“You need to go before I call the police.” Shannon slammed the door and twisted the lock, throwing the dead bolt. Leaning against the door, her heart raced as she whispered, “Holy crap, they were paparazzi!”
Rushing to the kitchen, she dialed Gideon from the house phone.
“Hey babe, I’ll be home in about ten minutes.”
“Good. Because there is a reporter and a cameraman at the door asking a bunch of questions about Eli and me. I don’t like it. Please hurry.”
“How did they get inside the gate?”
Uh-oh!
“Shannon?”
“My remote wasn’t working, and I forgot to close the gate when I got inside.”
“I’ll be there soon. Stay inside.”
She paced nervously as she waited for him to get there. About ten minutes later, loud voices arguing sounded from the courtyard. She peeked through the window and saw Gideon with two other men. One was crowding the reporters toward their vehicle. He was huge, even bigger than Gid. The other was standing protectively next to Gideon. They looked like security.
A few minutes and several heated words later, the pair got into a Saturn that had seen better days and left. Gid shook hands with the two men in black and headed for the front door. She went to disarm the system and gulped. Oops, she’d forgotten to reset it after talking to the reporters. With any luck, Gideon wouldn’t ask about it or find out, but she was doubtful that would happen. Releasing the locks, she opened the door and stepped outside to greet him.
“In the house, Shannon.” His tone was stern and she knew she was in for it. She’d messed up big time.
“Were those security guards?”
He was alongside her now and took her arm, guiding her inside. He locked the door behind them and went to the keypad. Punching a few buttons, he brought up a screen she had never seen before. “Dammit, Shannon, this has been unarmed for almost thirty minutes.” He shot a fierce frown her way as he reactivated the system.
“I guess I forgot after I talked to them.”
His low, frustrated growl was his only response until he walked into the living room. He then stopped and sniffed the air. “What’s burning?”
“My pasta!” Shannon rushed to the kitchen, where she found the pasta had boiled dry and was fusing in a black, stinking mess to the bottom of the aluminum pot. Grabbing pot holders, she carried it to the sink and filled it with warm water. The fan coming on behind her told her Gideon had followed and had flipped on the exhaust fan over the stove.
“I’d like to see you upstairs, Shannon.”
“Okay, but what about dinner?”
“Is there anything else that might burn while we’re occupied?”
“I can turn off the sauce.”
“Do it and meet me upstairs.”
He walked out then and a feeling of dread coiled in the pit of her stomach. She’d broken two security rules. Was he planning to spank her for it? She put the lid on the sauce, then went to check on Eli. He was still engrossed in his video game and would probably have to be dragged away from it for dinner.
Plodding slowly up the stairs, she headed for the bedroom to find the angry man of the house. As she entered, she saw him seated on the sofa near the French doors.
“Close and lock the door, please.”
She did and then approached him tentatively. “It’s not my fault the remote didn’t work, Gid. Then, I guess I was so focused on getting the code entered right when I got inside that I forgot about the gate.”
“That doesn’t explain why the alarm was off for a half hour, and with paparazzi at the door to boot. We talked about this, Shannon.”
“I got distracted. In my defense, the alarms, gates, and codes are a bit confusing.”
He patted his lap and indicated he wanted her there. When she went to sit, he stopped her.
“No, baby, on your belly, you’ve earned a spanking.”
A riot of emotions washed through her at those words—dread, excitement, trepidation, arousal. Most of all arousal, she admitted to herself, as she felt a surge of heat and moisture coalesce between her thighs.
“No stalling. It will only make it worse.” He held out his hand for her.
Taking a hesitant step forward, she grasped his hand and he gently guided her into position. He waited until she was settled before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her in closer, adjusting her to his liking. A hand swept over her behind and down the back of her thighs, catching the hem of her dress. He lifted the thin cotton until he exposed her panty clad bottom. She shivered as his fingers snagged the waistband and pulled her panties down her legs to mid-thigh. His warm hand caressed her gently, and she felt goose bumps erupt along her skin.
