Summer Solace (20 page)

It took several minutes before she realized it was over. She was soon sniffling and wiping her tears off her face with her hand. She felt him move and then guide her to stand up. She was trembling as she was once again guided between his legs, her hands fluttering beside her. He knew she wanted desperately to clutch her bottom and attempt to rub away the heat of her spanking. She looked so contrite that he almost allowed her to forego the second part of her punishment. However, he knew that she remembered the rules and he had no intention of changing them.

“Go to the corner, Jo. Nose to the wall and keep that red bottom pushed out and displayed properly. Think about your behavior during your quiet time,” Gabe instructed as he took her hands into his. “Keep your hands away from your bottom, little girl. If you rub, I’ll have to freshen your spanking.” 

She gave a short wail at his words and wanted nothing more than to crawl onto his lap. Instead, he turned her gently towards the wall and gave her bottom a smack. She yelped as if he had taken a cane to her and then rushed as quickly as she could to the corner. Once she was in position, Gabe stood and returned the implements to the kitchen. He sat on the sofa and simply looked at the love of his life. She was the picture of contrition, her hands on her head, her bottom red and displayed with her shorts at her knees. He knew he’d keep her in the corner until she had cried herself out and had moved from the pain of her spanking to thinking about the behavior that had earned that spanking. Joanna was in the corner for almost a half–hour before Gabe decided she was in the proper mind–set.

“You may come out of your corner,” he said quietly.

She turned and rushed to him, though her gait was awkward. He noticed she didn’t attempt to cover herself. Memories of expected behavior were becoming more vivid each time he had to punish her. She would have thrown herself down onto him if he hadn’t reached out and grabbed her. She blushed as he smiled up at her. Her face grew redder as he reached down and slowly pulled up her panties and then her shorts. She was quivering as he zipped them and snapped the closure. Once she was dressed, he pulled her down onto his lap. She immediately buried her head under his chin, her hands clutching at his shirt. Gabe wrapped his arms around her and they sat quietly together. Another fifteen minutes passed before he spoke.

“You did well, Jo. I hope I don’t have to repeat the lesson. The next time you’ll discover I remember exactly how to wash dirty words from you.” 

She immediately turned scarlet and squirmed on his lap. Gabe lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to meet his eyes. He paused and said, “From both ends, young lady. Do you remember?” 

She definitely didn’t want to answer much less talk about such horribly embarrassing rituals. However, she also didn’t want another spanking. She managed to answer, “Yes, Sir. I remember.” 

Gabe could see the memory flow across her face. She blushed and her voice was incredibly soft as she continued, “I - I hate it when...” she paused and swallowed hard. She gave a firm nod of her head and continued, “That won’t ever be necessary, Sir. And, Gabe, you don’t need to buy me a paddle or brush. I’m never going to be naughty again. I’d forgotten how much punishment spankings really, really hurt.” 

Gabe couldn’t contain his laugh of surprise. He gave her a quick kiss. “I will purchase them anyway, sweetheart. I am an Eagle Scout and believe in always being prepared.” 

She tried not to smile but her lips curved. She really hadn’t expected anything less.

Chapter 14

Gabe shifted and groaned. He knew he wanted to take her, to strip her and claim every inch of her. However, he knew this wasn’t the time regardless of what they both might think. He kissed the top of her head.

“Hungry?” he asked.

She was startled by the question and was about to deny her hunger when her stomach growled. She giggled and he smiled.

“Yeah, me too,” he said. “Ready to go back and eat some corn?” 

She blushed as she remembered that simple corn on the cob had basically started this whole thing. She sat up straighter on his lap. “I have food here. Can we just stay home?”

He shook his head, not allowing her the opportunity to hide. “No, Jo. We have dinner waiting at camp,” Gabe answered.

She looked away but he used his finger to pull her back to him.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “They’ll all know I got spanked. It’s too embarrassing. Please, Gabe, you go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Gabe knew this was a very important moment. He pulled her close and reassured her. “Joanna, you have nothing to feel ashamed about. You were naughty, earned a spanking and got your bottom roasted. Honey, that is nothing to be worried about, and certainly not very newsworthy among my family.” 

