Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Mikayla
I rubbed my eyes as Sam checked my bandages for at least the third time since I’d knocked on his door.
A glance at his watch confirmed it was two in the afternoon.
That nap had been exactly what my body needed even if it was hard to accept.
“Will I ever play the piano again?” I gestured dramatically toward my hand.
“You don’t play the piano now.”
“Well, that puts a damper on things.” I swung my legs off the couch and stretched out my arms.
“Sheriff Winslow—”
“He’s still working?” I interrupted, confused. The man had been ready to retire when I was still home. How could he still be out on duty?
“I meant Bob’s grandson, Nash. He called me and let me know that your car was reported by some snowmobilers.
They’ll tow it as soon as the roads are cleared.
” He moved back and helped me to my feet.
“The storm stopped about an hour ago, so they should be able to get to it today. Don’t forget to call your insurance company as soon as possible. ”
“I need to call Bonnie too.”
“If it matters, she called already.” Sam shrugged. “Small town, honey.”
“Didn’t miss that.” I fixed a new cup of coffee from a fresh pot.
It smelled delicious, but there was something else.
Following my nose I found French toast, strawberries, blueberries, sausages and real maple syrup!
Home cooked brunch made my stomach grumble.
I was starving and happily fixed a plate while he looked on.
“Thank you. You didn’t need to spoil me. Did you get any sleep?”
“Breakfast is a necessity, not a treat. I slept a little, but I’m used to functioning on less than most people. Try not to worry about me, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry…” I stopped, unsure what I wanted to say.
Apologize for my heinous attitude, or for throwing myself at him?
As I ate the delicious food, I glanced up at Sam.
He had a deep crease of concern etched in his forehead.
He had raised his coffee cup to his lips but stopped as I fumbled for the words.
“…I’m just sorry,” I finished and glanced out the small kitchen window.
His cabin was surrounded by thick woods on all sides, so unless he owned a plow or a heavy-duty truck which I didn’t think he did, I was stuck. Maybe I could walk to Bonnie’s inn. That would be a dumb move but it wasn’t the worst idea. Not when I wanted to throw myself at Sam again.
“Why are you apologizing, Mickie?”
I didn’t answer his question even though it was important and instead changed the topic. “After I eat, I should get going. I’ll walk. It will only take an hour or so.”
Sam shook his head. “Absolutely not. I don’t know what just went through your head, but it takes almost two hours to walk to the inn on a perfect summer day. You were in a bad accident and need to take it easy.”
“I’m an adult. I can take care of myself.”
I watched his eyes darken as he frowned, perhaps contemplating what to say to me.
Plus I hadn’t explained what my apology was for.
Moving to the door gave me something else to focus on.
I slipped on my boots, found my coat, and grabbed my duffel bag.
Sam followed hot on my tail, but I opened the door anyway.
His arm shot out above me and he closed it.
“No, Mickie. You’re not going out there. Remember our rule.”
“You can’t stop me,” I said bristling. “Besides, you’re barefoot.”
“If you go, I will drag your frozen ass back inside,” his voice dropped dangerously low, “Then I’ll warm it up for you—and I don’t mean sitting by the fire, babygirl.”
“Is that so? Well, you’ll have to fucking catch me first.” I waggled my eyebrows at him, then darted up the hall.
He took the bait and chased me as I ducked in and out of several rooms along the hallway.
At one point, he took a detour into his room, no doubt to grab socks and boots.
Running as fast as I could—not bothering with my bag now, which would only serve to slow me down—I twirled open the doorknob.
Rushing out into the snow was met with Sam’s exasperated growl behind me.
“Damn it, Mickie!” His voice carried through the snow-covered trees as I shrugged on my coat, but I hurried towards the main road to see how far I could get.
If he really meant what he said, I knew he’d catch me.
It was his house after all, and though these woods had been the best hide-and-seek playground in town back in the day, the snow showed all of my tracks.
I rubbed my hands together, suddenly pissed at myself for not realizing how cold it was.
The wind chill must have made it feel even colder than usual.
Hopping up and down to stay warm didn’t do much and it slowed me down.
Snow crunched somewhere behind me, and a pit of dread formed in my stomach as the sound grew louder.
What the hell was I doing anyway? Wasn’t the point of provoking Sam into disciplining me again to see if he was serious?
