by Kimber Davis
Her behind was back to normal. It had ached for three days after the spanking, and the marks that he'd left on her had taken a few days more than that to fade. But she was damned if she would have complained to him about it.
She opened her book and started to read. When the water went cold, she got out, dried off and pulled on an old T-shirt. Once in bed, she propped the book back open and read until the small hours of the morning. She still had the book in her hands when she fell asleep.
*****
She woke the next morning to the smell of food. The tantalizing aromas drifted upstairs and made her smile.
Alicia had agreed to fix several of her specialties, which always made people smile. They included stuffed jalapenos, a pasta with marinara sauce that was delicious, and fresh baked bread.
The steaks had been marinating for more than a day now, and would be delicious once Alicia had finished them on the grill.
Tricia stretched leisurely, smiling when she noticed the book that had fallen next to her on the bed. It had been years since she'd read herself to sleep, and it felt wonderful. She glanced at the clock, and then jumped up.
It was almost noon, and her guests were due at one o'clock. How could Alicia have let her sleep so late? She jumped up and ran downstairs, unmindful of the fact that she was wearing a t-shirt that she'd cut up for sleep, and that barely covered her body.
She ran to the kitchen and stopped short when she saw Seth standing at the stove, stirring a big pot.
"What are you doing here?"
"Cooking." He gave her an appreciative look and then turned back to his task.
"Where's Alicia?"
"I gave her the day off."
"You did what? How dare you! You had no right and I have guests coming."
"Don't worry, I've got it covered. She made most of the food yesterday, and told me all I had to do was warm up the pasta sauce and cook the steaks. Piece of cake."
"You are not invited."
"I'm not?" The humor in his voice made her want to scream. "OK. I'll just go to my little cubbyhole. You can finish cooking and have a good time."
He sat the spoon he was using on the stove and made as if to walk out the door. Tricia yelled at him to stop.
"Wait. Don't leave. I'm not even dressed yet."
"Yeah, I noticed that." His eyes drifted to the low-cut shirt. "But, that's not my problem since I'm not invited."
He started to walk off again and she yelled at him once more.
"Please don't leave. I know nothing about grilling."
"I'm sure Lyle could help. Or maybe Stan."
"Please. Stay."
"As the hired help? No. As a friend to everyone here. Yes."
She sighed.
"Don't think I don't know why you did this," he said softly. "You're trying to put me in my place after I spanked you the other night. You're not going to make me feel guilty about it, and you're not going to upset me if I don't get to attend."
"No? Then why did you give Alicia a day off?"
"Because she deserves it. Weekends are her time with her family. Even your parents hire a caterer if they're having a party."
"Do you know how to grill?"
"Yes. I have parties quite a bit. I'm a social butterfly."
She fought back a grin. The clock struck noon and she shook her head.
"Fine. Please stay. I'll go upstairs and dress, and come back and help you."
"That works for me."
She ran for the stairs, pausing for a second when he yelled, "hurry back, dear," to turn and stick her tongue out at him.
Damn him! Every time she tried to get the upper hand with him, he turned it around. Now, not only was he going to be a guest at the party, but it would look like he was the host, and she was the hostess.
Their friends would think they were together, and she didn't want that. She would have to do something to make sure they realized that Seth was only staying in the guesthouse, that he wasn't staying in the main house with her.
She threw on a light shirt and a top, sweeping her hair up on top of her head and heading back downstairs. In the kitchen, she found that he had everything under control. The food was almost done, and he'd taken out the steaks, putting them on plates in preparation for grilling. Sitting next to the steaks were several packages of hot dogs and some hamburger patties.
Tricia hurried to the patio where she found Seth working on her father's grill.
"Hamburgers and hot dogs? When did we decide on that?"
"When you invited kids. Some kids don't like steaks. It gives them a choice."
She nodded, angry that she hadn't thought of the idea herself.
"But we'll need ketchup, mustar..."
"Already taken care of. Relax."
"Thank you." She whispered the words and stared at him when he lifted his head in shock.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, thank you." She spat the words out quickly, as if they'd left a bad taste in her mouth.
"Wow, I think we should call the book of world records. Tricia said thank you without being prompted."
"Jerk."
"Oh hi," Seth said, looking over her shoulders. "Look, dear, it's Bev and her family. Damn girl, you look about ready to pop."
Tricia turned toward her high school friend. She did indeed look ready to burst. Her three-year-old son stood next to her, a large bag of potato chips in his small hands.
"The door was unlocked and nobody answered the bell," Bev said with a grin, rubbing her belly. "So we left ourselves in."
"That's great," Tricia said, a genuine smile replacing the anger that she felt toward Seth. "You look so good!"
"I look so fat!" Bev replied, laughing at her husband, Bernie, who kissed her cheek as he went to the grill to shake Seth's hand.
The women hugged and Tricia shivered at Bev's words.
"It's so good to see you two together, where you belong. You know you two love each other. So very cool."
Before Tricia could respond, Bev turned to her son.
