Everything Christmas

Chapter Six

S he didn’t see Reese at all the following week and started to doubt the caring man who’d held her while she cried then later while she slept, ever existed. He was gone when she woke the next morning, but she’d found a note in her mailbox with a card for a local trauma counselor. She’d also received a few texts asking how she was doing and reminding her he was available if she needed to talk.

That confused her. If he really cared, wouldn’t he have wanted to check on her in person?

He’d called her elf and honey, but southerners often used endearments with acquaintances, even strangers that didn’t really mean anything. Countless times in her head, she’d replayed his words, especially something a bit more, for a deeper meaning. Initially, she believed he was alluding to some sort of deeper relationship. Or maybe he acted that way with all women? Then there was the kiss.

She scolded herself for making so much of it. Closemouthed and brief, it was more like a friendly peck, nothing like the passionate lip-lock he’d shared with the tall, stick-thin model on his doorstep.

By the end of the week, she’d convinced herself he was just being friendly. But a question gnawed at her like a persistent itch. What kind of friend threatened to take you over his knee?

Damn him and his mixed messages.

Mentally kicking herself for becoming infatuated with the enigmatic policeman, she looked for a distraction. So, she took the weekend to finish her unpacking. It sounded like an excellent plan, but she got off-track when she found her Christmas decorations and a big jumble of outdoor lights in the first two boxes. Decorating was what she needed to brighten up both her place and her mood for the holidays. First came the arduous task of unraveling the strands of tangled lights.

Two hours later, she found herself six rungs up on a two-story ladder, straining to affix the strands of icicle lights to the eaves of her condo. The low rumble of a motorcycle coming down the street instantly grabbed her attention.

Don’t look. Give him as much attention as he’s given you for the past seven days.

She heeded her own advice and finished the lights in another section without sparing Reese a single glance.

“What the hell, Merry? Are you trying to break your neck?” his deep voice barked from below.

She hadn’t heard his approached, but his sudden appearance didn’t startle her. In a way, she’d been expecting it. Sergeant Surly always seemed to have a comment, mostly a criticism, about his new neighbor.

“I would think it’s obvious, but if you can’t figure it out...I’m hanging Christmas lights.”

“I can see that. I meant, what are you doing up on that ladder? It looks like it’s late for an appointment with a wood chipper.”

“Oh.” She looked down at the rung in front of her. It looked like it had seen better days, now that he mentioned it. “I found it in the garage. The previous owners must have left it.”

“That’s because it’s a piece of crap. Get down before you fall and hurt yourself.”

First, he ignored her. Now, he popped up out of nowhere acting like he had the right to boss her around. Annoyed and on a direct course to pissed off, she twisted and glared down at him. “Excuse me, Sergeant. Am I breaking another law?”

“No, but you are violating a condo rule. Decorations have to be approved by the board. It’s another $250 fine.”

“You’re kidding me! I can’t even hang Christmas lights? Who are you people? Long-lost descendants of Ebenezer Scrooge? I read through every one of those rules and I didn’t see a single one prohibiting holiday decoration.”

“It’s under outdoor adornments.”

“I assumed that meant statues and fountains and stuff.”

“It does, but it also applies to anything that is affixed or positioned in a way that detracts from the uniform beauty of the residence.”

“What did you do, memorize the rule book from cover to cover?” When he didn’t answer, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You wrote it, didn’t you?”

“Guilty as charged. Now please do as you’re told and get down.”

“I don’t think so,” she muttered.

Despite her denial, she climbed down the ladder. Not because he told her to. Because she needed to move it a few feet to the right. She would have loved to see his face as she ignored his orders, but she was too busy stomping right back up to work on the next section.

“Merry...” he drawled, an edge of impatience in his voice.

She ignored it and went on grumbling. “Christmas lights don’t detract from the beauty of anything. I have always had lights, and nothing is going to change that. What are you going to do, arrest me for having Christmas spirit?”

When she stretched to attach the next hook, a loud crack echoed through the crisp, December air.

“Get down now,” he repeated in warning. But too late.

The rung she stood on didn’t break, but it gave several inches, knocking her off-balance. She grabbed for something, anything, to keep from falling, but the fistful of String-A-Long lights wasn’t up to the job. It slid through her gloved hand as she pitched to the side.

