Protect and Correct (15 page)

“I love you, Brooke. I don’t care what color your bottom is by the time I am done here, but you will know I love you. Being dependent on me does not mean you lose your independence or ability to think for yourself. It just means that you accept that I play an important purpose and role in your life.”

He pulled back his arm and in one smooth swoop flattened the length of the paddle against her flesh. Brooke released a howl as the shocking pain vibrated through her body. This was the place he honed in on, cracking the paddle time and again, assuring that he covering every bit of her helpless bottom with fiery red patches. With eased precision, he lit into her, spanking with no less conviction than he would have if he had caught her speeding down a dark road in the middle of a rainy night. Brooke screamed out her pain, begging forgiveness and pleading for mercy as the paddle fell in crisp, painful snaps along the crest of her backside. By the count of ten, Brooke was nearly mindless with pain. By twenty, she abandoned what little was left of self-control as she sobbed pitifully into her left shoulder. By thirty, her tears had resolved to a surrendered peace that was only broken by the muffled weeping and the sound of the paddle flailing against bare flesh.

Collin paused, disbelieving it had taken so much before she gave up her resistance. Her blotchy, bruised bottom shook occasionally, no longer feeling the punishing blows that had left it a virtual painter’s palette of colors. He placed the paddle next to her face, kissed her wet cheek, helped her blow her nose, and then left her alone to absorb what had occurred.

Brooke continued to weep quietly, trying to catch her breath after the knowledge that her terrible ordeal was finally over. She had seen the expression on Collin’s face as he disciplined her. There was no joy, only sorrow, and he was determined to see it through as far as he needed to go. She faulted herself for the severity, for it was her own damned stubbornness and independent need to be in control that prevented her from just giving in. She had resisted him intentionally, part of her wanting to see how far he would take her to win her submission.

The agonizing burn to her roasted backside told her he would take it to the limits and beyond.

“Collin!” Brooke cried out. “Please come back. I need you.”

“I’m right here, baby,” he said, releasing her from the restraints and lowering her legs gently to the bed. “I’m right here.”

“I’m so sorry! I love you. I promise not to hurt you again.” Brooke wept openly in his arms.

“No more putting yourself in danger?”

“No, I swear. Hold me tighter.”

Collin obliged, rocking her gently as his hand cradled her blazing hot buttocks. “Do you want me to sing to you?” he asked softly.

Brooke blinked at him and forced a smile. “Aren’t I already in enough pain?”

Chapter Ten

“Can I come in and see her?” Francine asked as she stood in the doorway the following afternoon. “I brought blackberry pie as a peace offering.”

“Come on in. You didn’t have to do this,” Collin said, taking the pie and sniffing it.

“I feel partially to blame for not keeping a closer eye on her when she started to go wild. I’m really sorry, Collin.”

“You did nothing. She is an adult and made her own choices. She’s upstairs in the bedroom. I’ll bring you gals a slice and some tea.”

“Thanks,” Francine said gratefully. She walked upstairs and into the large loft. Brooke was on her stomach on the bed, staring out the window between writing lines. “Hey, sweetie. How are you doing?”

“Not liking life much right now. Would you believe he is making me write lines, for heaven’s sake?”

“I hate that. Oh my… ‘
I will never doubt Collin’s love for me again’?
I guess he wants to make sure you don’t forget this little, uh, incident.”

“Trust me, I won’t. What are you doing here?”

“I brought a pie and wanted to say I was sorry that I wasn’t more responsible for you. I didn’t realize how tightly you were wound, otherwise I would have watched you closer.”

“It isn’t your fault. I’m not used to people watching out for me. I guess that is changing, huh?”

“Yeah, listen, I’m not supposed to say anything, but you told me your secret. Don’t worry,” Francine quickly reassured, “it is safe with us. We even started some gossip about your ex possibly looking for you, so the town will steer the bastard off you.”

“Oh my God, Collin is going to kill me if he finds out!”

“He knows, honey. We told him. Rolland had worked on his case before we moved here and knew exactly who he is… was. You are safe here. I promise.”

“Oh, Francine, I am so sorry!” Brooke flung her arms around the woman. “I misjudged you from the beginning. Collin was right. I am such a snob.”

