The Dilemma: A Her Choice Story

by Megan McCoy

  “You remember the liability forms? Don’t want sued if a horse looks at you cross eyed,” she said, and pointed to a line at the bottom of a paper while Holly frowned at her receipt.

  “I don’t think this is right,” she said.

  “Oh, I think it is,” Candy said, cheerfully. “You get the friends and family discount now.”

  Liz flashed her a look of gratitude, and felt her eyes well up. Blinking furiously, she smiled at Holly. She needed not to be silly, but it was funny how happy that had made her. “Which cabin are you in? I’ll come help you carry your bags in. Unless you’d rather have a hot cowboy do it.”

  “They’re in the Great Maiden’s Blush cabin,” Candy said, “It’s the honeymoon cabin. Figured you’d enjoy that.”

  “Oh, you don’t know how much we will enjoy that!” Holly said, delightedly. “Thank you!”

  “Welcome,” Candy smiled. “Liz, you want me to send down a hot cowboy to help?”

  “We got this, but thanks,” Liz said, suddenly loving her sort of, kind of, maybe mother-in-law-boss-lady, even if she looked around in naughty erotic stores. “Come on, Holly, let’s go see if the boys are done talking about fishing rods and things, and get you settled in. Matt and I are expecting you for supper tonight.”

  “That sounds great,” Holly walked out onto the porch and Liz followed. “Won’t be the same without Ethan telling us what wine we want to drink, though, will it?”

  “Yeah, and Matt prefers beer or tea, so we can just low class it all the way. Poor Ethan. Missing out on the fun stuff,” Liz said, heading back to the car where Eric and Ben were still talking. How much could there be to say about a fishing rod? It was a stick with some line on it. “Have you heard any updates on Meredith?”

  “She’s back at work now, and walking without her cane, so that’s good,” Holly said, softly. Liz knew she still had some guilt about the accident that shattered Meredith’s leg. It had been in no way her fault, but she’d been the one driving. If it was her, she’d probably feel bad, too. Stupid deer. “Oh, I heard they have started wedding planning!” Holly exclaimed, happily.

  “Seriously?” A flash of envy overcame her. Was it because Meredith was planning her wedding and she wasn’t? Or that Holly knew her brother’s plans before she did? Didn’t matter.

  “It’s that cabin, Eric,” she said, as Eric drove down the one lane paved road and pulled up in front of a small cabin. “I’ve not been in here since the remodel, can’t wait to see it!” Liz faked enthusiasm. She knew Candy had started remodeling and updating the cabins but she just felt, what? Sad? Why? That was silly. She needed to get over herself. Honeymoon cabin. Meredith getting married. She had a hot cowboy of her own, she didn’t need to think about him putting a ring on it. She just needed to be happy in the moment.

  Right?

  Oh, this cabin was gorgeous. The bed stood against one wall, headboard and footboard made of roughhewn wood that had been polished to a gleaming sheen. There had to be a dozen pillows on the bed, making it look inviting and comfortable. On the little log table, sat a bottle of wine and some fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. She knew that Candy had insisted a Jacuzzi tub in every remodeled cabin, as well as a luxury double-headed shower. Out the side door was a big, private porch with both two wooden rockers, and a double porch swing. There was a tiny kitchenette tucked to one side, and a lovely, cozy couch in front of the fireplace. In a corner was a small water fountain that gurgled cheerily. She loved the sound of running, splashing water.

  Eric and Ben followed them in, carrying bags. “Wow, this is great, Holly. You picked a good cabin!” Eric looked around the room.

  “I hope so,” Holly giggled. “We can have a very good time in that Jacuzzi.”

  Swatting her butt, he growled, “Behave. Our nephew is in the room.”

  “I ignore everyone over twenty-one, you’re all just weird,” Ben said, loftily, making everyone laugh.

  “Weird?” Liz asked. “Seriously?”

  “I could say much worse. Just take it and move on.” With that, Ben popped his headphones back on and turned as if to say he was completely done with the conversation.

