Erotica- Forever His/ Spanking
Page 8
His bones began shifting, rearranging and he grimaced with the familiar pain of it. Gray fur sprouted from his hands, his feet, and his body. Within minutes he shed the human side of him and fully became the wolf. He shot out the door and raced across the field.
* * *
Silly as it was Teri had slept in Seth’s bed for the last two nights. Actually she hadn’t slept there; she’d lain there unable to fall asleep. She worried about him, fought the urge to go find him and somehow help him through whatever was troubling him. Okay, she was pretty sure it was his secret that bothered him, but it didn’t bother her. She wanted to tell him that. Yet she knew that he had to be the one to share his secret with her. What about your secret? Are you going to share it with him?
She heaved a sigh and stared up at the ceiling fan as the morning sun shone in through the open window. Would he come home today? Would they finally be able to talk, really talk? At least about his concerns. She’d have to wait and decide about sharing her concerns, see how he reacted to her acceptance of his uniqueness.
Rolling onto her side, she drew in the scent of Seth. Her body responded, heating, yearning. She’d never felt this strongly about any man, mortal or immortal. But then Seth wasn’t like anyone else she’d ever come across and not just because he was a shape-shifter. She was drawn to the sadness within him, wanting to heal his wounded heart, wanting to make the hard man smile, even laugh. Plus there was that oh-so-sexy body of his. She wanted him covering her, touching her in every way possible. She wanted him to unleash the passion and wildness she knew he’d held in check the other day.
“You don’t belong here, daughter. It is time for you to come home.”
Teri blinked in shock and gaped up at her mother standing by the foot of the bed. Her heart pounded. And then she sat up, Seth’s T-shirt pulling tight over her breasts, riding high on her legs. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?” Fury warred with worry inside her. “Your detectives?”
Her mother looked as regal and elegant in her fine white gossamer gown as Teri remembered her. She held her head proudly and barely looked any older than the last time they’d seen each other. Yet Teri noted the thin lines at the corner of her eyes and across her upper lip. For several seconds they studied one another and Teri realized she had missed her mother, her sisters, too. She’d tried never to think about them. It hurt too much.
“Tyrone told you about them, I assume.” Her mother waved a hand as if dismissing the matter. “They were guards, not detectives. I’ve always known where you were.”
“Always?” Teri pressed, unsure whether she was actually relieved or angry. Surprised, definitely.
“Always.” A faint smile warmed her face. “You are my daughter. No matter how upset we might be with each other at times, you will always be my daughter. I will always watch after you.”
Teri wasn’t sure how she felt about the admission. Loved, for sure…even when she might not have deserved it. Ashamed, too. All of these years her mother had been watching her, probably making sure nothing bad happened to her. And she’d said such mean things to her mother after the death of her last husband, after her mother had chastised her about being so foolish as to marry a mortal. Heartbroken at the time she hadn’t needed to be taken to task for marrying a non-faery, knowing she would outlive him. She’d walked away from her mother, her sisters, her faery band. Pride had kept her away all of these years, a determination to lead her life as she pleased and not be governed by the ways of faerys.
Her mother’s expression grew serious. “It is time you came home. You have duties to face. This little game of yours must end.”
Tyrone’s words came back to Teri. She’s ready to pass on her position to one of her daughters…Maybe you’re in the running for Queen Mama of her Faery band.
Her stomach knotted and she looked at her mother again, harder. She appeared older, yes, but… “Are you dying, Mother?” she asked breathlessly, tense, worried.
“What?” Her mother’s brow furrowed in confusion and then she rolled her eyes. “Did Tyrone tell you that?”
Teri shook her head. “Not exactly. He said you were getting ready turn over your role of being Queen Mama. I just…”
Her mother pursed her lips in annoyance. “Queen Mama? How distasteful. But he’s a gremlin, such a comment is to be expected, I guess.” Her shoulders straightened. “He was right, though, about my giving up the throne. I will do it soon. After I make my final decision on who will replace me.”
