by Maren Smith
“I should apologize for that, little squirrel, but I can’t, because that would be a lie. I’m not sorry in the slightest.”
I stood in a stunned silence, not trusting myself to move or speak.
“I have been wanting to do that for a long time. I couldn’t have you thinking I feel sorry for you. I couldn’t listen to the lies you tell yourself in your head to keep your distance. I’m attracted to you, Erika. I have been since the day we met, and I’m done fighting it. It’s been a long time since a woman has made me lose control like I just did.” He blushed at that, but continued, “You need to know that you are a special woman, you deserve the world. You definitely don’t deserve to be saddled with a man twenty years older than you. However, I would like to spend some time with you, take you to lunch or dinner. We can eat here at the Ranch or drive to town, but I would like it to be just us. I want a chance to get to know you.”
My mouth went dry at his declaration, and I couldn’t put together a coherent thought. The only word that came to mind was, “Why?”
“Why?” he asked back.
I hadn’t realized I spoke out loud, but I nodded anyway.
“Were you not just listening to me, little squirrel?” He brought his hand up and grazed my cheekbone with the back of his knuckles. “You are beautiful and perfect in every way. Yes, I know you make mistakes, we all do, but it’s not about that. It’s about your heart. Your motives are pure and true. I’ve wasted so many years in my life. I don’t want to let this feeling pass me by.”
“I need some air,” I squeaked out. This was impossible. I had to be dreaming.
Jared’s forehead wrinkled in concern, and he hit the button on the elevator. “Okay, honey. Let’s get you out of here.”
The elevator didn’t move. My stomach sank as I realized I hadn’t felt it move at all since we got in.
“Something’s wrong,” he said, hitting the button again. None of the button lights activated or registered as he pushed them. “I think we may be stuck, little squirrel.”
I slid to the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. “What are we going to do?” I could feel the panic bubbling right beneath the surface.
“Deep breaths. I’m going to push the help button, someone will come.”
“The help call goes to the office. There’s no one in the office.” I tried to keep my voice from shaking, but my heart pounded in my throat.
“I know Derek. I’m sure he has back-up security for his back-up security. Someone will get the alert.”
I admired him for his calm and level head. He was right. Derek had a plan for everything, but this had never happened before, and I was not a fan of being trapped.
Jared must have felt my fear. He sat down next to me and wrapped me in his arms. “Deep breaths, little squirrel. Everything is going to be fine. I promise.”
I didn’t answer, but accepted his comfort and laid my head down on his shoulder.
“Hey, have I ever broken a promise to you before?”
“You’ve never made me a promise before.” I giggled.
“Well I don’t plan on starting a relationship out on a bad foot,” he growled close to my ear.
Gasping, I tugged my head up and hit him square in the face with the back of my head. “Ow!” I pulled away and stared in horror at the blood dripping from his nose.
“I’m so sorry! Oh my God.” I jumped into action, unbuttoning my work shirt and taking it off.
Jared laughed, “This is one hell of a first date, little squirrel.”
“Hush and move your hand,” I demanded. I always wanted to go into the medical field, but my life had not lent itself to that dream. I was using skills I had picked up in my short stint at EMT school. “Lean forward a bit and pinch this part of your nose.”
He took my instructions in stride and did as I asked. Using my shirt I wiped the blood from his mouth and chin and fell onto my butt when the elevator jerked back to life.
JARED
Watching Erika spring to life in order to care for me was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. I was mesmerized with each movement and instruction she gave. As the elevator began to move, I found myself mourning the end of our time together. I vowed to not let any more time go by. I was officially ready to pursue the sultry little sub.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a worried Moses, Derek’s right hand man, and another security guard I had yet to meet.
“Is everyone okay?” the guard asked.
Moses went straight to Erika, signing to her much slower than I had witnessed him signing to Derek and Sadie.
She watched his hands and nodded. “I’m fine. We just kind of collided, and Jared’s nose was the only casualty.” Moses shook his head and offered me his hand, helping me off the floor like I weighed little more than a feather.
“Thank you. Do you know what happened?” Moses shook his head again and gestured to the guard to answer.
“It appears the power to the elevator was shut down, but we don’t know what the cause was. Derek is on his way.”
The whir of a golfcart announced his arrival. “What kind of trouble have you two gotten into?” he asked jovially.
“Well your subbie secretary got ticked at me and slugged me in the nose. You should really get a handle on this one.”
Derek chuckled. “You probably deserved it, old man. What are you doing out of the office, little girl?” Crossing his arms over his chest, he turned his attention to Erika.
Her eyebrows came together and she looked back and forth between him and me.
“Are you going senile? You gave her the rest of the day off,” I reminded him.
“I most certainly did not!” Derek exclaimed glowering at her.
“Her and I have not had our meeting yet today, and we need to discuss the final plans for the Christmas party tomorrow night.”
“Then why did Sadie tell me you wanted me to pass on the message?” Now I was confused and frustrated. “What the hell is going on around here?”
