Guardian Domination (12 page)

“You should be brother before teacher,” I argued.

He ignored me. “I will always defer to Jace’s decisions regarding you. There will be no more with you trying to play us against each other. Yeah, we see it. From now on, I am going to be more consistent with you and enforce my authority if I must.”

He took my water bottle from me and patted his lap. “Let’s get this over with.”

Ruefully, I obeyed, groaning as he positioned me in that all-to-familiar place over a man’s lap, my shorts and panties pulled down to my knees. I suddenly started laughing as he adjusted me.

“What’s so funny? This is going to smart.”

“I’m sorry,” I laughed, tears coming to my eyes. “I must be losing my mind or something. I was just comparing your lap to Jace. He’s more muscular and has more cushion for me. You’re too bony.”

“Very funny. Let me know when you’re done stalling. I have things to do today.”

“I’m sorry,” I sobered up, bracing my hands on the floor. “I’m done.”

I started squirming within seconds and kicking within a minute as Mark’s callused hand splatted against my backside with the precision and speed of a seasoned drummer. He didn’t slow down, going almost two solid minutes at that ridiculous, mind boggling pace.

Unlike Jace, I never had the chance to catch my breath and was quickly reduced to a blubbering mass of tears. He slowed a bit, focusing on my sit spot and upper thighs, making certain that his hand left a lasting impression. I tried to find that special place in my mind where I couldn’t feel anything, but his pace and intensity disabled me from going there.

When he finally stopped and silently rubbed my bottom, the full extent of remorse washed over me. He held me in place, draped over his knees with his hand on the small of my back until I was cried out.

I felt truly chastised and almost childlike as he pulled me to my feet, and fixed my panties and shorts to cover me.

He smoothed my shirt over my hips and then took my hands in his. “Celeste, you’re like a little sister to me and I don’t enjoy pounding on you. Believe it or not, it hurts me every time I have to do it. Please, don’t make me do this more than I have to,” he requested sincerely.

“I’m really sorry I’ve been such a bi… so mean to you. I really do love you and I have so much fun playing with you. I know I need to remember my place,” I said in a small voice, lowering my face in shame.

With a kiss and a loving hug, Mark stood up and walked me back to the main house.

“Made up?” Jace asked, seeing me rub my bottom briefly.

“Yeah, and J, if it’s okay with you, I think I’d like to have Thanksgiving with my family. Just you two,” Mark requested, hugging me again.

Jace smiled broadly, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “That I would enjoy. By the way, you’re cooking.”

“It would be my pleasure. Celeste? Do you want to help?”

I nodded eagerly, knowing I had something to truly be thankful for that year.

Chapter Nine

New Year, Same Trouble

Holidays are usually pretty hectic for musicians. Jace was constantly back and forth between performing and recording sessions, and Mark was exhausted between school and late-night gigs.

I grabbed the opportunity to try to convince them to give me some time off during the holiday season. It took a while, but they both finally saw the sense in it.

Thanksgiving had been fabulous. Mark prepared most of the meal while Jace and I sat and watched TV, munching on deviled eggs and chips with onion dip.

Impressed with Mark’s skills in the kitchen, and always feeling the manly need to compete, Jace agreed to do Christmas dinner where he would make his special chicken and Cajon shrimp. Never avoiding the chance to yank Jace’s chain, Mark tried to convince him to make a Christmas ham. Jace’s return comment, said with a very straight and serious expression, was that if Mark could prove that Jesus had ham on his birthday, he would be more than happy to comply. I rolled on the floor laughing at that one. Mark didn’t find it as amusing, but too bad.

New Year’s Eve was
boring
and I celebrated alone by talking briefly to Cara. The following morning, I came downstairs to find both boys passed out in the living room, sleeping off the gig they'd performed the night before in San Francisco. It was already 2:00 and I decided that they had slept long enough. I let the dogs in to do their work and get Jace and Mark moving.

Mark grumbled and went back to the guest house while Jace, unsuccessfully, tried to make it to his own room.

