by Thianna D.
“That’s one form of discipline,” he agreed, “but there are other kinds as well. I’ll admit I love spanking you in an erotic context, but there’s something to be said about a purely disciplinary spanking as well. And just so you know? I don’t see myself ever mixing the two. Discipline is a different mindset for me. But there are also other things I’ll institute to help you. Because that’s what discipline is all about, Dina. It’s about keeping my girl safe and happy. Anything that disrupts that would bring out my protective side quickly.”
She smiled at the phrase ‘my girl’ but knew she needed to get her head on straight and not act like some teenager with her first crush. “So what would you do besides spanking?”
“Well, let’s look at the things that you do. I think we both know you think too much.”
Spluttering a laugh, she nodded. “Yeah. My brain never shuts off.”
“It shut off last night,” he reminded her and heat rushed into her cheeks. “And we’ll find other ways to calm your mind besides a good hard fuck, not that I’m opposed to doing that as often as possible.” The grin on his face when she looked up at him made her laugh and she smacked his chest. “Just being honest,” he told her with a wink.
“So I kind of need some examples here.” Thinking of discipline in all the ways she ever heard of, she jerked back. “You wouldn’t hit my fingers with a ruler would you?”
He looked startled. “No, beauty, I wouldn’t. What made you think that?”
“I was trying to think what someone might use as discipline and remember hearing about teachers in classrooms…” Her voice trailed off and she shrugged.
“Your mind,” he chuckled. “Okay, some examples. I might have you learn a mantra, a phrase you can think over and over until it calms that overactive mind down. Discipline could come in the form of lines, corner time, writing down the nuances of your day, texting me at specific times. Just things that will keep you from going off-kilter.”
“Lines?”
“Writing something over and over into infinity,” he admitted.
“What does that actually do besides exhaust one’s hand and wrist?” She’d heard of it before but it sounded tiresome.
“It does two things. One, if you are writing the same line over and over, as long as I make that phrase meaningful, it will sink into you. Two, it would make you not want to break that particular rule again.”
Snorting a laugh, she had to agree that he had a point. “And corner time?” She’d read about it in books and it sounded stupid to her. “There’s no way I’m standing in a corner naked with a red behind.”
“Ah, well, I prefer to use corner time as a time for you to not think. To be honest, after a spanking I prefer to hold you. Corner time would be part of the meditation I want to teach you. It’s more about positive discipline.”
They talked for over an hour, discussing rules, different ideas he wanted to try with her and settled on some basics. Dina would meditate for an hour a day, though she truly couldn’t imagine her brain shutting off for that long; promised to tell him when something freaked her out rather than run away, which she knew might get her into trouble at some point; and she was to do one hour of research daily into companies and job opportunities which she figured was going to be the easiest of the three.
“How’s your legs?” she asked once they relaxed after their conversation.
“A little achy but fine. This happens. On days like today I just take it easy and by tomorrow I’ll be top notch again.”
Knowing she needed to do a little study about arthritis so she could help where needed, she remembered. “Seems to me I saw a Jacuzzi tub in your bathroom. Would it help with your pain?”
“As a matter of fact it would.” His tone sounded pleased by the prospect. “Especially if a beautiful little blonde joins me.” She hadn’t intended to join him but now she was rather excited at the prospect.
As she went in to fill the tub, he walked into his bedroom. “Did this come with your unit?” she asked as she turned on the hot water.
“I specifically asked for it before I moved in,” he called through the small walkway between bedroom and bath. “Jonathon got it pushed through their rules committee quickly and it was installed a few days before I got here.” As he spoke, his voice came closer, but as she was concentrating on getting the perfect temperature, she wasn’t really paying attention. “Are you planning on staying dressed for this?” The amusement in his voice had her turn around. And freeze.
Standing behind her, Brandon was completely naked. The body his clothes had hinted at was now right there for her to peruse, and look she did. Strong wide shoulders, gorgeous firm chest, abs most men would kill for, not to mention his hips. But her eyes fastened on the fantastic V that sat between them and as her eyes fell on the prize, she gasped. How the hell had he fit? Even flaccid he was huge. Before she could drool, she noted the bright red hair at the base. “You weren’t kidding,” she said to try to take his attention from the fact she had stared at his cock. “You are a natural redhead.”
Chuckling, he nodded. “Undress, beauty. I want to feel that fantastic body against me again.” As he didn’t move, but just watched her, she realized he had every intention of watching her undress.
That was a bit nerve-wracking. She supposed she had two choices. Sexy or strip quickly. Sexy she didn’t think she could pull off so she grasped her shirt and pulled it quickly over her head. “Damn,” he groaned. As his cock began to swell, she figured quick had definitely been the right response. In no time, she had kicked off her shoes and her shorts. By the time her bra and panties hit the floor, Brandon’s cock pointed straight out from his body directly at her.
As she looked up into his eyes, gray eyes so dark they were practically black, she had never in her life felt as attractive as she did in that moment.
“So fucking beautiful,” he muttered, moving forward quicker than she expected. With one arm behind her back, he knocked her legs out from under her by picking her up and stepping into the tub as she squealed and grasped onto him. As he sat down, he kept her on his lap and even as her logical mind suggested sitting on his aching legs wasn’t a good idea, when his arms tightened around her, she happily snuggled up to his chest.