Dread flowed through Teri. “Surely you are not considering me.”
“All of you, my daughters, are being considered.” She looked impatient, her eyes flashing with it. “We have much to discuss, which is why it is imperative that you return home with me today.”
Home with her? Now? Without seeing Seth again?
“No. At least not now. I have--”
Irritation marred her mother’s nearly perfect face. “He is a werewolf, daughter. Even more wrong for you than another mortal.” She shook her head. “I cannot allow this situation to continue.”
Teri sat up even stiffer, fury giving a bite to her tone. “You have no say in what I do, or who I am with.” She pulled in a steadying breath. “We have made no commitments to each other and maybe never will. Probably won’t. But if I choose to stay here with him for however long, it is my decision. Not yours.”
“How can you even consider staying with him? He’s a beast. He’s--”
“Out! Now! Leave!” She was so angry she could barely be civil. “Seth has never behaved like a beast to me.” His having spanked her, even thrashing her with his belt, didn’t count. She’d in a way deserved both.
The determined leader echoed in her mother’s tone as she commanded, “You have one week to end this nonsense with this…this wolf. Then you will return home where you belong.”
“You can’t…” Her mother vanished as quickly as she’d appeared and the protest died in Teri’s throat.
A week. Then what? Her mother would come back and haul her kicking and screaming home? Or send her guards? No. She wouldn’t be ordered around again. She had the right to live wherever she wanted, do what she wanted, and be with whoever she wanted.
But does Seth want me here? She honestly didn’t know. He’d left her, saying he would be back and then they would talk. But was he actually waiting for her to leave, hoping she would go. She needed him. Now.
She climbed from the comfort of his bed and strode to her own room. She would go find him, meet him on his way back…if he was doing that. If he wasn’t, then they would have this little discussion at his line shack. Yes, she would be invading his privacy and probably going to make him angry. Too bad.
* * *
Seth had let his wolf run and then run hard some more. He was worn out; satisfied that he could change back soon and then return home. He was certain he could now face Teri without wanting to take her immediately…okay, fairly certain. He would just rest here in the shade of the tree a little longer. What made him still uneasy was that he’d felt as if he’d been watched all of this time. Yet he hadn’t seen anyone, hadn’t caught the scent of anyone. Maybe he was being paranoid.
Then he caught it…the sound of hoofbeats. Faint ones, so obviously the horse was somewhere on the other side of the cabin but growing closer. He bristled, tensed. He was sure none of his hands would dare come here, especially since Walker should have told them where he was going the other day. Even Walker wouldn’t come here when Seth had come to the shack for privacy. So who was it?
He remained very still, hidden in the long grass and the shade. Whoever was coming here uninvited would…
“Seth! Seth, are you here?” Teri rounded the cabin on horseback and shouted.
Teri? She’d come here, when he’d told her he didn’t want to be disturbed here, ever. Another act of her rebellion to his rules. Clearly she needed another trip over his knee. But he had to change back and get dressed without her seeing him. How the hell was he supposed to
do that?
“Seth!” she called out again, now almost to the front of the cabin.
He didn’t move a muscle but the wind picked up. It carried his wolf scent toward her, toward the now fidgeting mare. He watched Teri grip the reins tighter in an attempt to keep control of her mount. But the horse was having none of that, trying to spin around in the other direction, tossing her head up and down in fear.
His heart pounded as he waited for the horse to go completely out of control. He couldn’t run to them in wolf form and make the situation worse. He had to change, but he would be naked. Didn’t matter.
As his bones shifted again and he once more became man, he saw the crazed mare go up on her hind legs. He growled in outrage, disgusted that he couldn’t get changed in time. He watched helplessly—caught between wolf and human—as Teri slid backwards from the saddle. She landed hard but managed to land on her ass and not hit her head as he’d feared. Still her butt would probably be bruised.
