My House, My Rules

by Constance Masters

  “Uh huh,” Thom said. “When Jay went inside, Aaron wanted to see if we could jump from the roof to the pool. So we climbed out the window, but we were just s'posed to look.”

  “And that's when he fell?”

  “Yep. I told him it was too far, but he never listens. Mom always makes me watch him, and she blames me when he does dumb stuff, but it's not my fault.”

  “Why'd he go so close to the edge do you think?”

  “I dunno. He thinks he's some kind of superhero, I guess.”

  “So, he was trying to jump from the roof into Jay's pool?” Rick asked, trying to get what happened straight.

  “No. He was seeing how far it was to see if he could jump when no one was around. I told him to get away from the edge, but he called me a chicken and he leaned right over, and then he slipped.”

  “It's okay, Thom,” Kelly said.

  “It isn't your fault that Aaron fell,” Rick said. “But, you shouldn't have been out there at all. Should you? You know, you need to talk to your Mom. Tell her what happened.”

  Thom shrugged again. “Am I getting punished?”

  “Well, you did spend the afternoon in your room,” Rick said. “No dessert tonight.”

  “You know what?” Kelly said. “I could do with some help with dinner. Why don't we let Rick go and talk to Aaron?”

  “Okay,” Thom said, brightening. He felt better now that there was some kind of end to it and at least someone had heard his side.

  * * *

  Rick took himself to Aaron's room with a sigh. He loved these kids, especially since he and Kel didn't have any of their own yet. He just wished that every time he got to spend time with them he didn't have to play the ogre. It'd be nice to play the fun uncle for a change.

  “Come in,” Aaron said to his knock.

  He was sitting on his floor building some sort of spaceship with Legos. “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi,” Rick said. “I hear you had a busy day today.”

  “Sort of,” Aaron said eyeing his uncle out of the corner of his eye.

  “Nearly fell off the roof?” Rick said.

  Aaron nodded. “It was an accident,” he said. “I slipped.”

  “Hmm,” Rick said. “Are you supposed to be out on the roof at all?”

  “No,” Aaron said sheepishly.

  “Well, then I'd say slipping was an accident, but being out on the roof was a bad decision.”

  “I guess,” Aaron said.

  “Nope, no guessing. You shouldn't have been on the roof at all, and you definitely shouldn't have been anywhere near the edge.”

  “Thom was there too.”

  “I've already spoken to Thom. Thom is responsible for Thom. You are responsible for you.”

  Aaron pouted.

  “None of that,” Rick said. “You need to stop ignoring the rules and start doing as you’re told.”

  “Okay.”

  “You could have been seriously hurt.”

  “But I wasn't.”

  “But you could have been,” Rick said. “No dessert tonight, and I want you to bring down your Legos when you come down to dinner. I’m putting them away here for three days.”

  “That's not fair!” he whined.

  Rick held up his hand. “Bring down your Legos, or I'll come up and take them and something else, and I'll take them all to my house for a week.”

  “Okay,” Aaron said grumpily.

  * * *

  Not able to eat anymore of her pasta, Alex sipped her wine.

  “So, you liked the book?” Jay asked.

  “I did,” she answered. “I'm a sucker for a good romance.”

  Jay smiled. “We all want to live happily ever after.”

  “Life doesn't always end that way.”

  “No,” Jay said. “Not always, but when we believe there's a chance it can end that way, we have hope.”

  “I had what I thought was my happy ever after once. It broke my heart when Steve died. I don't know if I can risk going through that again.”

  Jay leant across the table and took her hand. “I can understand you being scared,” he said. “But what if? What if there was a chance that you could be happy again?”

  “Of course I want the chance to be happy,” she said. It was hard to try and think rationally when the mere touch of his fingertips was creating such a physical reaction in her. That was the same hand that had bounced off her bottom the night before. And he'd threatened to do it again. She really should invest in some new underwear, but what kind? A pretty, lacy pair? A sexy thong maybe, although that wouldn't offer much protection. A thick pair of boy shorts possibly, with something cute emblazoned across the back.

