Aftercare: General's Daughter, Book 4 (26 page)

“Lower your voice and close the door. We’re embarrassing Jen.
Show some courtesy, Sam. You sound more and more like Scott every day and that
is not necessarily a good thing. Now, sit down and explain to me what you are
talking about.”

“Oh, sorry. Enhanced dopamine levels would explain a lot of
our experiences. Like this weird twin thing we have. For as long as I can
remember, we have been this way. Maybe we emit some kind of chemical that
stimulates our brain function, too. That would explain why we’ve always done
better when we’ve trained and taken classes together.”

“And why I can find you. Interesting.”

“We really should start experimenting together. I think the
initial integration just increased the CNS production that allowed us to go to
this next level. Maybe my accident stimulated a greater production of the
dopamine in my system and increased our connection. Can we please study this?”

“Yeah, I think that would be fine. We need a third party who’s
not affected, though.”

“Daddy.”

“He doesn’t really seem to be. Not since that first time. I’ll
talk with him tonight.”

“Cool! This is going to be awesome.” Sam bounced in the
chair. She suddenly grew serious, “Hey, Michael? Rich informed me that we have
a date tonight.”

“Informed you? Interesting choice of words.”

“A fact. He didn’t ask, he told me.” She made a face. “If he
wasn’t so damn sexy and smart, and if I didn’t love him so much, I’d be mad and
defy him.”

“You want sex and you’re afraid for your bottom.”

“That too.” She giggled. “Seriously, though, I am not sure
how to react with this bossy part of him. It reminds me of Scott when he’s in
his command mode. I don’t know if it annoys me or turns me on. What should I
do?”

Her brother shook his head. He seemed to be doing a lot of
that lately when it came to his sister. “You should talk with him about it. How
the two of you communicate behind closed doors is up to you, Sam. Also, let the
record show I had nothing to do with you becoming a kinky little sex fiend.”

“Nah, I think we can safely blame this on genetics.” She
snickered.

At 4:20 that afternoon, Sam sauntered into engineering
dressed in her tight, faded hip-hugging jeans, short cropped tee shirt and sandals,
her belly button ring shimmering against her tan. She received several whistles
from some of the men as she walked by them to Rich’s office.

“You look hot, Lieutenant. Nice ring!”

“Going on a date with the commander? He’s been grumpy today,”
another warned her.

“If you dump him, I’ll take you,” a third said.

She laughed at her old friends. “None of you could keep up
with me and you know it. I give Rich a tough time and he’s like Mike.”

“He’s good for you. You smile more now.”

“I know. He’s the best. See you guys later,” she said,
tapping on Rich’s door.

“Come.”

“Hi Rich, it’s me.”

“Close the door. What are you wearing?”

“You TOLD me to change. This is what I have on hand. What’s
wrong?”

“I heard the guys.”

“Rich, stop it. They’ve known me for two years and were with
me when I was hurt. They are my brothers. I don’t like that side of you. I
really don’t.”

“I’m sorry. I never used to feel jealousy until I met you. It’s
stupid.”

“No, what’s stupid is how you could even consider I’d want
anyone but you. I’m yours completely. I love you. I’ve given myself to you. I
share my family with you. You know every desire, fear, strength and weakness I
have, almost as much as my brother. I have no secrets from you. Please, stop
this. It will make me want to fight.”

“Please forgive me.” He looked tired and stressed. “Let’s get
out of here. I want some alone time with you.”

“Am I still in trouble?”

“Oh yes, but I’ll save that for the weekend when we have more
time. No, tonight I just want to be with you.”

“Rich? Am I becoming your addiction?”

He looked startled at the question. “What do you mean? Can I
live without you? I would have to say yes, but I don’t want to.”

“I’m just making some interesting discoveries that I’m trying
to process. Come on, let’s get delivery and I’ll give you a nice massage. I’m
really good with my hands.”

“I bet. Gentlemen, close up and get out of here. You were off
thirty minutes ago. Dismissed,” Rich ordered, glancing at the clock.

“Night, Lieutenants,” the remaining men said, leaving
quickly.

