Arrested By Love (24 page)

"So none of it was real? She wasn't just trying to get your attention?"

"She was doing exactly what I expected and wanted her to do, and I in return gave her exactly what she expected and needed from me."

"I don't think I understand."

"Okay, think of it this way. When you swear at me, do you expect me to scold for it?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"And after I scold, assuming you don't also get a swat, I usually kiss you, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, whenever you swear, you expect me to act a certain way. You're not really angry with me, and I'm not really angry with you. In a way, we are playing a game with set rules. That's what it was like all the time with Kelly."

"Oh. So, she expected you to spank her."

"Yes. In fact she wanted me to spank her, so she acted out in a way that would ensure I would."

"I think I've done that sometimes, too. I didn't necessarily want you to spank me, but I wanted to get a rise out of you."

"Yes, I know that. And sometimes that did earn you a session over my knees. Especially when you acted bratty."

"And did it make you angry when I did that?"

"Sometimes. What made me angriest was when you did something stupid or foolish that could end up hurting you, like speeding in a school zone in the middle of winter."

"That one really hurt."

"It was meant to. However, I'm certain you no longer speed anymore, do you?"

"No, sir."

"Good girl. Now, your soup is done. Do you want more?" When she shook her head, he said, "All right. So why don't you relax, sip your drink and eat your cookies while I wash out your bowl and spoon, and I'll finish this story when I return."

With a nod, she leaned back against the pillows, and he put her glass and plate of cookies on the table beside her, then took the tray back to the kitchen. He really didn't want to tell Tiffany about D/s and the things he and Kelly had done, so he needed to tread carefully here. Enough time had passed that she was no longer angry about what had occurred at the station, just unhappy. So, he needed to redirect her attention to that particular event, and what caused it.

When he returned, she was sipping her milk shake, but looking troubled, so that was the first thing he addressed. "What's wrong?"

She shrugged. "Nothing."

"You need to be honest with me, Tiffany. If something is upsetting you I need to know what it is, or I can't help make it right."

"I know you've been with other women, I just didn't realize your relationships with them contained the same sort of intimacy you've had with me."

"There's a big difference though, sweetie. Take my relationship with Chrissy. I've never actually spanked her, but if I did it would not have the same intimacy you and I have, even though it would be the same act."

"But you wouldn't make her remove her clothing, would you?"

"Probably not."

"But Kelly removed her clothing, didn't she? And you had sex with her afterwards, didn't you?"

"Yes and yes. I also occasionally took the crop and paddle that you saw to her as well, but that was something I never did with you."

She shrank back against his pillows.

"I'm scaring you, aren't I?"

"A little," she admitted.

"That was not my intention. All I'm trying to say is that even if I did some of the same things with other women that I've done with you, my emotional connection with them was not at all the same as my emotional connection with you."

She nodded, finally accepting that. "So what happened on your birthday? Why did you help that other officer, Jim, put a gag on Kelly and beat her?"

"Before I get to that, I'd like to talk about the day before, when I canceled our date."

"You did it to see her, didn't you?"

"We'd broken up a little over six months before, but she sought me out at the station earlier that day and demanded that I see her again."

"Why?"

"Because she was angry with her current boyfriend, Jim Evans, the one who took the paddle to her, and she wanted to make him jealous." It was a small lie, but Kyle felt it was necessary to protect Tiffany.

"And so you agreed to do that?"

"No. I agreed to meet with her since she told me she'd make a scene at the station if I didn't. She said I'd dumped her without ensuring she was taken care of first."

"But you broke up with her, so taking care of her was no longer your responsibility, was it?"

"Yes, and no. I'd never offered her any sort of commitment, but I did promise to never just drop her cold, which was what I'd done. That wasn't fair of me, so I felt I owed something to her. I also decided she was acting childish and needed to patch up her relationship with Jim, so I agreed to meet with her on the pretense of getting them back together. I didn't want to break my date with you, but I wanted her off my back, because I didn't want her causing even more trouble between us."

"How did you think she might cause trouble between us?"

"Exactly as she did on the day of my birthday. If she hadn't said what she did, you wouldn't have left in tears. You might have been upset with me for helping Jim, but you wouldn't have felt betrayed."

"She came to see me," Tiffany admitted. "Twice."

"Yes, I know. I was visiting with Jim when she confessed to the first visit, and Jim called me after she'd told him she'd done it again."

"Kelly told me he got really angry with her after the first time, though she wouldn't say what happened between them. However, after I saw the way he treated her at the station, I don't think I like Jim Evans very much."

"Well, honey, they have a different relationship than we do, so you can't really judge them the same way."

"Kelly said Jim had proposed to her. I don't think that's so different."

"No, that part isn't, I guess. But they play a lot more games than we do."

"Kelly didn't say anything about that. As a matter of fact she admitted that Jim really scared her sometimes. I tried to talk her out of marrying him, but I think she's in love with him, so she wouldn't listen.'

Oh God, if Tiffany had succeeded in getting Kelly to break up with Jim, Jim would never have forgiven him, or Tiffany. "Sweetie, I know you only want to protect Kelly, since you've clearly become friends, but Jim loves her very much and attempting to pull them apart because you don't understand that relationship would be very bad."

"Even if the relationship is hurting her?"

"It's not. I know her pretty well, and she and Jim are very much in love, they just need to work out their dynamics together. So, do you have any other questions for me?"

She shook her head, then yawned.

"Sleepy?"

"A little," she admitted.

"Are you nauseated at all?"

She shook her head. "No. Not now."

"Good. So, why don't you just rest for a little bit, then maybe tomorrow we can head over to city hall and get married."

She just looked at him. "I think I need to think through things a little more before I agree to marry you again."

"Well, that is your prerogative, but I'll give you fair warning that I'm not above using sneaky tactics to get you to see things my way."

