by Jodi Bella
Alicia sniffled at his words and he smiled. "I thought you were trying to convince me that we shouldn't be together, here. And now when I agree with you that you might be right, you look like you're going to cry."
She blinked against the hot tears, swallowing them back. "I'm not going to cry," she insisted, but one tear had already escaped and was making a mad dash for freedom down her soft cheek.
Luke chuckled softly as he wiped the wetness away and gave her hand a squeeze. "Calm down, baby. I'm not giving up on us yet. I'm just telling you that you need to take some time and think about the punishment spankings. And if you find that you can't accept them, then maybe we should reconsider what we're plunging into here. That's all.
"Now, as for my niece, she does not hate you. She doesn't hate anything, except possibly Brussels sprouts. She doesn't even know you yet. I had a talk with her tonight—a good talk—and I think she will really give you the chance you deserve…"
"You didn't spank her, did you?"
Luke nodded. "Yes, I did. Relax, Alicia. She wasn't mad at me or you. She behaved very badly today and understood that I had to punish her. It went very well, actually. And we had a good talk. Like I said, the next time should be much better." Alicia sighed. Luke gave her hand a tug and cuddled her against his side. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"As for what you said about kids, I think you need to give Missy the same chance she needs to give you before you decide things about yourself that you're not sure of. Like you said, you don't have much experience with kids, so the way I see it, how do you really know for sure?"
She shrugged one shoulder. He made it all sound so simple and logical and easy. In her head it was complicated and emotional and so very hard. But she liked Luke so much, wanted him to be her own so much, that she wanted just as much to believe him.
Luke gave her forehead a warm kiss and cupped her face. She looked up at him and he leaned his forehead against hers. "I want you to know something, Alicia Marie," he said. "And I want you to remember it. I am not your ex-fiancé. And I would never hurt you like he did. Never. Got that?"
She nodded jerkily, shamed by the indirect comparison she'd made between the two men. Luke was nothing like Damon and she knew that in her heart. "I'm sorry. You're right."
One finger rose to her lips to quiet her apology. "It's okay. Just remember next time."
She nodded again and released a deep breath when Luke enfolded her back in his arms. It felt so good to be held like that after the long day they'd had and especially after this talk.
"As far as marriage is concerned, honey, I'm not in any rush myself, you know. I would like to marry someday and have a family, but I don't have to do it tomorrow. We've only been dating a couple months and things will come in their own time. If you do decide that you want to be with me, then I'm sure you'll find a way to trust me with your heart. And if you trust me enough and want to be with me, I'm sure your belief in marriage and love will strengthen as well."
As he spoke, he petted her hair back from her face. Alicia wished that what he predicted could come true. She would like to believe in love again, and to be able to trust someone without fear or doubt. She couldn't think of anyone more worthy of her trust than Luke.
After they'd sat in quiet for some time, Luke patted her bottom and said, "Now, let's get you properly spanked and put to bed…"
"You… you're still going to spank me?"
"Of course I am." Luke answered easily. "Silly woman. But don't get all excited on me. You've been especially naughty today and you've got a hard spanking coming to you."
Something in his eyes belied his words and Alicia bit back a smile. "And I won't like this spanking, is that what you're saying?"
Luke's gaze was warm. "I told you before, there're all kinds of spankings."
"Right, of course." A tiny giggle escaped her as she saw that his eyes were adance with humor.
"So, off with you to your bedroom, Miss. I'll be there directly."
Alicia went to her room, resisting the urge to glance back over her shoulder at Luke. She sat on the edge of the bed, her stomach doing an intricate series of somersaults and her hands suddenly clammy.
When he came through the door a few minutes later and looked across the room at her, she smiled.
"Do you have a hairbrush, young lady?" he surprised her by asking.
"Y-yes, I do… over there on t-the dresser…" Now the somersaults in Alicia's stomach changed to handsprings as she watched the tall, strong cowboy saunter over to her dresser. He picked up the large, flat backed, wooden brush and examined it a moment.
