by Madison, Mia
Perhaps I was boring her, but I so rarely got to show my personal workshop off to anyone, and I wanted to show her one more thing. I led her over to a chair.
She looked at it, her face a little flushed, and said, “No, I’m fine standing.”
I chuckled. “I wanted to show it to you, not offer you a seat. It’s a wooden saloon chair modeled after the kind you’d see in a tavern in the early 1800s.”
She ran a hand over the smooth surface of the back of the chair. “You—you made this?”
“Yes. I only used the tools that they had back then. It took forever, but I wanted to experience what it was like to build without modern tools.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said, and she seemed sincere.
“That’s the end of the tour,” I said. “It’s a bit cold down here—want to go back upstairs?” Maybe the slight chill explained why her cheeks and even the tip of her nose were that shade of pink?
“Sure.” Gabi walked slowly to the stairs and then took one last look around. I couldn’t identify the expression on her face.
Her strange mood persisted for the rest of the afternoon, even after the children got home. And she was quiet throughout dinner, too, even though she’d managed to put together a fantastic meal.
The twins and I watched some TV together after she left, but my mind kept returning to her strange behavior. Why’d she asked to see my woodworking shop in the first place if she wasn’t interested in that kind of thing? When we’d gotten to the basement, she’d seemed almost disappointed. But over the years, I’d built up my workspace until it had everything I needed.
Brandon shifted positions on the sofa next to me, his little foot kicking my thigh in the process. I looked down at him and then at Ava on my other side. A memory from earlier this afternoon surfaced. “Why did you guys tell Gabi that the door to the basement was locked?”
Ava looked up at me, her pigtails bobbing on either side of her head. “She asked about the basement, and we said that it was only for adults.”
I bit back a curse as I clicked the TV off. “I need you two to tell me exactly what you said to her about the basement.”
15
Gabi
Oh my god.
It was his woodworking shop. I’d spent the entire weekend psyching myself up to ask him to take me down to his basement—and it was just a place for him to make things.
Thank god he didn’t know what I’d thought it would be. If he could’ve seen inside my head, I would’ve died of embarrassment.
As it was, I almost did. I’d tried to be so brave, so worldly, to follow him down the steps. It had been scary even though I wanted to do more intimate things with him. I wanted to feel closer to him. And all that worry, not to mention all that time spent on my hair, makeup, and outfit—for a woodworking shop!
In retrospect, it made a certain amount of sense. He’d expertly made that banister for our porch. And the twins’ fort in the backyard was amazing. Even that chair he’d showed me yesterday was. Its lines were smooth and polished. I would’ve thought a professional had made it.
But still… a woodworking shop!
I didn’t know whether to laugh or drink—although dying of embarrassment still seemed like a possibility. Actually, I could do all three. I was home alone—again. Kait had texted that she’d be out late with Tyler, and Sierra was probably with Ian.
In a way, that was good. I knew I’d have to tell them what happened eventually, but I just couldn’t right now. The embarrassment was too raw.
And it wasn’t just embarrassment. It was… a lot of things. Disappointment was part of it. When Luke got in a playful, teasing mood, it drove me wild. And it seemed like a basement playroom—at least the kind I was envisioning—was the perfect place to see that side of him again.
Then there was the fact that I wanted to be closer to him in any way I could. It was hard with the twins. I loved Ava and Brandon, but it was difficult to spend much time alone with Luke. By mutual agreement, he and I didn’t indulge in much intimacy in the afternoons because that was our time to work. Luke had his writing career, and I’d been hired to help, not make out with the boss.
Still, it was hard not to be able to spend more time with him alone. I wondered if I could convince Kait to babysit the twins sometime so Ian and I could go out. She’d do it. She had a niece she was crazy about, and she was good with kids.
Wandering into the kitchen, I lectured myself not to use calories to bury my feelings from today. I considered it a personal victory when I left the kitchen with nothing more than a glass of water.