“Two spankings in two days, Shannon. How many real spankings did you get when we were together before?”
“Two, maybe three.”
“And that was in ten months. Do you remember why I spanked you?”
“I left the apartment door unlocked once. Another time I lost my keys and walked home from the library and didn’t call anyone.”
“Hmm… I remember I paddled you for that one. It was 10 o’clock at night and not the best neighborhood by any means.” He slipped a hand between her legs and spread her thighs a bit more, his fingertips trailing along her pussy lips as he moved them apart. “Have you noticed you seem to have a problem with locks and keys and security in general?”
He was right, but she hated to admit it. Betsy always kept an extra key to both her apartment and her car for that very reason. She’d received a lecture or two from her friend for the same reason. It was embarrassing—a grown woman with a child who couldn’t keep up with her own keys or remember to lock doors.
A pinch on her bottom got her attention. “I asked you a question, Shannon.”
“Yes, sir. I have a problem with locks and keys and security in general.”
“I’m glad you’ve owned up to it. Still, we have to fix it once and for all. Today was two harmless paparazzi. The next time it could be a stalker, a thief, or worse. I won’t have you risking your safety or Eli’s with carelessness, do you understand?”
“Yes, Gideon. I’ll try harder to remember.”
“That’s my girl.” She felt his hand move away from her bottom and return with a smarting sting. He placed a matching swat on her other cheek, and she yelped. Soon he’d established a steady rhythm of slaps until he’d painted her entire backside with a fiery heat. She didn’t bother to count them. Gid never gave a number. He’d always said setting an arbitrary number was pointless. Instead, he preferred to go by her response, her mood, the level of contrition, and the fire and color he’d ignited on her ass. That’s how he knew she’d had enough.
Tonight, he was relentless. After he’d spent a good ten minutes on her cheeks, he moved lower to the tops of her thighs, which she hated. It always made her squirm and beg for a reprieve, and tonight wasn’t any different.
She whimpered and tears began to fall after two fiercely stinging slaps, and she bucked and squirmed uncontrollably.
“Please, sir. I’ll do better. I promise.”
“I heard those same promises a decade ago, Shannon. The spankings didn’t change your ways back then. What is it going to take?” He rubbed her heated skin as he spoke.
“I don’t know. I’m just absentminded, I guess.”
“You’re going to have a very sore butt if you don’t find a way to remember, honey. This is important, and I will paddle you each and every time you forget. The stakes are higher now. I’m a wealthy man. There are a lot of creeps and weirdoes out there who could get ideas about ransoms and blackmail and the like.
She sniffled. “I really am sorry, Gid.”
“I know you are, but sorry doesn’t help protect you against an insane fan or a thief with a gun.” He resumed the spanking, applying a second layer of spanks on top of her already fiery skin.
Finally, he stopped and stroked her soothingly, his left hand gliding up and down her spine while his
right, gently rubbed her tender bottom. When her tears had slowed and her breathing had tapered to only an occasional shuddering sigh, he let her up, taking her onto his lap in a seated position this time.
“Do you think you’ll remember to close the gate and activate the alarm next time, Shannon?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hope so. I want you and Eli safe.”
“I do too, Gid. I won’t make this mistake again.”
“That’s my girl. Let’s clean you up and fix dinner.” Helping her stand, he tugged her along to the bathroom. Wetting a cool cloth, he wiped her face, cooling her swollen eyes and tearstained cheeks. “You know I’d rather spank you for fun, don’t you?
She nodded and managed a hint of a smile. “I’d rather you do that too.”
“Bend over the counter for me, baby.”
Her gasp of surprise had him shaking his head. “No more spanks for now. I just want to put some lotion on your sore bottom.”
At ease, she did as bid, groaning as the lotion cooled her skin.
“This is Arnica gel; it will soothe the sting and reduce any bruising.”
“You’ve never bruised me before.”
“And I don’t think I did just now, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Once done, he helped her stand and smoothed down her dress. “I love you. You know I do this out of love and concern for you and Eli, don’t you?”
