The Marriage Pact (22 page)

He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “What’d you have for lunch today?”

The question caught me off guard, more so when I realized he wasn’t going to like my answer. “What?”

He pulled back and arched a brow at me. Shit, he was suspicious. “Should I rephrase?
Did
you eat today?”

I winced. It was a conversation we’d had recently where he’d expressed his concerns over me skipping meals, particularly with the amount of caffeine I consumed. I’d promised I’d carry a pack of crackers in my purse, which I had. It didn’t really matter that the same pack had been at the bottom of my bag since Tuesday, did it?

“All right,” he sighed, arms crossed across his chest. “How many cups?”

I’d also promised to try to keep the caffeine intake down, but so far it wasn’t working out great. “Seven. But—”

“No buts.” He sat up and pulled me along with him. “You know how I feel about this. And you of all people should know how dangerous it is!”

“It
can
be dangerous, but—”

“I thought I just said no buts.”

“It’s not going to kill me!”

He glowered at me. “No, but my belt might make a go of it if you don’t learn to listen to me. This is the same conversation we had before, the one where you promised you’d take better care of yourself. I can see that you need another reminder of how I feel about this.”

“No, sir.” I tried to sound repentant, but I ruined it by rolling my eyes.

“That’s it. Over my knee.”

“No! Brody, this is ridiculous! I’m a grown woman, and—”

“Then act like it and show me you know how to take your punishment.”

“But I didn’t do anything
wrong
!” I protested. “You eat an entire bag of Doritos in one sitting, which is just as unhealthy as a cup of coffee. You don’t see me on your case about it, now do you?”

He arched an eyebrow. “While I’m sure you could find plenty of medical data to support that hypothesis, it’s beside the point. You know how I feel about you replacing meals with caffeine. I thought one conversation would be enough, but no, apparently you intend to see just how serious I really am.”

“That’s not—it was
one
time!” I could feel my irritation mounting. He was being so stubborn over something so trivial.

“It doesn’t matter how many times you say it, I’m not going to change my mind. I take your health very seriously, Shana,
almost
as much as disobedience.”

I rolled my eyes again. I knew it wasn’t doing a thing to help my case, but at this point, what difference did it make?

“Not to mention breaking a promise. So, do we need to go through this again? Do you still think you didn’t do anything wrong, or are you willing to take your spanking like a good little girl?”

I bristled at his words—I hated when he called me that when I was already mad and he knew it, too. “Fine, whatever. You’re going to have your way no matter what I say, so—”

Brody put a finger to my lips, cutting my snarky comment short. “Don’t finish that sentence. You’re just digging yourself in deeper. You know it’s not true, either. I always get your input. Hell, I got it the last time this issue came up, when you told me I was right, that you would stop. More than once, I’ve backed off on a punishment spanking after listening to you, so please don’t cheapen it.”

I flushed with shame and dropped my eyes. I knew he was right. Even so, I didn’t feel like being spanked for something I was convinced he was being ridiculous about. On the other hand, I
had
broken a promise. Ugh. When he moved his finger, I nodded in resignation. “All right.”

I had barely laid myself over his lap when the spanking began. I could see right from the first swat that while I might have found it ridiculous, he took it very seriously and planned on making sure I did, too. I tried to count the spanks, but they were coming too fast and the burning sensation they put into my tender orbs with every punishing smack didn’t help.

Even though Brody started by spanking the same spot again and again before switching to the other side, I’d long since learned that the pain spread to include even untouched flesh.

“It’s stupid not to take better care of yourself,” he scolded as he spanked. “Caffeine is as much an addiction as cigarettes or alcohol and I’m sure
some
doctors would say it can be just as dangerous. You know these things, Shana, that’s what makes it worse.”

I winced, whimpering as his hand struck hard. “I’m s-so-rry,” I groaned, bucking over his lap with each searing imprint of his hand.

“Not nearly enough.”