“Come on, you’ve been asleep for
hours
,” I complained, standing in his way in the hall, trying to block his migration to his big, comfy bed. “You need to get up and pay attention to
me!
”

“When did you start this whining shit?” Jace grumbled, trying to move me out of his way, “I want to get some more sleep. Now move before you get hurt.”

“
No
! I’m
bored
.”

“You're irritating me. I’ll spend time with you after I sleep. Stop it,” Jace growled, moving me out of the way. He closed his bedroom door behind him and I kicked it. “You’re in trouble for that when I get up,” Jace yelled.

I didn’t care. I was angry, bored, and lonely. I walked outside to the grounds and contemplated my next move. I knew every inch of this twenty-acre property and wondered what was around the road opposite from where we always drove. I decided that since Jace would be asleep for a long time, I’d go take a walk with the girls.

The electric gate clicked loudly behind us as we left the property and began down the quiet road. Lost in thought, I wandered along the little back roads and pathways, not paying attention to time until it started getting dark. When I turned to return home, I realized that I had gotten lost with the main road far out of sight. I immediately decided that this was all Jace’s fault for being such a hermit and for ignoring me.

I reached for my cell phone and groaned… I had left it on the countertop in the kitchen. My heart was pounding as I attempted to get the girls to track, but they were far more interested in the new smells and evil squirrels than in going home.

Within an hour, darkness fully set in and there was not a house in sight. Triggered by wanting to eat, Princess started pulling at her leash and eventually brought us back to the main road. I was so disoriented and just started to blindly follow Princess’ lead, hoping that we would eventually see a house.

It seemed like we were walking for hours. I was tired and hungry, getting really cold, and I knew the puppies felt the same. Headlights blazed ahead and, with hope, I waved the car down. It pulled to the side of the road. A black Lexus. Jace.

“Are you alright!?” He jumped out of the car and grabbed my upper arms with the look of panic on his handsome face. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick!”

“I was bored and took a walk. We got lost and I didn’t have my cell,” I said. “I’m fine. I’m surprised you even noticed I was gone,” I said bitterly.

“I’ve called the cops… everyone is looking for you. Didn’t I tell you not to leave the grounds? There is nothing but back country here. Thank God you’re safe,” he sighed, still clinging tightly to me. After another big hug of relief, Jace opened the car door for the girls to hop in, followed by me. He did a U-turn and started towards the house.

“To start with, you are grounded for one week to your room. No TV, no computer, no cell phone. You will stay in your room except for meals, school and chores. If you thought you were bored before, you will now see what boredom is
really
like!
Comprende?
” he stated firmly.

“I guess locking me out of your way is easier than spending time with me. This is
your
fault. If you hadn’t gone back to bed, I wouldn’t have had to find something to do. You are so unfair!” I yelled back at him.

He looked at me in the rear view mirror, but I couldn’t see his expression. It had been a long time since I last raised my voice to him, or challenged him so directly. “I know you aren’t intending on speaking to me in that tone of voice, Young Lady. Are you?”

I didn’t answer, just crossed my arms and sunk in the seat. Jace pulled into the driveway and parked the car. “Get into the house while I take care of the dogs. You are to plant your butt at the kitchen bar and not move until I get inside. Run!” he snapped.

I ran.

I traced the marble counter top with my finger while waiting. Jace came in and put my dinner plate in front of me. “Eat,” he commanded, pulling up a bar stool across from me. “You know, we’ve been together for what, nine months now? What do you do, stretch out your time between disobeying my direct orders? You have challenged nearly every one of them so far. I’m really surprised we didn’t have to deal with this one sooner.”

“It’s not like I was running away or trying to set the woods on fire. I just took the dogs for a walk.” I shrugged my shoulders, picking at the cauliflower. I hate cauliflower.

Jace slapped his hand against the counter top, making me jump. “Did it cross your mind that you might not have been found out there? It gets cold here at night! Did you think that a jacket would keep you warm? What about the dogs… no food or water for them? What about me and Mark? He doesn’t even know yet, thank God,” Jace really looked scared for a moment.

