She looked at the beautiful necklace around her neck and tears filled her eyes, “it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it,” he said to her, meaning every word.
“Can we head back to the inn now?” she asked, for once not feeling embarrassed by what she was thinking.
“We can,” he told her. “There’s just one more stop I want to make. I know of a stand on the other side of the market I want you to look at.”
He led her through the crowds and over to a woman selling beautiful accessories. There were ribbons and combs of every size, shape, and color for a ladies hair. “Pick out whatever you want,” he said to her.
“You’ve already bought me so much,” she told him. He shrugged and smiled at her. She turned back to the table smiling and looking at the beautiful items, picking them up and then returning them to the table.
Ham just stood back and watched. It had been a marvelous day. He gave himself a small pat on the back for coming up with the idea of this trip. Flora seemed more at ease with the marriage today. She even seemed to like him again, and he was glad, because the more he got to know her the more he was impressed with her. He knew it was quickly turning into love.
“Ham!” he heard a woman holler his name, just before she threw herself at him, pressing her lips to his and shoving her tongue into his mouth.
“What the hell,” he said, breaking the kiss and pushing the woman back from him.
“I knew you’d come back for me,” she said, again throwing her arms around his neck.
“Wynda, stop,” he said, gently but firmly removing her arms from around his neck. “I’m here with my wife.”
“You’re married?” she asked him.
“Aye, I am,” he said. “You need to go now.”
“Oh I get it,” she said winking at him. “I’ll see you when you can get away from her.”
Flora had heard her husband’s name and turned just in time to see a woman fling herself into his arms where he caught her. She felt her heart break as Ham kissed the woman before putting her back down. She walked towards them and was just able to hear them as they made plans to meet later when Ham could get away.
“Who’s your friend?” she said to Ham sarcastically, emphasizing the last word.
“It’s not what it looks like, Flora,” he said.
“Ham and I are old friends,” said Wynda. “I just wanted to say hello,” she finished, winking at him.
“We are not old friends,” he said to Wynda, “we met one time.”
“But you said you’d be back,” she said to him. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Wynda,” he tried again, but Wynda turned and stomped off.
“His cock was grand for a night,” she yelled out to Flora as she left.
Flora didn’t wait for an explanation. She turned and stomped off in the opposite direction, towards the inn. Ham followed behind carrying all of her purchases. He figured he’d let her calm before explaining that Wynda was before their wedding and he didn’t plan on seeing her again.
Flora entered the inn and stomped up the stairs. She couldn’t believe Ham had the nerve to bring her to the city where he kept his whore lover. She wasn’t going to stand for it. She had seen how miserable her own mother had been and wasn’t going to let any man do that to her. She pulled her travel satchel out and began to go around the room, putting her things back into it.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Ham asked from the doorway.
“Leaving,” Flora said, not looking at him.
“Why?” he asked.
“I’m not going to stay here and have you flaunt your whores in front of me,” she answered.
“First off, she is not my whore,” he said calmly. “You have a right to be upset, but I can explain.”
“Upset? I’m not upset,” she told him, trying not to cry. “I’m angry, Ham. I’m so angry right now that I want to hit you. You’re the same as my Da.”
“Now wait a minute,” he said, “your Da went to the whores while he was married. My night with Wynda happened before we took our vows. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong?” she said to him. “Why would you bring me to a city where one of your whores is anyway?”
“Flora,” he tried to explain. “I was with the king’s army for three years. I’ve traveled to most of the cities and villages within the highlands. That would leave a lot of places I couldn’t take you.”
“You’ve had a whore in every city and village?” she asked.
“Not in every one,” he said. He was trying to be truthful, and it seemed to be getting him into even bigger trouble. “Those women are of no importance to me. I couldn’t even tell you which towns I’ve had a tavern wench in; I don’t even remember their names.”
“I’m leaving,” Flora said, grabbing her bag and trying to walk past him.
“Nay, you’re not,” he said, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her back. “We’re both going to stay here and talk this out.”
Flora was so hurt by everything she seemed to just snap. She went wild trying to get away; she began screaming at him, “I wish I wouldn’t have ever married you. I hate you, Ham McCabe.”
“You little hellcat,” Ham said as she caught him in the cheek with her nails, drawing blood. “That does it.” He picked her up and carried her over to the bed where he sat down. Even though Flora was fighting him, it wasn’t really a struggle for him to pull her trews down to her ankles and put her firmly across his knees.
“Don’t you dare spank me, Ham McCabe,” Flora screamed.
“I’m beginning to think that sometimes this is the only way to get you to listen,” he told her, as he started bringing his hand down firmly on her arse. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“I’m ready to listen,” Flora finally yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks and dropping off onto the floor.