Sam gently pinched Rich’s arm. “You must have really earned
their respect for them to want to hang out until you leave.”

“They do it all the time. I have to kick them out of here. What
do you want?”

“You.”

“For dinner.”

“You.”

“Be serious, I’m tired.”

“I don’t care. Do you like Thai?”

“Yeah, except for peanut sauce.”

“Me too. Let’s get some lemongrass coconut soup and those
kebob things.”

“Satay?”

“Yeah, no peanut sauce.”

They walked to the jeep and drove over to the house, which
overlooked the beach and bay. Rich plopped on the couch, closing his eyes. He
had a headache and it showed on his face.

“You don’t look so well, baby face,” Sam commented sweetly, pulling
his cammie jacket and tee shirt off, and then starting to massage his heavily
muscled neck and shoulders. She loved the feel of his skin under her hands, and
his scent was intoxicating. “Mmm, you always smell so good. How does this feel?”

“Good. My head is killing me, though. I’m sorry.”

“Rich? May I try something?”

“No swirling.”

“What if I can get the headache to go away?”

“I’ll take an Excedrin.”

“Please let me try. I don’t like seeing you hurting.”

“Fine, then go ahead, but if I say stop, stop.”

“Okay. Just try to relax,” Sam said, still rubbing gently. She
imaged waves instead of swirls, washing the stress and pain down and away from
his body, the sounds of water lapping the shore, the smell of salt in the air,
the feel of her hands and the soft breeze that washed over the room. Rich
inhaled, hearing the sound of singing far away, like angels in the distance. The
pain slowly faded and he felt at peace, refreshed and renewed. Sam felt the
change under her hands as his body lost the tension and she gently released
him.

“How’s your head?” she asked softly.

“Unbelievable. The headache is gone. What was I hearing? It
sounded like voices far away.”

“That’s the dolphin song. I don’t know what it is exactly. I
am guessing that it might be how our minds process the stimulation, but it’s
beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is. Thanks, baby. Come sit on my lap. There’s my girl. I
just want to cuddle you for a bit,” Rich said, pulling her next to him. He held
her close, sitting quietly, until dinner arrived. Reluctantly, he got up to answer
the door, feeling empty without her in his arms. She was right; she was his
addiction.

They spend the evening simply cuddling and talking, enjoying
the quietness of being alone. Sam commented on it.

“I never realized how loud my family was until now. I like
this.”

“The family is active. Scott’s the one who is loud. I do love
your family, Sam. I don’t know if you realize it, but they’ve given me
something I’ve never had. A real home.”

“They love you, too. Almost as much as I do. How’s your head?”

“Still good. I wasn’t sure if it would come back with a
vengeance, like it does when your pain returns.”

“I didn’t heal you, I just took away the stress and anxiety
that was causing the headache. I’m so glad Mike and I were fighting that day. He
would never have taken me shopping and I would never have met you. That was the
same day I got this.” She pointed to her belly ring.

He touched it, tugging a little. “Does that hurt when I do
that?”

“Not at all. Just the pressure of being pulled.”

“I should get you one that is shaped like an ‘o’ that I can
hook to a leash and lead you around.” He grinned mischievously.

Sam raised her eyebrow. “I’m not too sure about that.”

“I’d enjoy it. Just like I enjoy this,” Rich said, patting
her bottom gently. “Spanking this always cheers me up.”

“Why?”

“Just does. It feels good and I love watching it change
color.”

She sighed, laying herself over his lap. “Go on, if it makes
you feel better.”

“Like this? I can’t possibly enjoy it like this.” He tugged
impatiently at her jeans. She stood up and unbuttoned the pants, pulling them
down to her knees. His finger hooked her panties and she lowered them as well
before repositioning herself over his muscular knees. He adjusted her happily,
hand on her round bottom. He lifted it slowly and then sent it hard against the
soft flesh, watching the handprint form and hearing the girl gasp.

His hand fell again on the other side, the outline of his
fingers noticeable. Twice more he spanked her, then gently rubbed the slightly
red skin. Sam tried to relax under his hand, convincing herself it was to help
him feel better, then second guessing her intentions each time the hard smack
landed. Her bottom was already starting to sting and he had only spanked her
about ten times so far. Although very slow, the swats were heavy handed and
sharp; they would have reduced her to tears had he gone any faster.

