Second Chances (71 page)

“Hey!” he laughed and said as she finished the first knot, then went on to knot it again, this time out of reach of any questing fingers. The rope was tied to the headboard down low, far out of his reach.

“Hey yourself,” she said smiling wolfishly as he struggled. He bucked, but she held on with her strong thighs. When she was finished she leaned back and slapped him and whooped.

“Hey!” His protest was more indignant this time. She slapped his other flank then leaned back and squeezed his buns with her claws. He stopped struggling for the moment.

She blew a red lock out of her eyes and then smiled. “Gotcha now lover boy,” she said, then she leaned forward and ran her claws up and down his back. “All mine,” she said softly, leaning down to nibble down his back.

He realized he'd been well and truly tricked by the playful Sandra. She'd laid her trap well and sprung it with expert timing. She swung off him for a moment.

He rolled onto his back to face her. “You are so going to pay for this. Untie me!” he demanded.

“Not a chance,” she said, catching his left leg and dragging it to the bed post. He tried to kick and struggle but she held firm. She wrapped a velcro strap around it, then around the post. She repeated the process with the other leg.

“Just hang in there, almost finished,” she said as she smoothed the velcro fastening. She ran her hands up his leg, then playfully toyed with his belt buckle and bulge. “Your lips are saying no, but your body is telling me a different story,” she said continuing to rub until he groaned. “Now, I'm going to make you pay for your pleasures,” she teased.

“Hey, wait a minute,” he said, struggling. He saw her intent look. “Now honey, wait, you can't um, six weeks?” he said weakly.

“I know that,” she said, crawling on the bed, straddling him once more. She kissed him on the tip of his nose, then his lips for a moment. “But you are in my web mister fly, and I'm going to make you beg for mercy,” she said, then she kissed him again as he opened his mouth to protest. “I'm going to make you pay for knocking me up and making me all morning sick and fat, and swollen feet. All of it,” she growled.

“Hey wait, you had something...” she cut him off with a hand over his mouth.

“I think since I'm on top I make the rules,” she said triumphantly. “Isn't that how it goes? The winner writes the history books?”

“Help, Help?” he said, making her laugh as she wrapped her arms and legs around him and started nibbling on his neck.

“No one's coming,” she purred in his ear as he squirmed.

------*------

The next morning Mitch was walking decidedly bow legged and glaring at his wife. She grinned devilishly at him. “Now remember, you promised you can't retaliate,” she warned, a bit concerned about if he'd keep his promise. She waggled a finger at him as she smiled.

“You do realize dear; a promise made under duress is inadmissible,” he said. He sounded rather hoarse. For good reason, she thought. That got her to smile a bit more. Pretty soon her dimples were going to hurt as much as his at this rate, she thought.

“I don't remember that,” she said in a drawl, smiling sweetly at him. “I don't remember any duress,” she said, eyes twinkling.

“Well, I certainly do,” he growled, twisting and stretching. “Something about rope and a long Struthomimus feather? Claws? And a wicked woman with an evil, evil nature,” he growled, glowering at her.

“Oh, pooor widdle baby,” she said wickedly to him. It wasn't fair that she was wearing one of his shirts and looking rather sexy in it. She also had on a pair of short shorts to expose her nice long legs. Legs he couldn't touch. He knew she was tempting him to disobey, the vixen. He wasn't sure how long he would be able to hold out. Not much longer if she kept up the teasing.

“Oh, you are so going to get it,” he vowed. She held up a restraining hand, grinning triumphantly at him. “Uh, remember your promise. You can't touch me,” she said sweetly, shaking her hair out.

“Right,
I
can't,” he said as they heard Anne bring the troop of kids in. He turned, getting an idea as the first came in. The kids would definitely help him even the odds and wipe that self-satisfying smug expression off her face. “Hey kids, want to do me a favor?”

“Mitch...” Sandra said, not quite catching on but knowing he was up to something just from his expression and tone. Something she wasn't going to like she judged.