“Reese!” she squealed in alarm while preparing for a painful landing in the barberry bush below her.

She let go of the useless ladder and grabbed for the gutter. Unfortunately, it pulled away from the house. Hanging on by her fingers, she kicked her legs wildly, trying to gain purchase on the side of the house, but she couldn’t find a toehold. She panicked until powerful arms encircled her thighs.

“Let go. I’ve got you.”

Hesitantly, she released her grip, immediately clamping her hands onto his head and shoulders as he carried her away from the house and briar bushes. Her palms felt like they had rope burns from the lights, and her fingers burned from the gutter’s sharp edges. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she released him, hissing and curling her fingers inward against the sting.

“Let’s see the damage,” he said as he pulled her hands toward him. The skin was raw and bleeding in a few places. “These need to be cleaned up.” He lifted her and carried her to the front door.

“I can do it.”

“Can you? I’m wondering how you make it safely to work every day.”

“That’s not fair. I didn’t know the ladder was old and weak.”

“Good Lord, woman! All you had to do was look at it to tell it came over on the Ark.”

Hurt by his blunt words, tears clogged her throat. “I can walk, you know. There’s nothing wrong with my legs.”

“I know, but you’re bleeding, and I figured this was the quickest way to get you into the house. Where is your first aid kit?”

“Under the sink in the kitchen.”

When he set her down on the counter, she felt like a little girl waiting for her daddy to put a Band-Aid on a boo-boo. She pouted like one, too, when he uncurled her fingers. “Let’s do the right one first, since it’s the worst.”

Sifting through the supplies, he pulled out some antiseptic swabs and bandages.

“When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”

“I can’t remember.”

He grunted, his disapproval of her answer unmistakable. “You’ll need one. Do you have a regular doctor?”

She didn’t want to say and get another grunt, so she stayed silent.

“Dammit, Merry.” He didn’t utter another word while he cleaned her cuts and scrapes, applied a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to all the open areas, and bandaged them up. Most only required a Band-Aid, but he applied a Telfa pad to the cut on her palm and held it in place with a self-adhering bandage.

“All set. Do they feel better?”

“Yes,” she whispered, embarrassed by her stubborn antics outside. “I guess you rescued me again, huh?”

“Yep, so you know what that means, don’t you?”

“I should be more careful.”

“That’s a given. I had something else in mind,” he replied as he gathered up the wrappers and put the first aid kit back under the sink.

“I don’t understand.”

“Yeah, you do. I warned you what would happen.”

It suddenly dawned on her what he meant. The night of the assault, he told her the next time he found her acting recklessly... Uh-oh!

Before she could mount a protest, she was in his arms again, his long legs carrying them quickly to the dining room. He pulled out a chair from the table and the next instant, she found herself draped over his lap.

“Wait. You said your girlfriend would know what to expect—”

“Don’t you?”

“But...I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Not now. But after this, you will be.”

“What?” she screeched because that would be wonderful, but even more so if he’d asked her, but also because his hand smacked hard against her bottom. She was wearing fleece-lined leggings, which diminished the impact of his blows. After about four swats, he must have realized it. He slipped his fingers into her waistband and started to peel them down.

Her hand flew back and caught his. “Reese, you can’t pull my pants down.”

“Watch me.”

Before she could utter another word, her pants were around her knees, and he resumed spanking. Now that only a thin layer of nylon separated his hand and her bottom, she felt every square inch of the fire he ignited as he set a blistering pace. She lay stiffly across his lap in a state of shock; her breath frozen in her chest. She’d fantasized about Reese hundreds of times, but never in this way with her in this position.

Her tongue was paralyzed and she couldn’t even manage a whimper as each stunning blow connected with her backside. The only noise was the hum of the refrigerator and the slapping sound of skin against skin as it echoed off the ceramic tile floor.

He delivered at least a dozen swats before he stopped and flipped her upright on his thigh. When he tipped her face up, his searching gray eyes held a hint of sternness, but his touch was surprisingly gentle as his thumb brushed along her lower lip, tender from where she’d been biting it.