She looked up to see his grin.

He continued, “I can assure you that you are not the only one who got her fanny smacked tonight. At the rate things are going, it looks like Amber will be the only one going to bed with a pale bottom. Please, don’t hide yourself from my family. Amber didn’t hide from you. Did you feel ashamed for her or judge her in any way?” 

She took a few minutes to think about his words. Shaking her head, she knew she was not going to be a coward. “No, Sir. I thought she was brave,” she answered truthfully. “May I at least change my clothes before we go?” 

Extremely proud of her, he nodded.

She smiled and said, “Thanks, I’ll be right back.” 

He nodded and she went to her bedroom. After five minutes, he knocked on the bedroom door. Joanna opened it with nothing but a towel wrapped around her. He groaned.

“If you aren’t dressed in five minutes, don’t expect me to control myself. I’m hanging on by a very thin thread here, Joanna.” 

She thought about teasing him but saw how he was fighting for control. “Yes, Sir. I’ll hurry,” she promised.

Pulling the door closed, he went into the kitchen and yanked open the refrigerator door. He took out a bottle of ice-cold water and chugged the entire thing. He concentrated on everything except the sight of her in that towel. When he heard the bedroom door open, he crushed the bottle in his hand and then turned. Joanna had changed into a sundress of soft blue, the spaghetti thin straps barely visible. The hem hung just above her knees, her feet in white tennis shoes. He knew she was aware of the fact that dinner was at a campsite in the woods. He also recognized that she was trying to keep any fabric surrounding her spanked bottom as loose as possible. He was at her side in three strides and pulled her into his arms.

“You look beautiful, Jo,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. She blushed and accepted both his compliment and his kiss. He moved to kiss her mouth and the heat coursed through her.

As the kiss lingered, she pushed away. Panting, she whispered, “If you don’t stop, I can’t be held accountable. Perhaps we better go eat.” 

He smiled and nodded. He made sure she grabbed her keys and locked the door. She offered to take her Jeep but he informed her that he would make sure she arrived home safely. She smiled and climbed into the truck. She glanced back to the bed of the truck where she and Gabe had lain and expected to feel at least a twinge of anger. Instead, she remembered how incredible she had felt in his arms and smiled. She shifted a little in an attempt to ease the throb that remained in her bottom. Gabe noticed but said nothing. She saw him grin and smiled herself. Her bottom might be throbbing but her heart was pounding with desire for the man who had given her that sore posterior.

The evening turned out to be wonderful. Despite her earlier fear of everyone knowing about her spanking, Joanna was greeted with hugs and smiles. No one asked where they had been or what had happened. The family was close and that included treating each other with respect. The children had already been fed and were busy chasing fireflies under Amber’s direction. Jessica had long since been fed and put into her playpen in her parent’s tent.

Jake had still not returned and Gabe knew he owed his brother a great deal. Jake’s wife assured him that everything was fine when he apologized for taking her husband away and leaving her to deal with their children.

“Gabe, don’t worry about it,” Karen said with a smile. “You’d do the same for Jake and the kids are dragging thanks to that great swimming hole. They’ll be ready for bed soon. Now, stop fretting and get your girl some dinner.” 

Gabe grinned and fixed a plate for Joanna. He brought it to her as she talked to the family members she had just been introduced to. She could have picked Susan out in a roomful of strangers. It was obvious she was a newlywed, her hand never very far from her husband, Brian. Joanna thought about the fact Gabe told her she’d also gotten a spanking. While it was obvious she was very much in love, it was not the least bit obvious she had been spanked. Joanna realized that she would not have known Amber had been paddled if she hadn’t witnessed it herself. This thought allowed her to relax. She found Karen and Shelley were very nice. In fact, the entire campsite seemed relaxed and happy. Everyone pitched in to help everyone else. She smiled, realizing how lucky she was to be included.

She thanked Gabe for the plate but felt guilty. “I should be serving you, Gabe, not having you serve me,” she said quietly. Gabe smiled and stroked his hand down her hair. He saw Dana and Shelley roll their eyes.

“Better cut that out or I’ll rat you out,” Gabe warned even as he smiled. “Stop trying to corrupt Joanna. She obviously knows how to be sweet and please her man.” 

