Summer Solace (12 page)

“Oh no you don’t,” she heard and jerked up. “Your alarm went off. Time to get up, sleepy–head.” 

Joanna’s mouth opened and her eyes widened. “Gabe?” 

Gabe looked down at her. Her braid had loosened enough to allow several coppery strands to slip free. Her eyes were huge and he was shocked to see them shining with the sheen of tears. He immediately crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Jo, what’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked, the concern evident in his voice.

Joanna flung herself at him, causing him to lean backwards from the force of the impact. He straightened and held her close. She climbed up onto his lap and buried her face in his neck, her arms clasping him tightly around his waist. While it felt incredibly good, Gabe knew something had frightened her.

“Jo, honey, talk to me…what’s wrong?” 

She shook her head, unable or unwilling to speak. Gabe gave her a few minutes and then shifted them both on the bed. He moved to lean back against the headboard and put his legs out in front of him. Joanna allowed him to get more comfortable but refused to release her hold on him. Once resettled, she finally felt she could speak.

“You…you weren’t here. I thought it was all a dream. I woke and remembered but - but you weren’t here. I thought – thought,” her voice was shaking as she tried to articulate her fear.

“Oh, babe,” Gabe said and bent to press a kiss to her head. “Joanna, I will always be here. You do not have to be afraid I will leave. I thought we had settled that last night. You are mine, and Jo, that means I am yours.” 

She heard his words and felt his arms holding her close. She desperately wanted to believe him, to never again worry that her life would continue without the one person who made it worth living. Gabe felt her relax but knew she was still unsure. He stroked her back softly, running his fingers through the escaped strands of her hair. She relaxed her hold on him but continued to keep her cheek pressed to his chest.

“Joanna, I love you and will never let you go again. I promise you have nothing to be afraid of,” Gabe said as he kissed the top of her head. After another few minutes, Gabe glanced at the clock. He knew she needed to get up and ready for work. She’d be upset if she realized she was going to be late.

“Honey, it’s getting late. I’ve got breakfast ready. Come on, let me feed you before you go in,” Gabe said.

Joanna’s head had come up at the mention of food. “Breakfast?  Does that include coffee?” she asked even as she caught the faintest whiff of her favorite beverage.

Gabe grinned knowing she was going to be fine. “I’ve made sure there’s enough in the pot to stir into your cream and sugar,” he teased. “Now, get up.”  He helped her move off his lap and then gave her bottom a quick pop.

“Ow!” she yelped, her hands immediately going back to rub the injured area. “That hurt!” 

Gabe grinned as he watched the blush run up her neck and bloom across her freckled cheeks. He knew she had momentarily forgotten the spanking she’d received the night before. Her short t–shirt had drawn up when she climbed out of bed exposing her beautiful rounded cheeks. There was no physical evidence of her spanking but he knew she would remain at least a bit tender for a day or so. He quirked his eyebrow at her and she smiled. After another quick rub, she dropped her hands from her bottom and tugged the hem of the shirt down realizing that she had nothing on beneath it.

“Umm, I’ll get dressed and see you in a bit,” she said as she watched him look up and down her body. She shivered from the instant need that bloomed inside her.

Gabe nodded, knowing that if he hesitated for even an instant, he’d have her stripped naked and beneath him. “Don’t take long,” he said and watched as she scurried around pulling her clothing from drawers and her closet. When she disappeared into the bathroom, he made the bed. He knew she would have done it, but he had no problem helping with the domestic chores.

It was amazing how having a man willing to help with a chore pleased a woman. Happy wife, happy life!  Gabe stood as that thought crossed his consciousness. Wife?  He had definitely had that plan in mind before Joanna had disappeared. He remembered thinking how could any marriage work if someone as wonderful as she had lied about already being married. It had taken several years for him to discover again that some marriages were magical, including those of his parents and siblings as well as a few of those enjoyed by his military friends. As he fluffed the pillows and put them against the headboard, he found himself again thinking of marriage in a far more positive manner,

Joanna came out of the bathroom fully ready for work. Her teeth were brushed, face washed, and hair neatly braided. She smiled seeing the bed had been made. She wondered if Gabe was trying to impress her. She walked out of the bedroom, through the small living room and into the kitchen. She moaned at the smell of fresh coffee and took the large mug that Gabe held out for her, prepared exactly the way she loved it. She took the first sip and moaned again.