Kyle helped her get settled and noticed the secretive little smile on her face as she closed her eyes. Believing the lady's protests were nothing more than a reflection of her desire to be wooed, he decided that was exactly what he would do to get her to say 'yes.'

Though he continued to check on her throughout the afternoon while he made a salad to go with her soup for dinner, he didn't start worrying until after seven p.m., when she still wasn't awake. By nine p.m., he called her home and spoke with her father.

"She's been asleep for over nine hours now, and I'm beginning to get worried."

"Actually, Kyle," Patrick said in a kind voice, "I think that's a really good thing. She was barely able to sleep at all here, not even when she tried pills and liquor to help her, since they just made her throw up more."

"She was taking pills and drinking at the same time?"

"I don't believe she actually took the pills with liquor, but she'd switch between the two in an effort to relax. Both her mother and I tried alternative means, but they didn't work either, and she'd end up crying through the night. I wasn't kidding when I said she showed more energy with you this morning than she's shown over the last six weeks. She's has been a very unhappy young woman."

The fact that Tiffany had been drinking and taking sleeping pills didn't sit at all well with Kyle. She might not have known she was pregnant when she was doing it, but the fact that she resorted to such destructive behavior had only ended up making her even sicker.

"If she sleeps through until morning, I'd say she's doing much better, son, but don't hesitate to call me again if you're concerned. And if she feels up to it, have her call me tomorrow as well. I'd like to talk to her just to see how she's feeling."

Kyle understood that, so he agreed, thanked Patrick then hung up.

Tiffany did end up sleeping through the night, though Kyle slept very little since he was worried about her. So, when she awakened in the morning feeling rested and happy, he became more than a little disgruntled by her cheeriness, but tried not to show it. Fully realizing that he was being perverse, he also couldn't help it if the image of Tiffany pill popping and boozing actually made him angry.

By the time she came out of the bathroom, he had her shots ready and laid out on the table. He was about to tell her to lie down on the bed, when Tiffany suddenly ran over and jumped up to throw her arms about his neck and kissed him. Unable to help himself, Kyle cradled her close and returned her kiss.

When she drew back, she said softly, "I love you, Kyle Andrew Sinclair."

"And I love you, Tiffany Anne Morgan. Very much." And so, with a kiss and a few loving words, the lady had fully tamed the angry beast. Kyle chuckled inwardly over the realization. And he'd thought Jim had it bad.

She pressed against him and he just held her for a moment before he asked, "Sleep well?"

"Yes, I really did, and I feel so much better today."

"I'm glad. So, are you ready to be a good girl for me now?"

She drew back with a puzzled frown, so he indicated the night table with a slight tilt of his head. She stepped away from him with a groan.

"You didn't get your second shots last night, since I decided to let you sleep, so you definitely need them this morning. Why don't you lie down on the bed, and I'll get the alcohol."

"When she stepped back, he saw the determined set of her chin and knew she wasn't going to accept them without an argument. So, he just crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her with a purely dominant expression.

She quietly folded under his glare and lay stomach down on the bed, so he went and soaked the cotton balls with alcohol. He might want to buy a packet of alcohol wipes, since they were easier to pocket, but this worked just as well for now.

When he stepped back into the room Tiffany had her face turned away from him and from the small up and down movement of her back he suspected she was crying. Feeling like a heel, he put the cotton balls down and picked her up.

She immediately put her arms around him and sobbed. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" he asked, soothing her with his hands.

"For acting like such a baby."

"I didn't hurt you yesterday, did I?"

"No."

"So, what's the problem?" When she just shrugged, he asked, "Does the thought of a needle still scare you?"

"A little," she admitted.

"These are very small needles, Tiff. You won't feel them at all. If you want I'll give you an alcohol backrub and just sneak them in when you aren't expecting them."

She laughed. "You're really good at this. Dr. Sloan was right. You should have become an EMT."

He gave her a kiss. "Except, I don't happen to like to see people hurt or in pain. That's not to say I can't deal with it, but I think it would upset me to have to handle it day in and day out."

She nodded. "I think I can understand that."

"So, do you want the back rub?"

She smiled up at him. "Yes, please."

"Okay, take off all your clothes and lie down on the sheets and I'll get the alcohol." At her nod, he went back into the bathroom and when he came out she was lying nude on her stomach, smiling at him. His cock immediately sprang to attention.

"Down boy," he murmured under his breath, before pouring a little alcohol on his hands. Then sitting beside her he began to run his hands along her back and waited until he felt her relax. Careful not to break his stride, he managed to give her both shots without her even opening her eyes. Then after continuing the rub a few minutes longer, he asked, "How does that feel."

"Good," she murmured. "Really good. You can give me the shots anytime now."

"That's nice, sweetie, but they are already done."

"Really?" she asked opening her eyes to look at him.

"Really and truly," he said. "Now, how about I get you some breakfast. What are you in the mood for?"

She thought about that, then said, "What cereals do you have?"

"I'll check," he said rising and collecting the hypodermic syringes.

"Kyle?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"May I come join you in the kitchen this morning?"

"You sure you feel up to it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then yes, you may. But if I see you getting the slightest bit tired it's back into bed you go."

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he arched an eyebrow in response. "You looking for a swat, young lady?"

"No, sir," she answered softly.

"Then, you'd best keep that little pink tongue of yours in your mouth where it belongs, or else I may get some other ideas as to what you can do with it."

Her eyes widened, then she smiled. "Really, sir? I haven't had much practice, but I'm certainly willing to try."

He groaned. "Just get dressed, or put your nightie back on. You can even take a shower if you want, but you are far too tempting by half when you're nude, and I'm determined not to tax your strength with erotic hanky-panky until you're rested."