Sam started to squirm, feeling his left arm encompass her
waist so she could not escape him. Five more, then rubbing her bottom and the
backs of her thighs and knees. She felt herself getting wetter and wishing he
would do something to end her agony.

“Don’t move. Not one sound. Not one wiggle. I want perfect
obedience,” he suddenly commanded, holding her tighter.

Sam bit her lip, but even knowing what he was going to do
didn’t prepare her for the smack that followed. It was the hardest she had ever
felt, the pain traveling through every nerve of her body. He rubbed, raised his
hand and a second smack fell, harder than the first. She fought not to cry out,
focusing on her position and not moving. Four more fell, each stronger than the
last. He rubbed some more, this time his fingers reaching from behind to touch
her wetness. He was pleased. Four more and he touched her again. She was
quivering with need.

But he did nothing.

He stood her up, adjusted her panties and jeans and, with a
kiss on the forehead, grabbed his keys to take her home. She stared at him,
dumbfounded.

“Aren’t you going to…”

“It made me feel better, thank you. Come on, I need to get
you home.”

“But…”

“But what? Come on, let’s go.”

Sam squirmed uncomfortably in the seat. Between the soreness
to her bottom, and her aching desire to have him inside of her, she was
miserable. She begged him to make love to her, but he just smiled and told her
to save it for the weekend, if they had time. He also warned her not to satisfy
herself, that he would know and she would not be happy. Rich smiled to himself –
this would teach her a valuable lesson about holding out in retribution if it
ever crossed her mind.

He walked her to the door and kissed her goodnight. The house
was quiet and everyone had already gone to bed. Sam watched him drive off and
rubbed her hands over her sore bottom. How mean was that? She thought. She
couldn’t wait for the weekend. But she was also frustratedly angry, how could
he tease her like this? She decided that payback was definitely in order.

Michael nudged his sister as they walked to the monthly staff
meeting held at headquarters. “You’ve been quiet all morning. What gives?”

“I think I have a female version of what you guys call blue
balls. Rich teased the hell out of me last night, but wouldn’t give it up. And
he forbade me to do anything about it!” she complained. Only to her best friend
could she feel comfortable sharing such news, humiliating as it was.

“I guess you won’t be threatening to withhold from him any
time soon. It’s a miserable place. Trust me, I’m with you on this one. Jen’s
holding out because I wouldn’t protect her.”

“And you let her?”

“I won’t force myself on her, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Rich said he didn’t care, he would take it if he wanted. Is
that a bad thing?”

“He would never, ever really force himself on you. No, he
would do whatever he did last night and get you begging for him.” Michael
laughed, hugging her.

She pouted. “It’s too complicated. I don’t like playing
games, I just want to have fun.”

“Sometimes the fun is in playing the games, kiddo. After you,
ma’am.” He held the door for her. They entered the large conference room and
stood by their places at the table, waiting for the commanders to come in. Four
other officers were already there from different units unrelated to theirs. Rich
walked in, smiling as he approached his friends.

“Good morning. How are you today?” he asked, shaking Michael’s
hand formally in front of the others and making a small bow towards Sam.

“Better than the shrimp. Apparently, she was only half fried
last night and is still grumbling about it,” Michael teased quietly. Rich
winked at him, watching the girl try not to blush.

“Inform Richard that I am not speaking to him,” Sam ordered
her brother. Both boys raised their eyebrows.

“Is she really saying what I think she’s saying? That I will
have some peace and quiet for a while?” Rich asked, amused, loud enough for Sam
to hear.

Michael grimaced, seeing the look Sam shot in Rich’s
direction. “Don’t underestimate her stubbornness. She gave me the silent
treatment for an entire week once and it drove me crazy.”

“You can also inform him that I have plans this weekend that
do NOT include him,” Sam added in a huff.

Rich grunted, sitting next to her. “You can’t ignore me. You
love me,” he whispered. She stared straight ahead without a sound, coming to
attention when the unit commanders entered.