  Liz shrugged at Eric, ‘what you going to do’ and grabbed a bag to carry to the small changing area outside the bathroom. As soon as Eric left and she could pawn the boy off on someone a couple days, she was so bringing Matt here, to this cabin. If she could afford it. Or if she couldn’t. She worked two jobs. She deserved some spare money to spend on fun here and there. She suddenly wanted nothing more than seeing Matt in that Jacuzzi tub with lots and lots of bubbles.

  * * *

  “What?” Two hours later, alone and unpacked, Holly backed up. Eric had that look in his eye. She knew what that meant and yet right now it was nothing she wanted. “I haven’t been bad.”

  “You are very rarely bad,” he said as he unbuckled his belt and she shivered.

  “Eric, seriously. Tell me what’s going on.” Seriously was their safe word. It meant no matter what was going on, it stopped till they had a discussion.

  “Maintenance.” He said, calmly, pulling his belt from the loops.

  “I don’t need that,” she protested, grabbing her bottom with both hands like a child. “I really don’t.”

  “Do too,” he said. “I know what you are feeling being here.”

  Damn the man. She did feel bad and guilty being here. It brought back all the thoughts of Meredith’s accident.

  Logically, she knew it wasn’t her fault. A deer ran out in front of her car. Deer were murdering machines. They killed more people every year than any other animal. But, she was driving. She wasn’t able to steer out or away, or not get Meredith hurt.

  No matter how she kept telling herself that it wasn’t her fault and she could have done nothing else, and the fact Eric had tried to spank her into guilt relieving sobs after it happened, being here brought it all back up again.

  She knew it. He knew it.

  “I want to have good week of fun and relaxing and hot sex with my hot wife.” He said as he doubled his belt in his hand. “Right now my hot wife is feeling bad and not going to be able to focus on fun. I’m going to fix that. We both deserve a good vacation.”

  “I don’t deserve a belt either,” she pushed back.

  “Who’s the boss around here?” he said, walking toward her.

  “Damn it, Eric. I’ll be good. I won’t whine about feeling guilty,” she stood up tall and looked him in the eye.

  “Damn it, Holly, I know you won’t because I’m going to make sure you get rid of all those girl feelings you can’t help feeling. Cleanse and done,” he said, firmly. “Oh, hey,” he grinned at her and she almost melted into a puddle at his feet. What that smile did to her. “Want an enema? Really clean you out? That could be fun and a real cleanse for you.”

  “No!” she shouted. He wouldn’t!

  He would. He had before. He’d bent her over his knee and not only filled her ass but reddened it at the same time. Not fun. Well, he had fun, so there you go.

  She knew he would ass play forever. No matter what kind. Begging and bargaining seemed a really good idea. “Please no. Just a spanking, sir?” If she was going to get one, she was. Might as well get it over with and have no added on extra fun time for him. Don’t fight with the man who had the belt already doubled up in his hand.

  “I don’t know why you never let me have any fun,” he said as he motioned to the couch. “Drop the pants and get over the arm.”

  One more try. “No, please?” She whimpered. “Can’t we just have a nice vacation?”

  “I hope so. Soon as we get through this. Come on, I want to make it to supper in time for some of Mariah’s rolls.”

  “That is so easy for you to say. Just get it over with. No. I don’t want a spanking and I don’t want to get it over with so you feel better and can go eat,” Holly glared at him and folded her arms over her chest. She rarely fought a spanking, but in this case she felt justified. He needed to listen to
her.

  “Yet, I’m doing it so you can feel better. I’m going to count to three and you better not let me get there. One,” he started.

  “Don’t count!” She hated it when he counted. “I’m doing it. Just no belt, please?” She tried her hardest to look pathetic and miserable and was it working?

  “Well, I could send you out to cut a switch. You know how I like watching you do a switch dance,” he said and dropped one end of the belt. “Decide.”

  “A belting or a switching? Man, do I have a gentleman for a husband,” she said, trying to keep the sarcasm from being too thick in her voice. A belting meant she was bent over something and at least gave her some support. A switching meant he had a firm hold on one arm, she was naked from the waist down and did the switch dance, high stepping and howling while he made sure her entire thighs were welted.

