Playing a Little (6 page)

“It is especially lovely here in the winter on a sunny day,” Erik said, slowly reaching to release Camille’s hair from the bun. “The color reminds me of your hair during sunset. Shh, let me take it down. It is beautiful, you know.”

Camille lowered her face as her hair tumbled over her shoulders. Erik gently ran his hand over it.

“Over here,” Arthur cleared his throat, “is the billiards room and bar. Let’s head to the garden room where the caterers set up our breakfast. We have to go through the aviary, so watch your heads. The hummingbirds are very territorial.”

“This is breathtaking,” Camille whispered to Erik. “Are we really going to be staying here for the filming?”

“Yeah. It took me nearly a month to find my way around the first time I came here. There is over 28,000 square feet of living area, not counting the grounds. My only suggestion is to not go swimming in the pond. Some of Arthur’s koi can swallow you whole. Plus, it pisses him off. He loves his damn fish.”

“That doesn’t surprise me after discovering he keeps a heated fish pond during the winter,” Camille giggled, holding her hand over her mouth in a way that Erik found very appealing. Her smile was contagious and he found himself wanting to find ways to bring it out even more. They walked down several curved stairs and into another large room that contained splashing fountains, ornamental trees, more orchids, and giant masses of ferns. Lounges and reading chairs were nestled in different parts of the garden, and sounds of quiet wind chimes echoed from behind the trees. Several hummingbirds flitted above them, diving toward the invaders with high squawks announcing their intent to guard their tiny nests.

“Damn little birds are meaner than shit,” Arthur grumbled, ducking one. He gestured toward the adjacent room where a table was laden with fruit, Danishes, breads, and plates of Nova Scotia salmon, caviar, and smoked trout. “Please, help yourself. Just keep the aviary door closed otherwise those darts with wings will come in and stab you.”

“I don’t know, Cam,” Stan said, accepting a mimosa from the caterer, “you will be impossible to live with if I allow you to stay here.”

“Not to worry,” Erik laughed, sipping his. “I promise not to spoil her. Oh no, you don’t, little girl. No alcohol for you,” he said, snatching the drink from Camille’s hand. “Plain juice for her, please.”

“That’s not fair!” Camille protested. “You can’t tell me…”

“That is quite enough, Camille. You can have juice, tea, or water.” Erik lifted his eyebrow in return to Camille’s angry glare. Thanking the waiter, he handed her the glass and watched as she narrowed her eyes before taking it from him. Arthur and Stan said nothing, although Erik did not miss the wink Arthur offered or the tiny smirk on Stan’s face.

Erik kept a careful eye on Camille as the details for the movie set were discussed. She frowned several times, blushed quite often, and slouched in her chair with boredom. He patted her thigh and stood.

“Gentlemen, if you would please excuse me, but we have a very bored young lady who is eager to see the rest of this house. Camille?”

The girl quickly stood, accepting his hand gratefully as he led her away from the room and out to the center hub of the structure. The bridges and pathways from the raised platform jutted out like spokes on a wheel and Camille wrinkled her eyebrows with a look of confusion.

“Don’t worry, you’ll find your way around. So, are you angry with me?” he asked, leading her over a narrow bridge with delicate wooden railing.

“More annoyed. There is nothing wrong with me having a mimosa. I get them all the time.”

“Not with me, you don’t. You are too young to be drinking. Ah, no arguing. This is another house rule. Along with no dumping snow on my head. Last night was an exception because, besides the fact you needed to warm up after your swim, we had not started the training.”

“How many house rules are you going to try to impose upon me?”

“As many as I need to keep things in order here. This is my favorite place in this compound. You can always find me here if I am in a thoughtful state of mind,” Erik said, leading her up a small spiral staircase and into a pagoda-shaped tower that overlooked the estate. Camille walked the parameter of the tiny room, her eyes staring in wonderment at the panoramic scene of a frozen blue lake, snow-covered forest, and distant amethyst mountains. Erik wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “During the summer, you can see the mountains reflected on the lake like a mirror. Sometimes, we can even see the northern lights. Cold?”

“No, not at all. In fact, it is rather toasty in here,” Camille said, pulling away from his arm.