“What's wrong with your voice?” Tera asked.

“He needs a drink. Or he's getting a cold,” Sandra said, shaking her head at him.

“Remember yesterday when I talked about a pack of predators taking down a big dino?” Mitch asked, eyes flickering with anticipation of mischief to come. There was more than one way to extract revenge even if it was by proxy.

“Yeah?” Sean asked, wrinkling his nose. He was one of the vet students, so he'd seen some of the stuff Mitch had mentioned.

“So?” Tera and Zara asked together. They looked at each other and then back to Mitch. The two were friends, Tera was the mischief maker, but Zara was the quiet one. Anne had reported Zara wasn't quite the innocent follower that others believed; the little witch was quite sneaky when she wanted to be. There was something to be said about the quiet ones being more apt at getting into trouble. At least with the loud ones you knew where they were at all times.

“Well...”

Sandra felt the first trickle of alarm, like ice running up and down her spine. “Mitch, don't you dare...” her voice dropped in a warning growl.

Mitch smiled, ignoring her. “Why don't we play a game. Remember when Doc here picked on you?”

“Mitch Chambers don't you dare!” Sandra stormed, voice rising in panic as she got behind him. He put his arms down to protect his sore flanks from any possible attack. “And remember all the times she's poked and prodded you?”

“Yeah,” Sean said, nodding.

“Mitch!” Sandra squealed, nails digging into his shirt. “NO!” She felt that sinking sensation and tried to cover his mouth but he twisted away.

“Well, why don't we play a little game,” he said, grinning ferally. “You are the pack of predators, and she's the long necked sauropod.”

“Are you calling me fat??!” Sandra demanded behind him, poking him hard. He ignored the distraction for what it was.

“And you can...”

“Don't you say it!” she squealed, struggling to cover his mouth with her hand.

“Catch her and
tickle
her all you want.”

“Mitch!” She saw Cassie come in holding Tucker. She went to him to divert the kids and Mitch but Mitch intercepted Cassie.

“What's in it for us?” Wayne demanded. That got Sandra to breathe again, thinking she was off the hook.

“If revenge isn't good enough, you can each take a ride in a truck.”

“So, big whoop?” Zara sniffed.

“And you get to drive,” Mitch amplified, keeping Tucker away from his mother so she couldn't use him as an excuse to fend the brat pack off.

“For real?” Hyu asked.

“Honest injun,” Mitch said, bouncing his son gently. He grinned as his wife backed away.

Terror Tera was giving her the evil eye. “Don't you dare,” Sandra said, voice quavering. Her hands came up in front of her defensively. She stumbled over a small end table but recovered and kept going to the door. “No,” she said, shaking her head.

“She's super-duper ticklish,” Mitch said conspiratorially to the kids. “I mean super ticklish. Especially her feet. But she's fast,” he warned. “And she'll tickle back.”

“Mitch, I swear...”

“Throw in some ice cream and you're on,” Ruby Estaban said, ever the extortionist.

“Deal!” Mitch said, eyes lighting up. Ruby grinned and hooked her fingers and made clawing motions.

“I am so going to get you for this,” Sandra growled taking off at a run. “Miiiitch!” she squealed as the kids took off like baying hounds.

Anne covered her mouth, laughing hysterically. “That's one way to get the kids to get some energy out. And some exercise,” she said. “Sandra was complaining about not getting her morning jog in, I suppose that's covered too. You do realize you're a dead man though right?” She asked.

He looked up with a smile to her then down to his infant son. He kept bouncing him gently.

Cassie chuckled. She jumped to the side as her mother came running through the room. “I'm so going to get you for this!” Sandra said, panting as she kept going.

“You're out of shape dear. Keep running,” he said sweetly as the giggling pack closed on her, stomping through the room and mock growling.

