Arrested By Love (19 page)

Releasing a long sigh of displeasure, Jim shook his head at her, while Kyle groaned again, this time a lot louder. Kelly whispered, "I'm sorry."

Jim regarded her carefully for a moment, then said, "I'm not gonna lie and say I'm not real disappointed in you right now, Kelly girl, because I am. And you know I am, just as you also know why."

"Yes, Sir," she whispered in soft voice.

After drawing Kelly close to give her a quick kiss, Jim looked back at Kyle. "She meant well, and I know she's sorry, but she broke one of our rules, and will be punished for it, Kyle. I promise you."

Kelly merely tucked her head under Jim's chin and hugged him closer, and Kyle could tell that even if she didn't look forward to the punishment her Dom intended to administer, she trusted and loved him without any doubt.

Jim returned the embrace without hesitation and simply shifted side to side in a sort of rocking motion for a few minutes to ease Kelly's understandable unease.

Kyle rose. "It's not Kelly's fault, Jim. It's mine. Don't punish her for my mistake."

"I'm not," Jim assured, placing a light kiss on Kelly's hair. "I'm punishing her for her deceit. And she knows that." After giving Kelly another kiss on the head, Jim tilted up her chin to gaze at her tear stained face. "You all right now, Kelly girl?" She reluctantly nodded, so he leaned forward and gave her a deeper kiss.

Kelly immediately rose up on tiptoe and clung to him, not wanting to let go, but Jim gently set her apart from him and said, "You go on into the bedroom now and wait for me. I'll be in shortly. I want to talk to Kyle a bit first."

"Can't I stay? Please?" she asked tearfully beseeching him.

Keeping his hands lightly on her waist, he shook his head. "No, you may not. So, go on now. I won't be long, I promise."

Kelly shook her head, so he pinched her chin. "If you need me to make it a firm command, which will result in an even harsher punishment, I will."

Tears flowing more freely, Kelly shook her head again, so Jim placed a kiss on her brow. "I still love you, darlin'. You know that. This has nothin' to do with my desire to have you in my arms at all times. I still do, but I don't need to spell out what I'm doin' or why. Do I?"

"No, Sir," she whispered softly.

"No, I didn't think so. You know exactly what I want you to do, and I expect you to go do it now. Without further discussion or delay." Then turning her so she faced the bedroom, he gave her a light swat and said, "Go on now. Do as you're told." Kelly didn't turn back, but walked slowly to their bedroom and quietly shut the door.

Kyle regarded Jim with a look of astonishment. "I'm impressed. No quarrel. No hysterics. Just quiet and slightly tearful compliance."

Smiling, Jim said. "Don't let her present meekness fool you. She's still a little firebrand at times. But she usually only sasses me back when she's scared. As long as I can reassure her that her punishment, even if painful, is bein' given with love, she rarely gives me any lip about it."

Kyle shook his head. "I'd say she's almost a changed woman and it's been what--three weeks since she attacked you at the station?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah. I probably could have avoided that scene entirely, if I hadn't been so hung up on protocol. Since then I've eased up quite a bit on that, and she's been working to give me the respect I want. In return, I also make sure she's getting' the affection she craves so badly. It took us awhile to get there, but we finally made it.

"She's only unhappy now because she knows I'm upset with her. She doesn't like being punished, but I've learned she prefers it over being banished to the guest room. So, we've worked out a system that seems to meet both our needs."

Seeing Kelly and Jim interact with each other only reminded Kyle just how much he missed Tiffany.

"But hey, bud, it's the holiday weekend. We're thinkin' of grillin' out tonight. Want to stay for dinner?"

Kyle shook his head, "I think you guys--"

"Nah, don't worry none 'bout that. It'll be quick, then I'll scold for a bit as I hug and reassure her, and she'll apologize and promise to be good from now on, and the sun'll be back out in no time. This ain't new to either of us. So, don't let it hold ya back. She'll be fine."

"Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the offer, but I think.... I think, I'm just going to hide away for the weekend. I'm not much into celebrating right now, but I'm also not one for a pity party, so I should just go."

Stepping forward, Jim clapped Kyle on the shoulder. "Whatever you say, bud, but I'm sure Kelly would like you to stay, too. She's feelin' real bad right now about what's possibly makin' things worse between you and your girl, so I know she'd like to see that you're okay about it all."