“You can make all the noise you want, baby. In fact, it helps me know how you’re doing, so I prefer it. Just watch the name-calling. That will earn you more.”

“That’s not really my style, although lately I’ve been tempted.” She looked down at her hands, recalling all the names she called him in her head—Sergeant Sourpuss was one of the better ones.

“Do you know why I punished you, elf?”

She nodded, her teeth capturing her tender flesh. Reese stopped further damage with his broad thumb once again.

“I need to hear you say it, honey. Nodding is unacceptable.”

“I climbed up on that dilapidated old ladder, which wasn’t smart. If you hadn’t been there when I fell, I could have ended up with a lot worse than a few cuts and scratches.”

“Anything else?”

She hesitated, thinking through their dispute outside. “I suppose I was rude.”

“You suppose? I believe I told you to get off the ladder, and you willfully ignored me, climbing right back up that rickety, splinter-ridden death trap. You were also dismissive and disrespectful.”

“I’m really sorry, Reese. But...”

“But what, Merry?”

“I don’t understand what’s going on. One moment, you’re sweet and kind and charming. Teasing me while we sip lemonade or gently kissing my forehead. The next thing I know, you’re barking orders or writing me three tickets in a day. After you saved me from Johnny the Jerk, you held me while I cried but then disappeared for a week. I’m so confused my head is spinning.”

“That makes two of us,” he muttered.

“What?”

“Let’s go sit in the living room and talk before we finish up.”

“Finish? We’re not done?”

“A puny dozen swats won’t make up for the scare you gave me today or all the trouble you’ve gotten into over the past few months. Not by a long shot.”

***

H E PULLED UP HER PANTS , easing them gently over her thin panties, trying not to be distracted by the hint of pink cheeks he could see underneath. Once he had them situated, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the living room, the wooden spoon still in his other hand, out of sight.

After seating her on the couch, he squatted down in front of her. Mindful of her bandages, he placed his hands on her thighs instead. It was crucial for him to see her reaction to what he was about to tell her. “I’m sorry I’ve run hot and cold with you, baby. It wasn’t intentional, at least the hot wasn’t.”

She considered that for a moment. “You mean, you were deliberately rude and spiteful?”

“Yes. But hear me out. I’ve been attracted to you from the first moment I saw you”

“You could have fooled me. I didn’t think you liked me.”

“That’s not true. In fact, I liked you too much. That first day, I kept looking out my front window, watching your ponytail bouncing around your shoulders while you directed the movers. And I couldn’t concentrate on anything except those tiny shorts when you worked in your garden. Then I saw a lot more of you through your bedroom window before you put up your new curtains.”

“But each of those times, you weren’t very nice to me, Reese. I’m not your type. I saw those tall, leggy women you were dating. I figured you weren’t interested in a short, curvy redhead.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong.” Reese dropped his head, staring at his hands as they gently stroked her bare legs. “I was being a jerk on purpose to put distance between us.” He glanced up at her and admitted, “I couldn’t be around you and keep up the act. Every time I talked to you, I could feel the electricity between us and see the longing in your eyes, which are as expressive as they are beautiful.”

“I still don’t understand. Why do you keep coming around if you don’t want me?”

“I guess with my behavior, you would get that impression, but let me set you straight. I’m not into skinny, sassy, ball-busting women. The reason I went out with them is because they weren’t my type. I knew I’d never make the mistake of falling for a woman like that and wouldn’t get hurt again.”

“Again?”

“I was in a serious relationship a few years back. I loved her and we were talking about marriage and family, the whole nine yards. But she couldn’t adapt to my lifestyle and left me.”

“Because you’re a cop?” she exclaimed, indignant on his behalf. “That’s ridiculous. It’s a noble profession. I’m sure the odd hours take some getting used to, and the worry, but—”

“No, Merry, that wasn’t it. You may have noticed I like to be in charge. It’s especially true for my personal relationships.”

His words hung heavy between them as he waited for her reaction.

“I guess some women would have a hard time with that, and the spanking.”

“You didn’t seem to. You took it well, except when I took down your pants. Why is that?” Heat rose in her cheeks, which led him to guess, “Were you spanked as a kid?”