When he increased the tempo, I began writhing over his lap like a wild woman. The only thing I could feel was the burning, aching flesh and all I could think about was escape. I threw a hand behind me, trying not to protect my bottom but to strike at anything I could reach. If I’d been thinking clearly, maybe I would have realized that it wasn’t a smart thing to do, but my throbbing ass pretty much guaranteed I couldn’t think clearly. Before I could make contact, I found my wrist captured and pinned tightly to my back.

“Stop fighting me and take your punishment like a good little girl,” he ordered calmly without breaking his rhythm.

It was moments like this that I regretted ever agreeing to a—what did he call it? Being taken in hand? Whatever you called it, it still hurt like hell and made it nearly impossible to lie still, even though I knew
not
holding still was an even worse idea for my poor, defenseless ass. It really was a lose-lose.

Even as I mused over it in between spanks, before the smack of his hand became a pain pressing deep into my bare flesh, I knew that I wouldn’t change a thing. Brody loved me. I could see it in everything he said and did—even this. Maybe especially this, because he was determined to help me be the best person I possibly could be. Color me strange, but I found it a bit romantic.

And he’d shown me a million times over that spankings could be very, very nice, the kind that created a fire that burned slow but just as deep. He’d brought me to the pinnacle of pleasure with his hand smacking my ass just right, but this wasn’t one of those times. Oh, no, he meant for every single smack to keep the burning in my bottom going until I couldn’t take it anymore.

I knew that at this rate I was going to be standing for the rest of the day. When the first tears hit my cheeks, they took me by surprise. It wasn’t long after that I was sobbing as I lay over his lap; still, even as I lay limply, crying, his hand continued to punish my bottom.

“Almost there, Shan.”

The sweet concern in his voice made the next dozen smacks bearable. I wailed and bucked with each one, but when they were over it was almost worth it to be taken into his arms.

“Don’t skip lunch again. Are we clear?”

“Y-yes, sir. We’re cl-clear.”

“That’s my girl.”

I snuggled close, burying my face in his chest, my heart singing even as my bottom tingled.

* * *

When I startled awake in a pitch-dark room, it took me a few moments to remember what had woken me. Did someone page me? No, my pager was sitting silently on the nightstand. Then what? A bad dream? No, that didn’t seem right either.

“You up?”

I jumped again at the sound of Brody’s husky voice. I could dimly make him out in the darkness. It looked like he was wearing jeans. “What are you doing?”

“Time to get up, sleepyhead. Throw some clothes on.”

“What?” I yawned, looking at the black night sky outside my window. “What time is it?”

“One minute after midnight,” he said, grinning with a significance that was completely lost on me.

Before I could ask what was wrong with him, he tossed me a T-shirt and a pair of panties. “What, no pants?”

“You won’t need them,” he said with a wink.

As annoyed as I was to have my sleep interrupted—I was an eight-hours kind of girl—I was equally intrigued. I slipped the silky nightie I’d been wearing over my head and put the t-shirt in its place. I’d barely had time to change out of the thong Brody had me wear to bed and slip on a pair of sandals before Brody pulled me out the door.

I walked as quickly as I could to his car, yanking on the hem of my t-shirt, as though that would magically make it cover my ass.

“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you,” he grinned. “Only crazy people are up this early anyway.”

“You don’t say,” I drawled.

“As it happens, I have something to show you.”

I fought off another yawn, even more interested. I could say one thing for life with Brody—it was never what you expected, but tended to be ten times better for it.

“Where are we?” I asked as we pulled in front of a modest one-story home.

“This is the house my company is working on. I have got a set of keys. Come on.”

“What?” I sat there mystified until Brody walked around and opened my door.

“I’ve been wanting to show it to you for a while now, but with your schedule and all… the owners will be moving in next week, so if we’re going to have a chance, it has to be tonight.”

“A chance for what?”

“You’ll see.” With that promise made, he took my hand and led me up the cobblestone pathway to the door. In no time he had us ushered into the foyer and closed the door behind us.

I turned my head from side to side, taking in the beautiful detail. There were vaulted ceilings and a fireplace. “Very impressive.”

“Yeah?”