“Revenge is a dish best served with ice cream I suppose,” Mitch said thoughtfully. “A lot of ice cream,” he said. “I guess you could say they'll get their just deserts.” Anne snorted.

“Well, before mother beats you senseless, I suppose I should get some work out of you,” Cassie said.

“Well, she has to find me to beat me up,” Mitch said, fingertip touching his son's nose. “And she'll need the energy. And just to be on the safe side...I think I'm going to make myself scarce for a while,” he said.

“She's got a looong memory. You know that right? Part of being Irish, holding a grudge.
Believe
me, she's good at it,” Cassie said, rolling her eyes. “Very good. She got me back for embarrassing her in a store. It took weeks. Now I know, it's like the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. Best to get it over with, just to get rid of the anxiety. She'll find a way. Trust me.”

“Oh I know,” Mitch said. “You've got to pay for your pleasures,” he said, hearing the general mayhem as the pursuit continued. There were some muffled growls and shrieks of laughter. Also a bit of begging going on. From the sound of it, the kids had her cornered. They had split up to get around the tables in the dining room.

“Let me put this little guy down in the daycare and then we can talk,” he said, headed out.

------*------

“Have fun?” Janet asked a disheveled and dimpling Sandra as the red haired woman came into the room a good half hour after her run. She ignored the jab and went straight to her husband. She smacked him with the back of her hand, then punched him hard in the right arm.

“Owe!” He guffawed, then laughed again as she pummeled his shoulder until he captured her wrists and pinned them against her ample chest. “Well, you asked for it!” He laughed.

“I am so getting you back for that,” she growled, pouting.

“Now wait a minute! You started it!” he said, as she flounced into his lap.

“Did not!”

“Did too!”

“Children,” Janet sighed, shaking her head as she smiled and cradled her little one. “I can call the kids back in and sic them on
both
of you,” she said.

“Not fair. She really did start it. I'm still sore,” Mitch grumbled. He coughed, voice still sore.

“Quit whining,” Sandra snickered, wiggling in his lap. He groaned. She looked back and grinned.

“What did she do?” Janet asked innocently.

Sandra looked at Mitch as he opened his mouth. “Well, if you must...” he was cut off as she put her hand over his mouth.

“Not a peep,” she growled, shaking her right index finger under his nose. “Or the next time you really will be sorry,” she said. She flicked her eyebrows up at him to let him know she meant it then slowly let her hand drop.

“...know she...” Mitch was interrupted by Sandra as she kissed him. She kept kissing him until he stopped trying to talk and kissed her back. Then she let him up for air slowly. “Um, what was I saying?” he asked, breathing hard. Her eyes twinkled at him.

She grinned at Janet, Cassie, and Anne. “Works every time,” she said with a chuckle and a wink.

“Right,” Janet said, smiling back. “Well, while you were getting some exercise and quality time with the kids...” she paused as Sandra turned to swat Mitch again. “We were talking about priorities. The Ling and Summersets are working on the first production of compact track loaders. I think you said we have enough to make, what, four?” Janet asked, looking at Mitch.

Mitch nodded. “Four plus parts. We've already smelted the ore, we've rolled out the steel and they are using the CNC machine and bending tools for some of the basic parts now.”

“Cool,” Anne said. “Compact track loader?”

“A small construction vehicle,” Mitch explained. “Also known as a Bobcat.”

“Oh I know what it is, I just was wondering why,” Anne said.

Mitch grunted. “Because everyone wants one. Each of the mines need them to mine with. Each of the communities need them too. It's one of those vehicles that has a thousand and one uses,” he explained. “Everything from a loader to a dozer to a jack hammer to a back hoe...” he waved a hand. “The list goes on and on. It's all about what attachments you've got.”

“I see,” Anne said. “Four?”

“One for each of the nearby communities.”

“But not one for us?”

“I wanted one for us and another for Sam, but we had a choice of parts in case one of them break down or another vehicle. I'd rather have the parts on hand,” Mitch said. She nodded.