Embraced (13 page)

exasperating female –“ *spank*spank*spank* “ -on the face of this earth. I’m sure there’s not another man living who had to argue with his woman about
not
spending money,” he continued to pepper the lecture with sharp smacks to her quickly reddening

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bottom. “But I can assure you that it is
my
final word on the subject that you will abide by, and I am expressly telling you that if I hear from anyone any further that you aren’t buying or doing exactly what you want in regards to arrangements for this wedding, I will see to it that you spend our wedding dinner sitting on a pillow.” His hand slapped the rounded crest of her cheeks relentlessly through her cries of pain. “Have I made myself crystal clear on the subject?”

“Stop - spanking - me - this - minute!” she managed to half yell, half sob rebelliously, kicking her legs frantically against the desk and trying to wiggle away from the falling blows, all to no avail. He held her fast.

Barrett had no intention of stopping at her behest.

Spankings ended when he felt the punishee was repentant, and she was showing absolutely no signs of willingness to comply with his wishes.

Her order had the exact opposite of the desire effect, making him spank harder and faster. “Noooo, Bar-rett, no mooooooorre! OOWWWWWWWEEEEEE! Sssstoooop!” she cried, certain that she could not stand one more sharp stinging slap to her derriere.

“If you don’t change your tune in about five seconds, Meagan Honoria, I’m going to take off my belt.”

The threat – which he fully intended to carry out if necessary – had the desired effect. “Noooo, I’m soooorrrrrreeeeeeee! I – I’ll do what you tell meeeeeeeee,” he continued to spank and smack away for another few minutes, reddening her down to mid-thigh then back up to make one more thorough round of her wobbling bottom.

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Embraced

When he finally stopped, he did as he had before and held her in place while she sobbed her heart out, reinforcing his dominance over her. Barrett’s big hand remained over the tenderest place on her butt, a firm and strong reminder that the punishment would begin again at the least sign of argument on her part. There was a puddle of tears on his desk blotter, and he knew that he would be reminded of this scene every time he sat at his desk for the rest of the year.

“I want you to get up, get dressed, and go to bed without another word, young lady.”

“But –“ It was only five thirty in the afternoon, she was going to remind him.

Ten well aimed, full strength slaps smacked down on her already too tender nates, refreshing her tearful sobs to full volume.

He repeated himself firmly. “I want you to get up, get dressed, and go to bed without another word, young lady.”

She was smart enough to keep quiet this time, and he released her to step back. Meg was very sure to follow his instructions carefully, knowing without an iota of doubt that if she disobeyed him, he’d punish her again as if this time had never happened. Maybe even with his belt.

Once she was uncomfortably ensconced in her bed, sleep came quickly to the exhausted girl. When Barrett looked in on her an hour later, she was sleeping curled on her side, with Butchie and Tiny lying on either side. They didn’t leave much room for their mistress. He had decided to keep a little closer tabs on the wedding arrangements, because it occurred to him that she might needed a little assistance in acclimating to his world. He had been able to call the boutique and locate, with Mandy’s help, the dress she’d

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tried on and loved, but put back. Appointments had been made for fittings that he would personally make sure she kept. And, on impulse, he called the florist to arrange for a dozen apricot roses to be delivered to her tomorrow morning, as well as the morning of their wedding.

Luckily that day dawned comfortably warm and sunny.

The only cloud on the horizon was Meg’s inability to find her parents and let them know about her marriage. They were traveling somewhere in northern Canada, and though she doubted they’d even attempt to attend the wedding, she would have liked to have let them know about it at least. Barrett had spent the night with his two brothers in Hayden’s apartment, so that there was no chance for him to see his bride prior to the appointed hour. Mandy and Barb helped Meg dress with lots of giggles and laughter, then helped her in and out of the limo. At the appointed hour, Barb walked slowly down the aisle past the handful of invited guests, followed by a tearful Mandy, who realized she was losing her big brother, then by a lightly veiled Meagan, who shone in her bridal finery.