"You can assure her of that for me, Jim. Right now I miss my girl so much it hurts. I know you understand."

"That I do, bud. That I do." Leading Kyle back to the door, he said, "No doubt I'll see you around the station next week. Until then, take care of yourself, you hear?"

With a nod, Kyle left wondering whether or not Patrick Morgan would ever seriously charge him with kidnapping his daughter. Tempting, very tempting.

Kyle almost wished he had gone away for the weekend as he sat in his apartment watching the fireworks and wondering if Tiffany was watching them as well. Then swallowing the rest of his beer, he crushed the can and decided he was tired of just moping around like some love-sick fool. Tiffany no longer wanted to be engaged or married to him. Well, fine. She'd been an annoying child, and now she was an even more annoying woman. So, he'd made a mistake in not being honest with her. Well, screw it. He should just head over to Velvet Chains and find a nice, compliant submissive woman who would take what he had to give and not ask for more.

He stood up. Right. That's what he should do. Storming into the kitchen he threw his can into the bin, grabbed his keys and barely glanced at his picture of Tiffany taken on the day he proposed. Then he stopped and stared at it. Her eyes had a slight sheen of tears. It hadn't been an easy day for her, but anyone could tell she was happy.

He'd been the one who'd ruined that smile. She felt hurt and betrayed by him, the first man she'd ever made love to. The only man she would ever make love to if he had anything to say about it. She'd been his girl since she was ten years old. She'd trusted him to look after her, and he'd let her down--terribly. Tossing his keys back into their dish, he went back into the kitchen and got another beer. Perhaps he should just drive around their neighborhood to make sure everything was okay. Right Kyle. Become a stalker why don't you while you're at it?

Jim's ideas were tempting if not a little impractical, and slightly illegal. Kyle had always done things by the letter of the law. There was very little gray for him. Everything was basically black or white. Kidnapping was a Federal offense, and certainly not anything a police officer should even contemplate. So, why was it sounding better and better to him? Because he wanted his girl back, and it seemed like the only feasible way he could accomplish that.

Kelly said Tiffany had looked tired. She hadn't been that way with him. She'd been an excited bundle of energy. Kelly also said she thought Tiffany had lost weight. The only time Tiff didn't eat well was when she was upset about something. So, if she was having trouble sleeping and eating, her father should be putting his foot down. But Patrick wasn't like that. He was a doting and loving father, but light on discipline, which was undoubtedly why Tiffany and her younger sister had such impertinent attitudes.

Both the Morgan girls required strong men to love and protect them, and strong hands to guide them. Jim was right. Kyle always made sure Tiffany knew he loved her, even when he found it necessary to punish her. And her father had admitted to knowing his daughter had done things she shouldn't, simply to get Kyle's attention. Patrick didn't doubt that Kyle made Tiffany happy. So, why was he insisting on keeping them apart?

Two weeks later, while Kyle was still trying to figure out how he could convince Patrick to let him see Tiffany, he learned something that made his mind up for him.

Kyle was in the process of putting away groceries when his phone rang. Picking it up, he said, "Hello?"

That's when he heard Jim say, "Hang on a sec, bud, I need to talk to Kelly for a minute. Darlin', I've changed my mind. Dom's privilege. So, dry up those tears. Though I still think you ought to be punished for what you did, I've decided to do somethin' else with you instead, and it requires baby oil, a ball gag and lots of lube."

Kyle imagined Kelly's eyes growing wide at that request, and had to hold back a chuckle. "So, here's what I want you to do. Collect those items for me along with a couple of towels and place 'em on the bed. And don't forget the gag."

Kyle recalled Kelly's last experience with a ball gag, and she was no doubt giving Jim grief for insisting they use it..

"Kellly...." Jim's voice held a touch of warning, then he added, "Scowlin' at your Dom is not permitted. I believe we agreed that automatically earns you two swats, so be prepared for that as well. Yeah, I know you don't like the gag, darlin', but I don't want the neighbors callin' the police again. It's embarrassin' havin' them think I'm torturin' you when you climax. And, sweetie, I fully intend to torture you until you are screamin' and beggin' me at the top of your lungs to let you come. Got me?"

Kyle held his breath for Kelly's reply. "Oh, yes, Sir. Or at least I hope I will very soon,"

Laughing out loud, Kyle could just imagine the sexy smile Kelly was giving Jim. Jim gave an amused chuckle as well.

