Spanking Romance Stories - Punished Wives Collection (12 page)

“
Well, would it be so bad for her to stay here for three months? It’s not long, and it’s not like it would cramp our style since we don’t have one anymore.” Cameron smiled and Caleb grinned back.

Last June, after years of nagging on Caleb’s part, Cameron had finally gone with his roommate to church and soon thereafter gave his life to the Lord. His life had changed dramatically, but he wouldn’t take anything for the peace and joy he now possessed.

Cameron and Caleb were college roommates their whole four years at the University of Kentucky where they both majored in engineering and became the best of friends. After college, they both went to work for Cameron’s father, who owned an engineering firm, and rented an apartment together. At first the arrangement was wholly for Caleb’s benefit to save money, but since Cameron became a Christian it benefited him for accountability purposes as well. Giving up the party scene, especially the women that went with it, was the hardest part of the Christian walk for Cameron. Thank goodness for friends like Caleb.

“
It’s a big responsibility,” Caleb said.

“
Come on. She’s 21 for crying out loud. How bad can it be?”

“
About like having a teenager. I’d have to know where she is every hour of the day. I’d have to look after her spiritual development. I’d have to... ”

“
She’s your sister,” Cameron reminded him.

Caleb rubbed the back of his neck. “Well... if you’re sure you don’t mind, I guess I don’t. She’s a good cook so we could eat in, and we wouldn’t have to pay Molly Maid for awhile. She might save us a bundle.”

Cameron laughed out loud. “Leave it to you to think of it in financial terms.”

Caleb’s brows rose. “I guess if I’d been born with a silver spoon in my mouth I wouldn’t think about it much either, but as you know... ”

“
Yeah, I know,” Cameron grinned. “Just quit being jealous, alright?”

Caleb threw a cushion at him.

Shoshana had never been so excited. Having rarely been away from home as a youngster, driving through a city the size of Lexington was a big deal for her. She threw her head back against the pickup truck window to peer up at the tall buildings and saw Caleb grin and shake his head in her peripheral vision.

“
Did I tell you how much I so appreciate this, Caleb?” she said.

“
Yeah, about twenty times now. I’m glad you could come, Shana. I mean that.”

Shoshana smiled. Caleb had always been her favorite brother even if he was a bit stern at times. “I won’t be any trouble at all. You’ll see.”

“
I know you won’t be any trouble... ” he said as he pulled his truck into an apartment complex, parking in the large parking garage. Shoshana shielded her eyes from the sun and peered upwards. It was going to be so cool living right downtown in a big city.

Caleb removed the two largest of her suitcases from the truck bed and Shoshana brought the two smaller ones. She followed her brother through the glass doors and to the elevator where he pushed the button for the fifteenth floor. Shoshana’s heart pounded with excitement. Lexington was a far cry from the teeny tiny town in eastern Kentucky where she’d spent most of her life so far.

Caleb’s apartment was lovely, if a bit neglected. Shoshana could already envision a nice vase of flowers on the kitchen table, an afghan on the back of the sofa, and some throw rugs scattered here and there. But that was after the floor was vacuumed, the kitchen floor mopped, and those terribly smelly dishes out of the sink.

Shoshana’s heart picked up in rhythm when a man she assumed was Caleb’s roommate walked into the room, shirtless and barefoot, and flashed them a devastating smile with deep dimples on each side. She felt her face flush when he strode across the living room, hand outstretched. He was the most attractive man she’d ever met. How would she manage to live with him for three months and speak in coherent sentences?

“
Shoshana, I’d like you to meet Cameron. Cameron, my sister, Shoshana,” Caleb said before moving on into the room with her suitcases.

“
Shoshana,” Cameron said with another heart stealing smile as he shook her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“
Hi,” she managed to whisper before ducking her head and following Caleb down the hallway.

He put her suitcases into a small room that contained a desk with a computer, some bookcases that had been pushed off to the side, a twin-sized bed, and a small chest of drawers. Shoshana looked around and smiled at Caleb. She’d never had her own room. She pulled back the curtains and peered out the window. She had a beautiful view of the courthouse square with its fountains and statues. At night the lights would be stunning.

“
Thank you, Caleb.”

“
You’re welcome. Make yourself at home.”

Cameron walked into his apartment and froze. This did not look like his apartment, and it certainly didn’t smell like it. He ran his fingertips over the clean end table as he doggedly followed the scent of roasting meat into the kitchen, his stomach growling in anticipation. His eyes lit on the small kitchen table all set with the real dishes he’d almost forgotten he possessed before seeking out and finding Caleb’s sister as she removed an aromatic roast from the oven. Caleb already sat at the table.

He raised a brow at Cameron. “Hungry?”

“
Mmmm,” Cameron nodded.

Shoshana turned quickly to stare at him with wide eyes. He smiled and winked at her, watching her face pinken. She’d hardly spoken three words to him since her arrival a couple of days before, but she always blushed when he looked her way. Though she could not be described as glamorous with her soft brown hair caught in a braid and freckles sprinkling her nose, she was certainly as cute as a button. He loved to watch her as she hopped about the apartment, always busy doing something or another. It amused him that she was so shy in his presence.

The food was quickly placed on the table. Cameron removed his coat and tie and rolled his sleeves to mid-forearms. He could hardly wait to dig in. Caleb said grace and everyone filled their plates.

