Guardian Domination (10 page)

“A please would be nice,” I snarled, snapping the leash on the girls. There was going to be trouble, but I promised Jace I wouldn’t start it this time.

She eyed my girls skeptically. “That one is too big for a female and will never show with two different color eyes. That one is too skittish to amount to anything.”

Oh, no you didn't! Breathe… Calm…

“I am aware of my dogs’ physical and mental statuses, thank you. And they are
working
dogs, not foo-fooers,” I informed her bluntly. “Do
you
have a name? Obviously, you have no manners.”

“Her name is Reina,” another voice popped in. “I’m Cara. You must be Celeste. I’ve heard about your pups.” Cara shook my hand and let her border come over to meet my girls. Both were wagging their tails, sniffing, and initiating play with their new friend, Torque.

“You have?” I followed her to the pen where we let the three off the leash.

“Yeah, they both landed first in the Fresno trials. You trained them?”

“Me and my… family,” I didn’t want to go into a long explanation about our family dynamic. “They are really easy. How about you?”

“I’m a foo-fooer,” she grinned, seeing me blush. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I’m hoping to bring him into herding. A REAL border needs to work.”

Reina muttered, “
Low life!
” and stomped out after locking her poor dog in his crate.

“What’s her deal?” I asked, going over and letting him sniff my hand. He was really sweet, despite his owner.

“She’s not so bad. Stuck up, but she handles well. Flash adores her. He’s just got some show flaws that she can’t get over. He wants to work and she isn’t smart enough to train him. That’s why she’s here.”

“Oh,” I giggled as Flash licked my ear through the grid. Cara locked the cabin door and let our three out of the pen where they immediately went to meet their captive roommate. Flash wagged his tail and shared kisses through the grate.

“She’ll loosen up with him. It usually takes her a day to make sure the other dogs won’t beat him up. They’ll be okay. Wanna grab a soda?”

I nodded and, after leashing the pups, we were on our way to the concession stand. I didn’t see Reina again until that night, and offered to help her with Flash. She snubbed me and, after a quick brushing, put him back in his crate.

Cara and I, on the other hand, snuggled with our pups on our bunks, taking time for making them “pretty” before putting them to bed. Princess happily settled right down in her crate, but Diamond (our love bug/puppy pillow) whined until she was nestled in bed, under the covers, with me.

The next morning, I was informed by the old man that I had broken the rules regarding crating as he wrote something down on his ever-present tablet. I could not understand why he seemed to have taken such a dislike to me and my dogs, but I knew I needed to keep an eye on him. I told Cara.

“Old Man Perkins is an asshole. He thinks that if your dog isn’t from prime stock, you have no business being here.”

“Excuse me, but Jace could buy this place and a hundred like it, and never even blink an eye. Who does this jerk think he is?”

“Dr. Perkins is the utmost authority for Westminster and an international best-of-breed judge. He knows poor breeding when he sees it.” Reina sneered at my dogs then me. “I’m gathering you understand… after all, isn’t that the product of convicts and being dropped off on a stoop with, what? Oh yes, a guardian for the state?”

How did she know this stuff? My rage bubbled and I lost it. I made a dive for her, but Cara held me back. “Cool it, they’ll throw you out. Look, you’re upsetting the dogs.”

“I’m warning you, Bitch, stay out of my face,” I growled at Reina with a veiled threat. “There’s a lot you learn in juvie.”

“I’m telling!” she shrieked, running out of the cabin.

Cara laughed. “What is she? Five? Okay; you’re gonna get another write up. It takes three before they call home, and then it’s just a warning.”

“How the hell did she get that information?” I fumed, utterly humiliated in front of my new friend as I explained the circumstances of my arrangement with Jace.

Cara shrugged. “Part of the head-game in this circuit. If you have money, you can discover your opponent’s weakness. She found yours, huh? Just don’t give her the power to get under your skin.”

Sure enough, another write up. And I still had three more days of this bitch. She was smart enough to avoid me until Sunday afternoon rolled around…

Cara and I were down at the lake for free-play with the borders. Flash came racing by to tackle his three roommates happily and initiate a wrestling match and tug of war with a rope Cara and I were practicing our commands with distractions, and our dogs were performing admirably.