“Please, sit down. Let’s talk about what is going to be happening here. I am going to take the part of being your life coach and helping you gain an understanding about who you are and how to evolve as a person.”

“Sounds scary. For you, I mean.”

“I am not too concerned. I want to draw out the very best from you, but it is going to take time and a lot of trust. You don’t know me well enough to trust me, so I understand. I got Arthur to agree to spending two weeks together sightseeing and messing around before we move in.”

“Nobody has ever done that for me before,” Camille whispered after a moment of silence.

“Done what?”

She looked down. “Took a stand for me like you did against Arthur. That took a lot of guts. Thanks.”

“I don’t want you to be hurt or feel intimidated as we pursue this experiment. I… I feel this strong need to protect you. I can’t help it. It is just who I am.”

“I guess it isn’t too bad. Except when you are bossy. I really don’t like mimosas very much, anyway.”

“Good! Then I don’t need to worry about you fighting me about it. Believe it or not, I am pretty low-key. I hate conflict and being micromanaged.”

“Me too. I rebel when someone tries to tell me what to do. Especially when I don’t want to do it.”

“That is important to know because I am going to be telling you to do a lot of things, and I will be expecting you to mind me for your own good. Some things won’t make sense right away and I refuse to explain myself every time. Can you bring yourself to trust me enough to try to listen?”

“Listening is not the problem. Doing as I’m told is,” Camille laughed light-heartedly.

“We will see about that,” Erik answered good-naturedly. “As it is, I owe you a little something for dumping that snow on me.”

“Oh, come on now. I was just playing. Don’t look so serious.”

“Being a brat is serious business,” Erik said grimly. “Now, how many swats do you think you deserve for your mean little prank?”

“Erik! There is no way…”

“We might as well start practicing our characters, Cam. You are to call me Uncle Erik when you are in your role. I am your guardian and your teacher, and dumping snow on me was very naughty and disrespectful.”

He fought not to laugh as she stuttered wildly, offering explanations for her behavior as her eyes darted around the room, looking for a means of escape. She was certainly adorable, especially in her panicked disarray. Erik forced a stern look upon his face.

“Cami, you deserve a spanking and you will receive one. Now answer me, young lady.”

“You are crazier than bat-shit.”

“That is not a nice way for a little girl to talk. Where do you think you are going?”

“Out of this loony bin. I am not going to allow you to spank me. I am not twelve anymore, nor is this a scene!”

“You have to walk over my legs to go anywhere, which would make things very easy for me. No, you are not twelve. I think we could start at half that.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Six. You can start at being six and we will see how it works. As for allowing me to spank you, I recall you signed the movie contract permitting me to use whatever training methods I felt were appropriate to help you learn to adopt this persona.”

“I did not!” Camille yelled, stomping her foot.

“Yes, you did. I seriously cannot believe the fit you are having. I am not going to be taking down your pants. Not this time, at least. Now be a big girl and accept your punishment.”

Camille simply stared at Erik. With a loud sigh, he grabbed her wrist and sent her flying across his long thighs, deftly pinning her legs under his right knee. She yelled at him to release her, lifting her hands to protect her protruding bottom.

“Thank you. I always appreciate it when things are made easier for me,” he said with amusement as he held both her wrists firmly against the small of her back. Resting his hand on her jean-clad posterior, he asked, “How many, Cam?”

“You can’t do this! I’m an adult!”

“Do adults soak people in snow?”

“Some do! Please, let me go.”

“No way, little girl. Not until we are done here. Last time. How many?”

“Oh my God! Erik!”

“Very well. I think ten would be appropriate. Just so you know,” he adjusted her wriggling body, “this will hurt much, much more on a bare backside.”

Lifting his hand high, Erik aimed for the delicious curve outlined by Camille’s jeans, right where the fade marks showed from many hours of sitting. Her yowl echoed through the small room.

“That hurt! Stop it, Erik!”

“That was only one. Does it really pay to be a brat?” he asked, landing a second loud swat on the opposite side and receiving a satisfactory yelp in return.

“Ow! Please let me go!”