  On one lovely switch encounter, he had lubed up the switch and made her go to the corner, then get down into a downward dog position and inserted it where nothing should be inserted. Anytime she’d moved, he commented on her wagging her tail. He left her in that position till she’d begged for a switching. She did not want to do that again.

  “Belting,” she whispered.

  “Holly, you know you need this, and you’d be disappointed in your gentleman husband if he let you down,” he doubled the belt again and motioned to the couch. “I think I’m at two. Don’t make me get to three.”

  “I won’t,” she caved. She absolutely didn’t want to run in the woods to find a switch. She didn’t want to do the switch dance either. Why he thought it was attractive and fun to watch her screech and high step, naked from the waist down while the fire of a switch hit her bottom and thighs was beyond her. It probably was a sight to see, though. Plus, the belting would be over by the time it took her to get to the woods and back and she didn’t want to dread this any longer than she had to. “May I leave my pants on, please, sir?” She put every ounce of pathetic she could in her voice this time.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Drop the shorts and get over the couch arm. I want to see your bare butt and I want to see it, now.” His quiet tone had turned very steely.

  Shuffling over to the couch, she did as she was told. It wasn’t like she had a choice after all. If the man decided she needed a spanking, she was going to get one. They’d been married a long time, and he was blistering her bottom before they were even engaged. She understood the way his mind worked, and dang it, he understood how hers worked.

  “Hug first?” She pleaded.

  Instead of replying, he opened his arms and she rushed into them. He held her close. She felt so safe in his arms. Secure, and happy. Even though she knew what he was going to do and there was nothing she could say to get out of it. Why did that make her feel the same sense of safe and happy, even though she was afraid? He then tipped her face up to kiss her. Sweet, gentle kiss, that tasted all male and him. “That’s my girl, now drop the pants and get over the couch so we can get this over with.”

  “Do we have to?” She whimpered even as her hands went to the waistband of her denim shorts.

  “I’ll never let you down, Holly,” Eric said softly.

  She sighed as she pushed her shorts to her thighs. She didn’t even bother asking if she could keep her panties on. She knew better. At least the couch arm was cushioned. That would help her stomach anyway. Grabbing a plaid throw pillow to hold on to, she bent over the couch arm. Butterflies exploded in her stomach and it was all she could do to hear his voice, as he said, “Spread your legs and tip up a bit more. I need a good target. “

  Sniffling already, she did as she was told, spreading her legs and burying her face in the couch. She should have gotten a towel. She didn’t want to get snot and tears all over the slip cover.

  The first thing she felt was his hand. Good. A warm up. She liked that much better than when he just went for the hair brush or paddle or belt first thing. He never bothered to give her a warm up for a punishment spanking. A warm up made accepting what he was going to do easier on her. It didn’t matter much what he did, though. She knew by the time it was over, she’d be bawling and begging.

  Shutting her eyes, she grabbed the pillow and tried to hold on tight. He was still using his hand but she already started rising up on her tip toes and knew it wouldn’t be long before she started kicking. Dang those video girls who could just hold still. How did they do that? She sure couldn’t. As soon as the belt came down the first time, she yelped and tried to get up, but his hand was on the small of her back holding her in place.

  “You need this, try not to fight it,” he said, bringing it down with a hard sounding thwack again.

  “No! I can’t!” Holly had no idea what that meant, but she couldn’t get up and she couldn’t get away from the steady smack of the belt. “Please! It hurts!”

  “Then I’m doing it right,” he said and didn’t stop, but did increase the hold he had on her back, because she was getting up and out of there as soon as possible.

  “Eric! Stop! No more!” Holly wailed, and wiggled as hard as she could, trying to get away from the relentless fall of his belt.

  Strangely enough, ha, he didn’t stop. She knew he wouldn’t. He wanted to get her to the cry it out stage. She knew it, he knew it

  “Why are you getting your butt blistered, Holly,” He asked, continuing the rhythmic fall of the belt while she began wiggling and kicking hard.

  “No more! Please!” She sobbed. Sure he wanted her to talk. Screw him. There was no way she could make conversation.