Suddenly, Reina started screaming as Flash got involved in a minor skirmish with a large Aussie. We naturally ran to help and Reina shoved her elbow forcefully into my ribs. All self-control left me and, without thinking, I punched her squarely in the face. I walked away as she sat dazed on the ground and only had a warning bark from Torque when she jumped me from behind. All hell broke loose.

“Girl fight!” someone yelled. The animals went ballistic as we rolled over the ground, and cheers rose around us as I tore into her with every bit of rage inside of me. I was yanked off and held back by a pair of strong arms, keeping me from finishing the job I started.

“Stop this now!” Perkins yelled. “I warned you, no fighting, you juvenile delinquent!” he screamed in my face.

“She started it!” I yelled back, suddenly realizing why he loathed me so much. He, too, had discovered my past problems. I glared at Reina as she was helped up off the ground, pleased to see she had suffered some damage. As for me…my hair was messed up and I bumped my arm on a little rock.

Perkins dragged me to the office where he called Jace, not knowing that he was at his gig and wouldn’t be getting his message until the morning. I was placed on house arrest in a single cabin and was visited by Cara, who had been watching the girls for me.

“You should see Reina. She has a major shiner and a swollen lip. Honestly, I don’t think she ever looked better. I’ll bet she’ll think twice before she pulls anything with you again.”

“Yeah, like they would ever let me come back,” I chuckled. “Jace’s gonna be madder than hell. He specifically told me no fighting.”

“Well, she did start it,” Cara said, shrugging her shoulders and laughing when little Diamond jumped into her lap and curled into a ball to be loved on.

“Jace won’t care who started it. I’m dead meat,” I sighed. “And Mark won’t be home for another week to defend me.”

Cara bit her lip. “How long do you think he’ll ground you for?”

“I don’t get grounded,” I said quietly, looking at the floor.

Cara looked confused. “Then what are you worried about? You can ignore the yelling.”

“I don’t get yelled at either. Cara,” I blushed, “my guardians prefer to spank me.”

“What? Oh shit,” she muttered. “I’ve never been spanked, just get yelled at and grounded. That must be awful. I mean, you’re eighteen, right? How can they get away with that?”

“Jace was given full conservatorship of me until I turn twenty-one and regain my ‘adult’ rights and Mark was named as a legal guardian. They can legally do whatever they want to and, frankly, they don’t care about how old I am. And, yeah… well… it’s pretty bad,” I admitted, rubbing Torque’s tummy. “But at least it’s over and done with, and they always hold me afterwards. They don’t believe in locking me away. Probably because I’d get into more trouble.” I smiled.

“I dunno,” Cara shifted on the bed. “I really hate being stuck in my room like a prison. I’m like you, we live in the middle of nowhere so it’s boring enough. But no TV, computer or cell phone, plus the silent treatment… it’s like solitary confinement in Alcatraz. I think I’d rather be spanked.”

“You should ask your dad then,” I suggested. “It’s embarrassing, but maybe it would work for you.”

“Oh, I would DIE before I did that!” Cara shuddered. “Well, here’s my number. Call me sometime?”

We exchanged information with promises to keep in touch and hopefully make plans to see each other again.

“That would be fun… As long as your family doesn’t pull that spank bit on ME,” she frowned.

I couldn’t help but laugh, I could tell she was really curious. “No guarantee, especially if you got into trouble.” I eyed her. “I doubt they would ignore it.”

“Maybe just a
little
trouble?” she giggled evilly.

I shook my head. “Be careful what you wish for.”

Time ticked by as I waited for the telltale signs of Jace’s arrival. His heavy footsteps up wood steps, greeted by loud, excited barks, preceded the knock at the door. Jace greeted me with a quick hug and then lifted my chin up to look into his eyes. I could read everything there. He really didn’t look very angry. In fact, his eyes told me he had been expecting something like this.

I swallowed, wondering how I was going to function once the element of surprise was gone. He was then on the ground and loving on the dogs, laughing as Torque wiggled in, demanding as much attentions as the girls.

Cara giggled as Jace struggled to get up from the happy animals for their introductions, charming her immediately with his warm, attentive gaze and gentle smile. On her final hug with me, she whispered, “Good luck; he looks strong. And he’s super cute….”