I sat on the sofa and pulled a large blanket over me even though it wasn’t cold. Maybe I felt that the blanket would shield me from my embarrassment. I still couldn’t believe that my expectations today and reality had been so far apart.
Thank god Luke didn’t know what I’d thought was going to happen.
I sighed. In spite of my embarrassment, I wished Sierra or Kait would come home. I was used to having someone to talk with about life’s ups and downs. Maybe it would be good when Liz moved in, which was probably going to be next month. She didn’t have a boyfriend, so maybe she’d be around here more. I was glad that Kait and Sierra had found love, but it meant I didn’t see them that much.
Luke texted. How’s your evening?
Me: Good. Are the twins in bed?
Luke: Yep. With the usual amount of arguing about their bedtime.
Me: Sounds like fun.
Luke: Indeed. I wanted to see if you were okay. You seemed a little quiet today.
Oh god. That was the last thing I wanted to talk about. I’m fine. It was just a Monday thing. I’ll be a chatterbox by tomorrow.
Luke: I hope so. But you know, you can talk to me if something’s wrong. Or if you want something to be different.
Me: Thanks, that’s good to know.
Luke: I really mean it.
God, did he suspect something? But how could he? He texted again before I could think of how to respond to him.
Luke: Ava asked me to ask you something.
Relief filled me at the change of subject. What is it?
Luke: She really liked that outfit you were wearing today. She’s actually kind of taken an interest in clothes and fashion lately. She wants to draw a picture of you dressed like that, so would you mind wearing it again tomorrow?
I thought about it—the skirt was fine to wear again, but I didn’t like to wear a shirt twice without washing it. But I’d have time to wash it tonight. Sure, no problem.
Luke: Great. See you tomorrow.
Me: See you.
Tossing my phone on the sofa next to me, I sighed. It was going to be okay. Luke didn’t have a clue about the assumptions I’d made about his basement. And as for Kait and Sierra, I’d tell them about it tomorrow evening after I’d had another day to process.
And as for me? I supposed I should be relieved that Luke’s basement hadn’t been what I’d thought. All day Sunday, I’d worried about if I’d know how to act. If I’d like the same things he did. If it would be too extreme. Or if I would seem too naïve.
So I should be relieved.
Except part of me wasn’t. Part of me had gotten turned on thinking about trying kinky things with him.
It seemed counterintuitive, but part of me was disappointed.
The next morning I put in a few hours for the temp agency and then went home to change. The idea that Ava had liked my outfit yesterday made me smile. Luke hadn’t seemed to notice, so I was glad someone did.
It was also nice to wear clothes that made me feel confident. Compared to my roommates, I sometimes felt like the ugly stepsister. Of course, I knew I wasn’t actually ugly, but they were both so thin. And Sierra was as tall as a runway model and had the looks of one. Kait was average height, but weighed less than me. I was kind of round all over—which was good for some things like my breasts and ass, but bad when it was my tummy and thighs.
The outfit I’d worn yesterday—the scoop-neck peach blouse pl
us the flouncy white skirt—seemed to emphasize the good curves while camouflaging the bad ones.
I almost didn’t bother with taking extra time on my hair and makeup, but then I pictured Ava and her sweet little smile. If she thought I was pretty and wanted to draw me, that was reason enough to look my best. She was such a sweetie. Her and Brandon, too. I’d known since childhood that I wanted kids someday. I loved cuddling little babies, but I’d always wondered if it would still be as much fun to be around older children. Now, thanks to the twins, I knew that each stage of childhood was amazing.
I arrived at Luke’s house a little early and spent a few minutes sitting in the car, psyching myself up. I’d done almost the exact same thing yesterday before knocking. Today, though, I knew more. I knew Luke didn’t have a secret sex dungeon. The only thing to fear today was that I’d be too embarrassed to act normally.