  “Because,” he said, as she screeched and tried to get up. Her butt was on fire and she couldn’t take anymore. “Because you feel bad for some that was Not. Your. Fault.” The belt fell hard with every single word and she was glad for his hard hand on her back and for the pillow she clutched. Her feet rose, kicking and trying to cover her bottom but he still managed to connect every single time.

  Her cries had grown incoherent and she simply sobbed in pain, not even able to beg anymore.

  Finally, he stopped, but she didn’t even realize it for a few minutes.

  The first thing she felt was his hand leaving her back. She wasn’t going anywhere though. Just burying her face in the pillow, she felt his hand rub her hot and burning bottom. She probably had scars. Forever. That had been her worst spanking in a very long time. So why did she feel… lighter? Better? Well, not better yet but the ache in her chest was gone. Replaced by the burning in her butt, for sure, but she could deal with that. She knew from experience the worst of it would be gone soon.

  Oddly enough, she could not stop crying. Sobbing into the pillow, she felt a cool lotion on her bottom, which made her cry harder. “No more.”

  “Hush, baby,” he said, and her bottom felt better as whatever lotion he rubbed in cooled her aches. His voice kept cooling the ache in heart. “It’s all over and now you feel better, don’t you?”

  She didn’t want to agree with him, but yet, she did.

  “Rub more,” she moaned.

  “I’m working on that,” and seconds later he entered her as she gasped and clutched her pillow again. “Better?”

  “Oh, yes,” she shut her eyes again and sighed, happily as he began pounding her to orgasm. So worth it.

  This was going to be a great vacation.

  Chapter Nine

  Liz slipped out of her jeans and into a light yellow, flowered sundress she knew would drive Matt nuts. He loved her in a dress or skirt. Easy access, he said. But they weren’t practical most days on the ranch or at work. She tried to wear one occasionally for him, though. Strapping on her sandals, she smiled, knowing he’d be going nuts wanting to run his hand up her leg the entire evening, but since her brother would be there, he’d have to at least try to behave.

  It was going to be challenging for him, though, she smiled again. Heading back to the kitchen, she heard him come in from the front door. “Hey, baby,” she said.

  “Hi, there, something smells good and you look fantast
ic,” he said. She liked the once over he gave her. Gave her a bit of a thrill. Nice.

  “You don’t look too bad yourself,” she returned the favor and gave him the once over, too. Boots and jeans and sweaty t-shirt. Yum. Her favorite.

  “Yeah, heading in to clean up and hope to have a little alone time before the company arrives,” he said. “Where’s Ben?”

  “He’s over at Eric and Holly’s. They were going to Facetime Ethan and Meredith before they came over,” she said, leaning over to stir the pan on the far back of the stove. She knew he was looking at her legs and that made her smile. She’d wait till after his shower to tell him the rest of the fun.

  “Be back in a few,” he said. “Unless you want to join me in the shower?”

  “I’m all nice and clean, but thank you for the invite. Very thoughtful. Rain check,” she tossed her ponytail at him, knowing he loved to see it bounce.

  Three minutes after he left, Holly and Eric showed up at the door. She noticed Holly’s eyes were red, but she seemed in great spirits, so Liz decided to let it go. At least for now.

  “Hey, Elizabeth,” Eric said. “Something smells really good.”

  “I think that’s me,” she teased.

  “Could be,” he said.

  “Can I help do anything?” Holly asked.

  “Yeah, you can tell me where my son is, and if you want to stir this sauce while I set the table, that would be great. Eric, Matt will be out in a minute. Want a beer?”

  “I do,” he said. “Thanks. Ben went over to see Blaze. Said he didn’t see anything fun about having dinner with us old people.”

  Liz felt a pang, but realized it probably was more fun at Blaze’s, and it would be nice to have an adult meal.

  “Anything I can do?” Eric asked.

  “Sit and be cute?” Holly said, comfortably pushing up her sleeves and taking over the stove while Liz grabbed plates from the fridge.

  She wished she were as confident as Holly. Nothing seemed to upset her or bother her. Well, something did, apparently, if her red-rimmed eyes were any indication.

  “I’m so good at that,” Eric said. “But I’m going out to look at Liz’s garden, if that’s okay.”