While Meg teetered a little on her way towards Barrett, he stood steady as a rock, waiting for her with a loving, expectant expression on his face. They joined hands, Meg’s cold, clammy one nestled in his big, warm one. The ceremony was short and to the point, and did contain “obey”, which she hesitated on just a bit.

When he was through, the preacher pronounced them man and wife, and told Barrett he could kiss his new bride. Reverently, he lifted the veil from her face, then wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs before giving her a warm, loving kiss. The minister then turned them around and introduced them to their guests as “Mr. and Mrs. Costas.”

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Embraced

The reception was held at the ranch and had a few more people than the wedding, but all in all, they had kept it a deliberately smallish, family affair. Mr. Costas kept a watchful eye on his wife from across the room, occasionally wandering over to her, almost as a reassurance that she was there and was his. Meg shone in the crowd of his family, at surprisingly comfortable meeting all the new people, making them laugh and sharing a secret here and there with the older women, who kept telling her not to let him bully her. Meg reassured them that she wouldn’t. Several told her they resembled his parents, and she took that as a heartfelt compliment.

Dinner was a simple buffet, and he served his bride filet, lobster, and sherried mushrooms from his own plate, which everyone one cheered and giggled at. His instigating brothers and sister tapped their champagne glasses so often that it was a wonder they hadn’t shattered, but Meg and Barrett eagerly complied with each request for a kiss.

The party lasted for several hours before people began to express their good wishes and leave. Barrett was talking to the Reverend, who was the last person left who wasn’t close family, when he felt a warm cheek on the broad shoulder of his black tux.

He turned to kiss the top of a bright head. “Tired, Angel-girl?”

“I’m wiped, Husband.” She proved her words by yawning loudly.

“What say we retire to our chambers?” Amanda, after she supervised the clean up of the catering staff, was staying with Hayden tonight, along with Butch and Tiny. Barrett and Meagan were leaving the next morning for DC. She kissed and hugged her brother and new sister-in-law, then shooed them down the hall, promising to get things cleaned up as quickly as possible then lock up as she left.

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Unbeknownst to Meg, Barrett had had all of her things moved into his room early that morning. He wanted her to be comfortable in their room from the start, and not having to dash back from one room to the other. Her perfumes and make up looked right at home on the lonesome vanity; Barrett was glad it was going to be used again. Dresses and skirts crowded into his shirts and suits, her shoes lined up next to his on the floor of the closet.

Meg was pleasantly surprised to find that he’d even put her shampoo in his shower stall. Their shower stall. Still in her gown, she followed him to the sunken tub, where he began running soothing warm water. The scent of lavender filled the room as he poured the purple beads in, making clouds of bubbled rise. Their eyes met, and his expression was almost too serious as he shirked out of his tuxedo shirt, baring his broad, tanned chest. “My lady’s bath will be ready shortly,” his deep voice boomed. “Why don’t you let me help you out of this?”

He guided her back into their bedroom, and, as she lifted the heavy curtain of her hair, his nimble fingers worked the tiny buttons and hooks down the back of her gown. “You looked exquisite in this dress, my darling,” he complimented, pooling the satiny lace at her feet. Her hand in his, she stepped out of the dress, which he hung carefully on the satin hanger that hung over the closet door. She had already divested herself of the torturously uncomfortable strapless bra by the time he returned to her, and he tried not to stare at her gorgeous breasts while he removed the petticoat and lacy stockings.

Tentative fingertips touched his bare shoulder as he bent to slip the stockings off her feet. “You would make a fabulous lady’s maid, Barrett.”

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Embraced

On one knee, looking up at her, he promised, “Only for you.”

Naked and trembling a little, she stood nervously twisting her new rings. Barrett rose and escorted her into the wonderfully warm bath water as if he was presenting her at a ball. She piled her hair onto her head and leaned against the back of the tub, truly relaxed for the first time in a very, very long while. When she opened her eyes again, he was slipping in next to her, after lighting multiple candelabras to bathe the room in a warm glow. A bottle of chilled champagne rested in a bucket of ice, with two full glasses on the rim of the tub.