  “I'm glad,” Jay said. “So do I. Question is, do you want it badly enough to take a chance?”

  Alex blushed furiously. “What exactly are you asking me?” she dared with a grin.

  “I want to see more of you,” he said.

  Alex giggled. The thong then maybe, she thought, although she knew that wasn't what he meant.

  “I know we've only just met, but sometimes you just know when something is special. I can't explain it.”

  “I would have thought that an author wouldn't have any trouble expressing himself,” she said with a smile.

  It was Jay's turn to blush. “All I know is that from the minute I set eyes on you, I had this feeling. This is special, Alex, I know it is.”

  Jay stopped talking while the waiter placed their desserts on the table and poured coffee. He was grateful for the breather. It was really hard to try and explain the way he felt.

  “Thank you,” Jay said to the waiter and then turned again to Alex. “You know how I came to buy that house? My car broke down, and I had to wait to get it towed. I just happened to notice the 'For Sale' sign. It was an open house, and I thought I may as well take a look while I was waiting.”

  “Really,” she said. She didn't really believe in divine intervention or anything, she didn't think, but there was no explaining the goose bumps that prickled up her arms.

  “Yeah. I fell in love with it.”

  “Oh, I can see why!” she said with a sarcastic giggle.

  “Yes. Miss Smarty-Pants,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “You making fun of my house?”

  “I'm joking. Wait 'til you hear my ideas. I honestly think it has a lot of potential.”

  “What about us?” he asked. “Do you think we have potential?”

  “Maybe. I'd like to think so. I know I feel something too,” she said finally. “You don't think it's all happening a little fast?”

  “Not for me.” he answered honestly. “Do you feel like it's happening too fast?”

  “Surprisingly, no.” When he squeezed her hand, she squeezed his back.

  “Then that's all that matters. So,” he said with a chuckle, “wanna be my girlfriend?”

  “Oh, my God!” she said drily. “Are you asking me to go steady?”

  “I guess I am,” he said with a charming smile that just about melted her bones.

  Alex sighed. Jay was a free agent. She was worried he'd get sick of being tied down to a woman with two kids. Then where would that leave the boys if they were already attached to him. “Jay, I'm not sure if you know what you'd be getting into. It isn't just me,” she said seriously. “My boys are… not easy.”

  “I know that. I want the whole package, and I think they seem to respond well to me. The only question is will you take a chance?”

  * * *

  “So,” Kelly asked the boys generally, not really caring which one answered. “What do you think of Jay?”

  “He's cool,” Thom said.

  “He plays with us,” Aaron added enthusiastically.

  “Really. That must be fun.”

  “Uh huh,” Aaron said. “We had pizza at his place last night, and we swam in the pool after dinner, 'til it was dark!”

  “Whoa,” Rick said. “Swimming at night!”

  “I know,” Thom said. “Cool, huh!”
>
  “But he said we can't swim no more unless someone's watching us,” Aaron said with a small pout.

  “Sounds fair to me.” Rick said.

  “What else do you like about him besides his pool?” Kelly asked.

  “He makes Mom smile,” Thom said happily.

  Kelly couldn't hide her happiness, and her husband chuckled at her high fiving both the boys. She was almost jumping out of her skin with excitement. Jay could be a keeper.

  * * *

  Alex flashed a giant smile.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked hopefully.

  “That's a, let's give it a try,” Alex said. “I think.”

  “You think?” Jay asked with amusement. “You're still not sure?”

  “No, I know. I want to give it a try,” she said. “The only way to find out for sure if this is the right fit for me and the boys is to take a chance. Time to bite the bullet.”

  As he parked the car on his driveway, Jay looked at his watch. It was late, but he didn't want the evening to end just yet and certainly not with a kiss at the doorstep.