Except maybe today wasn’t going to be a normal day. That thought hit me as soon as Luke opened the door. He looked different. He looked incredible. He looked dangerous.
My mouth fell open as I gaped at him. He was wearing a dark olive button down shirt, the top few buttons undone. I could see his smooth, tan skin below. The light smattering of chest hair was almost enough to make me melt into a puddle on his doorstep. But the changes didn’t stop there.
His black jeans were tight. Really tight. They showed his powerful thighs and long legs… as well as the way the fabric stretched even further over his package. I gulped, trying not to stare but failing.
Even his face looked different. He’d shaved, yet there was still the sexy stubble outlining his jaw. The stubble was darker above and below his mouth, like a faint goatee, and it made him look sinfully good.
But even without any of those things, I would’ve been floored by the smoldering look in his eyes and the way one side of his mouth curved upward.
The man looked hot as hell… and ready for sin.
Oh god, I had to say something. I cleared my throat, but my mouth had gone dry at the sight of him. “Umm… hi.”
“Good afternoon.” His voice seemed lower than usual. A bit huskier, too. “Come in.”
I stepped past him and almost spontaneously combusted when he put his hand on the small of my back. His palm was so large—and warm. God, I wanted him to touch me all over.
But he was my boss, and this was work time. I stopped next to the dining room table and turned to face him. Big mistake—he was just too hot to look at. Instead, I focused on the piano behind him while I tried to get my voice under control. “So, umm, I didn’t go to the grocery store yesterday, so I guess I should today. Is there anything you’re hungry for?”
“Yes.”
Such a simple word but the look in his eyes almost made me explode on the spot. Why was he looking at me like that? And how come he looked so damn hot?
I tried to gather my thoughts, but it was hard. “I, umm… I guess I’ll just decide when I get there.”
“Before you do that, there’s something I need to show you.” His eyes were steady on mine. “Something I forgot to show you yesterday—in the basement.”
I gulped, and it took me two tries to formulate words. “In—in the basement?”
“Yes. Will you go down there with me now?”
Oh god. Being down there would make me feel embarrassed all over again. My expectations and what had actually happened yesterday had been so far out of line. But the compelling look in his eyes left me no choice. “Okay,” I said in a small voice.
Without a word, he took me by the hand and led me to the back of the house. The basement door stood open, the key on the washing machine.
I followed him down the steps, smelling the scent of freshly cut wood at the bottom. Luke turned to me, his tall form towering over me. “Welcome back… Gabriella.”
Oh god. He’d used my full first name. That meant that he —
My thought was cut off when he took me by the upper arms and pushed me back against the wall at the base of the stairs. His mouth claimed mine as his body pressed against me. He overwhelmed my senses with his spicy, woodsy scent in my nose. His insistent tongue dancing with mine. His warm hard body rubbing against me.
I closed my eyes and sank into his kiss, my knees weak and my body entirely supported by him pressing me against the wall.
God, it felt good. I never wanted it to end. I’d never forget the way he kissed, not even if I lived to be a hundred.
Moaning, I tilted my head, trying to get even closer to him. My blood raced, my skin tingled, and my mind floated away, giving in to the sensation. After what felt like both seconds and hours, he pulled his head back. I opened my eyes to find him staring down at me, his eyes looking darker in the softer light of the basement. He looked at me as if he could see into my soul.
“We need to talk about something.”
Silently, I nodded. After that kiss, I didn’t know if I could form any words at all. Especially not with the way he was still pressed up against me. I could feel all of him, even the rock-hard bulge in his jeans.
“You came down here yesterday with certain… expectations.” Luke’s eyes were steady on mine.
Panic filled me. He knew! I tried to move away, but he was still pressing me up against the wall. God, he knew. My face flushed and I would’ve fled if I could have.
“Look at me, Gabriella. Now.” He paused until I returned my eyes to the intensity of his. “The problem isn’t what you were expecting. Or what you wanted. The problem is that you didn’t tell me.”