"Come on sweets, let's set up a food table over here." She took him by the hand and headed toward a large picnic table that Seth had set up. Soon, people started to arrive and Tricia forgot her anger about the fact that the man she'd wanted to shun was the one helping her greet her guests.
The backyard was filling with the sounds of friends and fellowship. Kids were swimming under the watchful eye of their parents, and she couldn't remember the last time she'd had such a good time.
Her parents had done this type of thing when she was growing up. In New York, there wasn't room in her apartment to have a barbeque. And she didn't want to do it in the park. Maybe when she got back she'd see about buying a house. Then, she and her friends there could...
She stopped short, putting down the bowl of pasta salad that she'd brought from the kitchen.
What friends in New York? If she had a barbeque there, she didn't know that many people who would show up. The people she hung out with there were more suited to nights at the theater, or movies and dinner at a fancy restaurant. They would scoff at cooking their own food on a grill.
She cut her eyes to Seth, who was expertly turning meat, the aroma filling the air. As if sensing her eyes on him, he lifted his gaze to hers and smiled.
"Almost done," he said with a grin. "Anybody hungry?"
There was a chorus of yeses from the kids, and many of the adults. The parents got everyone out of the pool, and they started the kids eating first, filling their plates with hot dogs and hamburgers and chips.
Once Seth had finished the meat, the adults filled their own plates and everyone found a place to sit and eat. Tricia was a little concerned when Seth perched on a chair next to hers, his plate bumping her own on the table.
It gave even more of an illusion that they were together. Somehow, though, this time the concern didn't last long. She was enjoying herself so much that she wouldn't let him ruin it for her. Besides, maybe, just maybe, he would be nice to her today.
She laughed. Who was she kidding? He was always nice to her, unless he was spanking her. The memory of the punishment took center stage in her mind, and she pushed it away just as quickly.
Then, words from Lyle brought her back to the future in a hurry.
"So, Seth, you need to mow your yard, man. I went by there earlier today and it's growing like a weed."
"Yeah, I'll go and do that tomorrow," Seth said softly.
"Well, you know when you leave a house sit for that long, something could go wrong. An unmowed law will let burglars know that nobody's home."
"Oh, I'm sure the workers going in and out each day keep the place busy," Tricia said.
"Workers? What workers?" Lyle's laugh filled the table. "There's nothing wrong with that house, or at least there better not be. Seth just finished renovating it last year from top to bottom. It has new everything."
Tricia turned toward Seth, who happily crunched on his salad.
"New everything?"
"Yup. I spent a fortune on that house. It's really gorgeous. I'll take you over there sometime and show you."
Anger bubbled forth. She lowered her voice and hissed at him.
"There's nothing wrong with your house?"
"Nope." He took another bite of his salad.
"Then you lied to me? My parents lied to me?"
"Yup."
"Why?"
"I would think that would be obvious. Your parents wanted to throw us together. Although I haven't done a very good job at being near you this week. We'll have to work on that."
"You asshole!"
"Hey you two, stop whispering!" Margaret said with a laugh. "You'll have plenty of time alone together when we're gone."
Tricia turned her gaze toward her plate, but her appetite was gone. Her parents had lied to her. They'd wanted her here only to throw her and Seth together. Her stomach churned and she pushed her plate away.
She felt horrible. She felt betrayed. She felt deep-seeded anger.
She picked up her plate and pushed back from the table. The only person who seemed to notice that something was wrong, besides Seth, was Bev. Her friend frowned in her direction. Then, the pregnant woman got up and followed Tricia into the house.
"Are you all right?"
"They lied to me." She turned to Bev and told her what her parents had said, what Seth had said.
"Maybe they just what's best for you."
"What's best for me? Do you know he spanked me the other night? Like he had the right."
Bev laughed, then quickly covered her mouth.
"Did you have sex afterwards?"
"No! I don't think you heard me. He spanked me. With a hairbrush, no less."
"Look. I don't want you to think that I'm against you or anything, but I do want you to know that I've always thought the two of you belonged together. Tell me something, do you date in New York?"
"No."
"Do you like it there?"
"Not really, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Listen, my friend, your parents may be right about this. You and Seth are a perfect match. And there's nothing wrong with a little spanking."
"He left marks on my ass!"
Bev shook her head. "All I know is that he doesn't date, and neither do you. You're explosive together, and I bet that the feelings you've had about him since you've been back are stronger than anything you've felt in a long time. Am I right?"
Tricia shook her head, then smiled.
"I hate it when you do that."
"Because you know I'm right. Try letting him in. You might be surprised at what happens. I mean he is the man who... you know."
"Took my virginity? Yeah, I remember that night." The memories brought shivers with it. Seth had been so tender, so sweet. It had been a month before prom. She had seventeen and so much in love. He had been eighteen and hadn't wanted to admit to her that he'd never done it either. But he'd been so loving. She was sure then that they would be together, forever. Then prom night had happened and the love had turned to hate.
"You know what they say," Bev said. "It's a thin line between love and hate. Let him in. I think he's trying to get stuff started between the two of you, and I think you need to help."
"Thanks for the advice, mom."