  “Would you like to come in for coffee?” he asked. “Will your sister and her husband be waiting to leave?”

  “No. They're staying over,” Alex said. “Coffee would be nice.”

  “Why don't you make yourself comfortable on the sofa and choose a movie or a TV show or something and I'll be in with the coffee in a few minutes.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  Jay held his breath as she took off her light summer sweater and dropped it over the back of a chair.

  Her dress was low cut and hugged her body nicely in all the right places. It was short and gave him a lovely view of her bare legs and that tight round behind. After a quick appreciative glance, he took himself to the kitchen to get on with the coffee.

  * * *

  Jay stood in the kitchen, trying to drag his thoughts out of the gutter. Oh, how he wanted to peel that dress from Alex's body. He could almost taste the saltiness of her skin, the firm pebbles of her aroused nipples as his tongue danced in lazy circles around each one. He wanted to lay her over his knees again, only this time he would lower her panties so he could touch those cheeks that were just begging for his attention. He could almost see how they would tense up as she wiggled and squirmed, waiting for that first spank on bare skin. His hand would bounce off each lily white cheek leaving rosy pink handprints in its wake. When she was good and warm, he would slip his fingers underneath her until he could feel her swollen nub. Dip them inside to feel her sweet juices. His cock twitched to life in readiness for the occasion.

  “Damn,” he said. What was he, a horny teenager?

  “Sorry?” Alex called from the next room. “Did you say something?”

  “Um. No,” he coughed. “Just making coffee. Be there in a minute.” He opened the fridge door to get the cream and stood there wafting it open and shut like a fan, trying to cool himself down. When the kettle whistled, he shook his head and threw the fridge door shut before turning towards his task.

  The boiling water splashed into the glass coffee press, and the fragrant aroma wafted up, clearing Jay's thoughts and bringing him back to the present. He gave himself another mental shake before picking up the tray he'd set. There'd be time for all that later, when the time was right.

  * * *

  Alex flicked through the TV channels. Unable to find anything that captured her attention, she turned it off. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do next. The restaurant was easy. All she had to do was talk and eat. That went pretty well. Now though, she was stumped. She hadn't been in this position, in a sort of relationship, since her marriage. Was that what this was, a relationship? They did sort of agree to see each other. She looked towards the kitchen and sighed. He'd probably be expecting to get something out of this evening. Not that she was totally opposed. Getting naked though, wouldn't be easy. It was hard enough to be dressed up for a date let alone not dressed at all. She looked down at herself critically, trying to imagine what Jay would see when he walked through that door. She crossed her legs. Too much leg. The dress was a little short. She uncrossed them again and put them together neatly. Kind of. Did that flatten her thighs and make them look too wide? Maybe she should lay down and lift her legs a little so they weren't spread out at all by the sofa. Oh, my God, not that, she thought, realizing how that looked. Maybe she should stand. She jumped to her feet and tugged her dress down just as Jay walked in carrying a tray of coffee and some cookies.

  “Why are you standing?” he asked. “Sit, make yourself comfortable.”

  Alex chewed her lip while she decided. “I'm okay,” she said. “Been sitting down all night.”

  “Uh huh,” he said. “Not unheard of at a restaurant.”

  Alex smiled nervously. “You know, maybe I should go and check on the boys,” she said. She was feeling completely out of her depth, and the only thing she wanted to do at that moment was cut and run.

  Jay frowned at Alex's obvious discomfort. “They have sitters that are staying all night, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she said as she tried to pull her skirt down.

  “What's wrong?” he asked finally as she sat stiffly with her hands placed beside her legs.

  “Nothing,” she said vacantly.

  “There's obviously something wrong. Tell me,” he said insistently. “Have I done or said something?”

  “No. Nothing's wrong.”

  “You're completely comfortable?”

  “Yes. I'm fine.”