He shot a glance her way as he commented, "It's beautiful."
She squirmed a bit, not sure what to say, and wondering if he'd notice… "
"But, it doesn't look like you use it on your hair," he noticed. And then he tapped the back of the brush against his palm. "There's not even a single strand of your golden hair in these bristles. Why is that?"
Alicia felt her face flame with heat and heard his soft chuckle. "Because, I… I don't use it on my hair…" she admitted quietly.
"Hmmm," he observed, looking very thoughtful as he rejoined her, brush still in hand.
She prayed he wouldn't ask her why she had it—he knew, of course—but she wouldn't put it past him to ask just so he could watch her squirm and blush some more.
Luke set the brush on the bed and took Alicia's hand as he sat beside her. Very gently, not wanting to change the mood, he asked, "Did you and Damon play with the brush?"
"No," she answered, staring at the carpet as her neck flushed like her face. "I… we… it's never been used… not yet…"
"Not yet," Luke agreed, and though she wasn't looking at his face to see it, she heard the smile in his voice.
"Well, I think it's about time it got some use, don't you?" He tipped her chin up with one finger and winked at her. "You know, Missy always says you should give your hair twenty strokes every night before bed so it will be thick and pretty—something her mother used to tell her, I guess. But since you don't use this brush for your hair, I guess you'll have to get those twenty strokes on your bottom."
And just that fast, in the span of a blink of her eyes, she was face down over Luke's lap. He ran his hand over her bottom through the material of her nightgown and panties and made an appreciative sound low in his throat.
"Luke…" She looked over her shoulder, feeling suddenly so vulnerable and nervous that her voice shook. "I…I've never been spanked with… anything. Except someone's hand… I …uh…"
"Shh, baby." Luke stroked her cheek and brushed her hair away from her eyes. "Trust me. You don't have to worry about anything when you're in my hands. I'll always take good care of you. Okay?"
She nodded jerkily, though inside she couldn't help her nerves. She rested her head on her arms and closed her eyes, waiting for the first swat. But Luke was in no hurry. He slowly lifted her nightgown up and layered it onto her back, revealing her bottom encased in pale pink nylon panties. He made a great, slow process of peeling them down to her knees, mumbling that a naughty girl like Alicia should only be spanked on her bare backside.
When her shapely bottom peered up at him, he smiled as he caressed it, whispering, "Hello, there. I thought I might be seeing you again."
Alicia's giggle at that faded to a contented sigh when he bent over her and pressed twin kisses, one on each cheek.
He started scolding her then, and though there was a lightness in his voice, Alicia heard the truth of his admonishment and she welcomed the hand spanks he began as he lectured her. They were much crisper and dealt more firmly than she liked, but he wasn't spanking as hard as he had the last time she'd been over his lap, either. "I expect you to give Missy the same chance I expect her to give you, Alicia. You can't just give up on a good relationship because the first challenge comes along. I expect you to try harder this time, young lady. Understand?"
"Yesss…" Alicia felt the tears gathering in her eye
s now, both from the application of his hand and the disappointment in his words. She blinked the tears back, then was surprised when he stopped for a moment and caressed her bottom.
"Does your bottom hurt, sweetheart?"
"Yes…"
"Well, we're half finished. I'm just going to finish you up with the brush." Alicia held her breath, waiting for the first CRACK! of that brush. But apparently Luke planned to keep her in suspense a bit first, for he continued lecturing while his hand smoothed her red fanny, giving little pats here and there to punctuate his words.
"You know, Alicia, when I call and leave a message, I expect you to call me back. I was very worried about you after I dropped you off and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm sorry. I… I was here when you called… I just… I didn't… I was…"
"Tsk tsk." Luke shook his head. "What you were, Alicia Marie, was running from me. Just like tonight when I wanted you to talk to me… you wanted to hide from me, run from me. I won't allow that. You can't hide things from me, or lie to me, which you also tried to do when you said you didn't want to see me anymore."
"I know!" Alicia's voice broke as the first sob escaped her. "Luke, I'm sooorry!"