“Yeah, but only when I screwed up really badly.”

“Like today with the ladder?” he pressed.

“Worse.” She averted her gaze when she disclosed, “Like when I took the car without permission and wrecked it.”

“Good grief, Merry,” he exclaimed, but she wasn’t done.

“Or when I got plastered and came home drunk on prom night.”

“Honey...”

“Or the time I climbed up on the roof to rescue my cat.”

“How old were you when that happened?” he asked, but then he held up his hand. “No, wait. I don’t want to know.”

“I guess Dad was right when he said I was a handful.”

He’d only had a small taste of what her parents had, and he picked up on that already. “How in the world have you made it to the ripe old age of...”

“Twenty-seven,” she helpfully supplied.

He huffed a little laugh. “You deserved every one of those spankings and then some. Your poor parents; you must have given them fits.”

“Yeah,” she breathed with a deep sigh. “They were saints. What about your ex? Was she as much trouble as I was? And still am, evidently?” she quickly amended.

“Not at all. She rarely broke the rules and was on board with our arrangement or seemed to be. I think she enjoyed the novelty of the dynamic, but she wasn’t submissive. One day when I got home, she was gone. All I got was a terse letter saying that she loved me but couldn’t live under my thumb.”

She studied him for a moment. “I’ve had a taste of that myself. You can be bossy. And arrogant, controlling, dictatorial—”

“I get the message.” Suddenly weary, he moved to the couch beside her. Leaning back, he brought his hands up to run them through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. But he still held the spoon and dropped it as if it scalded his skin.

Merry felt the same as Hanna. How had he misread her so badly? It must be him and his weird demands. Maybe he needed to see a professional and find out what was wrong with him.

“Reese, you didn’t let me finish. Aside from being all those things I mentioned, you can also be very sweet. Like when you doctored my hands and even when you pulled up my pants in the kitchen. You have these endearing glimmers that are really quite irresistible. For some women, that alone would make the spankings worthwhile.”

She blushed furiously when he glanced her way.

“I can’t believe I just admitted that.”

It took all his willpower not to break into a grin at the endearing sight of his rosy-cheeked elf, especially when she embarrassed herself. “Irresistible, huh?”

“Yeah, but don’t go getting a gigantic head. You know you’re attractive.”

“Is that why you’re always watching me when I run?”

“Of course. I’m not blind—or a nun.”

Laughing, he pulled her into an affectionate hug. “So, do you want to give us a try to see where this might go?”

“Do you mean dating or spanking?”

“Both, but we would start out slow and get to know each other.”

“With you in charge?”

“Yes, but I promise I’m not the hard-ass I pretended to be in the past few weeks. We would set some ground rules, of course.”

“Like what?”

“No climbing ladders, for one.”

“I can live with that. My hands are really sore. What else?”

“Basic courtesy, open communication, and respect. Things important to building a strong, lasting relationship.”

“And that’s what you’re looking for? A relationship?”

“I’ve sown my wild oats and think it’s time to settle down. I’m thirty-six, Merry. That’s quite a bit older than you. Is that a problem?”

“Nine years isn’t all that much. Bonus for you. If it works out, you’ll have someone to take care of you in your old age.” Her lips didn’t so much as twitch, but she couldn’t keep a straight face for long, and grinned. “I’m teasing, Reese.”

“Hm... I don’t know about this sassy side. It’s probably not wise when I owe you another dozen swats.”

The smile left her face instantly.

“That’s another rule. Punishment is at my discretion.”

Merry’s brow furrowed at that. “I think I need a rule book to study.”

“Like you did the HOA manual?” he teased. She’d racked up some hefty fines, which he fully intended forgiving.

She wrinkled her nose, which made him laugh. He squeezed her in a warm show of affection. “I’m not a dictator. And I don’t want to control every part of your life. But I think rules are important and when they’re broken, there should be swift and sure consequences. That’s part of why I became a cop. I like order in my life, but I can be flexible. Except where safety is concerned, especially your safety. But there are a lot of perks for you in this arrangement. You get someone to hang Christmas lights once they’re authorized, and I’ll make sure you have reliable transportation.”

“Manly things, right?”

“Is that sass, again?”