Gabe grinned at the sound of her pleasure. He knew she truly loved her coffee. He picked up his own cup and led her out to the back porch. He had been correct. She had a view of the river as it ran past her yard. A large swing hung from the rafters of the roof and he just knew where his girl spent most of her quiet time. Instead of the swing, he led her to a small table on the other end of the porch. She smiled, seeing fresh wildflowers arranged in a small bowl centered on the table. Gabe placed a plate down in front of her. She looked at the food and took a deep breath – she hadn’t even known she had the ingredients for the delicious looking omelet presented on the plate. Gabe put a plate of toast down on the table, made sure the salt and pepper were close at hand and then slid into the chair across from her.

“Thank you, Gabriel,” she said as she looked across the table. “This is so perfect.” 

Gabe smiled and put a piece of toast he had just buttered onto her plate. He had noticed the address. Joanna usually called him Gabe. When she used his full name, Gabriel, it was never out of anger or fear. She used it when she was deeply touched, when she was coming apart under his hands, when she allowed herself to let go completely, whether in submission to pain or to all encompassing pleasure. He treasured the simple gesture of immense respect and love.

“You are welcome,” he said softly. “Eat up before it gets cold.” 

They were soon both tucking into the delicious omelet. Joanna ate every bite and two pieces of toast. As she reached for her third piece and spread blackberry jam over the surface of the toast, she saw Gabe watching her. She blushed and put down the knife she was using. Gabe stood and brought the coffee pot to the table, reaching down and refilling her mug without asking. He filled his own and took the pot back into the kitchen, bringing the sugar and cream to the table. He watched as she poured a tiny bit of cream into her coffee. He realized she was not spooning heaps of sugar into the mug and that the toast she had just spread jam on was sitting uneaten on her plate. She looked up and saw him watching her.

“I forgot I’m supposed to be going back on my diet,” she explained as she took the first sip of her coffee. Gabe tried not to chuckle at the look on her face as she forced herself to swallow. He slid back into his chair and sipped his own. Joanna tried to appear as if the coffee was every bit as good as the first cup he had prepared for her. He pushed the sugar bowl closer to her.

“Jo, if you are telling me that your doctor gave you specific directions to watch your sugar intake, then that is fine and I will help you with that,” he said. Her eyes lifted to his, puzzlement clearly showing in their depths. He held her eyes as the tone of his voice changed. “However, young lady, if you are telling me that you feel you need to lose weight, then I have problems with that.”

“I - I gained weight. I’m not as thin as I was. I don’t want you - ” Joanna tried to explain but was interrupted.

“Don’t!” Gabe said firmly. “You are beautiful exactly as you are. In fact, you are more beautiful than five years ago. You were much too skinny then. You are thin now.”

“I am not!  Shit, my fat ass is - ”  The look on his face as well as the fact that he pushed his chair back and stood, made her immediately stop speaking and her insides flutter. She pressed down in her chair, her hands going to grip the edge of the seat. Gabe crossed to her and instead of jerking her out of her chair as she expected, he surprised her by squatting down at her side.

“You get one pass, babe,” he informed her. “You are perfect and I love you. I love the fact you enjoy your food. I love the way you prefer your coffee, and I most especially love the way your body feels against mine. Your bottom is gorgeous, round and full, exactly like I adore. It is the perfect spankable bottom of the woman I want to spend my life with.” 

She relaxed and gave him a small smile. His eyes narrowed just a bit as he continued, “If you talk about yourself in that way again, young lady, you will find out exactly how much I like spanking that perfect bottom, understand me?” 

She blushed but nodded. “Yes, Sir, I’m sorry. It’s just - ” Seeing his eyes, she stopped speaking and took a deep breath before attempting her answer. “Yes, Sir, I understand.” 

Gabe grinned and stood.

She relaxed and was reaching for the sugar bowl when he reached out and stopped her hand.

