“I didn’t kiss him, he kissed me,” she explained through clenched teeth as though she were talking to someone not quite right in the head.
“Don’t matter, a kiss is a kiss. I wouldn’t want to have you thinking I don’t mean what I say.” Sitting down on the chair, he motioned her to him. “Come on, sweetheart. Take your licking like a good girl and this will be behind us.”
“You’re crazy if you think I will allow you to spank me just because some young man kissed my cheek,” she hissed, stomping to the door and reaching for the lock.
Ty moved quicker than lightening. Before she could speak, he wrapped an arm around her waist, carried her to the chair, and upended her over his knees.
“I’m not spanking you because of something he did,” he said calmly. “I’m spanking you because you didn’t reprimand him. You should have told him you were engaged to be married and that his behavior wasn’t proper.” Flipping up her skirt, he shoved her petticoats to her waist and softly patted her behind over the thin pantalets. “Had you done that, I would have been perfectly satisfied.
“You don’t know these men, Annalise. Half of them are probably wanted by the law and signed onto a drive to make a little money and get away. They can be mighty dangerous, honey. The fact that for the time being your place of residence is a saloon makes you easy prey as far as they are concerned.
“Now, if you be a good girl and take your spanking in the spirit it’s offered, I won’t bare you, but if you fight me, I’ll separate this here slit and you’ll be mighty sorry I did. What’s it to be?”
Annalise was out of options. Despite her squirming and wiggling, she wasn’t able to move an inch. The thought of Ty seeing her naked bottom was too embarrassing to contemplate and she found herself going limp over his lap.
“I’ll be good, Ty,” she whimpered.
“That’s my girl,” he said with approval, giving her a crisp smack on her quivering cheeks.
Ty spanked her with a firm hand, not enough to cause her true pain, but surely enough to teach her a lesson. His hand fell on every inch of her bottom, the thin underwear offering minimal protection. When he could see the pink color of her skin through the fabric, he picked up his pace and delivered ten hearty slaps, listening for any sounds of genuine distress. Obviously, he meant business, but he didn’t want to injure her or frighten her in any way. A few sniffles were to be expected and when he heard those begin, he rubbed her sore bottom briskly before helping her to her feet.
Standing, he kissed her forehead. “I hope you understand why I had to do that, honey,” he said sadly.
Spinning away from him, she moved to the foot of the tub and refused to look at him.
“Now, Annalise, let’s have none of that or I’ll think I’ve let you up too soon,” he teased. “You do understand, don’t you?”
“I understand that you’re a bully and a brute,” she spat, facing him, her face on fire with embarrassment and anger. “And you better understand this; I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth, Mr. Wainwright!”
Bending, she butted him in the breadbasket with her head and sent him flying into the tub. Dirty water sloshed over the sides as the big man went under and came up sputtering.
“Dammit, I knew I should have spanked you harder,” he grumbled, climbing out of the tub as she unlocked the door and ran.
Annalise had heard a lot of really bad words today, but she used the only ones she could think of. “Go to hell ‘cross lots’!” she yelled over her shoulder.
CHAPTER 16
Looking up, Ty noticed there was going to be a full moon. Figures, he thought as he walked in the back door of The Duchess and stomped up the stairs, his boots squishing with every step. His grandma always said people act mighty strange during the full moon and he reckoned it was so.
Opening doors as he went, he finally found Annalise’s room. She was lying across the bed, sobbing. Well, that was good because he was definitely in the mood to give her something to cry about.
She hadn’t heard the door open so when he plopped his wet ass on her bed and dragged her across his lap she was shocked speechless. That was fine with him; he didn’t intend to do much talking anyway.
Flipping up her skirts and petticoat, he reached under her, untied her drawers, and pulled them to her knees before she could put up much of a fight. Shit, he thought, she’s not even pink. I should have done this right the first time. Immediately he began spanking her. No easy little taps this time, he reminded himself. If she was going to break their engagement over this, it better damn well be worth it.
Annalise was fighting for all she was worth and screaming like a banshee. The struggle had freed her hair and Ty paused to move it out of his way, refusing to let the luxurious strands distract him. His big hand moved rapidly, reddening from the top of her cheeks to the crease at the top of her thighs. When the entire area looked good and red, he began again, ignoring her pleas.
“Please, Ty, no more!” she screamed, trying to cover her throbbing cheeks. “I’m sorry I shoved you in the tub,” she blubbered.
Ty gathered both of her wrists together and continued spanking her, not saying a word.
“Oh my God, it hurts!” she wailed.
“Good.”
Annalise continued to struggle, to no avail. A thousand bees were stinging her bottom and still he wouldn’t stop. It wasn’t until she stopped fighting him and collapsed limply over his lap that he paused.
“Are you going to behave?” he questioned sternly, his hand resting on her flaming behind.
