Patience is a thing I need to work on. I’ve had a long time to think about spanking and consider the implications. My prospective partners haven’t, unless they’re already into the scene. Another thing I’ve learned is that spanking isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. What is right for one couple won’t work for another.
See how much there is to consider. Don’t worry about me, Kinky Lover. I am contemplating every angle of this subject. I’m not going into spanking wearing rose-colored glasses. I appreciate your advice.
But one thing, you didn’t tell me how you discussed your needs with your partner. How did you get your partner to see the advantages spanking can bring to a relationship?
Best wishes,
Big Bad Ass
Connor spluttered on reading the last line, swallowing his mouthful of coffee before his computer screen wore it instead. How did he get his partner to see the advantages of spanking? He snorted a laugh, keeping far away from his coffee. He was the lucky son-of-a-bitch who had a partner who already wanted a spanking. The confusion was on his side, along with hang-ups about hurting his partner or turning into a monster.
Maybe it was time to visit his parents. Perhaps he could take Maggie with him. Introduce her as a friend. He’d mentioned her and the other girls to his parents before. They wouldn’t think much of it, not until he asked Frank about spanking.
The more he thought about it, the better he liked the idea. His mother had a birthday coming up soon. Perhaps he could wrangle invitations for the girls. It would throw the heat off him because his parents wouldn’t know which one he was talking about.
Feeling happier about his decision, he composed an email to Maggie.
Dear Big Bad Ass,
I didn’t have to bring up the spanking discussion. My girlfriend brought it up for me and we went from there. My advice to you is to be honest with your partner, tell him what you want. Communicate. Sometimes you have to put your heart on the line. Take a big breath and jump…
Let me know how it goes.
Kinky Lover
Chapter Six
“That’s a try for the Hawks. Connor Grey is having a good game today,” the announcer said.
“Go, Connor,” Julia screamed.
Maggie jumped up and down, cheering with the others. Something was up between Greg and Connor though. She’d seen them exchange words.
“They might win a game for a change,” Susan said.
Christina rubbed her hands together and tugged her bright red and white hat lower over her ears. “How much longer to go? I don’t know about you girls, but I could do with a cup of hot chocolate.”
“The weather is always horrid when the Hawks play,” Maggie said. “The sun will peek out the instant the final whistle blows.”
“Why don’t you all come to my place for hot chocolate and we can start our Maggie makeover?” Christina suggested.
“Good idea,” Julia said.
“I’m there,” Susan said. “I can’t wait to get my hands on Maggie.”
“Should we book a room?” Maggie asked, her chest heaving with silent laughter.
Susan punched her on the arm. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. But seriously. You’re very sexy, and by the time we’re finished with you everyone else will know it.”
“So you’d turn gay for me?” Maggie smirked at the shocked silence. Teasing her friends was fun.
“Would that mean I’d need to spank you?” Susan asked.
Maggie pretended to frown. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but yes. Probably. Spanking is now part of my psyche and non-negotiable.”
“Oh, hark at her. Spanking is part of my psyche.” Christina mimicked her with perfect nuance.
The four women burst into laughter and discussed who they’d turn gay for.
“Not the Prime Minister of New Zealand,” Julia said. “Oops, we’ve missed another try. What is wrong with the Hawks today? They’re going to win a game.”
“Better not let Connor hear you say that,” Maggie said. “He’d spread rumors about blue pubic hair.”
Susan and Christina giggled along with Maggie, but Julia didn’t.
“Are you ever going to let me forget that? The color is growing out, okay?” The testy note in her voice stripped their laughter away.
“I’m sorry, hon,” Maggie said, giving Julia a swift hug. “I didn’t mean to ruffle your feelings.”
Julia sighed. “Put it down to the time of the month. I’m sorry I snapped.”
The final whistle blew and the spectators and teams dispersed.
“Are we going to tell Connor we’re leaving?” Maggie asked.
“I guess we’d better. I’m not in the mood for fending off flirting males in the clubrooms,” Susan said. “It would be nice to have a girls’ afternoon.”
“Maggie, you look sensational,” Susan said, her tone one of awe.
Maggie turned, trying to take in the transformation in the mirror. “So you would turn gay for me?”
“In a New York minute,” Julia said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. “Spanking and everything.”
Maggie turned her attention to the mirror again. She couldn’t believe the difference in her appearance. The girls had talked her into having her hair cut. The hairdresser had fit her in at late notice and had worked wonders with her straight hair, taking six inches off the end, giving it a better shape and lighter highlights that shimmered under the artificial light.
“Your highlights will look beautiful in the sunlight,” Susan said. “But wait until we finish. Make-up and clothes come next.”
“Maybe I should try one thing at a time. The hair is change enough for now.”
“Don’t be a coward.” Christina propelled her from the hairdresser salon with a firm hand in the small of her back.
“But I need to pay,” Maggie said, digging in her heels.
“I’ve got it,” Julia said in a decisive manner. “This is my treat.”
Maggie found herself hustled down the busy street, full of Saturday shoppers. Cars crammed the hectic intersection, fumes heavy in the air when they paused at the lights for the pedestrian signal to turn green.