“Yes, Gideon, as strange as it sounds, I do know that.”
“I’d rather paddle your butt than see you harmed by some thug or harassed by some picture hungry photogs looking to make a buck.” He opened the medicine cabinet and took out some Visine. “Use these and we’ll go work on dinner.”
He was bossy as ever, and she gave him a small smile. He’d blistered her butt but then used medicated lotion to sooth the burn, bathed away her tears, and gave her drops for her eyes. It was a paradox.
They walked down the stairs arm in arm, Gid’s hand riding low on her hip. He stopped her at the foot of the stairs for one last, lingering kiss.
“I love you, Gid,” she said when they came up for air.
“I love you too, Shannon.”
Eli walked in at that moment. “Gross!”
They laughed at the look of disgust on his face.
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it in a few years, little man.”
“Never! Girls are so… so… gross!”
Still laughing, Shannon admitted, “Dinner will be a little bit longer than expected guys. I burned the pasta.”
Eli shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Good thing you like pizza, Dad. She burns stuff—a lot.”
“Hey! I wouldn’t say a lot.”
Her son looked at her, his eyebrow raised in a perfect imitation of his father. Shannon couldn’t help but laugh. Gideon looked at her in question, the same brow arched, and she laughed even harder. Father and son gave each other a masculine look of commiseration over their total lack of understanding of women, which only made Shannon laugh even more.
“How about we swim while dinner is cooking?” She heard Gid ask, obviously giving up on their conversation.
Eli gave a rousing cheer of agreement and raced upstairs to change.
“Is that okay with you, babe?” He pressed a row of soft kisses from her jawline to her ear, where he began nibbling gently on her lobe. She sobered instantly, angling her head to give him free rein to her ultrasensitive spot. Shivering in response, she wondered if he knew what his touch did to her. Eli made his presence known as his footsteps rang out against the hardwood upstairs. They both groaned in frustration as Gid lifted his head and set her away. “We’ll have more of that later.” As he nudged her toward the kitchen, he offered her a deal. “For now, how about you cook and I’ll entertain Eli?” As she nodded and walked away, flustered, he sighed. “We’ll have to line us up some babysitters.”
Shannon stopped in her tracks with a quick solution. “Betsy is out of a job now that I’ve moved.”
“She’s hired.”
“We’d just have to work out the transportation. She doesn’t have a car.”
“No problem. She can use one of ours. Or better yet, when can she move in?”
Shannon’s eyes widened before a little smile tipped her lips upward and lit up her face. “Are you serious?”
“Well, no… I was actually just kidding, but a live-in sitter sounds like a dream come true. Do you think she’d be interested? Lord knows there’s plenty of room. You said she was a widow, right?”
“Yes and she lives on her husband’s puny pension. Oh, Gid, that would be perfect. She could help with Eli while I look for a job.”
“A job? You don’t need to work anymore, Shannon. I’ve got it covered.”
“But—”
Eli came running down in his trunks at that moment and tugged Gideon toward the pool.
“We’ll talk more about it later, hon. Call Betsy and see if she’s interested. I’ll take it from there.” He then lifted a squealing Eli onto his shoulders and they headed for the pool.
Shannon looked after him, feeling a bit at odds. Not work? That had never occurred to her. Except for when she was in school, she’d always worked. If she had Betsy to watch Eli and Gideon’s multitude of services to keep up the house, the yard, and the gardens, what would she do with her time? Service the man of the house? While that sounded lovely, it made her feel a little like a kept woman.
Heading into the kitchen, she put another pot of water on for pasta. As she waited, she watched her two guys swim, her mind racing the whole while. If Eli were younger, it would seem like a dream, except he was gone all day with school and was pretty self-sufficient. Other than making sure he got his homework done and into a bath, there was very little caretaking required for a child his age. Soon he’d be off with his friends more, then driving, dating, and off to college. What did she do then?