"All right, then. So, I expect you to obey your Master and be stripped and ready on the bed for me in two minutes. I want you on your hands and knees--with your pert, curvaceous ass facin' the door, eagerly awaitin' her Master. Trust me, darlin', I think you're really gonna enjoy this. Now do as I say before I decide, given this was your second offense in this regard, that I really need to be much stricter with you."

Hearing the sound of Kelly's running feet, Kyle was certain the little sub was more excited about Jim's new game than worried about his threatened spanking. Jim could be strict at times, but Kyle had seen the way Kelly could turn the hardened police detective into an affectionately growling teddy bear with a single tear.

Then Kyle heard Jim talking again, but his voice was muffled as if he'd covered the phone's mouth piece with his hand. "Slight change in plans, darlin'. Just keep on that sexy backless maid's outfit you're wearin'. It's given me some inspiration. Everythin' else stays the same."

"Got it, lover!" Kelly called back, and this time Kyle just grinned. Kelly never had been a very good sub in maintaining protocol, but Jim made sure when they were scening that she always used the correct form of address. And from what Jim had said, Kyle knew he tended to enforce his rule with a couple of firm swats on Kelly's saucy butt when she forgot.

The rest of the time Kyle thought Jim was pretty lenient with her. When Jim didn't say anything about Kelly's slip, Kyle listened for Kelly's answer. "Sorry, Sir," Nice recovery, Kyle thought, although undoubtedly a few seconds too late. However she didn't sound the least bit worried about being punished when she called back a few seconds later. "Um, I really meant to say--'Yes, Master.'"

"Better, but you're up to four now, darlin'," Kyle heard Jim call back to her. With a chuckle, Jim said to Kyle, "It appears I've got some domestic issues goin' on here with a saucy maid. Shame, too, since it's real hard to get good help these days."

Kyle laughed and said, "I heard. I think you've got everything under control though."

"Yeah? Well, I happen to know exactly how best to punish cheeky maids. That one, especially." Then getting serious, Jim said, "I have some news to share. It appears our little Kelly has been keeping secrets from her all-too-tolerant Dom."

Since Jim mentioned this being Kelly's second offense, Kyle frowned. "I gather those secrets are something I should know?"

"Oh, yeah, buddy. You should. Seems my secret-keeping minx went to see Tiffany again last week."

"Last week?"

"Yuppers, and I had to torture the information out of her with more than a few swats and the threat of ticklin'. She says that Tiffany isn't lookin' too good, bud. She's lost a lot of weight and has trouble keepin' her chow down. Even though Tiffany's claiming it's just the flu, Kelly thinks it might be more serious than that. And after also hearin' that Tiffany kept tryin' to adjust her bra like her breasts hurt.... I have to say, bud, that I think Kelly is right.

"I'd lay odds ten to one that you're gonna be a papa in the next six months. And if I were you--I wouldn't wait another minute to go over there and kidnap that girl. Take some cuffs and hogtie her if you have to."

"Yeah. I recall you recommending that before, but it still seems just a little extreme, don't you think?"

"Depends. Have you had any luck gettin' to her any other way?"

Kyle didn't answer that. He didn't need to.

Jim's voice lowered to a low murmur. "She's havin' a real rough time of it, Kyle. Kelly says she's miserable, and I believe her. That girl needs you, bud. And I think the majority of her problems are because you aren't there ensurin' with a firm, but lovin', hand that your filly takes better care of herself. You guys may not have embraced the Dom/sub lifestyle, but I know you believe in providin' discipline when it's needed. So, even though she's not your sub, she was gonna be your wife. And let's face it, no matter what she or her parents are spoutin', Tiffany's yours, boy. She has been for years. And you need to go after your woman, just like I'm about to go capture mine and make her one happy lady."

Kyle smiled. Little Kelly was about to be ridden hard, and he was sure she'd love every minute of it. She was probably even looking forward to the light smacks Jim had promised her. "Thanks, Jim. I think you're right. It's time I staked my claim and let Tiffany know she has a man who's had it with her shenanigans."

"Hoo-Hah! You go get her boy!"

A father? Tiffany was going to have a baby? As the significance of what Jim just told him sank in, Kyle decided his friend was right. Getting out a piece of paper, Kyle began making plans for the Tiffany Morgan stakeout. And he didn't plan to leave until his girl was back in his arms.