“Two, my darling. This brings back some memories now, doesn’t it?” His hand clapped heavily upon the right crown of her bottom and immediately was followed by a repeat to the left side. “Four now. Where do you think you are going? Here come the final six. I really hope that I am giving you something to think about, little girl.”

Camille struggled breathlessly to escape the biting blows to her derriere, her hair laying in a tangled mess around her face as she shook back and forth. She was held helplessly captive by his strong grip and Erik fought back his arousal as she squirmed unhappily over his lap. Her yowls of pain and frustration let him know that the point was being made. He did not desire to bring tears. Not this time. This spanking was simply to be a warning of things to come should she insist on pressing her luck with him.

As soon as he unwrapped his leg from its spot, Camille jumped off his lap and grabbed her bottom, bouncing like she had been bitten by ants. Her face was beet red, causing her freckles to stand out boldly from the bridge of her nose. Her hair was a halo around her head, the curls in massive disarray as they framed her face. Erik leaned back, crossing his long legs as he observed her sweet pink lips mouthing the word ‘ow.’

“Come sit on my lap, Camille. Just like you did way back when you first felt the power of my hand. Don’t fight me.” Erik’s soothing voice coaxed her into obedience. Camille sniffled as he pulled her into a comforting embrace against his chest, smoothing the hair from her face and tenderly kissing her forehead. He noticed the tears pooling in her beautiful hazel eyes as she submitted to his care. Yes, this was going to work, he thought with relief as she began to sink against him.

“Please don’t make Uncle Erik do that again, baby girl. It hurts both of us.”

“I’m sorry,” Camille whimpered, tucking her head under his chin. He kissed the tip of her nose and began to rock her gently, enjoying the feel of her body next to him. She fit against him perfectly, like she had been molded to sit on his lap forever.

“You are forgiven,” he whispered. A sudden outburst of tears surprised him. “Baby? What is wrong? Talk to me.”

“I… no one… has… ever…” Camille sobbed, “held me… like this before.”

“Shhh. Everything will be fine. Get used to these cuddles, because they are going to be part of your life for at least the next couple of months. Uncle Erik likes to cuddle his baby girl.”

“I’ve never been spanked before either,” Camille sniffed. “It is humiliating.”

“It is supposed to be. That is why it is such an effective punishment for bratty little girls. Did you learn something from it?”

“Yeah,” Camille said, her voice tiny and muffled against his throat, “that next time I dump snow on you, I need to put a magazine in my jeans.”

“Oh, really?” Erik laughed, pulling her away to look at her face with mirth. “Well, my sweet, next time you dump snow on Uncle Erik, you won’t have these jeans to protect you. For now on, all your spankings will be on the bare bottom.”

“No! You can’t! I mean, you will see…”

“Everything that nature has awarded you. That should be quite the deterrent, yes?”

“You are so mean!” Camille pouted, sinking back against his warm chest.

He wrapped his arms around her, again kissing the top of her head. “So you said. I am giving you one last chance to change your mind about this. Do you want to continue?”

“I have to, we signed the contract.”

“I also placed a written statement in it that allows you one opportunity to rescind. This is it. Well?”

“I don’t know…”

“It will mean a lot of cuddles and, possibly, just as many spankings. I am very firm with my little ones. I will also be taking full responsibility of your personal care, so I will be seeing you without your clothing. I, however, will not touch you intimately without your permission.”

Camille inhaled his scent deeply, still held firmly in his arms. “You won’t really hurt me, will you?” Her voice was small, childlike.

“Never, baby. I promise.”

He held his breath as Camille looked down at her fingers, thinking. Her eyes glistened with the remnants of her tears as she answered.

“Yes.” Her voice was raspy and meek. “I will do this.”

Camille waved as Stan and Arthur left the compound, leaving her alone with Erik for the first time. They had spent the last twelve days with the two older men sightseeing and doing guest appearances for several stations, promising the development of a new Crenshaw film.

“How are you doing, baby girl?” Erik asked, wrapping his left arm around her small shoulders and planting an affectionate kiss on her temple.

“Okay, I guess. Confused, mostly. This is a lot to take in,” Camille answered as she fingered the Life Alert button hanging around her neck.