It was easy to see from the way he rocked back and forth on his feet that my opinion meant a lot to him. “Beautiful. You’ll have to build me a house someday.”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s very expensive and I don’t know if you can afford me.”

I giggled and allowed myself to be pulled farther into the house. Brody stopped when we reached the living room.

“I want you lying flat on your back.”

I did a double-take, blinking rapidly. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Shana Rae. On the floor, now.”

I scrutinized him and had to stifle a giggle. Now I understood the fidgeting—he was horny as hell. Disregarding his order, I reached out and put my hand on his crotch, finding exactly what I was looking for. I stroked the long length of his cock through his jeans, making him groan.

“I thought I told you—”

“I’m going, I’m going,” I grumbled. When I’d turned to comply, two stinging spanks landed in quick succession on the seat of my panties. “Hey!”

“Attitude, Shan.”

I pressed my lips together to smother another giggle and hurried to comply.

“That’s it. Just like that, flat on your back.” He strode over to where I laid, my back pressing into the cool wood of the floor. “Perfect.”

A shiver slid over my skin, making goose pimples rise over my arms and legs. I could feel my thighs quivering in anticipation.

Brody kneeled beside me and began running his fingers through my long, black hair. “I’ve been working on this house for the last seven months. And do you know what I thought of every day as I laid this floor?”

My heart was beating a steady tempo against my ribs. Mutely, I shook my head.

“The only thing I’ve been able to think about was laying you down on this floor and fucking you until you need my help to stand.”

“Oh, you don’t want to do that,” I breathed, my voice sounding strangled to my own ears. My body was positively radiating with heat all the way to the tips of my curling toes. “Then you’ll have to carry me to the car.”

Brody’s eyes crinkled as he grinned. “Are you talking back to me, my Shana?”

“No, sir.” I didn’t have to think about it—the words practically flew to the tip of my tongue these days and rolled off with ease.

“Good girl.” With that, he bent his head and began nibbling on my neck. He wasted no time in working his way down and tugging my shirt down along with it. When he turned that devious, wonderful mouth to my full breasts, he suckled and bit until I was moaning in simultaneous agony and delight.

The moisture collecting in my panties told me I was far more delighted. “You’re going to give me a hickey,” I complained good-naturedly.

“Then I guess you’ll have to reserve them for my viewing only.”

I could feel my body flushing, the heat traveling up my thighs and pooling at my already dripping pussy. When he bent his head to blow on my pussy lips, I squirmed.

He grinned wickedly. “I was going to bring you here earlier. Just think, we would have had all night for to me do all kinds of things to your hot little body.”

“Why didn’t you?” I gasped, groaning as he dipped a finger into my cunt.

“Because
some
one was a bad little girl. You know the rules.”

I closed my eyes, nodding. Ever since we’d gotten together, Brody had made it clear that orgasms were for good girls only. Now it made perfect sense, because early or not, it was a brand new day when he woke me up. When he took out his long, hard cock and plunged it into my slick depths, I was sure glad he had.

* * *

“You look stunning,” Brody complimented as I came into the living room.

“Your command was to dress nice, I believe,” I simpered.

“I’m glad you chose to behave yourself. Turn around, let me have a look at you.”

I obediently twirled, letting him take in the slinky black dress I was wearing. I had a lavender shawl draped over my shoulders and was wearing matching lavender pumps.

“Beautiful, as always.”

“You’re a little biased,” I remarked, blushing nonetheless as he pressed a kiss to my temple.

“Let’s get going, hmm? We have a reservation for seven o’clock.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a secret, just like it was when you asked me an hour ago,” he replied drily. “Do you need a little reminder session before we go out, or will you stop asking?”

I was tempted to argue with him just to have him throw me over his lap and deliver stinging discipline with his paddle-like hand. In the end, my stomach rumbled, settling the question. That was all right, I had all night to be naughty.

It didn’t take us long to get to the restaurant and when we did, my mouth dropped open. I’d heard of Seymour’s before, but I’d never been. It was a quaint little restaurant, with a stunning view, exquisite cuisine and an eight-week waiting list. Or so I’d heard.