“Calm down,” Francine laughed. “It’s okay. We all do and say things that we shouldn’t. That is part of evolving as human beings. I do have a serious question for you, though. How is your poor bottom today?”

“He literally blistered me,” Brooke said sadly. “I can’t sit without wanting to cry. I know I deserved it, especially now that he knows I blew our cover. I was so stupid.”

“How do you feel about him?”

“Part of me is so mad that he was so strict. But the other part of me… I’m glad he didn’t hold back. I think he really does love me.”

“He certainly does. You just need to stop being afraid of it. Oh! What is this?” Francine clapped her hands as Collin appeared bearing a tray of warm blackberry pie covered with a scoop of vanilla-lavender ice cream and two cups of steaming, hot tea.

“Just some after-care pie for my girl, compliments of Ms. Francine. What are you two talking about?”

“He’s a little nosey,” Brooke explained with a smile, digging into the pie with gusto.

“I’m a lot nosey. I plan to keep a close eye on your every activity, my love. The only reason I allowed Francine in to visit was because she brought pie. I’m partial to pie,” Collin smiled. “Especially chocolate cream.”

“It is nice to know what can be used to bribe you, Collin,” Francine laughed. “I guess Brooke won’t be allowed to attend anymore miniature club meetings for a while, hmm?”

“She may attend those not being hosted by the bar, and no more miniature liquor bottles. Except for an occasional glass of wine, alcohol is now off-limits to her.”

“Gotcha. I’m gonna go now. Thanks for the tea, Collin. Please call if you need anything. Should I come and pick Brooke up for the meeting on Wednesday?” Francine asked Collin.

“I will bring her and will pick her up at your place after, if that is alright.”

“It’s perfect. Bye, honey,” Francine kissed Brooke’s cheek. She whispered, “Take some ibuprofen. It helps a lot.”

“I heard that. Out of here,” Collin scolded jovially.

After Francine left, he returned to Brooke and sat next to her on the bed. He gently rubbed her back. “She’s a nice lady. There is a lot more to her than she lets on.”

“I know. It’s nice to have a friend. Thanks for letting me go to that meeting. Not because it’s something I’m interested in, but because it shows that you want to trust me.”

“I want you to have a home here, Brooke. A place to belong. There are lots of secrets in little towns like this, which make them good places to hide in. No one pushes into your business uninvited.”

“Collin, I think I did something super dumb,” Brooke said quietly. “I think I might have told her about my… our… secret.”

“I already know what you did, which was one reason I was so angry with you. Fortunately, you chose to tell the two people in this town who could also guard you. Rolland used to be part of the Bureau.”

“I thought that was something I dreamed—that and him trying to force water down my throat. He called you Dr. Collins, didn’t he?”

“I’m surprised you remember anything, kiddo. Yes, he knew me and my case. You spouting off to them was a stroke of pure luck, baby. Next time, you won’t be as fortunate. Don’t let it happen again.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“I have an idea,” Collin said, running his finger along her arm. “Let me check out your bruises. I’m in the mood to play doctor.”

“I’m not. Please don’t tell me that this one of those submission things that means I have to give in even if I’m not in the mood?” Brooke wrinkled her forehead pathetically.

“Yep.”

“Damn. Alright, do what you want.”

Collin laughed, kissing her mouth. “That is the least enthusiastic response I have ever heard when it came to my lovemaking. I wonder if I can change your tune.”

“As long as you don’t spank me again, you can try.”

“Try? I think I will very well succeed.”

“Aw, Collin… Fine. Just do what you have to.” Brooke released a dramatic sigh.

Collin grinned, rolling her gently to her back and lifting her dress up over her hips. She was not wearing panties due to the excruciating soreness the material caused her tenderized skin. He began to kiss Brooke’s abdomen, nibbling at her belly button and nipping the soft swell of her tummy. He gently pried her thighs apart to spread her pink, moist kitty to his view.

“What a beautiful little orchid you have here. So soft…” Collin settled in comfortably to play with her, manipulating her swollen clit with his fingers and his mouth, and building the heat within her body. She felt her juices run in rivulets between her cheeks as he slowly worked his fingers in and out of her, twisting them and turning them, stretching her wide so he could study her delights. He then began to milk his fingers fiercely within her, deep to the very back of her canal, only to remove them before thrusting them inside again.