“I don’t think so yet,” Ham told her, “but you will be.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“Stop please,” Flora cried out, Ham stopped and flipped her up onto his lap.
“You’re ready to listen?” he asked.
“Aye,” she said.
“Good. Let’s talk this out and then get your punishment out of the way,” Ham told her.
Chapter 10 A lesson in Decorum
“What do you mean my punishment?” she asked. “You’ve already punished me.”
“That was just to get your attention,” he said to her.
Flora looked up at him for the first time, seeing the blood run down his cheek from where she’d scratched him. For a split second she felt bad; then she remembered Wynda.
“But you’re the one who did wrong,” she spat at him.
“I think you listen better this way,” he said and flipped her back over his knee. He again began a volley of swats, just hard enough to sting. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“Let me back up, and I’ll listen,” Flora said, anything to get him to stop.
“I think you’re fine right there,” Ham said, leaving a hand on her arse and rubbing softly over the red he’d left there. “Now I’ll talk, and you just listen. I met Wynda the last time I was here in Edinburgh; it was right before I arrived at Tarmon and escorted you home. I didn’t seek out a tavern girl that night; it was just something that happened. I don’t know why she thought I’d be coming back for her. I never led her to believe that. She asked if I’d come see her again if I was in the city, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings and I told her maybe I’d be back one day. She’s just a tavern girl, Flora; she means nothing to me.”
“She must have meant something to you if you bedded her,” Flora said.
Ham sighed, trying to explain. “Remember our conversation on the way here? It’s different for a man. It’s acceptab
le for a man to sleep with various women before he’s married. I’ll let you in on a little secret; a man doesn’t have to have feelings for a woman for his cock to get hard.”
“Is that how it is with me?” she asked, trying again not to cry. She had cried more since meeting back up with Ham than she had in the years since her mother had died.
“Nay!” he exclaimed. “It’s something much more with you. I was hoping you’d be able to tell that.”
“I was hoping it was,” Flora said. “How is it different between us than with a whore?”
“I don’t know how to explain it,” he told her. “You make love to your wife, but it’s just sex with a whore.”
“Did you do the same things with her that you do with me?” Flora asked. She didn’t even want to think of Ham kissing another woman the way he’d kissed her.
“Nay,” he said chuckling, remembering the wild romp he’d had with Wynda.
“What was different?” she asked.
“I told you already. There was no emotions, no kissing, no cuddling,” he told her. “It was more wild, rough even.”
“Show me,” she said to him.
“I can’t treat you like that,” he said.
“You can,” she told him. “I want you to show me.”
“You still have a punishment coming,” he told her. “If you still want me to show you afterward, I will.”
Flora nodded at him. After hearing him explain she knew she’d been wrong. What Ham had done before they married was none of her concern. He’d promised never to be with another woman now that he was married, and she was trying her best to believe him.
“Take off all your clothes,” Ham said standing her up.
“Everything?” she asked.
“No questions,” he told her. “Just do as I say and let’s get this over with.” Flora stood and stripped her clothes off. It was the first time she had done it with him watching her. She was embarrassed and looked down at the floor as she finished. “Now get your hairbrush and bring it to me.”
Flora again followed directions. She still didn’t think she deserved further punishment but there was no getting out of it. She figured if she cooperated it would be over quickly.
“Lean over the bed,” Ham told her. I’m giving you twenty with your brush to start.”
“I don’t think I can take that many,” she told him, her bottom lip beginning to quiver.
“Please don’t make me add extras,” he answered.
“Aye, I’ll do it,” she said, leaning over and laying her torso on the bed, and grabbing the cover on top with her fists.
“I want you to think about what I said, Flora,” Ham told her. “I’m getting tired of having to do this already. Next time talk to me before hitting or throwing things.” Then the brush began to fall, thwack, thwack , “I’ve never even raised my voice to you, but you’ve continued to act this way.” Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack . “I’d like our marriage to be a good one.” Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack . “I’d like us to learn to love each other.” Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack . “I’d like us to raise children together.” Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack . “But most importantly, I want us to want to spend time together, happily.” Thwack, thwack .
Ham lifter her up from the bed where she was now crying and sat her on his lap, holding her close and letting her cry. After a few minutes, she said to him. “I’m glad that’s over.”
“It’s not,” he said. “I just felt you needed a break.”
“I can’t take anymore, please Ham,” she said.
“Stand up,” he said, helping her to her feet. He led her over to the corner and gently pushing her into it so that her noise sat right at the point where the walls came together. “If you can stand her for the next half hour and just think about what I’ve said, I’ll let the punishment be over.”
“Can I have my cover?” she asked him.
“Nay,” he answered. “That’s part of the punishment. I want you just as you are. When the time is up, then we’ll talk.”
