Don't Tempt Me (2 page)

It was easy to get through the first hour. Appetizers were served in the living room, and Jenna could mingle and not sit down. It wasn't until they went into the dining room to sit down that Jenna knew she was in serious trouble. The Parker's dining room furniture was simply beautiful, but the chairs were as uncomfortable as they possibly could be. Jenna complained about them each and every time when they left the Parker home for theirs. How on earth was she to survive sitting for at least an hour or ninety mintues?

Jenna had her instructions from her husband, and she knew he expected her to sit quietly, without squirming, and do nothing to call attention to the fact she'd been spanked earlier and found it impossible to sit down. He wanted her to suffer in silence, and since she did not want anyone to learn that her husband treated her like a child, Jenna was more than willing to suffer quietly. But, she soon learned her resolve was not going to get her through the evening. Sitting was worse than she imagined it would be. She was in terrible pain and her eyes filled with tears she kept trying to blink away. She certainly wasn't able to carry on a conversation, and the gaze she turned on Will begged him to do something. He frowned, letting her know that he was displeased.

Jenna tried to eat, but she couldn't. She was too miserable and the longer she sat there the worse it was getting to be.

"Jenna, dear, are you all right? You are so pale, and you look ill...?" Mary asked in concern.

"I'm so sorry, Mary," Jenna whispered. "I'm not myself this evening. Please excuse me." She got to her feet and hurried from the room before bursting into tears. She didn't realize that Mary followed her from the room until she wrapped her arms around her comfortingly.

"There, there. Why didn't you tell me you weren't up to coming tonight, dear? I would have understood."

"Will insisted I come," she tattled and it felt good.

"Oh, he's a pompous butt at times," Mary insisted. "We love him, of course, but he was single far too long after Cathy died. He's a stern man, but his whole world changed for the better when he met you, Jenna. You even made him laugh in court, and I cannot think of another attorney who managed that one." She patted Jenna's back and then asked, "Are you ill, Jenna, or finding my chairs impossible to sit on?" At Jenna's look of horror she said, "You forget that Cathy was my best friend for many years. There were plenty of times that she didn't want to sit down either, and knowing Will, I'm sure he didn't have one bit of consideration for my furniture."

"Oh, Mary, this is so embarrassing!"

"Well, the next time I can't sit on those darn chairs, I will come to you for sympathy," Mary smiled. "Will and Allen are a lot alike, dear. Don't be embarrassed now. You go on home, and Allen will bring Will when he is ready to leave. Go on to bed, and I promise things will be better in the morning."

"Thank you, Mary," Jenna said tearfully, and then added, "I can see why Cathy loved you so much."

Mary gave her another hug, and then went back to her guests. Jenna made her escape, and while it was very painful to sit to drive home, it felt much better than those awful chairs of Mary's. She let herself inside the house, and went upstairs and hung up her dress and put away her shoes. A few minutes later, she was tucked into bed... some aloe lotion on her bottom and some ibuprofen in her tummy. She went to sleep within minutes, hoping that Will wouldn't be too angry with her for coming on home.

Will chose not to wake her when he realized she wasn't pretending to be asleep, but was actually snoring softly. He could see that her cheeks were wet from crying, and when she moved in her sleep, she whimpered.
Was he too hard on her?
he questioned himself. She'd been pushing for the last couple of months, and this business with Mrs. Pratt was ridiculous, especially coming from Jenna. His ears still burned from the scolding Mary gave him, and earned her a promise of a spanking herself from Allen when he returned from bringing him home. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if Mary was right. Maybe he should have respected Jenna's wishes to stay home if she was that emotional. He would talk to her in the morning and make sure she knew that he loved her with all his heart and soul. A part of him died when he lost Cathy to cancer, and it felt so good to be alive again. He wasn't going to do one darn thing to screw it up. Jenna was his life, and if Cathy were still alive, she would love Jenna, too. Mary thought Jenna absolutely wonderful, and he appreciated that. Mary wouldn't have stood up for Jenna if she didn't care about her. When Jenna whimpered again, he put his arm around her and pulled her close to hold her. "Shhh, honey. I love you and you're safe." Jenna snuggled against him, and slept soundly.