Animalistic groans were his reward, her wordless expression that she loved everything he was doing to her. Her body squirmed and blushed as he inevitably drove her past her ability to resist him. He brought her to the brink and paused, making her beg for more.

“Get on your knees, Brooke. I am taking you from behind,” he growled, pushing her over.

Brooke yelped in pain as his fingers dug into the purple flesh of her bruised back end, right before he unzipped his pants and nestled his cock snugly between her moist lips. He thrust forward, burying himself in her, filling her fully with his pulsing shaft. They rutted like carefree animals, the sounds of their lovemaking primal and demanding. Collin gripped her hips, yanking Brooke against him, and he spewed his seed with unbridled lust as Brooke lifted her head, feeling his hot juices fill her and joined him, bucking her ass against his pulsating cock. Her climax was announced with a loud exclamation of “Fuck!” before she collapsed beneath him, gasping for air.

“I need to remember to breathe,” she panted, turning to face him. “Remind me how nice it is to play doctor with you next time, okay?”

“Uh-huh,” Collin grunted, pulling her against him protectively. “Remind me to blister your backside more often. It’s a real turn on for me.”

“Um, no.”

“Um, yes,” he grinned.

* * *

Brooke shuffled around the kitchen, preparing for their company. Collin had invited Rolland and Francine over for dinner and informed Brooke that she would be joining them at the table. In her seat. He wagged a wooden spoon as she protested, not needing to say another word.

She lifted the lid of the crockpot chicken he was preparing, sniffing deeply. The man could cook, that was for certain. The smell of cornbread stuffing, water chestnuts, onions, and celery filled the air, coupled with the tangy scent of cranberries. She drooled.

“Get your little nose out of there, kiddo. It’s not done yet. Did you get the brownies made?”

“They are in the oven. No, I am not sitting down next to you right now.”

“You still owe me another 300 lines, pipsqueak. Sit your bottom down and write.”

“Aw, Collin…”

“You may now lower your drawers and sit on your bare-bottom and write.”

“That’s not fair!”

Collin shrugged. “Don’t do the crime if you can’t pay the time.”

“I ha—” she paused mid-sentence. “I don’t like you very much right now.”

“I’ll get over it. Write.”

Brooke was still sitting at the table, her bare-bottom covered by her skirt, when Rolland and Francine arrived. Collin ordered her to stay put and went to greet his guests at the door.

“Look at that scowl!” Rolland laughed as he leaned over to plant a kiss to Brooke’s forehead. “How many?”

“A billion,” Brooke pouted, shaking her hand.

“Only five hundred. It’s nothing compared to the condition of her bottom. Thanks for the paddle. It certainly served its purpose. I’d like to get one of my own—”

“You can keep that one!” Francine said quickly. “Rolland doesn’t need it.”

“Gee, thanks,” Brooke grumbled, looking up from the notebook. She hunkered down again as Collin pointed to it, his silent gesture for her to continue.

“You can have that one,” Rolland chuckled. “I am working on another that is thicker and broader, anyway.”

“You made it?”

“One of my many talents. Show us around the place.”

“Gladly. Brooke? Stay right where you are and don’t you budge until I tell you too.”

“Yes,
daddy
,” came the sarcastic response.

“I love it when Francine calls me daddy,” Rolland laughed. “Maybe you guys should experiment with some age play.”

“I don’t think so,” Brooke grumbled, shaking her head again.

Several minutes later, she heard a noise outside on the porch and the rattling of the screen door. She peered around the corner to make certain Collin was unable to see and then went to investigate. There was no one there. Her eyes shifted to the ground where a plain, manila envelope was placed. With a frown, she picked it up and opened it.

“Brooke? Honey, what’s wrong? Brooke!” Collin shouted, trying to get her attention as a bloodcurdling scream had the three running in her direction. Her hands shook as she handed him the envelope.

Contained inside were three pictures… before, during, and after.

The killer had found her.

* * *

Collin immediately contacted headquarters and reported the breach in security while Rolland and Francine worked to calm the terrified woman down. Rolland began to interrogate, trying to discover how the psychopath might have found her. She denied any knowledge, clinging to Francine in fear.