From this vantage point, her eyes fell on a tattoo of a phoenix that wrapped around his right shoulder. Reaching up, she traced the part she could see. “A phoenix?” she murmured, wondering if it was another drunken night.
He nodded, his chin tapping on top of her head. “That’s my newest tat. When my ex divorced me and I was out of the Marines, I had two choices, sink or swim. I’m not the sinking type. Whenever I crash and burn, I always seem to come out of the ashes stronger and that’s a reminder that no matter how bad things get, I’m strong enough to get through.”
As her fingertips trailed over his skin, she considered that. No. Brandon was definitely not the sinking type. There was a lot of security in that. Dina had the feeling no matter how far she fell, he would always be able to pick her up. “What happened with your wife?”
“Incompatibility. For one thing, during our marriage I was away a lot with the Marines. For another, she wanted nothing to do with discipline.”
“Stupid woman.”
He chuckled and pressed his lips to the top of her hair. “Well, she’s married to my cousin now and I believe is expecting a child.”
Tensing, she looked up at him. “She married your cousin?”
“Yep. Their engagement was announced literally the day after I signed the divorce papers.”
“What a bitch.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how rude they were and opened her mouth to apologize but as his body began to shake, she figured he hadn’t taken offense. She truly needed to get this foot-in-mouth issue fixed.
His warm, moist fingers, touched her chin, pushing her head back until she met his eyes. “You’re a beautiful woman, Carodine Minor,” he murmured. “I look forward to the next two months.”
/> So did she, though she had the strange feeling two months of him might not be enough.
Chapter 5
Staring at the back of her eyelids, Dina wondered just how much time was left. She wanted to turn and look at a clock, but Brandon had stopped that right off. Corner time. It was an odd concept in the abstract, an even stranger one in reality. When they discussed it, she supposed she would be in her room at her grandparents’ house and be able to do something besides just stand here.
Nope. The man she was coming to care for was ahead of her. Not wanting to monopolize her, he’d insisted she sleep in her own bed every other night, but whether it was on the days she spent at her grandparents’ house or the days she spent at his, he had her strip and go to one corner of his living room and stand there, her hands above her head against the corner of the wall with her eyes closed. Stranger still was the fact he sat in the room and never left it while she did this.
It was difficult not to whine. Her first day she had started quoting chemical formulas in her head for something to do. Bad idea. How he knew, she would never figure out, but she was just going through the Cs with CCl2F2 dichlorodifluoromethane, when his hand landed a sharp slap across one cheek and then quickly across the other. Surprised and smarting from the blow, her brain had shut off for a couple seconds. “No thinking,” he said sharply before going back to his chair.
Now was her fourth day doing this and she was no closer to figuring out how not to think. “Help,” she finally said.
Almost instantly he was behind her, his warm hands grasping her waist. “Are you hurting?”
“No. I just can’t stop thinking and I don’t know how.” It was frustrating. She was an intelligent woman and one would think she could figure this out on her own.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and pressed against her until she could feel the rough buttons of his shirt against her back. “Breathe with me.” As he took in a long, slow breath, she could feel his chest expand and as he released it, his chest went back to normal even as his sweet breath filled the air. By his third inhale, she breathed with him. In. Out. In. Hold five seconds. Out. Hold five seconds. In… out… in… out…
He backed up and without his body there to concentrate on, her brain kicked back into gear. “Shit,” she hissed, trying to breathe again.
“And stop swearing,” he said with a chuckle and another light smack on her ass. The blow made her smile.
“You swear,” she reminded him.
There was a pause and he burst out laughing. “True. I suppose my expecting you to stop swearing is a bit unfair.” Leaning down, he nipped her shoulder making her jump and then moan at the heat that coursed through her. “But I still would like you to stop, though.”
Grinning despite her desire to turn around and jump him, she cocked her head. “I’ll think about it.”
“Brat,” he said and she could hear the grin in his voice. Her grandfather called her grandmother a brat all the time and knowing that it was considered something good within this culture, she giggled. “Now, breathe.”
“Yes, Master,” she said a little snidely. She expected another smack across her rump. Instead, there was a gasp and a moan behind her.
Instantly his body pressed up against hers, pushing her body into the corner. “Say it again.” His voice was so deep and husky, she clenched and had a hard time catching her breath.
“Yes, Master,” she whispered.
“Fuck,” he groaned, wrapping his arms around her. “I shouldn’t find that a turn-on but I do.”
“Why not?” she gasped as one of his large hands covered her left breast and his fingers tugged lightly on her nipple.
“I don’t ever want a master/slave relationship. That’s not my thing. I love that you have your own mind and want to make your own decisions. But fu-u-uck,” he moaned. “I loved hearing that word from your mouth.”
His other hand slid down between her legs and as his large fingers slid between her folds and stroked, her mind had a hard time connecting any dots at all. “Does it matter?” she said, arching into his hands. “We could do it for fun.”
“Fun?” he whispered, nipping her neck as he stroked her clit and slid his middle finger inside her cleft.