When she woke the next morning, Jenna was surprised to smell coffee and something baking. It meant that Will was already up and in the kitchen. He often fixed breakfast for them. She went to the bathroom, and relieved her bladder, and then brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her short hair. A quick glance in the mirror told her that her bottom wasn't nearly as bruised as she expected it to be, but her sit spots were definitely going to give her fits for a few days. She was bruised there. She applied more aloe gel, and then put on a robe and slippers and went to look for coffee.

"Good morning," Will greeted her with a smile, and then crossed the room to hug and kiss her. "Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Once you got into bed with me," she smiled. "I am sorry for leaving the Parkers' last night, darling. I was just in so much pain I couldn't sit there another minute. I felt like I was going to be sick to my stomach."

"I shouldn't have made you go," he admitted. "I'm sorry, Jenna. I was too hard on you last night."

"I was being sassy," she stated calmly. "I don't know why I've been pushing you so hard the last few weeks, but I think it has to do with knowing the limits. I've always been one to need to have the boundaries established, darling. I'm not proud of myself for forcing the issue..."

"I have been too slow in placing those boundaries," he replied. "There is a certain word that comes up often in court called 'controlling'. I don't want to be a jerk, but I also believe that there has to be some rules if a marriage is going to survive."

Jenna nodded in agreement. "You aren't controlling, darling. You are the head of our household, and that is exactly the kind of marriage I need and want. A very traditional marriage based on love and respect. When I cross certain lines, I expect you to let me know about it."

"Even if it means a very sore bottom for a day or two?" he asked, perfectly serious.

"I earned a spanking yesterday, and probably a few other times in the last few weeks," Jenna told him. "I wasn't respectful when you told me I had to go to Mary and Allen's. If I'd talked to you with respect and told you I felt raw and too emotional to deal with going, you would have listened to me. Instead, I made it an issue from which you couldn't back down without losing respect. I'm truly sorry, Will. I can't promise it won't ever happen again, but I can and do promise I will try to be more respectful in the future. You never would have spanked me so hard if I hadn't been disrespectful."

"You certainly know how to make a guilty husband feel better, sweetheart," he kissed her again. "I do love you, and if I lost you, I would never forgive myself."

"You won't lose me over my own foolishness, darling. I promise you that. Now, may I have some of your wonderful coffee, and what is in the oven?"

"Oh crap!" the dignified Judge leaped for the oven and took out his coffee cake at just the right moment. "Good thing you reminded me, Jenna," he grinned sheepishly.

Even though the chairs at the breakfast table had nice soft cushions on the seat, Jenna didn't feel like sitting down. Will frowned when he saw her look of pain and before she could guess what he was about, he gently pushed her down over the table and whistled when he pushed up her robe and nightgown and saw the bruises on her sit spots. "Ouch, and overdone for the crime," he announced. "I beg your pardon for being too harsh, Jenna."

She reached up and caressed his cheek. "We know each other a lot better now, Will. We love each other, and when we need to address something in the future we'll both know a bit better how to behave and react to the other. I am as responsible for these bruises as you are, and I don't want you kicking yourself or having regrets. Hear me?" she asked.

"I hear you, but it doesn't mean that I have to be happy with bruising you. I want you to get some arnica gel and apply it liberally today. It will help, sweetheart. I think I will resort to a cane instead of that bath brush the next time I need to make a point. It will sting, but it won't leave bruises of that sort."

"A cane!" Jenna's voice squeaked.

"Used for spanking, it's no worse than a small switch, Jenna. I'll demonstrate it to you after I order a few of them to have on hand."

"Will! You make it sound like you are planning to spank me nearly every day!" she accused.

"Oh, but I am!" he grinned at her. "I am, Jenna!"

Chapter Two

Judge William Cole couldn't help but admire his lovely wife as she presented her arguments for the defense. She was lovely, even in a business suit. She was a good attorney, too, and he listened to her arguments with pride. Of course, she was going to lose this case... and knew it going in, but she was doing her best to mitigate the damage, and by the jury's expressions, Will could see she was doing a good job of it. He finally dismissed the jury to deliberate and cautioned both attorneys to remain available in case a decision was reached within a reasonable time. None of them had any control over the time involved in this part.