Barrett drew her against him, between his legs, her back to his front, his hands roamed lazily over her body, soaping her slickly up and down her tummy, over her sensitive breasts, down between her legs. With each stroke, he was rewarded by small moans and sharply caught breath. Lips nibbled down her neck to lick the area where neck meets shoulder as his big hands cupped her wondrous breasts, relentlessly teasing the hard peaks of her nipples.

Her body moved restlessly as his passionate touch, remembering the heights of ecstasy he had brought her to before; where he intended to take her again and again tonight, until she fell asleep exhausted in his embrace, where she belonged.

As romantic as Jacuzzi tubs seem, they are not the most comfortable place to make love, so Barrett rose and helped her out.

He dried her off very carefully, paying almost embarrassing attention to the moist area between her legs. When she was dry, he doused the candles in the bathroom and told her to stay still for a moment. Returning only to gather her into his arms and deposit her on their king-sized bed in a room bathed in the glow of strategically

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placed scented candles. Soft, romantic music played, and he handed her a glass of champagne as he joined her on the bed.

“To us,” he toasted.

“Us,” she repeated, sipping the sparkling wine. Meg’s head was already spinning a little, so she put the glass down on the nightstand. She was nervous, despite the relaxing drinks and bath.

Barrett did the same, pulling her to him. He took a deep breath. “Feel married yet?”

Meg laughed. “I don’t know. I just feel like me.”

“Me, too. I guess it’ll take a while to sink in.”

“Yeah. A while.”

As if he’d had all he could take of the niceties, she suddenly found herself beneath him, being pressed into the mattress by his weight over her. “I want you, Meagan Costas. Are you up to it tonight?” Barrett was trying to be civil, to be considerate of his wife, knowing she’d run herself ragged with the preparations for the wedding.

Meg’s arms wrapped around his neck as she stroked her fingertips up and down his nape. Her mouth covered his in quick reply. “I can’t say I’m not nervous, but, yes, I’m up to it.”

He lay fully on top of her, parting her legs naturally with his to press his full arousal against her intimately. Startled, Meg arched her back, which only served to open herself to him further.

Not liking the almost fearful look in her eyes, he concentrated his entire being on bringing her pleasure.

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No part of her body remained untouched, but when she tried to reciprocate, not wanting to be selfish, he gently pressed her arms back into the mattress, shaking his head. A warm, wet tongue traced down her belly and over each kneecap then down to suckle her toes, making her laugh at the tickling sensation. As he licked the soles of each foot, he turned her over onto her tummy, exposing the long line of her legs and bottom. His mouth caressed it’s way up the backs of her legs, like tracing the seam of a stocking, then bit gently at the under swell of her round bottom cheeks. Meg yelped as he continued to nibble, using just the edges of his teeth, over each curve, thoroughly enjoying himself in the process. The still knotted muscles in her back were tenderly kneaded away until she felt as if her body had become limp as a wet noodle before his mouth locked onto the back of her neck like a mamma dog about to shake her pup. He buried his face and hands into her hair at the same time, combing through the waves and massaging her scalp, deeply inhaling her scent.

It was only natural to turn onto her back for him when he pressed her hip, and allowed him to scrunch down between her open legs, kissing his way slowly, reverently to her most sensitive spot. When he applied his wet, warm lips against her already swollen clit, she jumped, pressing herself further into his eager mouth. The sensation was too much to bear, but when Meg tried to scoot her butt away from him, he locked his hands onto her hips, holding her tightly but gently in place. Barrett was not about to let her get away from his loving mouth.

He could watch the level of her pleasure increase as the feelings passed plainly over her face, reveling in her responsiveness. When he had her close to peaking, he carefully pressed his middle finger against her opening and encountered the slight resistance he’d been expecting. Gently, inexorably, he forced her body to accept his intrusion, pushing until, all of a sudden, he was buried up to his last knuckle, and Meagan gave a