A short while later, as they sat down to pasta—round two—she brought up the subject. “I called Betsy. She was ecstatic about the idea, Gid.”
“Great. I’ll give her a call to work out the details and get her moved in.”
“Betsy’s coming to live with us? That’s sweet!” Eli grinned as he shoveled spaghetti into his mouth. Talking around a wad of pasta and sauce, he said unintelligibly, “Eesh uhe behtes.”
“I can’t speak Italian, bud. Try again after you swallow.”
“Sorry, I said, she’s the best.”
“Ah…” Gid laughed, returning his attention to his own plate.
Shannon picked at her dinner for a moment before saying, “I was thinking about going back to school.”
Surprised by the sudden change in topic, Gideon looked up and asked, “For your teaching degree?”
“I don’t know about that anymore, maybe something else. I can’t just sit around all day while Eli’s in school and you’re at work.”
“Okay, what would you like to do? If not college, there is the NMCA Foundation. Roxie works with that and so does Sticks’ wife.”
“Sticks got married? Last time I saw him he—” She stopped abruptly as the image of a groupie going down on the drummer in the middle of the wrap party popped into her head. This was certainly not family dinner conversation.
Gid chuckled at her expression. “I can only imagine, but he has settled down a lot. They’ve got four kids. Johnny will be the only bachelor left after we tie the knot.”
“What’s NMCA?”
“North, McCord, Carson and Archer, we started a foundation to help struggling musicians into recovery after what happened to Johnny.” Their eyes met and he tipped his head toward Eli, signaling to her he’d tell her later.
“He overdosed on drugs. I heard about it at school.”
Both adults were once again shocked that their nine-year-old knew so much and turned to stare at him.
“What? I may be a kid, but I know stuff.”
Shannon giggled; he said the funniest things.
Gid just shook his head in amaz
ement. “You’re right, Eli. Johnny got into trouble with drugs and had to go to rehab. Do you know what that is?”
“Yeah, it’s like a hospital that gets you off drugs.”
“Right. Well, he’s better now and he is one of the reasons we aren’t touring anymore—too much temptation. I was thinking of inviting all the guys and their families over this weekend for a pool party and barbeque. How does that sound, babe?”
“Perfect, I’d love to see them again, especially Justin and Roxie.”
“Are any of the kids boys?” Eli’s voice dripped with concern, and Shannon knew he was picturing a miserable day surrounded by girls or babies.
“Jacob, Justin and Roxie’s oldest, is eight. Sticks has all boys, but don’t ask me all their ages because I can’t keep up. The oldest is seven, though. I remember because he had to leave our tour when he arrived almost two months early. It freaked Sticks out big time. We were out of the country in Stockholm.”
“Are you and Mom gonna have babies?”
Shannon laughed at the startled look on Gid’s face. Eli was keeping him on his toes. She waded in to help by asking Eli, “How would you feel about that?”
“I don’t want to change any diapers! That’s gross.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary, honey.”
“Then I guess it’s okay. Can we just have boys, like Sticks? I don’t know if I’d like a sister. All those dolls would freak me out. And I’m not playing any girly games. Joey at school has to play Pretty Princess with his sister, and he says it sucks.”
“Don’t say sucks, Eli.” She looked over to see that Gid had recovered and was watching his son with an ear to ear grin. He winked her way and she teased him a bit. “How about you, Gid? I think you’d look awfully cute in a tiara and princess jewels, all dressed up for tea.”
“I’ll have you know that I look stunning in diamonds.” He pantomimed fluffing his hair and checking his nails, which cracked Shannon and Eli up. “But seriously, I’d take a little girl as cute as her mama any day.”
“Hey! You’re not switching teams are you?”
Gid choked on his wine. After his effeminate little show, he had to rethink the conversation before he figured out what Eli meant. His amused gaze met Shannon’s as she giggled uncontrollably. She knew Eli had no idea that his words had dual meanings. Intentional or not, the kid kept them in stitches. It was hard to stay in a bad mood around Eli.
Gideon's Redemption Page 10