As she sat there clearly stunned and stared after the mare tearing back toward the heart of the ranch, Seth’s change finished. Now that he felt sure she wasn’t seriously hurt he took a second to deal with his anger. She shouldn’t have come here. She should have respected his privacy. Bruised butt or not, the woman was getting a good spanking.
She looked in his direction, climbing to her feet and dusting off her jeans. How had she known he was here watching her? Again, it didn’t matter. He needed to go to her, needed to make sure she really was all right. Before he burned her butt.
Unconcerned with his nakedness, he strode her way. “What are you doing here?” he questioned in a near shout.
She stiffened, that stubborn chin of hers going up. “I needed to talk to you and you took too long coming back.”
His stomach tightened with an odd sense of dread. “Did something happen?”
Her slender shoulders went up and down in a shrug. “Sort of. It’s complicated.”
Her gaze never left him as he strode closer. His body reacted and there was nothing he could do to cover up his problem. A fact that served to annoy him even more. “I would have been back there in a couple of hours. You should have waited for me.”
“Well, I didn’t.” She moved her gaze over him like a caress, smiling crookedly. “Do you always go around here naked? Not that I’m complaining.”
His dick hardened even more. “Skinny dipping.” He nodded behind him. “In the pond.”
“I don’t see any water dripping on you.”
Frustration in so many ways filled him. Again he had to fight down his wolf’s need to force her to all fours and take her like the beast he was. He clenched his hands at his sides as he stopped in front of her. “I dried off in the breeze.”
Her eyes had darkened and her nipples thrust out beneath the shirt. He badly wanted to rip the shirt from her and latch onto those nipples with his teeth, one at a time. She must have sensed at least some of his thoughts because she drew in a shuddery breath. “Seth.”
His name sounded like a plea. She desired him maybe as much as he did her. “We shouldn’t…”
“We should.” She started unbuttoning her shirt. “We can talk later. We both need this.”
Understatement. He needed to be deep inside her warm body more than anything. “Here. Now.”
She didn’t even hesitate, just pulled off her shirt, then her bra. When she would have tugged off her boots in preparation for removing her jeans, he shook his head. He took her hand and led her to the porch. “Drop your jeans, panties, too.” His voice was gruff, thick with desperation. “Kneel here.”
Again, she didn’t hesitate, simply lowered her clothing. Then she turned from him and put her knees on the second step and bent over, her hands flattening on the porch. “Like this?”
Seth swallowed hard and stared at that creamy ass. “I will try to be careful, as gentle as I can be.” But he wasn’t sure he could do either one. His desire was too great.
She looked at him beyond the long braid draping over her shoulder. “It’s okay, Seth. You can let your animal out.”
Confused, but not wanting to take the time to analyze what she’d said, he gripped her hip with one hand and guided his dick to her channel. She was moist, dripping for him, more than ready. He drove deep in one long thrust and forced a groan from her. He held still for a second to let her adjust to him, but she shoved back against him.
“Please, Seth. I need you.”
He didn’t mean to, but he couldn’t seem to restrain himself. He thrust into her over and over again, panting, grunting. Part of him knew he should ease up, but he couldn’t. Nor did she ask him to. She met each of his drives and cried out her pleasure. Her cries were so sweet to hear, urging him to give completely in to his desires.
All too quickly he filled her with his release. He held himself, hands braced on the step, so that he wouldn’t collapse and crush her. She shivered beneath him, sighing in contentment. He found the strength to pull out of her and then eased back until he stood. She didn’t move, didn’t speak.
“You know I’m going to spank you.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement of fact. “You disobeyed me. You knew there would be a penalty to pay for that.”
“Yes.” She craned her head to look at him. “That’s why I’m still in this position. I figured this would work.”
He’d intended to pull her over his lap, but changed his mind and moved to her side. “Reckon you’re right.”