“Eep!” I squeaked as I found myself caught up in Sam’s arms. He must have cut across the lawn when he spotted my purple jacket, obnoxiously bright against the stark white backdrop.
“You win that round of hide and seek! Great job on finding me,” I said craning my neck up to grin broadly. Sam was not amused.
He adjusted me against his chest, snorted under his breath. “I’m not playing, Mickie.”
He weaved through the trees and strode back inside while I thought of ways to lighten the mood. Setting me on my feet by the couch made me believe I might not be in trouble. Before I could beg for forgiveness, I found myself upended over his lap, boots and all.
“Wait!”
Sam ignored my protests and made quick work of my pants. I hadn’t gotten around to putting on panties and a bra. A wave of heat flushed over me at the thought of my bare skin exposed. He’d never spanked me bare before! Sam’s hand came down with a loud crack against my cold skin, and I yelped.
“Ouch!” I jumped as two more slaps hit each cheek. The speed of the slaps increased and I wiggled trying to escape his onslaught. “Oh! I believe you!”
“You knew the consequences. I told you as much before you danced out into the snow,” he muttered while pausing to rub each side of my bottom. “You wanted a reaction, and now you’ve got one.”
“Sam—”
His hand met my bottom firmly as he continued scolding me. “You knew what you were doing. You have your safeword and your colors. Settle in.”
“You think I wanted you to spank me?” I reached back to grab Sam’s hand and glanced awkwardly over my shoulder. “Seriously?”
“Didn’t you?” He tugged his hand free and pinned mine behind my back. “Because I told you exactly what I would do, and you challenged me anyway.”
“Not like this.” I felt a twinge run up my neck and settled myself back into position.
Luckily it was my non-stitched up arm, but I was certain Sam wouldn’t make that mistake.
I heard the unmistakable clank of a buckle and cringed.
His belt was no picnic when I was clothed, and now that I was bare, I’d be lucky if I could sit for the wedding. “I wasn’t sure you’d actually do it.”
“After this, I hope you remember that I will. Now, how many do you think you earned with that dangerous romp out into the freezing cold?”
Sam had always been about the lesson, and I wondered if he recalled how much harder I used to be on myself. Today, though, I didn’t feel like I deserved any additional ones.
“Dangerous is an exaggeration, so I haven’t earned any,” I stated firmly as if I could win this discussion. He snorted under his breath, the half amused, mostly not amused sound he did when he was attempting to be stern.
“Wrong answer.” He released my hand, then shifted me off his lap so he could stand up. “Swing your legs this way, and raise your butt up.”
I hurriedly complied, moving myself along the cushions. I caught a brief glimpse of a smile as I got into the position he’d indicated. Some part of him knew how badly I wanted, no, needed a correction.
His correction.
“You’ll get ten, baby. Count them.”
“On each side?” I panicked for a moment, but his fingertips traced down over the curve of my ass as he shushed me.
“Total. Five for not listening, and five to answer the question that’s been fluttering around in your head. I’m paying attention, Mickie. This is my response, like you agreed to. If you change your mind after this? Then we need to have another conversation.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that.”
“I’m sure you’ll feel differently in about fifteen minutes.” Sam moved his hand. “Count.”
“One.”
The first stroke bit against my right cheek, and I hissed. It stung badly on my already tender skin, but I blew my breath out and continued.
“Two.”
“Slower.”
The second stripe bit into my left cheek. I hissed in pain trying to stay quiet, but it was difficult when the sting ached. “Three.”
He switched back to my right side, and the stroke fell near my sit spots.
I yelped. “Four.” I focused on breathing as the strap targeted my left side. I took another breath, but it turned into a sob as I choked out, “Five.”
The leather licked across both cheeks. It hurt but not as much as the last few.
“Breathe, Mikayla. Tell me what color you’re at, babygirl.”
“Uh, it’s not green, but I’m not at yellow yet, Sir,” I managed to explain.
I’d never liked his belt, but it was the reaction I’d been seeking.
I wanted the burn, though it wasn’t pleasant during the spanking, later it would fade into a reminder every time I sat down.
That Sam was paying attention. That he was keeping a close eye on me.
“If that changes you need to tell me. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl. Lean down a bit more.”
Adjusting myself on the cushions, I braced myself for the next round. “Six. Seven.”
