Devon's Discipline (13 page)

“Will you please let me explain what I meant?”

“You have thirty seconds.”

“You can’t even possibly understand what it’s like to be in my shoes and not talk to anyone about where I am, or what is going on with me, and have Lucy acting all weird, and have you just flip me over and spank me whenever I piss you—”

“Stop. I don’t flip you over and spank you because I’m pissed off. You agreed that whenever you disrespect yourself, or me, you would allow physical consequences to remind you not to do the action again.” Donovan took her hands in his. “I’ve never disciplined you while angry.”

Devon dropped her eyes as they stood there in the doorway. She knew his statement held truth, but she needed him to understand the crazy going on in her head. She felt obsessed and it irritated the hell out of her.

“Have I ever punished you without good reason?”

“No, you have always been fair.” She hated the fact she had been spanked so many times for her own errors.

“Why do you believe I would spank you for no other reason than me being pissed off?”

“I don’t!” Devon snipped and looked up. His eyes probed hers and she squirmed. “I didn’t believe you would follow through. I’ve never had anyone watch everything I do.”

“I don’t watch your every action, but you’ve been making a lot of poor choices lately.”

“I’ve watched movies and I can finally relate to all those stupid girls who have to keep this secret, and they can’t explain why their wardrobe now contains a scarf for every outfit!”

“Can we stay on topic here?” Donovan let go of her.

“You asked me what the real issue is, so I’m explaining it.”

“I will give you a chance to explain what’s going on inside your head, but right now you need to get back into bed and go to sleep.” Donovan motioned again to the room.

Devon glared up at him but finally turned and walked back into the room. She closed the door softly but felt like slamming it in his face. She flopped down into the pillows on the bed.
Why do I get like this around him?
A long, deep sigh came from her lips and she turned onto her stomach and settled under the covers. Of course he would stay true to his word, but there were so many questions bouncing around in her head.

* * *

Devon woke up to grating hip hop music. She cracked open one eye and smacked her alarm. “Crap!” She had tossed and turned last night, and it had caused her to oversleep. She showered quickly, threw on a cute pair of jeans and a top, and fixed her makeup. The entire process took her fifteen minutes. “Not bad.”

Devon took one step into the hall and literally bumped into Donovan, who should have dodged her.

“Your presentation is in thirty minutes. I suggest you eat something and hurry up.” He motioned down the stairs.

“I apologize for what I said before. There really is a lot I need to speak to you about.”

“You will show me later just how sorry you are, but for now get going so you’re not late.”

“Yeah, my professor is a real hard ass about that.” Devon rolled her eyes. “I’d hate to irritate him.”

“I hope you have time to do your make up again.”

“You hope I what?”

In seconds Matthews pulled her back into the bedroom and pressed her shoulders down into the bed. He laid sharp smacks to the sensitive spot where her thigh met her butt and after a few more, Devon cried, “I apologized!”

“I said that after we talk I’ll believe you.” Donovan undid her jeans and yanked them over her hips.

“You can’t spank me now!”

“Oh yes, I can.”

Devon cringed as he slapped her bare bottom over and over again, bringing her to tears as promised.

“You have twenty minutes left to be there on time.”

“Ouch!” A harder round landed and she kicked out her feet though she was trying to stay still.
Why did I start already?

“Get yourself together and hurry up.” Donovan snapped his hand on the top of each thigh, then stopped. “Don’t forget your laptop.” He kissed the side of her head, then left the room.

Devon tugged her panties up and re-fastened her jeans. She felt awful since he left without cuddling her, but the kiss proved he cared. It took her another ten minutes to re-do her make-up, grab a protein bar, and get out of the house. If she ran she would have just enough time to get a good seat and get her notes in order.

* * *

Devon made it with enough time to spare. Donovan nodded when she entered and it took all her control not to either flip him off or grin like an idiot. Her emotions were all over the place.