Susan sneezed when a bus sped past. “Tell me why this is a good idea again.”
“That’s what I want to know,” Maggie inserted before the others could answer.
“Forget it,” Christina said. “I’ve wanted to get my hooks into you for a long time and you’re not wriggling out of this makeover.”
“Light’s green. Let’s go,” Julia said, linking her arm through Maggie’s. “I’ve got her. She won’t get away from me.”
“If I’m naughty, will you spank me?” Maggie said in a loud voice.
“Really,” an elderly lady said with a sniff. With a withering stare in their direction, she led her young grandchildren across the road.
“Oops,” Maggie said. “I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”
“Too late,” Julia said, tugging on her arm. “Let’s go before the wee man blinks red.”
They crossed the road and headed for Smith and Caughey, a well-known Newmarket institution. A wave of perfume greeted them when they entered the make-up department.
“Where to?” Maggie asked, accepting that her friends wouldn’t let her change her mind. She hoped Connor liked the result. Connor. Holy Hannah. What was she thinking? It didn’t matter if he liked the result or not. They were friends and casual lovers. That was all. She was taking part in the makeover because she wanted it. She wasn’t going through this for a man.
“Over here,” Christina said. “I have a deal I’ve worked out with this company. I enjoy their products and they do both skincare and cosmetics. They don’t do animal testing on their products either. What?” she said. “I care for animals and the environment and want to do my bit.”
“Of course you do,” Susan said.
“We’re impressed you’re incorporating that sort of thing into your new business,” Julia added. “Some businesses go fo
r the easiest and quickest way to make money.”
“Not me,” Christina said. “I made a list before I started. I’ve always used natural cosmetics and I wanted to continue. It was important.”
“You’ve never mentioned it before,” Maggie said.
“You said nothing about spanking before,” Christina countered.
Julia licked a finger and pretended to mark an invisible scoreboard. “Touché. We all have our secrets and hot buttons we don’t discuss in case people laugh or tease us.”
Christina stopped in front of a make-up counter and pushed Maggie onto a high stool. “We have to pick up this conversation again. Next time we have drinks at the pub. I don’t care if it’s a Friday night or not.”
Julia chuckled, but Maggie thought her response held uneasiness. It made her wonder what was going on in Julia’s life. She thought about Friday night drinks and shuddered. She knew there was one secret she’d never spill, no matter how many margaritas she drank.
An assistant arrived, a bright smile on her face. Christina explained what she wanted, and Maggie found herself under the spotlight again.
An hour later, she stared in the mirror in shock. Although she wore make-up, she had done little with it or purchased new products in ages. “I didn’t realize it would make such a big difference.”
“You look gorgeous,” Julia said. “And I know just the outfit to top off your new look. Susan and I have scouted clothing for you.”
A whirlwind shopping trip later, they went back to Maggie’s apartment and collapsed with a bottle of wine and Thai takeout.
Julia waved her glass of wine in the air. “Maggie, I didn’t know you were so curvy. You’ve got a great figure.”
“No wonder Greg doesn’t want to let go,” Susan said.
“I guess I fell into bad habits,” Maggie said. “Thanks so much to all of you. I wouldn’t have done this without your prompting. I’d like to propose a toast. To Christina for making the initial suggestion, and to friends for helping me to carry it through.”
“You don’t need to toast me,” Christina protested. “You’ll be my walking advertisement.” She raised her glass, making her golden bracelets jingle. “To friends.”
“To friends!” they chorused. Their wine glasses tinkled as they clicked together.
The ring of a cell phone broke in on their chatter and laughter. Susan, Christina and Julia dived for their handbags and Maggie chuckled. She knew it wasn’t her phone because it sat on the kitchen countertop and wasn’t making a sound.
“It’s mine,” Julia said. “Hi, I’m not in at the moment. Leave a message after the—” She broke off and listened, her smile reaching her eyes. She looked beautiful in that moment. Happy. Maggie realized Julia had smiled little lately. Standing abruptly, she walked from the kitchen, leaving them staring after her.
“What was that?” Susan whispered.
“Shush, I can’t hear,” Christina muttered.
“You can’t eavesdrop on a private conversation,” Maggie said. “It’s not nice. How would you feel if it were you? Let Julia have her privacy.”
Christina frowned. “But I want to know what’s going on. She isn’t secretive like this.”
A loud sigh sounded from Susan. “Maggie is right. Julia will tell us when she’s ready.”
“I tell you, we need a margarita session soon. All this suspense is killing me. How is your spanking blog going, Maggie?”
Maggie laughed. “Oh, no. You can’t turn this on me. Besides, you read my blog and don’t deny it. You know I’m heavy into research, and that’s as close as I’m getting to my spanking.”
Julia returned to the lounge, her eyes bright and cheeks glowing. “I have to go.”
“Where?” Susan asked.
“I’m meeting up with a…a friend,” Julia said. “I’ll see you at work on Monday.” Quickly, she gathered her handbag and gave a wave. The rapid tap of her high heel sandals signaled her retreat.