The women looked at each other and then burst out laughing. Gabe couldn’t keep a straight face either. Dana leaned forward as Joanna picked up the roasted corn.

“Okay, give. What’s up with the corn?” she asked.

Joanna almost choked before she even took her first bite. She drank some of her water and grinned. “I’ll never tell,” she informed them even as she peeled back the husk. The corn was perfectly roasted, the seasoning smelled divine. She took a bite and moaned as the kernels popped against her teeth. She became aware that she was being stared at. She lowered the cob.

“What?” she asked, her face flaming.

Gabe slid onto the bench beside her.

Dana laughed. “Man, I never thought of corn as sexy before. I swear, I’ll never look at it the same again.” 

Gabe laughed as he took a bite. “As long as that is the only thing you swear. I heard that you christened the family parlor,” he teased. He enjoyed her flush and easily dodged the napkin she attempted to toss at him.

Dana grinned. “Okay, smarty–pants, you are right. I got spanked for cussing about Tanya but I would probably do it again. I can tell you though, if that huge weeping willow tree decided to uproot itself and move, I wouldn’t mind. It provides many a wicked switch!  However, since you brought it up, I suggest we rig a privacy signal for the parlor. I’m sure I won’t be the only one visiting it.” 

Karen slugged her and they both grinned. Scott and Eric told them to behave though their voices were light. Joanna had waited for a feeling of dread to engulf her at the mention of Tanya and spankings. Gabe had worried as well and had laid one hand on her thigh that was pressed against his. His touch calmed her and she found herself grinning.

“As long as we are at it, how about a privacy flag at the trail head for the beach as well?” she suggested. “Not during the time when the kids are playing there, but maybe in the evenings?” 

They all agreed to both suggestions. Gabe could tell that several of the couples were already planning on making use of both areas. He smiled as he recognized their need. It seemed that the outdoor air had a good effect on the libido. He remembered holding Joanna on the boulder the evening before and couldn’t fault his family.

Scott grinned and excused himself. Joanna watched as he disappeared into his tent, thinking it sweet he was checking on his daughter.

They all finished eating and helped the children make S’mores. The kids ate the treat between huge yawns. Parents smiled and were soon following Joanna down to the restrooms to wash sticky hands and faces before tucking their little ones into their sleeping bags. Gabe followed and carried a sleepy Emma back to her tent. Once the kids were all tucked in, the adults gathered around the fire. Scott waited until everyone was seated before pulling out two items from underneath his camp chair. Everyone looked at the two primitive flags he had constructed out of two sticks and a couple of Jessica’s burp rags. Dana smiled even as she slugged him for using them. Scott grinned and waved the pink flag.

“Okay, who can tell me where this one is going?” he asked.

No one spoke for a moment and then Dana giggled. “I’m guessing the pink color is the give–away. It is obviously the one for the parlor trail, right?”

Scott bent and gave her a quick kiss. “Correct, my love. Since we all know what the parlor is intended for, pink is the perfect color.” 

Karen laughed and was joined by the other women.

“Only if you men promise that sweet, delicate pink is the only color you are going for,” Karen said as she lifted her eyebrow. Joanna was surprised to find herself laughing along with the rest as the men shook their heads.

“Good try, but nope!  Seems you forget that in order to get to red or crimson, you must pass pink first,” Scott reminded them. The women groaned.

Scott held up the blue flag. “And this?”

“Obviously the beach,” Karen answered.

Scott nodded but asked if anyone knew why. They all looked at the blue fabric and then Joanna grinned. Gabe saw her and nudged her arm as if encouraging her to answer.

“Water?” she suggested.

Scott turned and bowed before her. “Excellent, fair maiden. The water is cool in the day but I’m guessing it could be pretty downright frigid by evening. I figured blue was a good color to represent the color of our skin when we get hypothermia.” His voice was light as he gave a fake shiver.

Joanna smiled and added her own thoughts. “Frigid or not, I can attest it sure feels good on a pink bottom.” 

Gabriel chuckled and realized just how well she fit in with every member of his family. At that moment, they heard a man’s voice.