"Shh. Shh. Honey, it's okay." Luke turned her to cradle her against his chest and wiped at the fresh tears. He kissed her forehead and pushed her hair behind her ears. "Don't cry, Lise. I just want to make some things clear to you. It's okay. I love you. Shh."
She cuddled in his arms a few minutes, aware of the abating sting in her bottom, the lingering warmth and the effects it was bringing, especially when coupled with being held and comforted. She rubbed herself against the crotch of Luke's jeans, feeling his own arousal through the worn denim.
"No." He set her away from him and shook his head at her. "Don't do that. All that's gonna happen tonight is you're going to get your tail good and paddled and then you're going to sleep. That's the end of it."
She pouted openly at him. Then had the boldness to touch him again, this time with her hand.
"If you like, brat, you can get a good dose of my belt tonight as well," he ground out.
The idea scared her even as it made her sex clench. "Don't you want to make love to me?" she asked, hurt.
Luke sighed and shook his head in frustration. "You just felt my erection, honey, you know I do. More than anything. But you're not ready for that yet."
When she began to protest, he held up one hand and spoke over her. "Let me finish! Making love is something to be done in a committed relationship, not casually. At least not in my book, anyway. And you're not ready to commit to me yet, as you've already said tonight."
"So," she sniffed. "So, we aren't going to make love?"
"No, darlin.' Not tonight, at least. Not for a while, I guess. Until you're ready."
"Humph!" She folded her arms over her chest. "Fine, then, Mr. Paragon of Virtue. If that's the way you want it…"
"It's not the way I want it, but that's how it is." He ignored her frown and put her back over his lap, not quite as gently this time as the last. At the last minute he changed his mind and repositioned her so that her bottom was draped over only one of his knees. He clamped her legs between his thighs, picked up the hairbrush and brought it down unceremoniously with a loud CRACK!
"Ow!"
The second CRACK! and third sounded equally as loud and soon Luke had a lap full of struggling, shrieking woman.
"I won't argue this sex point with you, Alicia. And I won't tolerate you being a brat about it, either," he told her between swats. "If I mean anything to you, you'll find a way to wait—and you're to behave yourself in the meantime."
He stopped the paddling after he'd given her twenty strokes with the brush and he tossed it aside. He knew he hadn't stayed his strength much and she'd probably be a bit sore tomorrow. Her bottom was hot and red and she panted over his lap when he stopped and she was able to cease struggling. He helped her up a few moments later and sat her gingerly on his knee. "Now, do you have anything else to say on the subject? Because after tonight, I don't want to have to discuss it again."
"No, I guess not," she whispered mournfully. She wouldn't look at him till he forced her to by tipping up her chin.
"Then stop pouting, unless you want another spanking tonight."
"No, thank you," she answered primly, savoring his lips on her own as he pressed a warm kiss there. One arousing spanking was enough, thank you very much, especially when she wasn't going to get anything from it but a sleepless night, some erotic dreams and a sore backside in the morning. She hadn't believed him about the different kinds of spankings, but she did now—she couldn't think of a worse sort of punishment than her current situation!
Chapter 6
The following morning Alicia woke up from a string of frustrating, erotic dreams. She got out of bed, pulled on her old flannel bathrobe and stomped off to the bathroom, muttering under her breath about domineering men, and one specific cowboy in particular.
A low, deep chuckle broke through her grumblings just before she stepped into the bathroom. She stuck her head around the corner and sure enough, there was the object of her contempt, grinning with obvious amusement at her expense. Her eyes narrowed and she folded her arms over her chest as she took in his sleep tousled hair, the tossed aside blanket on her couch, and his rumpled clothes.
"You slept here last night?"
He nodded, gesturing to the battered door. "I couldn't just leave you here alone with the door barely hanging on its hinges, and the locks not working."
She sniffed. "You… you could've told me, Luke. You could've… cuddled me a bit after… after you spanked me."