No one spoke until the click of the door closing told them she’d gone.
“What was that about?” Susan demanded.
“No idea,” Maggie said. “No doubt we’ll find out eventually.”
“She looked so different,” Christina said. “It’s made me realize how quiet she’s been lately. Do you think it’s a man?”
“Yes,” Susan said. “Do you think Connor will know anything?”
“If he does, the man won’t tell,” Maggie said. “He’s as tight as a clam with secrets.”
“I’ve noticed a real swagger in his step recently,” Susan said. “They’re close. You don’t think…”
“Julia and Connor?” Christina laughed and then looked thoughtful. “I don’t think so. Surely we’d pick up on it if there were something romantic between them.”
Guilt roared through Maggie, and she bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself from saying something. Anything. Good grief, if the girls found out about her and Connor…
“Besides,” Christina added. “We made a pact about Connor. I like having a male friend. I don’t want that to change because stupid feelings or hurt creates a roadblock.”
“None of us do,” Susan said. “I like the way he’s honest when we ask him tricky questions.”
And he was that way with her, Maggie thought, guilt almost overwhelming her. He was honest and truthful, yet she couldn’t offer the same frankness when it came to her needs. Everything she read said candid communication was the most important thing between partners. She would have said the same even if spanking wasn’t in the equation. The couples who stayed together were the ones with excellent communication.
“I don’t think Julia and Connor are together,” Maggie said, knowing she was floundering in dangerous territory. “I think it’s someone else.”
“Do you know something?” Susan asked.
Maggie sucked in a breath and let it ease out. It did nothing to slow the rapid beat of her heart. When she glanced down, she noticed the tremor of her hand and placed her glass on the coffee table. “No. All I know is that Julia looked happy. I’m pleased for her and I hope whoever was on the other end of that cell phone realizes how great she is.” A quick glance at her friends told her they’d bought her comment and suspected nothing about her and Connor.
Her cell phone rang and she rose, retrieving it from the kitchen. A swift glance at the screen told her it was Connor. She stabbed the answer button, trepidation causing butterflies to stomp around the pit of her stomach.
“Hello.”
“What are you wearing, babe?”
She closed her eyes on hearing his husky voice, thankful that she had her back to Christina and Susan. Searing heat emblazoned her cheeks, signaling her culpability to a sharp-eyed scrutineer.
“No, Greg,” she muttered. “I can’t go out with you. I have friends with me.”
“Who?” Connor asked, his voice sharp and miles away from the lover of seconds before.
“Susan and Christina.”
“I’m at home and would love to see you. Come over when they leave.”
“I don’t know.” Clear doubt shaded her words, propelled by a heavy dose of remorse.
“Please. I want to see you.” He hung up without another word.
Maggie walked back to the lounge to join Susan and Christina, praying they didn’t ask too many questions because she loathed lying. In that moment she hated Connor and the position he’d put her in with his friends with benefits deal.
“Is Greg still bothering you?” Susan asked.
“Yes,” Maggie said, answering with relief. Greg couldn’t accept her rejection. Anxiety replaced her momentary relief when Connor drifted into her mind again.
Susan flicked her long hair over her shoulder and scowled. “Maybe you should complain at work. Place a formal charge.”
Maggie picked up her glass. Her hand quivered but she hoped they put it down to the phone call. “A complaint for what?”
“Sexual harassment,” Christina said. “He’s bothering
you at work and during your personal time. He shouldn’t get away with it.”
Maggie stared at her friends, her hand gripping her glass so tight it was a wonder the stem didn’t snap. “But that would ruin his career. He’d have to leave and find another position.”
“But he’s using the job to get to you,” Susan said. “He’s not going to stop until you make him. Christina is right. You need to file a grievance.”
Maggie didn’t think she could do that. She’d talk to him first. Hopefully their last chat had put an end to his hopes for a future with her. “I’ll think about it.”
“You should.” Christina put down her glass and yawned. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m exhausted. I have a client to take care of tomorrow and need my beauty sleep. I think I’ll head home.”
“I might go too,” Susan said. “Will you be okay if we leave you alone?”
A whoosh of relief almost floored Maggie. She’d wondered how she’d get rid of her friends, even though shame filled her with every thought. Her need for Connor, for his touch and companionship, raged hotter than her self-reproach.
“Maggie? Will you be okay?”
With a start she returned to the conversation, castigating herself yet again for letting Connor sidetrack her thoughts. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Wasn’t Greg coming over?”
“I told him you were here and were spending the night. I don’t think he’ll turn up because I was sharp with him.” Lies. All lies. Could she dig herself a deeper trench?
Susan cocked her head. “Are you sure?”
She reminded Maggie of an inquisitive bird. “I’m sure. Besides, I want to handle Greg. I don’t want group participation.”
Christina pushed her glasses up her nose and grinned. “But group participation is so much fun.”
Maggie’s brows rose in surprise. She hadn’t misinterpreted Christina’s comment, had she? A faint tinge of color appeared on her friend’s cheeks. No, she hadn’t. Interesting. It seemed she wasn’t the only one harboring secrets.
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