  Jay sighed. “If you don't just tell me, Alex, I may just have to make you tell me.” He moved the table forward a fraction to give him enough room. “There's obviously something wrong,” he said. “You're wound up as tight as a drum. And you're lying about it.”

  “Um, what are you… why are you moving that?” Alex asked, ignoring the butterflies that had suddenly started swarming in the depths of her belly.

  “Making room,” Jay said trying to stop his own excitement from being too obvious.

  Alex stood up and shook her head wildly as his hand clamped about her wrist.

  “Okay. I'll tell you,” she said, her voice laced with panic.

  “Go ahead,” he said, pausing but not removing his own hand from her wrist.

  “I was trying to find the best position to sit in so I would look thinner,” she said.

  “I don't understand,” Jay said.

  Alex pushed down her embarrassment while she tried to explain all the different pitfalls of each position. She left the last spread-eagled position out completely.

  “Oh, good grief!” Jay said with irritation. “There is absolutely no position that's going to make you look fat!”

  Alex had no chance at all to even question what was going to happen. In no time flat she had a close up view of a God-awful, chocolate-colored rug. She was grateful for its bedraggled shag though as she sunk her fingernails into it and hung on as the first solid smack landed as she precariously dangled over Jay's knee. That smack was much harder than the ones she'd felt last night. It hurt.

  “Ow. Jay?” she yelled with a nervous giggle, not quite processing yet that he was upset with her. “That hurt!”

  “Did it?” he quipped. “Got your attention though I see.”

  Perspiration poured from Alex's face as it flamed from the combination of the blood rushing to her head and the embarrassment of being upside down over Jay's knee, again. She was laughing nervously, but this undignified position was worrying. If she was concerned about what her legs looked like before, they were the least of her worries now. As his large hand clapped off every inch of her ass, she screwed her eyes shut. The fact that Jay again had a bird’s-eye, close-up view of her giant ass that was barely covered with a scrap of her dress was mortifying. What was worse was when the spanking stopped briefly, and she felt his fingers lift the bottom of her dress. His voice and his last threat was ringing in her ears.

  “The next time you're over my knee, your bottom will be
bare.”

  “NOOO!” she yelled, panic suddenly overtaking her. For God's sake! She was wearing body shaping underwear! No cute little thong or lacy see-through underwear hidden under this dress. Who knew she'd manage to get into trouble again, so quickly? She thought if anything happened, she'd be given the opportunity to remove them beforehand. She had no idea that Jay would actually get to see the giant underwear that held her mother of two flesh all safely compacted. How apt that they should be called 'spanks'.

  “I need to…” What should she say? That she had to pee? Lying didn't seem to be the smart option when you were over a man's knee, and he was desperately trying to find your bare bottom. “I don't want you to see!”

  “Too late,” he said curiously. Jay inched his hand up the tight dress until he finally got to the band of the tight underwear. He'd never felt anything like it. It was like ridges and ridges of elastic hidden inside some kind of tight material.

  Alex was mortified! “Jay!” she choked out.

  “Hush,” Jay said as he tried to remove the spanks. They weren't going to come off easily, and when Alex tried to buck her way off his lap, he slapped her bottom and stood her on her feet between his knees. “What on earth are those for?” he asked.

  Alex shrugged. “They make me tighter.”

  “Why would you think you need to look tighter? You're beautiful.”

  “I'm a mom of two boys who has a huge ass, a tummy that's no longer as flat or the skin as tight as it once was. I wanted to look good. I can do with all the help I can get. I didn't want you to think I was… ” Her sentence petered out under his unimpressed glare. There was no way she was going to use that word again. That's why he'd started to spank her in the first place.

  Jay was stumped. His eyes were wide and blinking. What had started out as a fun sort of spanking was very quickly threatening to turn into something else. “There is nothing wrong with your body.”

  “You don't understand!” Alex whined, shuffling nervously from foot to foot.

  “I do understand what you're saying, I just don't understand why you're saying it!” he said. “It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. You're beautiful.”