“I would have found my way back eventually. I’m not a child, for crying out loud. And where’s Mark?” I asked stubbornly, refusing to let him get under my skin.

“He left for Gayle’s before I woke up. He has his phone off and I didn’t want to leave him a message before I knew anything. Damn it, Celeste. What the hell is wrong here? I’m doing everything I can, but it’s never enough.”

“I didn’t
run away
. I just took a walk, for heaven’s sake. So I got lost. If you didn’t live in the middle of nowhere, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“Are you complaining about this house you live in? Or the conditions?” Jace asked sharply.

“No! Don’t you get it? I’m bored out of my mind when you’re not around. I don’t watch TV or listen to music all the time. I just wanted to spend some time with you. I’ve hardly seen you since November. You don’t listen! I miss you and… I need you. You are everything to me and I hate feeling this way, but I do!”

The outburst came unexpectedly and I held back tears, angry with myself for being so blunt and exposing myself so much.

Jace was quiet, thinking about what I said. He traced the marble with his fingertip, just like I had done. Looking up, he had tears in his eyes.
My
Jace?
Emotional
? This was a side I hadn’t seen before. He seemed so vulnerable, and I loved him even more for it.

“Jace? I’m sorry. I’m so selfish at times and I didn’t think how it would affect you. I guess I’m still not really used to anyone caring so much. It’s not your fault. It’s me,” I said, not letting my eyes leave his face.

He didn’t answer me, just studied my features.

I took a deep breath. “I want you to put me over your knee and spank me with your hand on the bare bottom like there’s no tomorrow. Then I want you to hold me and never let me go.”

“I can certainly do that. Every night before bed for the week you are grounded.”

My mouth dropped. I should have known he wouldn’t make it that easy.

“You will also have extra homework to keep you occupied,” he continued calmly, “In addition, I want a thousand word essay about how to conquer boredom while living in a hovel like this.”

He acted like I hadn’t said anything personal, and I was glad of that. “Yes, Sir. Are you going to tell Mark?”

“He’ll know you are being punished. If he asks, I will tell him. There is no other need to include him in this right now except for the school work.”

That was a relief. The last thing I wanted was
Mark’s
lectures on top of things.

Jace sent me up to my room with instructions to clean up and get ready for bed. It was already 11:00 and I quickly showered and changed, waiting impatiently for Jace to join me.

I knew I deserved this spanking and that I had deliberately disobeyed him to gain any type of attention from him. It had been a desperate, but very foolish move. I knew that Jace sincerely loved me and the feeling was reciprocated.

I pondered the depth of his character… he was attentive and compassionate, generous and always considered the feelings of others before himself. I shamefully realized that I would be a better person if I started following the example he was setting for me. He would never have just disappeared on me, no matter what was going on. I forced myself to be honest. I deserved more than a hand-spanking.

I could hear him on the phone downstairs discussing a contract. I snuck into his room and, holding my breath, opened the infamous second drawer. I quickly dismissed the cane; no matter how guilty I felt— no way would I ask for that. It literally terrified me. The thick leather strap looked menacing enough and I carefully removed it from its place. I noticed it was soft and well oiled, too. Sighing, I closed the drawer and went back into my room, placing it on the bed next to me. Jace tapped on my door about fifteen minutes later.

“Come in,” I said quietly.

His eyes caught the strap on the bed, and he nodded with approval. “I was wondering how long it would take you to be more honest with yourself,” he commented, sitting on my vanity chair to face me. “What brought you to your conclusion?”

“You would never do to me what I do to you, even accidentally. I’m really sorry,” I said, holding back an exhausted yawn.

Jace patted my leg. “Get some sleep. We will take care of this after breakfast. And it does not change the fact that you will be receiving a spanking every night before bed for this next week.”

“Yes, sir,” I sighed. He pulled the blankets down and tucked me in, sitting on the side of the bed to stroke my hair and face. His eyes were warm and kind, filled with genuine love as he held me close and silently held me in his arms, reassuring me of his presence.