“
This is delicious,” Cameron told Shoshana. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”

“
Mama taught me. Thank you,” she said, blushing of course.

“
When do you start your job?” he asked, determined that she become more comfortable with him.

“
Um... I start next Monday. Daddy wanted me to have a week to get settled in before I began my job. I hope that’s okay.”

“
Sure,” he told her. “The place looks nice. I almost thought I was in the wrong apartment when I got home.”

“
Told you she’d save us a bundle,” Caleb said. “See? We didn’t even have to call Molly Maid.”

Shoshana’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. “You mean you have a maid?”

“
Nah,” Cameron said. “We call them when we get desperate. For the most part, we clean it... or not, whichever the case may be. Usually not. ‘Course, we might just get used to this and decide to keep you.”

Shoshana blushed.

“
Hello?” Shoshana said tentatively into the phone.

“
Shana, this is Caleb.”

“
Hi Caleb.”

“
Listen... tonight we were supposed to go to our singles group Bible study at Lynn and Sam’s house... ”

“
You told me,” Shoshana reminded him, “I’ll be ready.”

“
Well, the plans have changed. Lynn is sick and next week was our turn, so they’ve asked if they can have it at our place this week... ”

“
Oh... ”

“
The place already looks great, but do you think you could go down to the store on the corner and pick up some snacks for tonight? There’s some money lying on my dresser that should cover it. And make something quick for dinner so we can get it cleaned up before they get here?”

“
Sure. What time will they be here?”

“
Seven.”

Shoshana glanced at the clock. It was 4:30 already. “No problem,” she told her brother.

They all seemed to arrive at once about five minute after seven. Shoshana worked to keep the smile pasted on her face as she met Caleb’s friends. She’d never before seen women come to church dressed in shorts and t-shirts, yet most of them wore very tight, very short shorts with t-shirts that showed their bellies except for one who wore a teeny tiny mini skirt and a halter top. Her father would have a heart attack. Shoshana smoothed her pink knit skirt and adjusted her white peasant top, glad she’d not worn the more formal dress she’d thought about earlier.

Shoshana felt her face heat as Caleb laid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her forward. “Guys, I’d like you to meet my little sister, Shoshana. Shoshana, this is Sam, David, April, Stacy, Karin, and Jessica. April is Cameron’s sister.”

Shoshana’s eyes fastened on April who smiled. “Yeah, I guess I’ll claim him,” she said. Cameron snorted.

“
How long will you be here, Sho... shana, is it?” Stacy, who stood next to April, asked.

Shoshana tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling very awkward in the other girl’s presence. “I am here for three months, at least, filling in for a lady on her maternity leave,” she told her. “It could be longer if she decides not to come back to work right away... that is, if Caleb and Cameron don’t mind.”

“
Not at all,” Cameron spoke up. “Man, you ought to try her cooking. I’m going to keep her as long as I can.”

Stacy shot him a dirty look. “Surely you’ll be able to get into your own place if it’s going to be longer,” she said with an odd smile that didn’t quite make it to her eyes.

“
No,” Caleb said before Shoshana had a chance to reply. “If she lives here, she’ll be staying with me.” That garnered several raised brows. “Okay, you all come on in and have a seat. Shana, did you get us something to snack on?”

“
Yes, Sir,” she said, automatically moving toward the kitchen.

“
Sir
?” she heard April ask.

Caleb led the prayer and the Bible Study, which was on finding a mate, as they all munched on the brownies and cookies Shoshana made earlier.

“
Has anyone read that book
I Kissed Dating Goodbye
?” Jessica asked.

“
Mmm, these are good,” Cameron said, chewing on a chocolate chip-pecan cookie.

Caleb snorted. “You’re going to be fat as a pig if you keep eating like this. Shana’s going to think she’s Betty Crocker the way you go on.”

“
Who needs Betty Crocker?” Cameron asked, winking at Shoshana. Breathing became difficult and she lowered her eyes, catching a heated look from Stacy as she did. The older girl didn’t like her she was sure.

“
Well, have you?” Jessica asked again.

“
I’ve never read it but I’ve heard about it,” Caleb said.

“
What’s it about?” April asked.

Jessica took a drink of her tea. “Well, it’s about not dating. It’s about staying out of situations that could cause you to have sex outside of marriage. I thought it was interesting, but I don’t know how it would work in the modern world.”

“
I’ve seen it work many times,” Caleb said. “Shoshana and I were raised like that so I guess it doesn’t feel so odd to us.”

“
But you date April,” Jessica reminded him.

Caleb glanced at Shoshana. “Yeah, but we’re careful that we’re never in a position that would cause us to sin.”

April’s mouth tightened and she sighed. “Do you date, Shoshana?” she asked.

Shoshana shook her head. “My father would never allow it.”

“
How old are you?” Stacy asked.

“
Twenty-one.”

“
And your father still tells you what to do?” she asked in almost a sneer.

Shoshana felt her face flush. “It is a matter of respect,” she said simply. “Besides, I don’t mind. I want to marry the man God has for me and I appreciate my father’s wisdom and help in finding that man.”

“
How is he going to do that if you’re living here in Lexington,” Stacy asked.

“
Well... I guess if anyone wanted to court me they’d have to go through Caleb.” Shoshana’s brow furrowed in puzzlement when just about everyone giggled.

Caleb grinned as well. “Okay, let’s get back on subject.”