The first group gave their presentation and then her group made their way to the floor. She hid toward the back of the group. They were all so eager to give their speech and she wanted to melt into the floor. No one would understand the stake she had in this. No one in her class could even comprehend the issues their professor faced. The rest of her group believed her shyness and allowed her to stay back. She had held her own and put 75% of the project together herself.

“Out of all the groups, don’t you think vampires kill the most humans? I mean, all we are is a food source,” some kid from several rows up called down to the group.

“Humans kill hundreds of thousands of our own kind in wars and crime! Have you ever even looked at the statistics of vampire crime against humans? It’s minimal.”
What an ignorant stupid punk!
Devon fumed. His group had been for werewolves, apparently the only supernatural creature he’d studied.

“You say you looked at those statistics? I ask how many crimes are actually vampires?” The kid stood up in front of his seat.

“Do you actually think a vampire would be stupid enough to get caught and go to jail? All of our prison systems are filled with angry humans. They go to prison and rot there.” Devon stepped out to the front of the podium and saw that the kid was Tommy Ryan, one of Lucy’s friends.

“So, I’m supposed to believe all of the unsolved crimes are strictly human related? You can’t quote me stats because you don’t have any!” The kid jumped down and stepped out into the aisle.

“I did hours of research on criminal stats. Do you want my printouts?” She set one foot on the landing.

“Keep this to a friendly discussion,” Donovan called out from his spot in the back row.

“Yeah, I would, because unlike you, I will actually back up my data and not make crazy assumptions.” Tommy jumped down a few steps.

“Vampires face a huge amount of prejudice because of people like you.” Devon looked up to see a scowl etched in Donovan’s face. She was toeing the line and knew it.

“I thought we were having a friendly discussion.” Amber flashed through Tommy’s eyes as he met the distance between them.

“I think friendly went out the window the moment you walked in here.” Devon surmised he must be part of the pack and brought her feet back together on the floor.

“You’re in the middle of a presentation. Keep opinions to yourself.” Donovan stood but didn’t approach.

“I think your opinions about vampires are biased,” the wolf punk grumbled.

“I think your opinions about vampires are stupid,” Devon shot back.

“Did either of you read the guidelines?” Donovan took the stairs faster than normal but paused just above the two.

“I spent weeks working on this. I won’t stand here while some jerk launches a personal attack on the group I’m defending.” She seethed up at Tommy, who smirked back down at her.

“Ms. Dawson, go back to the podium and finish your debate. Mr. Ryan,” Donovan pointed directly at him, “go sit back down.”

“Go ahead, you vamp lover, do what you’re told.” Tommy made a come-at-me motion.

“At least I believe in something you stupid—” she caught herself from saying “dog”, which always left a bitter taste on her lips “—coward.”

The upstairs doors suddenly flew open and Ben Brinkham stormed in. “Tommy, get up here. There’s an emergency.”

“Ben, you have incredible timing.” Donovan crossed his arms over his chest.

“I apologize for the interruption.” Ben nodded to the class.

“Have you ever even met a vampire?” Tommy stopped on the same step as Donovan, a bold move in Devon’s opinion, then continued, “They are blood suckers who want to drain every last one of us.” Tommy appeared to speak to the class but his eyes were on their professor.

“Tommy. Now.” Ben motioned for him to hurry up.

“Have you ever met a werewolf? I think they are rage filled dogs who want to eat every last one of us.” Devon felt bile rise up in her throat.

“I would rather have a wolf at my back than a blood sucker at my neck.” Tommy took the steps slowly until he reached his alpha.

Devon’s hands had clenched into fists of pure rage as she glanced around the room. Her classmates all had eyes as round as saucers. She could think of nothing smart to say back to the wolf who was so full of bravado.

“This won’t happen again.” Ben grabbed Tommy’s arm, pushed him through the double doors and left.

“That was like the best debate I have ever seen!” one small red-haired girl called from the back. The rest of the class murmured in agreement.