Derek rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I don’t know, but it seems all of it has one common denominator, my little Angel.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but we really should get Master Jared to the big house and doctor up his nose.” Erika finally spoke up.
“I’m fine, little squirrel. The bleeding stopped.”
“You need ice.” She planted her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow in challenge.
I shook my head. “Okay you win. Let’s go to the house, but I think we all need to discuss this new revelation.”
“One thing is obvious about the elevator,” the maintenance man chimed in. “It was manually shut off.”
Derek growled in the back of his throat, a noise I had never heard come from the typically laid-back man. “That woman is going to be sitting on a tender tail for weeks.”
We all climbed into the golf cart and headed to the house in silence. I replayed all of the mishaps that occurred since I arrived. All involved getting Erika into trouble, and each of them was accompanied by an adorable and mischievous little blonde.
“What do you think she’s playing at?” I asked Derek as he drove.
“I don’t know, but she’s not working alone. If that elevator was shut off by hand, someone else had to do it. She is at the house finalizing the food for tomorrow night.”
“Maybe it wasn’t her at all, then?”
“The more I think about it, the more sense it makes. My Angel is playing matchmaker.” He pulled the cart to a stop.
“Matchmaker?” Erika screeched. “By getting me in trouble? By making me feel like a failure and look like an idiot? How is that a matchmaker?”
“Take a breath, little lady,” Derek coached with a gentleness I had not seen him use toward her. “She has it in her head that you two are perfect for one another, and she has been talking about it for a while now. By getting you in trouble she is putting Jared’s attention on you. Which is where it needs to be for the old man to get his head out of
his butt and realize what an amazing woman you are.” He winked at me, and I knew his feelings were the same as Sadie’s. Her plan, as flawed and torturous as it was, worked. It pushed me to see what was right under my nose.
“Trust me,” he continued, “she is going to be in a world of hurt for this stunt.”
“Wait just a second. I may have an idea that will give Sadie and whoever was helping her the punishment they need and give Erika a little bit of revenge.”
Derek and Erika looked at each other in question before turning their attention back to me with mischievous grins on their faces. “We’re listening,” Erika giggled.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ERIKA
Jared’s plan was genius. My last chore for the Christmas party was to have the Santa suit cleaned. I pretended to be super stressed and busy and, as predicted, Sadie offered to take the costume for me. A few hours later I went to pick it up and sure enough, the beard was missing. I took it back to the office, not bothering to hide the skip in my step.
“Hook, line, and sinker,” I announced as I closed the office door behind me. Jared and Derek shook their heads.
“Little brat,” Derek muttered. “Well now we know for sure, gather them all. I will make myself scarce and let you two get your revenge. Erika, I have my pager if you need me to come back for any reason.”
I nodded and went into my office to call for the girls.
ONE BY ONE THE SUMMONED group of girls, that had been teasingly dubbed Santa’s Little Helpers, entered the office. They had no idea what was going on, and their unease was tangible.
“Well Little Ones, I have some bad news,” Jared sighed. “I am so sorry, but I cannot play Santa at the party because Erika has misplaced some of the pieces to my costume. You have all behaved exceptionally this week, and you don’t deserve to be punished for her negligence.” I watched discreetly from Jared’s side as he scanned the group of girls fidgeting in front of him.
My turn... “I’m so sorry, Sir.” I stepped forward. “And I’m sorry to you girls, too. I know how excited you were to get presents from Santa Claus.”
“It's really no big deal,” Sadie chimed, “we can still get presents even without the costume. We don’t believe in Santa anyway, right girls?”
You could have heard a pin drop in the silence.
She turned her back to us to address the group. “Right girls?” she asked nodding vehemently. A chorus of half-hearted agreements were given, but not one of the group was able to keep eye contact. The girls were already losing their bravado. Time to make it worse for the little brats.
“Master Jared, I feel so guilty for ruining Christmas. Will you please punish me so that I will learn from my mistake?”
“What?” Sadie screeched.
Jared’s gaze stayed glued to mine, and I watched the change occur. His eyes darkened and creased in the corners. No one else would notice, but I was so close I could smell his cologne. We had discussed the plan, but moving forward was an entirely different thing. He had never spanked me before. “I think a sound spanking would suffice. Don't you girls?” he asked.
“No!” Sadie yelled. “I mean, it was just a mistake. She didn't do it on purpose.”
“That’s true, being naughty on purpose would earn a much harsher spanking than something accidental,” he agreed, breaking eye contact with me to level the girls with a glare.
Sadie gulped and took a step back, blending into the group. Harsh whispers were being passed around. Hiding a wicked smile, I pushed further.
“It was an irresponsible oversight, and I will accept your spanking, Sir.”
“Good girl, lift your skirt and lay over my lap please.” He sat down on the sofa and patted his knee.
“We will just give you some privacy.” Sadie spoke for the group as she walked backwards, nudging her friends toward the exit.
“Please stay?” I begged. “It will help my guilt if I know you all have witnessed my punishment.”
The girls froze before forming a small huddle. Frustrated whispers carried through the room.