Sam inhaled sharply over my head, but strapped as fast as I spoke.
“Eight. Nine. Ten,” I finished and bit my lip.
I already knew how he’d play this out, at least if he acted the way he used to.
I guessed correctly as the belt seared three fast lines into my flesh.
The world blotted out around me as tears poured furiously down my cheeks and I screamed.
My ass burned hotter than I ever remembered it feeling.
“Shh, babygirl. Shh.” Sam soothed me gently as I bawled. Sometime later, my breathing evened out, and the tears finally slowed.
“Good girl,” he said, stroking his hands over my bottom. “You took that better than I thought you would.”
“Define better,” I said but there was no heat in my tone. Not when my bottom screamed from the sting. Even with a burning ass my heart seemed lighter. I’d take that as a small victory. I’d missed the spankings he used to deliver more than I realized.
“You knew deep down that you needed that, as much as I needed to correct you.”
Sam fixed my pants, his fingers gently tugging the sweat pants into place. He assisted me to sit on the couch, then sat on the cushion next to me and pulled me against his side.
“I can’t wash my hair or get dressed easily with my arm like this. When the pain eases I’ll be okay but right now I feel gross. And I’m really sore, Sam.” I wanted to call him Daddy, it felt right but I was still too scared to allow that feeling out in the open.
“I can give you a bath. Would you like that? The rest of your belongings will be here soon. I forgot to mention that earlier, so you’ll have all your things.”
“Yes, but sitting in the bathtub with my ass burning will make it sting worse, won’t it?”
A very slow grin formed across his mouth. That wasn’t nice.
“Yes, Mickie. You’re correct. Taking a bath right now will increase the discomfort. But that’s not something I’m overly concerned about. What you did was reckless for the sake of being reckless. Your stunt was solely to see if I’d keep my promise.”
I wanted to snap and tell him that he was wrong, but he wasn’t wrong. My brat desperately needed validation. I never had anyone in my life stand up for me and fight for me the way Sam had. “Yes, I know. Please forgive me?”
“Of course, babygirl. I’m not mad at you. I just need you to understand that I’m serious when it comes to you. Let’s get you in the tub. The soak will do your muscles some good.”
“Not my ass muscles.”
“Come on, little brat. I’ll add that lavender and vanilla bubble bath you love so much.”
Jealousy sparked through me. “Who do you spoil with that?”
“Don’t get crazy, sweetheart. Bonnie sometimes needs to get out of the inn and actually relax.
She stocks my bathroom with her favorite things because I have a huge soaking tub.
Judd will drop her off when she’s stressed.
Bonnie loves taking care of others, but she needs a quiet space sometimes without a ton of guests. ”
That might have been the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. “Bonnie comes over and takes a bath and relaxes? Like when she’s been crazy busy all week?”
“Not all the time, but yeah. The inn doesn’t give her a lot of privacy. Judd and Knox are planning on building a home but she’s stubborn. Doesn’t want to leave her safe space.”
I nodded. How come she hadn’t told me? Her soon to be husband, Judd, and his brother Knox worked in construction. They could easily craft and plan and build a house probably in a short amount of time. “No, not stubborn. She doesn’t want to leave because it reminds her of her Nonna.”
“Yeah, that’s more accurate. Mimi fashioned the inn to hide things she loved in every corner of that building. I think Bonnie connects to her memories there, but it doesn’t give her and Judd much privacy when they are fully booked. Anyhow, we are off topic. Bath. Dinner. Early bedtime.”
“I’ve slept enough,” I said, whining. I didn’t want to cave to his plans though everything would help me relax.
“Come on, babygirl. No arguments.”
Sam lifted me into his arms as he had done so many times before, but I melted into him as I always did. His strong arms wrapped around me grounding me in the best way possible. “Do you know I love you?”
“I do but it makes me so happy when you say it.”
“I love you, Sam.”
“I love you, babygirl.”
He nuzzled against my head as he carried me upstairs.
If Sam continued spoiling me, I’d really never want to leave.
Who was I kidding? The more I thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
I didn’t want to get my own hopes up. I’d explained my responsibilities to Sam.
It’s not like I could pack up my life and move next week.
But as Sam held me against his body, whispering sweet things in my ear, I wished more than anything that I could.