why you're being punished. I'm not spanking you for making a fool of me, much as I don't like it. But teasing is a dangerous game, and it's not something nice girls do.
"You're better than that, Roo. So, this spanking is for letting yourself down by behaving in a way that is beneath you and for doing something dangerous. Maybe next time you're tempted to lead some sucker on, you'll remember this warning. It may save you from serious harm one day, and even if I don't like what you did to me, I don't want to see any harm come to, sweetheart. Okay? Understand now?"
"Yes, but…" Jill sniffled. She hadn't mean to hurt him, and would never have behaved as she had with any other man—that was unthinkable! But her heart ached at the thought that she had made him suffer, even if it was just his male pride, and at least he cared about her! He'd just said that he was spanking her because he cared about her.
"Now turn around again and bend forward."
This time she obeyed, wordlessly, closing her eyes and steeling herself.
She felt him once more raise her skirt, and then leapt up and turned again, gasping in horror as she felt him start to pull her panties down.
"No!" she squealed, but he pulled her roughly against him, holding her prisoner whilst he pushed her panties to her knees.
"No," she moaned again. "Michael!"
"Hush," he growled. "I warned you already that I am done spanking your clothes. From now on, it will be your bare bottom every time. Do you hear me? You'll not argue with me about this, Roo. I'm sorry if you're embarrassed, but it's dark so your modesty shouldn't be too compromised, and you can just think about how much worse it might be if I had decided there are other ways to teach you of the dangers of teasing. Now stop your fussing and let's get this over with. Turn around and bend forward again. Quickly, now. And, make no mistake, Jill, this is to be a proper spanking, not a play spanking like the one last night. I think it's best we forget those from now on, don't you?"
Her heart aching as painfully as her bottom soon would be, Jill turned away from the man she loved, bent forwar
d and offered herself to him for punishment. His allusion to the sensual spanking he had given her in his room the previous evening brought back with full force the intimacy of that moment, the sweet, unbearable joy of being lost in his arms, his eyes and his mouth whilst his hand created a delicious flame in her soft, yielding flesh.
And then she'd run away. She had denied them the sweet release of satiating their hunger for each other. She had allowed Rachel to come between them. And had hurt and bewildered Michael. Maybe she wasn't really a tease as Michael had suggested, but she couldn't deny she deserved this spanking. She'd been silly and childish and it was right he should spank her for it.
He ran his hand for the first time across her naked bottom, sending a sliver of ice shimmying through her, raising tiny bumps across her exposed cheeks. "You really do have a mighty fine arse, little girl," he muttered, cupping a pouch of tender flesh and squeezing it. "Pity for me the light isn't better out here, but still it's enough for what needs to be done. Keep still now."
He raised his hand high, then cracked it down against Jill's bare skin.
"Oh, Michael!" she gasped, as the reality of being spanked on her bare bottom started to sink in. Right from the very first smack, she could feel the burning sting on her cheeks, knew he'd left a pink handprint. "No!" she cried quietly again, as his hand fell for the second time. Then again and again and again it smacked down hard. Her feet began dancing a little jig in tune to the rhythm of his hand on her flesh, and her cries of pain provided the vocal accompaniment.
"Ow, Michael. That hurts. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Please, no more."
Her pleading seemed to work. The deluge of spanks raining on her stinging bottom stopped. His hand circled each cheek, proprietorially, warningly.
"Why are you being spanked, Jill?" he demanded sternly.
"Because I ran away last night. Because—"
"Because you behaved like a cheap little tease. Because if you play with fire, you can expect to get burned. Lucky for you it's only your arse getting burned now."
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