She continued to look at him. “Do what you believe is needed.” She lowered her head. “When you’re satisfied I’ve paid for my disobedience, then we can talk.”
He almost changed his mind, but his frustration had resurfaced and she had acknowledged that she understood she would face consequences when she’d decided to come here. His hand smacked against her butt before he’d even realized what he was doing. It landed hard, hard enough that he saw his handprint on her creamy skin.
“I’m not sorry, just so you know.” She put her head to the porch. “Do it. Spank me. But I’m not sorry for coming here.”
“You will be, I can promise you that.” Her words were like a challenge, which he accepted. He delivered a hard spanking she wouldn’t soon forget.
When he was finally satisfied that she fully understood his position on the subject of not disobeying him and she was sobbing, he stepped away. His hand hurt. No doubt her crimson ass hurt a hell of a lot more. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her until the tears stopped. But he resisted and instead walked around her and into the cabin. He dressed while listening to her cries quiet down, hearing her shuddery breaths. It was so hard not to go to her and tell her he was sorry for punishing her. He had to be strong. She’d needed this lesson.
He forced himself to give her time to recover and come to him. He went to get her a bottle of water, certain she would be thirsty after crying. As he stood by the small table waiting for her, he thought about what she’d said before he’d driven his dick into her. You can let your animal out. What had she meant by that? Just that she wanted rough sex? Or… No. She couldn’t know his secret.
* * *
Teri didn’t move for several minutes after Seth went into the cabin. Her bottom was on fire. He hadn’t missed an inch of it. He’d been seriously upset with her, which she’d known he would be. Of course she could end this, unleash the full powers of her enhanced healing abilities. But she didn’t. She would respect him and what he’d felt he had to do.
With that decision made, she eased to her feet. Every move made her wince. She hoped he never spanked her so firmly again. And he probably wouldn’t. Because she would be leaving later today, as soon as she told him. She didn’t have a choice. Her mother would find a way to hurt Seth if she stayed with him, if she didn’t go home. But she wouldn’t stay there. Yet she couldn’t come back to Seth either. She had to protect him.
She eased her jeans up and hissed at the horrible rub against her stinging bottom. Then she wiped away her tears and bucked up
her courage.
Their gazes met when she walked into the cabin. Her heart pinched. This would be the hardest thing she’d ever done or would ever do. “I’m leaving. Today.”
His brow furrowed in anger. “Because I spanked you?”
“No.” She swallowed down a lump in her throat. “Because I have to, for both of our sakes.”
“What the hell does that mean?” He squeezed a bottle of water he was holding. “And what was that animal reference earlier?”
She looked him square in the eye. “I know about you.” She had foolishly hoped they could avoid this discussion, hoped he would just accept that she’d finally decided it was time to move on. Not happening.
“You know what?” he demanded.
“I know you’re a shifter, Seth.” When his eyes widened and then narrowed, she added, “That doesn’t matter to me. If it did, I wouldn’t have let you near me. I wouldn’t have let you take me like you did outside.”
“I wanted you,” he countered, tossing the water bottle to the floor. “You couldn’t have stopped me.”
“Yes, I could have. Nothing happens to me that I don’t allow.” She reached back to gently touch her aching bottom. “Including getting spanked.”
He didn’t look as if he believed her. “If you don’t have a problem with me being a shifter and think you can deal with whatever I dish out, then why are you leaving?”
Tears misted her eyes and she almost didn’t tell him the truth, but he deserved to know. “Because I love you. I can’t see you hurt because of me.”
He strode closer and she stepped backward. “No, don’t touch me. This is hard enough. Please try to understand that I don’t have a choice in this.”
Such pain filled his eyes; grim determination etched his face at the same time. He was going to fight her about this decision. She wanted to stay with him, but she couldn’t. Nor could she explain without breaking down. She chose the only way out, the chicken way out. She disappeared, hearing his demand that she come back as she remained there invisibly until she could take his pain no longer and went home.