The drive was very quiet as the girls settled down and I contemplated my next move. Deciding to break the silence, I began to describe how well the dogs performed in all their categories and unwisely added that they had, once again, come in first in obedience trials.

“At least I know two of my girls know how to behave,” he said quietly.

I shrunk in my seat, feeling like I was five. He sounded so
old
all of a sudden, making our thirteen year age difference feel like centuries.

“Jace, I’m sorry. She started it. She was insulting the girls and you,” I told him about her instigation technique and assured him that the lake incident was in self-defense.

Jace was silent for a while, considering the situation. I took the opportunity to tell him about the other rules I had broken and the reason Perkins was out to get me.

Jace remained quiet, eyes on the road. “Are you hungry?” he asked, pulling into a restaurant for a stretch break. He hadn’t said two words to me since my confession.

“Not really. Are you mad at me?”

“No, I’m just trying to decide how to handle this. I have to admit, I probably would have done the same thing,” he said honestly. “You really decked her?”

“Yeah, she had one hell of a shiner and a fat lip when I saw her last.” I smiled.

He leashed the pups and we walked out into the small grassy area. “You do know I am obligated to punish you for this, right? I did tell you no fighting. You could have walked away from the fight after she elbowed you. This is part of your probation issues, Honey.”

“Yeah, I know. But it really wasn’t my fault and she did jump me when I did walk away.” At least he didn’t care about the rules I broke. “I guess I could have just pinned her and not kept punching. I kind of let my anger take over.”

I also told him about my talk with Cara and her reaction to my confession. He nodded thoughtfully. “That’s not unusual. Think about how much better you felt when you knew we weren’t going to ignore you or lock you out of sight. It made you feel accepted.”

“How bad is it going to be?” I asked, my voice small.

Jace sighed, “Pretty bad. Not like New York, but pretty bad. I won’t have my girl acting as anything other than a dignified lady. And ladies do not get into fist fights.”

Pretty bad was an understatement. After we got home and settled, Jace called me into his bedroom. He had opened the infamous “second drawer”, and I watched as he removed a thin cane from there, studied it, then swished it in the air a couple of times.

My stomach turned.

Jace looked at me and noticed the color draining from my face. “I think it’s high time you learned what obeying my instructions mean. Because of the situation, and the fact that you were provoked, I’m will reduce this to half of what you would ordinarily receive for such an infraction, and the fact it is your first offense. Nine strokes of the cane. Followed by a hand spanking.”

I was less than relieved. That thing was lethal! Jace flexed it in his hand and pointed to the high-edged bed. Not having the wherewithal to argue and make things worse for myself, I obeyed as I bent over the edge. Holding my breath, I waited. He said nothing about taking down my jeans.

SWISH! I was not ready for the sharp cutting sensation across my rear-end. I squeaked. Another landed, across my sit spot. “OWWWWW!” I yelled. And yet another across the middle of my bottom, then a fourth one to the back of my thighs. By now, I was dancing in place.

“Jeans down.” Jace ordered firmly. Hands trembling, I obeyed, tears close to coming. He pointed to the bed and repositioned me. “Three over your panties and then the last two bare.”

Oh, God! Not that my panties gave me any protection. I shrieked loudly on the first stroke. He took his time, tapping the cane against me as he checked the outside of my thigh. The next landed in the same place across my panty-clad bottom. The tears were coming now and I clutched a pillow, wiggling desperately.

“Stay still,” Jace ordered, swishing the cane in the air again. It landed with a loud
Crack!
across my sit spots. I squawked as I reached my hands back to protect myself. “Na, uh, you know better than that, Missy. Move them.”

Once I gathered the courage to obey, I felt him pull my panties down and inspect my bottom before repositioning himself next to me. “The next two will be fast. Do not move or we will do them again,” he commanded in a voice that I had not heard before. There was something in his tone that clearly said not to disobey, no matter the cost. I clutched the pillow and buried my face. Squeals erupted from my mouth as he administered the final strokes quickly to my bare bottom. Except for clenching, I didn’t move.

Jace pulled a straight back, armless chair next to the bed and ordered me across his lap.