“Fuck,” she gasped, her hips pushing into his caress. “Yes. We… could… play like we’re… m-master and servant. Brandon!” she cried out as he thrust another finger inside of her.
“I like that. In fact, if you’re up to it, I have a few fantasies I wouldn’t mind playing out with you.” His teeth nipped up her throat until he captured her earlobe and he lightly tugged on it as he pulled his fingers out, spreading her wetness all along her core and thrust back in.
“Wo-herks for me,” she moaned, pushing her hips back against his.
“Good.” He pulled his fingers out from between her legs and pressed them against her lips. “Open.”
Trembling, she opened her mouth and as his fingers slid in, she was a bit overcome by the eroticism of her juices on his fingers and her tongue took charge, licking him completely clean. “Mmm,” he moaned as he pulled his fingers free. “My good girl.”
Her core clenched and she nodded. “Don’t move,” he cautioned and she froze as he pulled away, taking his fingers away from her aching nipple. “You have thirty minutes left of your meditation. And if you continue to be a good girl, we’re going to have some fun.”
Hoping that he meant in the bedroom, she doubled her focus on this whole corner-time thing.
* * * *
Watching Dina try to meditate had to be one of the hottest things Brandon had ever seen. Her beautiful naked body stood in a corner with his hand prints still showing lightly on her cheeks. Part of him wanted to ravish her now, but he wanted her to find a way to withdraw from her mind besides sex. When she left Corbin’s Bend, he wanted her to be able to find peace.
Of course, the thought that she would leave this community in less than two months was becoming a major sore spot with him. It had taken no time at all for him to get used to her presence, her scent, her sense of humor, and her quick-thinking mind. She kept him on his toes and he couldn’t remember having this much fun ever in his life.
He had not been prepared for her to call him master nor for him to like it. Oh, how he had liked it. While it was true that he did not want any kind of a master/slave relationship – it just wasn’t his thing – the thought of playacting with Dina on her knees in supplication to him? Fuck. Now he was vastly uncomfortable and reached down to move his cock into a more acceptable position so it wasn’t pressing directly against the front of his jeans. His eyes flipped to his watch. Twenty-nine minutes to go.
Brandon could tell that Dina still struggled with finding peace, but she was trying. She would breathe deeply for a few seconds and then her breathing would pick up again, almost as though her brain just did not want to give her the release he knew she needed. It made him wonder what her childhood was like. Just how often did she have to entertain herself? From what he’d seen, Dina really didn’t know how to play. There was work. There was study. There was sex. But play was a concept she wasn’t very familiar with. He looked forward to teaching her. Maybe he would move that up because her wonderful intelligent mind was also her worst enemy.
When her shoulders dropped and her breathing evened out, he was thrilled. Finally she had found a way to slip out of thinking mode. When time was up, he would have to ask her what it was. Before he could think any more on it, a strange sound filled the room. It was a sound he was familiar with but would not have expected it now. In her sleep, Dina had a very unique little snore. It was quiet and more of a wheeze. That was the sound he was hearing. Standing up, he moved to her side and looked at her.
It was difficult not to laugh. She was asleep. Standing up. How the hell did she do that? Figuring she needed the rest as he had woke her up twice the night before just because he needed to be inside her right then, he gently lifted her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom.
> “Don’t forget to feed the cat,” she muttered.
“I won’t,” he said, wondering who she was talking to.
“But not the fishies,” she yawned as he pulled back the bedspread and the sheets and put her down. “I fed them already.” A little giggle left her throat. “That’s why they’re floating.”
“Shh,” he said, pulling the top sheet over her shoulders. “Sleep, beauty.”
“‘Mkay.”
He watched her sleep for a couple minutes before pulling the blinds down on the window and leaving the room, pulling the door shut behind him. Confusion hit him. This was so new to the both of them. While he was used to being in charge, he’d never had such a willing woman who was enthusiastic about submitting to him. It was a rather heady concept. And he was over his head. Grabbing his cell, he sent a text to Benjamin. Have time tomorrow to talk?
As he awaited a response, he poured out the old, cold coffee and prepared a new batch. His phone buzzing was a relief.
Today and tomorrow. Just give me a time and I’ll be over.
Dina would leave in a couple hours as one of his stipulations was that every other night she spent with her grandparents. Plus, he needed the time away from her to work on the research for his doctorate. But if his mentor and friend was available today? He quickly texted back. How about seven this evening?
I’ll be there. With a new recipe I’ve created. Jonathon won’t touch it. Says it’s so hot it’ll melt the paint off a house.
Grinning as both he and Benjamin had a love for all things spicy, he sent a quick response and poured himself a cup of coffee. Leaning against the counter and flexing his stiff leg, he took a nice long sip, glad Corbin’s Bend had forseen this kind of need.
* * * *
“Holy shit,” he moaned, breathing in quickly to spell the heat erupting across his tongue and palate. “This is great. What’s in it?” Brandon swallowed the spicy food and grabbed another forkful.
“Pork sausage, some beef, jalapeῆos, habaῆeros, some hot sauce, noodles, and cheese, lots and lots of cheese.”