Jared allowed it for a moment before taking the decision right out of their naughty little hands. “You girls will stay. I know for a fact you have all been witness to a spanking. Erika has requested you be present, and I believe it's a good idea. She is to be a role model to you all, and this will show you that being careless is not acceptable of a Rawhide girl.”
Again, the group was stripped of their words as they stood in silence, each battling their own guilty conscience.
“Come over my knee now, little squirrel,” Jared commanded again.
I kept my eyes downcast as I approached him. I didn’t want him to see the desire all over my face, although soon, I feared, I would not be able to hide it. I didn’t miss the way he shifted in his seat, and it gave me a modicum of satisfaction that this would be uncomfortable for him as well. Although, depending on how long the girls allowed this to go on, my sexual frustration would be the least of my worries.
JARED
Erika played the perfect penitent subbie, and my cock hardened under the thick red costume pants, knowing what was about to transpire. Finally, I had a reason to get my hands on her. I looked down at my lap to hide my smile as she sniffled sadly before obeying my instruction. She was good, really good.
Lifting her skirt, she revealed that she was bare underneath. No panties, just the way a subbie should be. I barely held back the groan and adjusted myself as best as I could. There was no hiding my hard-on for her, but I wanted to at least attempt to be a gentleman. With the grace of a well-trained submissive, she lowered herself stomach down across my lap.
“Uncle Jared, please don’t.” Sadie took a hesitant step forward.
I ignored her and addressed the woman that plagued my fantasies.
“You know why you are about to get spanked. You also know that you have requested this punishment to assuage your guilt. For those reasons I expect you to keep yourself in place and accept what you are given.” During a real spanking, I was all business, but as much as I would love to take her bottom to task for my own pleasure, now was not the time. I didn't want to risk her skittering away before I even got started.
“Yes, Sir,” she answered confidently, easing my mind and reminding me that this had been her idea.
A small sob came from the group, and I looked up to see tears in the eyes of a few of the girls. Resting my hand on the bare bottom in front of me I took a minute to lock eyes with each and every one of them. This was their doing. They had been angling for it all week, but now that the time had come they were realizing the error of their ways. “You girls should learn a lesson here today. It does not pay to shirk your responsibilities.” Turning my attention to Erika I spoke my final piece. “I’m proud of you for accepting your punishment like a lady. When this spanking is finished, you will be forgiven. However, you will not be joining us for the duration of the Christmas festivities.”
Convinced I had said all I needed to increase the girls’ guilt, I lifted my hand and felt Erika’s body tense in preparation for the first blow.
“Wait!” A little brunette in pigtail braids broke through the group. “It’s not her fault.” She choked out the words as big tears tracked down her face.
“Cali, don’t,” Sadie whispered harshly.
Eyeing her questioningly, I covered Erika with her skirt before indicating for the girl to step forward. She shuffled her feet slowly, making no attempt at eye contact.
“Right here, please.” I pointed to a spot on the floor near the side of my chair. She obeyed at a snail’s pace and was silent the entire time. Wringing her hands in front of her, she shifted her weight back and forth from one foot to the other. I folded my hands across Erika’s back and waited. “Cali, do you have something you want to tell me?”
Her head made quick jerky movements displaying her complete indecisiveness. She wanted to tell me because the guilt was too much, but the last thing on the earth she wanted to do was incriminate h
erself or anyone in her posse.
“If you have something to say, little one, I need you to say it. If not, please rejoin the group so that I may get on with Erika’s punishment.”
“I know where the beard is,” she whispered.
“You do?” I feigned surprise. “Why would that be?”
Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. Sadie was doing her best to fade into the crowd. I allowed it, for now. Her goose was cooked anyway. It was only a matter of time before the whole story was revealed.
“I know because I-I took it,” she confessed.
“Why would you do such a naughty thing, Cali? Didn’t you want to get presents from Santa?”
Erika shifted on my lap, but I wasn’t ready to let her up just yet. I slipped my hand under her skirt and pinched her backside.
“Ow!” she squeaked.
“Be still and behave yourself.”
“Yes, Sir.” She spoke between clenched teeth.
Cali shifted her eyes all around the room as if the answer was written somewhere on the walls. “I’m scared of Santa?”
“Is that a question or a statement, little one? I’m going to be kind and warn you that lying to Uncle Jared is a bad plan. A very bad plan.” I lowered my voice to a menacing tone so her and the rest of the little sneaks would be sure to get the picture.
She took a faltering step backward, shaking her head. “No. I’m not really. I just took it to be silly. Sadie said...” She slapped her hands over her mouth, and her eyes widened in panic.
“Sadie said what?”
She shook her head frantically with both hands covering her mouth.
“Maybe you need to trade spots with Erika here so that we can get the whole story?”
“No, Sir! I don’t want a spankin’,” she whined.
“Then I would suggest you start talking, young lady.”
“May I get up now?” Erika mewed.
“You hush,” I warned. She sighed heavily, and I refrained from lighting a nice fire on her sassy little ass. There would be time for that later, hopefully.