“The free pass only includes your statement about your diet. It does not cover cursing,” he said as he took her hand into his. Her eyes widened as she remembered saying the “S” word. She gave a small groan, closed her eyes briefly and then nodded. She didn’t pull away as he helped her to stand. He pulled her back a bit.

“Lower your shorts,” he ordered. His words caused her stomach to clench, the tone calm and yet the phrase was given with the absolute conviction that she would obey him. She looked around the back of her house and found she was definitely grateful this was where she had set up her table. It was still outside, and still didn’t provide privacy she wished for at such a moment. However, it was infinitely better than her front porch. She unfastened her clothing and pushed her shorts below the curve of her bottom for the second time within mere hours.

“Bend over and put your hands on the seat of your chair,” Gabe instructed quietly. Again, she obeyed him. “Why are you bent over waiting for a spanking, Joanna?” he asked and her heart rate instantly increased.

“Because I broke your rule,” she managed. “I cursed. Again.” 

Gabe nodded, glad she understood this would be the second time in as many days that she had forgotten to watch her language.

“Correct. What happens when I’ve had to address the same disobedience twice, Joanna?” he asked. “Do you remember that as well?” 

She felt her stomach flutter again and her bottom clench. She knew exactly what happened. “My spanking is harder, Sir,” she whispered as she both mentally and emotionally prepared herself. She shivered as she felt his hands go to the waistband of her panties.

He noticed these were deep navy blue and again had lace decorating them. He moved one hand to caress her rounded bottom and she gave a small moan. He slowly peeled her panties down until they were turned inside out where her shorts lay. He noticed there was no evidence or color left from last night’s spanking. That would soon change.

“Do not move your hands, honey,” he instructed.

She nodded, her head lowered. When she felt him place the flat of his hand on her lower back, she immediately arched her back and lifted her naked bottom to offer herself for discipline. Gabe smiled, acknowledging her submission. Though he appreciated her instant obedience, he still lifted his free hand and brought it down with a sharp smack to her rear. Joanna gasped and jerked forward, the swat waking up the underlying tissue. She knew she’d feel this spanking more since she’d been spanked the night before. Gabe didn’t speak or lecture, he simply spanked. Joanna was quiet for the first several smacks, the only sounds were small gasps and the occasional groan.

“Spread your legs as wide as you can, Joanna,” Gabe ordered. “I want that naughty bottom lifted up even higher to me.” 

She moaned as she shuffled her legs apart and again pushed her bottom up as she lowered her head. Gabe pushed her even further down, lifting her bottom more, which exposed the very tender area where her bottom met her thighs. Joanna moaned and shifted, understanding he was going to spank her sit spot. She’d feel it for the rest of the day.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she attempted, hoping he would go easier on her with her apology. History should have told her that it was useless.

“Sorry does not negate the need to make sure you will remember why you are sorry at this moment does it, Jo?” he asked.

She shook her head and shivered as she felt him run a finger all along the underside of her buttocks. She also knew he expected an answer since he had asked a question.

“No. No, Sir,” she admitted.

Gabe nodded and began to spank her sit spot. As his hand slapped her hard and fast, she was soon bouncing on the balls of her feet and pleading.

“Please? Ow, Gabe! Please, it - it hurts!” 

Her words did nothing to stop her spanking. She was soon crying, as he made sure he covered every single inch of her sit spot. He returned to her bottom and gave both cheeks another round as well. He would not spank the backs of her thighs simply because she had to work and was wearing shorts. He wanted to give her a very hard spanking to remind her to behave. He did not want her to be embarrassed or worried that anyone else might see evidence of her spanking. When she relaxed and lifted her own bottom even higher, he knew she had reached total submission. He gave her the third round and then placed his spanking hand on her hot bottom. It was no longer pale, it was bright red and he knew it would take several hours to return to its former pale color.

He stepped back, but she didn’t move. He was proud of her. She remembered that she wasn’t allowed to release from her position until he instructed her. Gabe stood back and admired her lifted bottom. What was with women?  He considered her body the picture of perfection. He’d take soft curves over hard bony angles any day of the week. He would work on convincing her that she was perfect just the way she was. However, he would not tolerate hearing vulgar words from her mouth.