"I suppose," he agreed as he stood up and stretched, giving Alicia a wonderful show of muscles rippling beneath his white tee shirt and tight jeans. "But that would've only made the pair of us all the more horny…"
"So?" she asked innocently.
Luke gave her a playfully stern look and a swat on the bottom as he joined her for a hug.
"Besides, I wouldn't have been much protection to you if I was in your bed asleep and someone broke in." He kissed her pouting mouth, briefly, and then released her. "Go on and get showered and dressed. I called for a repairman to come for the door, and I have something I want to talk to you about." He gave her bottom a small pinch that made her squirm. "By the way, how's your bottom feel this morning?"
"Not as sore as my heart," she murmured pettishly.
Luke wasn't falling for her act, though. He merely swatted her again and assured her: "You deserved everything you got last night, Alicia Marie. And if you can't remember to behave yourself, I promise you there's plenty more where that came from."
"Humph!" Feeling her face flush scarlet at his words, Alicia made a hasty retreat into the bathroom, closing the door—and locking it, for good measure—in his handsome face.
Half an hour later, Alicia emerged from the bathroom, smelling good enough to eat, even ensconced in that same old, baggy flannel bathrobe. The repairmen, two middle-aged men with sagging pants and greasy hands, were already going about the business of fixing her door. Luke gave her a wink and followed her into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
She looked at him expectantly, one eyebrow raised, as she ran a brush through her long, golden hair.
"I have an idea," he started, and she heard in his voice that he liked this idea of his, very much. "Ever since I've known you, I've been trying to warn you about how this area of town isn't the best of places for a woman to live alone. You've even agreed with me, but right now you don't have the money to move into some place more safe." He sighed. "Well, I think that last night's… er… door incident should tell you that you maybe shouldn't wait much longer to find someplace better to live."
"Well, I didn't have the door dead bolted," Alicia pointed out. "I mean, to be fair and all, I don't know that you could have broken through if I had, Superman."
He tweaked her nose at the Superman jibe. "Regardless, you've bee
n concerned about the safety issues at this apartment, as I have been. And I have a great idea." He paused as if to create suspense, though Alicia already had a sense of what was coming. "Why don't you move into the farmhouse with my mom?"
"Your mom?" That part had been unexpected. "Why not move in with you?"
He gave her the look. "Because I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off you, for one thing. And the last thing I want is for my niece to discover us in bed before you are officially made her aunt."
Alicia made a face, but it was obvious that she was considering his idea. She already thought of Luke's mom as a friend and really did like the older woman.
"Are you sure it would be okay with Emily?"
Luke made a dismissive gesture with one hand. "Mom would love the company. And it would give you and I more time together. And you and Missy could get to know each other better. You could save some money like you always say you want to…"
"Oh, I couldn't live at the house without paying rent," Alicia protested.
Luke shrugged. "Well, you could decide that later on with mom." He watched her anxiously as she thought about the idea some more. "What do you say?"
A slow smile warmed her face though there was a caution in her eyes that Luke didn't miss. "I say okay," she agreed, then laughed as the big cowboy scooped her up in his arms for a hug and kiss.
"You won't regret it," he whispered against her mouth. "I promise."
And so it was, that Alicia found herself living with Luke's mother in the big, old farmhouse, just a few hundred yards from the house he and Missy shared.
Much to Alicia's surprise, the little girl had accepted the arrangement very well, especially considering how suddenly it had occurred. The first time she saw Missy her first day on the farm, the child had come up to her and apologized for her behavior on the day of the picnic. Alicia had accepted immediately, and though there was sometimes still a tension between the two of them, she also knew she was building a friendship with the little girl, as well. Missy was captivated by Alicia's computer, and so after her homework was done, Alicia would play games with her on the computer or help her surf the web. The two of them would collaborate with Luke's mom in the kitchen, as well, helping with dinner and weekend lunches. Alicia would sometimes look up from the computer screen or a mixing bowl to discover Luke in the doorway watching the scene with a big, wistful grin on his face. She would blush then, and look quickly away.