“No,” she replied, with wide-eyed innocence. “Just trying to understand.”

“Mmm. That rental car can’t be cheap. I’ll take over maintenance on whatever you’re driving. If there’s ever an issue with it, you can call me.”

“That’s a relief. What I know about cars would fill a thimble. My dad kept up with all of that. He went with me to buy it, too, and made sure no one took advantage.”

“I’ll go looking with you tomorrow.”

“Really? That would be so great. I can’t tell the difference between the radiator and the wiper fluid tank.”

Nearly nose to nose with her, he waited silently until her eyes met his. When she leaned toward him just the tiniest bit, he knew he was golden and captured her mouth. The kiss was soft, sweet, and downright chaste, at first. But he licked the seam of her lips, and she opened for him.

Not one to disappoint a lady, he took it deeper. Angling his head until his lips sealed over hers, his fingers tunneled through her red curls, the sweet-smelling silken mass too tempting by half.

He gathered her close and was easing her back against the cushions when Merry yelped and pulled away abruptly. Half sitting, she reached underneath her and pulled out the wooden spoon.

She shifted her bemused gaze to his. “Are you really going to use this on me?”

He grabbed it from her and tossed it on the coffee table before pressing her back down onto the sofa. “I was going to paddle you with it, yes—because you deserved it. I think I’ll be generous and grant you amnesty, however, since you’re only just learning. See how flexible I am?” Pressing soft kisses along the corner of her mouth, he asked in a voice gruff with excitement. “We’ll start with a clean slate. If you’re a good girl from here on out, we won’t have any problems.”

While he kissed a path across her cheek and jaw, she arched, offering her throat for more. “I can do that. I’m actually a good girl and a law-abiding citizen.”

Lifting his head, he smiled down at her. “Elf, you have gotten into so much trouble in the past few months. It’s scary. If I was a betting man, I’d say the odds of you staying on the straight and narrow are slim to none.”

“That sounds like a challenge.”

“Prove me wrong, elf, and we’ll both enjoy how you’re rewarded.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Partly because you remind me of an elf from my childhood.”

“Hm... I’m picturing pointy ears and shoes, so I’m not sure that’s a good thing. What’s the other part?”

He succumbed to the temptation of her neck, licking and nibbling his way up to her ear. With his warm breath in her ear and against her skin, she giggled.

“A sensitive spot, I see. I’ll have to remember. All things pointy aside, the other reason is because your cheeks stay rosy with blushes, and you’re impish and cute.” Reese moved back to her lips, hovering a fraction of an inch above them as he gazed into her eyes. “Now, if you’re done with the chitchat, I’d like a taste of your sweet mouth.”

“I’m done,” she whispered, clearly eager for the same.

He kissed her with passionate intensity. The sound of their accelerated breathing, and the sexy little whimpers in her throat filled the air as he took possession. The electricity that had arced between them from the first time they met sent currents of pleasure coursing through him.

His hands explored her curves while she sank her fingers into his hair and arched into his touch. Unfortunately, Reese, who was hard and aching for her, put the brakes on much too soon.

“Please, don’t stop.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he whispered against her lips. “If I didn’t have to leave for work. I start a week of night shifts tonight.”

“If you’re gone all night and I’m at the shop all day, when will we see each other?”

“We’ll work something out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, I always say.”

“But we won’t get to go car shopping.”

“When does your store open?”

“Sunday hours are 12-9 during Christmas.”

“The car lots aren’t open before noon, either. We’ll have breakfast and shop online. If we find something you like, I’ll schedule a test-drive or two during lunch on Monday.”

“That’s perfect. Thank you.”

“See? You’re benefiting from the perks already.”

After another long, steamy kiss, he rose and pulled her up with him. “Walk me to the door.”

Hand in hand, they strolled down the hall and out onto the porch. Returning to the scene of the crime. “I’ll finish your lights for you this week.”

“What about the HOA rules?”

“I’ll make the compliant, don’t worry.” He pulled her in and kissed her nose. “You are going to be a good girl and not touch them, right?”

“Yes, sir.” She raised her bandaged hands. “I learned my lesson.”

When he left, he took the busted and dry-rotted piece of crap ladder with him to be sure.