Once his wife had settled, flopping onto her side, he rose to his knees on the bed. Grasping her hips, he positioned her face down and lifted her ass. She did not protest. Her head was on a and she seemed well able to fall into a deep and exhausted sleep.
Until his hand cracked her upturned ass.
Instantly, her head popped up, and she turned to look at him over her shoulder.
She glared at him in shock and anger.
“What was that for?” she gasped out.
“To remind you who is in charge here.”
“I think you’ve proven that,” she shot back.
“Yes, I think so too, but in case you have any insane plans to do something both dangerous and foolish, I just wanted to remind you. In fact, this spanking should keep that in your mind for quite a few days.”
He did not relent. Over and over, he smacked her bottom, bringing the heat back with a vengeance. He knew, she realized. He was too observant by far and it was clear he understood her better than anyone ever had. This was not a sexual spanking. There was nothing to be gained at this point other than to reinforce his authority.
While he might not know precisely what she intended, he clearly suspected she was no longer willing to wait. Biting her lip, she kept still, refusing to plead. The son of a bitch could blister her, but it would not change a thing. She was going to Kansas, sore ass or not.
Micah finally slowed. His hand grasped her cheek as he leaned over her.
“Cara,” he breathed into her ear before nipping her neck. “You are not to plot and scheme behind my back,” he ordered, pressing firmly against her bottom. “Leave things to Mead and Morgan. Give them the chance to repair the damage. If all else fails, we will travel back together. I want your word,” he demanded. Sinking his cock into her body, he groaned.
Cara arched her back and took him deeper, clenching her core around him. He released her cheek and grasped both of her hips, pulling her tight against him. She began to rock, feeling her own need rising, but he held her still.
“Your word, Cara,” he growled, his breath hot against her cheek.
“Do you want me to lie to you?” she panted out.
“God, Mead was right. I need a woodshed,” he hissed angrily. He began to move, holding her hips and riding her hard. “You’re a pain in the ass,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Well, my ass isn’t exactly pain free,” she shot back. Feeling another orgasm approaching, she shut up. Fine, spank me, fuck me, do anything you want, she thought. Nothing you do can hurt me as much as the thought of losing you.
“Promise me,” he barked as she teetered on the brink of an explosive climax. “Promise me!”
“I promise to love you forever,” she cried out as she tumbled off the edge of the world. He followed her.
Micah heldher in his arms, his hand slowly soothing her shivering body. He was tired, so damn tired, and he understood that sated as he was, he would not be able to stay awake. Cara lay tucked against his side, her head on his chest. Now and then his hand would stray to her punished and she would twitch in discomfort, but he knew it was not enough.
His wife was determined. While a good spanking or a touch of discipline worked on occasion, he doubted it would change her plans, and she had plans. He was certain of it now.
Tomorrow he would begin to make his own. There was no way he was going to turn his wife loose in 1880 Kansas! If he had to, he would go with her and if they got stuck there, at least they would be together.
CHAPTER 12
1880
Matthew rode home, stewing about his brothers. The story they’d told him seemed even more unbelievable now than it had this morning. Why had they come up with such an outrageous tale? Why were they pushing so hard for him to tie the knot? None of it made any sense, other than as a means to an end of some made-up fairytale.
Morgan wanted Callie Mae living at the farm. All right, Matt understood that. Mead was impatient to marry Marilee. Matt grasped that too, but what did any of that have to do with him?
He pondered the situation while he rode, and realized Jane was now with Doc Brubaker, and only one more thing needed to be done for Callie Mae to sell The Duchess. If they could get Fancy O’Shea married off, his older brothers would be sitting pretty.
Things were becoming clearer. This was all an elaborate plot to get what they wanted. Shaking his head, he allowed his horse to plod on out to the farm. He had no opposition to getting married. In fact, he was looking forward to it, but the only woman he was willing to take to the altar wouldn’t have him, at least right now. No, Laurie Dixon was it for him. No one else would do.
Fancy would never be happy as a farmer’s wife, but that didn’t seem to matter to either of them. That little lady had other plans, bigger dreams than living in Kansas. She would never go for it, and even though she was lovely, he didn’t feel any romantic inclinations towards her.
To be fair, Fancy and the others hadn’t been honest either. Callie and her girls had let Morgan, Mead, and Ty think they were still indebted to her. It was clear that everyone was keeping secrets, trying to manipulate the circumstances. His brothers were at the top of that list. It didn’t quite sit right with him.