“What is wrong with you people?”
Did they really think I planned that?

“Did you plan all those extra points?” another girl piped up.

“This is what makes me different from all of you. I won’t grow up to be some spoon fed clone who thinks that humans are the only beings that matter!” Devon threw her printouts in the air and stomped out of the classroom with flair.

* * *

Once Devon went through the door, she realized the doorway led to the hallways in the back of the school. She thought one led back around so she could grab her books, but they didn’t connect. “Fantastic,” she muttered and headed to her favorite office to wait.

She walked inside and flopped down on the couch. What the hell was wrong with the freshmen? Devon mentally cursed them all in her head.

About twenty minutes went by before the door opened. Donovan stepped inside the office and shut it behind him. “With the amount of passion and anger flowing off of you, I bet Tommy could not help himself.”

All of her hard work amounted to nothing.
Stupid dog ruining my grade!
She continued to seethe as he stood there.

“The rest of your group received their grades. Would you like to know yours?” He joined her on the couch.

“It’s not fair that I got interrupted by some fucking dog!” She bit her lip hard. “I’m so angry, I could scream.”

“You can get it out without cursing.” He paused to touch her lip. “Do you want to know your grade now, or would you rather throw another temper tantrum?”

“I didn’t throw a temper tantrum!” She let out a breath, then leaned forward.

“If you kiss me right now—”

Devon moved to his lap and kissed him.
I don’t care about repercussions!
She had missed him far too much to back off now. She had hurt him when she pushed him away. Hell, it had hurt her to do so as well. Her emotions had been in such a tizzy, she had no longer known up from down.

“Your lip is bleeding, and I’m irritated at your behavior. I didn’t throw down a challenge.” He pushed her back gently.

Devon ran her tongue up his neck.
Not stopping, don’t care…

“You need to stop now.” He took her face in his hands. “We have other things to discuss.”

“I’m so sorry I pushed you away. Please believe my feelings for you have not changed. I never ever meant to threaten you.”

“I understand.” He reached over and tapped her upper thigh. “But you threw a fit in the middle of your final project. Do you expect me to condone your behavior?”

“I can’t tell you how I feel! One minute you act ready to spank me, then the next you want to fuck me.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I told you not to curse and your actions in the classroom were immature. Besides, I’m not spanking or fucking you at the moment.”

“That wolf came at me! How could you sit there and let him?”

Devon screeched as she found herself flipped over his lap.

“You took the debate too personally.” He landed a series of smacks on her right bottom cheek, each smack growing in intensity.

“How dare you spank me for defending you?” She bucked up against his hand.
Did I push him to punish me now on purpose?

“I’m doing this because of the fit you threw.” His hand hit the same spot a dozen more times. “This does not even address the problem from last night.”

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to think about someone twenty-four hours a day?”

“It is apparent my hand is too light.”

“Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!” She thrashed as the onslaught continued. “It hurts!” Devon kicked out her legs at the rapid fire on her left cheek.

“Most life lessons do,” he retorted.

“I lied to you the night you came to my house.” Devon found herself immediately righted.
Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut from now on.

“What did you say?”

“I felt a pull to you like a magnet the night we had sex.” She blinked back tears. “It scared me and I wanted you to leave, so I lied.”

“You felt a pull the moment you pranced into my classroom, which has nothing to do with this conversation.” Donovan stood. “You keep telling me you will not lie anymore, and yet you continue. Go home.”

“I should have told you how I felt! I’m sorry!” she cried, her sobs coming more from the disappointment etched in his face rather than from the sting of his palm.

“If you want to be with me the way you begged to be, then get out.”

“I’m so sorry.” A huge knot formed in her stomach. She should have been honest from the very beginning. She hung her head in shame and did as he commanded.

* * *

Devon stopped by Donovan’s house and gathered up a few of her things. She had no idea what he had really meant in his office, but she had made so many bad choices over the past few days that she felt the need to leave. She walked home slowly to collect her thoughts.