Oh god. Now I was even more embarrassed. And also—kind of turned on. The arousal was still there from his kiss, but this, somehow this was adding to it. It was humiliating that he knew what I’d been thinking yesterday. But the way he was speaking to me… the way he was forcing me to confront it was hot as hell.
Luke’s voice was low but firm as he continued. “We’re in this together, and if there’s something you need… something you want… you have to tell me.”
He was actually scolding me. Or I guess you could say lecturing me. Right now, he kind of looked like the world’s hottest professor, and I clenched my thighs together. How could something be mortifying and a huge turn on at the same time? It was a new experience for me.
“You should’ve told me yesterday, but I realize now you were embarrassed. But then I gave you a chance when we texted. I asked if you wanted something to be different. You should’ve told me then.”
I squirmed under his directness, and that only served to remind me that I was trapped against his hard, strong body… and that turned me on more than I ever could’ve imagined.
He leaned down, his lips pressed against my ear. “You didn’t tell me what you wanted… and for that you need to be punished.”
His words made my already rapid heart rate double. What did he mean? What kind of punishment? Unconsciously, I shifted my hips and felt his hardness press even more firmly against me.
He nibbled his way along the rim of my ear. “Are you going to take your punishment like a good girl?”
“Yes,” I breathed. The word slipped out with conscious thought.
Luke stepped back but kept a firm grip on my upper arms. His grip was the only thing keeping me upright. It felt like every bone in my body had become molten lava.
He steered me past his workbench. The furniture he’d made, the saloon chair or whatever he’d called it, was in the middle of the space between his table saw and the pegboard on the wall filed with hanging tools. He guided me behind the chair, so I was about two feet away. He let go of my shoulders and firmly placed my hands on the back of the chair.
I stiffened as his hand ran down the smooth fabric of my blouse from my shoulders to my ass, and back again, finally settling on my upper back. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. His touch made my skin tingle and my panties moisten, but I couldn’t help wondering what he’d do next. Where he’d touch next.
With a slight pressure he made me lean forward. I clutched the back of the chair more
tightly for balance, and Luke moved in behind me. Suddenly, I could feel a hard bulge pressed directly against my ass, only his clothes and mine between us. Strong hands grasped my hips, and he pulled me back against him.
A moan escaped my lips as I ground myself against his hips. I heard his low chuckle, and then he pushed me lower, forcing me to arch my back. Ah, that was what he wanted: me with my torso parallel to the floor. My back arched. My ass sticking out, as if waiting to be…
I gulped, suddenly realizing what my punishment was going to be.
“Stay just like that,” Luke said huskily. He moved to my side, and I felt bereft without his hard heat behind me. His hand sank into my curls, gripping tightly. He turned my head toward him. He bent down, his voice a whisper in my ear. “Any time you want to stop we will.”
Just as quickly, he straightened up, almost as if he hadn’t said anything at all. His fingers were still in my hair, squeezing and tugging. But then his other hand stroked down my back… and didn’t stop until it was resting on my ass. The thin fabric from my white skirt and cream-colored panties did little to shield me from the searing heat of his touch. It felt so good. But also so embarrassing to be bent over like that. To be arching my back and presenting my ass for punishment.
“I’ve wanted to touch you like this since the day I met you,” Luke said. “If you’d told me what you wanted, we could’ve done this sooner. I used to play this way a long time ago, when I was your age in fact. If I’d known that you liked this kind of thing too, we could’ve done this a long time ago. That’s why you’re being punished.”
His hand withdrew and I braced myself. When it returned, the sound was almost more intense than the smack itself. It stung, but also made the heat between my legs intensify.
Another smack. This time on the other cheek. Then another. He delivered five before he paused—the last one was harder than the first. My breathing was rapid and shallow, and I was clinging to the back of the chair, my cheek pressed against it.
Luke’s voice was a sexy rumble. “Has anyone ever spanked you before, Gabriella?”