Flora nodded and stayed where she was. If this was all she had to do to end it, she could. As she stood there, she again thought about what had happened at the market. She ran the scene back through her head. Ham had been right, and he pushed the woman away as soon as she’d thrown herself at him. He also hadn’t encouraged her in any way. She was so convinced at the time that he’d brought her to Edinburgh to see this Wynda; she wouldn’t even listen to what he said. She’d listen now because another thing Ham had been right about is that he had been nothing but kind to her since their wedding. He had never yelled at her or even argued with her. The only time there had been problems was when she’d yelled at him or threw something at him, and twice now she had hit him.
Once Flora realized that she was part of the problem she felt awful. If Ham turned to another woman because of her behavior it would be no one’s fault but her own. Afterall, he had said the sex with Wynda was just sex and nothing more. He said it was different, and she wondered again how it was different.
“Times up,” Ham said to her. “Come out now and sit with me.” Ham held his hand out to her, she walked over to take it, and he pulled her naked body down on his lap. “Tell me what you were thinking standing there.”
“I was thinking that you’re right. You’ve been nothing but kind to me since we married. If you go to another woman it’s no one’s fault but my own.”
“Stop that,” he said, giving her a swat on her hip. “I’m not going to find another woman. We just need to come to some agreements in our marriage.”
“What kind of agreements?” she asked.
“First, no more tantrums. If something is bothering you, we talk it out,” he said.
“That’s fair,” she said to him.
“Second, there will be no other woman for me,” he told her. “I need you to believe that. Just because your Da did it doesn’t mean I will.”
“Alright,” she said.
“Third, you have to kiss me every morning before getting out of bed and every night before you fall asleep,” he said.
Fiona couldn’t help it, she giggled. “Deal,” she said.
“Good now that we have that settled we can put the matter behind us,” he said.
“You know what else I was thinking?” she said.
“Not a clue,” he answered.
“I was thinking about how you said it’s different with a tavern girl like Wynda,” she said. “I still want you to show me.”
“I don’t think I can, Flora,” he said. “You don’t understand; there are things you do to a tavern girl that you can’t do to your wife.”
“Like what,” she asked.
Ham sighed, finally frustrated he said, “like shoving your cock in their mouth and having them suck it till you cum down their throat. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Woman can do that?” she asked.
Ham grinned, “they can.”
“I want to try,” she said. “Just let me try.”
“Aye, we’ll try,” he said standing up. “Undress me and then kneel in front of me. But if you don’t like what we’re doing then just say stop.”
Flora did as he asked and after taking his clothes off, she found herself kneeling in front of him, his already half hard cock was hanging right in front of her eyes. It was the first time she’d ever seen it this close.
“Take my cock in your hand,” he said to her. “You can lick it, suck it, or stroke it. Just no biting.”
Flora took him in her hand, surprised to find the skin there so soft. She stroked her hand up and down him twice; she smiled when she felt him harden even more. She gripped it a little more firmly and leaned forward, licking all around the tip and feeling Ham jerk a bit. She wondered if that meant he liked it, so she did it again, getting the same reaction.
“That feels so good,” Ham said, gripping a handful of her hair in one hand. “Keep going.”
Flora grinned, she was enjoying this way more than she
knew she should. She opened her mouth further, pulling his cock in a small ways and letting it slide back out. Ham moaned softly so she did it twice more. He gripped her hair even tighter, pulling her head forward a little more each time until she was sucking him to the back of her throat.
“Relax your throat,” he said to her, he waited a second before pulling her mouth onto him more firmly, and letting just the tip of his cock slide into her throat. She gagged slightly as he pulled back. “Again,” he said, doing it again and then again.
Flora did better the second and third time, she was able to pull him in further and although she still gagged slightly the sensation left as soon as he pulled back.
“I’m going to cum in your mouth,” Ham said to her. “Try to swallow it all.” He then gripped her hair in both hands and began pumping himself into her mouth. Every third or fourth stroke he’d push even further, making his cock slide into her throat and holding it there for a second before pulling back out. He couldn’t believe that Flora wasn’t asking him to stop. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying herself. Just the thought turned him on so much that on the next thrust he began shooting his load, letting her suck him until it had stopped.
“How’d I do?” she asked, grinning up at him.
“I’ll show you,” Ham said, grinning back, he picked her up off the floor and threw her playfully onto the bed. “Get on your hands and knees.”
Flora did as he asked, wondering what he was going to do next. Ham climbed on the bed behind her and put his hand between her legs. “You did enjoy that,” he said to her, “your cunny is soaked.”
“Aye, I did,” Flora admitted.
“Then you deserve a reward,” Ham said, pushing two fingers up inside of her and pumping them in and out quickly. He couldn’t believe it when his cock went hard instantly.
“Oh God,” she said, pushing back against his fingers.
The Man of Her Dreams Page 8