Jenna wanted this hearing over with as soon as possible. Her client didn't stand a chance of being acquitted, but hoped he would be given a light sentence, which could be suspended in favor of probation. Jenna had warned him that it wouldn't make the Court more lenient because she was representing him, and his reply was a succinct, "I'll just settle for fair, Ms. Fields." Jenna maintained her maiden name professionally because she felt it would be too confusing if she went by Jenna Cole at work.

It didn't take the jury long, and Will was impressed at how quickly they came to a fair decision. They found the defendant guilty as charged, recommended restitution and punitive damages for the plaintiff, and were agreeable to probation for the defendant so he could remain working and pay the plaintiff the money she was owed. Judge Cole supported their wishes and went ahead with the sentencing. The relief on the defendant's face was palpable, and he even thanked the Court and Jury for their mercy and understanding, and promised that he would never make another mistake of this sort and apologized to the plaintiff once again.

"Ms. Fields, may I see you in my chambers?" Judge Cole asked quietly once the case was closed.

She nodded and took the time to wish her client well, and to answer the questions he had about his probation and making restitution. Once that was all done, she walked over to where Will's Bailiff stood and smiled at him. "How are you today, Greg?"

"Just fine, Mrs. Cole," the man gave her a big smile and opened the door to Will's chambers for her.

"You did a great job, Jenna," Will said proudly.

"Thank you, and thank you for sentencing today instead of making us wait another week or two. I don't think my client could handle the stress."

"I feel sorry for him," Will admitted. "He took money to buy medicine for his wife... The jury took that into consideration, and I approved of their decision. There was no need to make him wait for sentencing. He'll put this behind him eventually, and his employers' willingness to keep him on and support him through this weighed heavily in his favor. I think every member of that jury could picture him or herself in his place... insurance ran out, and his wife was suffering. While it's true he should have asked for help, he felt helpless and did the wrong thing." He looked at his wife and said quietly, "I might have done the same thing in his place, Jenna."

"Somehow I doubt that, darling. You would have found another way, I'm sure." She put her arms around him and gave him a kiss. Are you done for the day?" she wanted to know.

"No... I have some cases to review and a couple of motions I need to reply to. I'll be home around six," he smiled. "Do you want to go out to dinner tonight?" he asked.

"No... I cleared the day for this trial, and it went much smoother than I thought. I'm going on home and I'll have time to fix dinner tonight. What would you like?" she asked.

"Manicotti," he answered without a bit of hesitation, "and Tiramisu for dessert," he tacked on with a boyish grin. It was nice to be married to a woman who cooked as fabulous as any trained chef. Jenna was constantly surprising him with elaborate dinners that were better than those he ordered out.

"That can be arranged, my darling," she promised, and then gave him another kiss that had him wishing he could join her at home right now!

"You'd best get going before we disgrace ourselves in this office," he teased and then gave her bottom a smart little slap. "I might have to take you over my knee tonight for coming in here and tempting me."

"Now that sounds kind of kinky and like it might be fun!" she teased, cocking her head in such a way that it seemed like an invitation.

He chuckled at her sass, and then gave her another kiss full of promise and another hearty spank on the seat of her skirt. "Go on now, Mrs. Cole, and let your husband get some work done.

Jenna left with a smile on her face. She called into work to make sure nothing came up while she was in Court that needed her immediate attention and then she went home, thankful she didn't need to stop for ingredients on her way home. Will loved Italian food, and she was well stocked with the ingredients needed to make his manicotti and his tiramisu. She would add a salad and some garlic toast, and he would be a happy man.

Once home, she went to their bedroom and hung up her suit and put the rest of her clothing into the hamper. Within minutes she was dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top. She padded barefoot to the kitchen and did all the prep work for her manicotti and made the tiramisu. Once that was all done, she had over two hours left she could spend in the yard gardening before it was time to put dinner in the oven.