"No problem. I wanna be in the wedding. It's only fair, cause you were in mine."
"Wedding? Dream on. If I marry anyone, it won't be Seth Watkins."
"Oh please. You could live here and work in Seattle. Or better yet, you wouldn't have to work. We could have lunch and go shopping and take my kids to the movies. And your kids."
The last words were said softly.
"Forget it," Tricia said. "Although I'd love to spend time with you, I don't want to marry a man who would lie to me."
"He lied to you to get close to you. I think that counts for something. I think that means that he's never stopped thinking about you. Which is a very, very cool idea."
Bev kissed her gently on the cheek and went back outside.
Tricia stood at the counter. She should be angry, but somehow Bev's words filtered through her mind and settled into the part that controlled reasoning. She was right. Seth had lied to her because he wanted to be close to her. That was a very, very interesting idea.
She had to admit that she thought of him, too. Most of the time it was about how much she hated him. But why did she hate him? He really was the one who'd been wronged on prom night. He really was the only one who'd ended up in handcuffs. She really had betrayed him.
Guilt washed over her. After everything she'd done, he'd still done this, just to be close to her. She took a deep breath and headed back to the patio. People were still eating, still laughing, still enjoying themselves.
She located Seth standing near the pool, talking to Lyle. He grinned at her as she approached him. She smiled back, then her grin turned wicked. When she was within reach, she put her hands on his chest.
The look he gave her told her that he didn't know what was going on, but he was enjoying the contact. Then, she pushed and he went tumbling into the pool. Laughter erupted and when his head surfaced, she snarled at him.
"That's for lying to me. Don't ever do it again."
*****
The party lasted the better part of the afternoon, and Tricia enjoyed herself immensely. They had strawberry shortcake with whipped cream for dessert. There was also ice cream and cake for those who didn't want the strawberries.
Seth had gone to the guesthouse to change, but his being tossed into the pool didn't seem to put a damper on his mood. In fact, it seemed to make it better. He grinned at her every time he caught her eye. Twice he'd winked at her.
Finally, when there were only a few couples left, he cornered her in the kitchen.
"You know I'm going to spank you for throwing me into the pool." His voice was deep, and Tricia recognized the tinge of desire that rode behind his words.
"You can try." She lifted her gaze to his. She kept her own voice low and shivered when he caressed her cheek.
When he leaned in to kiss her she didn't fight it. Instead, she relaxed into his arms, enjoying the feel of his familiar lips. It was like the last ten years hadn't happened. When he broke the longer kiss, he plated tiny, butterfly kisses around her lower lip, nibbling on her until she moaned.
"Maybe we should do more of that, instead of the spanking."
"Maybe we should do both," Seth replied. "You need spanking, Tricia, and you need it often. You've been a bad, bad girl."
"I'm not the one who lied."
He raised his eyebrows at her in question.
"At least, not right now," she said.
"True, but my lie brought you back into my arms. Do you want to stay in my arms, Tricia?"
"Yes." She felt her heart quicken.
"I'm not sleeping with you tonight." Even as the words left her mouth she knew that she was lying. She knew that she wanted to wake up tomorrow morning in Seth's arms, the memory of their lo
vemaking fresh on her mind.
"Yes, you are. After I spank you, I'm going to love you. Softly. Gently. Tenderly."
She quivered in his arms.
"You can't expect me to want to make love to you after you spank me."
"Oh yes, I can. And you will. Trust me."
Chapter Four
Tricia wanted to be angry with Seth, to hate him for what he and her parents had cooked up between them. But she couldn't.
Bev's words kept running through her mind. He must still care about her if he'd gone to all this trouble so that they could be together.
And his kisses. The wonderful kisses that he'd given her that afternoon. They made her body tingle with memories. She'd been in love with him since her junior year in high school. She'd just managed to forget it for ten years. She didn't plan on forgetting it now.
When everyone was gone, and the two of them were the only people left, he grinned at her.
"We need to clean," she said softly.
"Later. Someone needs her spanking, first."
"I don't think so. Pushing you into the pool was retaliation for you lying to me. You can't punish me for that."
"Wanna bet?"
They stared at each other for a few minutes, then, finally, Tricia shrugged her shoulders.
"Fine. I'll let you give me ten swats. With your hand only. No hairbrushes. That brush hurt like hell."
"It was supposed to hurt. Punishments aren't easy, you know."
"Well, I just can't see you punishing me for pushing you in the pool."
"Then close your eyes. And you don't get to decide on swat numbers, or implements used. That is my department."
Tricia's heart beat faster. Were they really standing here, calmly discussing her getting a spanking? How was that possible? After the one he'd given her last week, she'd never, ever thought she'd let him get close to her again.
"You can be a real jerk, you know that?"
"I can be a loveable jerk, though."
"We'll see." Was this really here, standing before him so calmly? Was she really going to allow him to spank her, and then make love to her?
"Shall we go upstairs and get this over with?"
"Geeze, thanks a lot." Seth crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "I've never had a woman tell me that when I was going to make love to her."