Francesca
The rest of the drive was—painfully awkward.If I could have willed him to turn around and go back to the castle, I would have.Or even just back to the chicken coop.
Anywhere but here, in an enclosed space with him.What was the deal with insisting on giving me money?He'd already bought me clothes and underthings.And hair stuff.
What more would I possibly need?
It felt like hours before we ended up at the market.I knew it hadn’t been—but it still absolutely felt like it.I was not in the mood for this.Not anymore.Which was kind of crappy, especially since this was supposed to be our big day out away from the hustle and bustle and noise back at the castle.
Stefan pulled into a small parking lot.He unbuckled and jumped out of the car.I wasn't sure why I waited for him to come to my door, but something told me I should.I figured I had made him angry enough as it was.Stefan opened my door and stuck out his hand.“Give me the eggs.”I did what he asked.Then he offered me his other hand.I took it and he helped me out.I pulled on the front of my skirt, just to make sure it was covering everything it was supposed to cover.Thank goodness it was.
“All right, wife.Let's go spend all your money on things you don't need,” Stefan said sarcastically.
“That's not funny.I don't need anything.Why are you insisting?”Did I know I was poking the bear?
Yes.
Of course, I did.
But could I help myself from doing it?
Absolutely not.
I wasn't sure what it was inside of me that insisted on talking back to him.A normal person would probably just ignore Stefan's attitude and have fun walking through the market with him.
Stefan looked at me, flabbergasted.“Are you really fighting about me with money you haven't even spent yet?So, imaginary money, Francesca.You're arguing with me about imaginary money.”He handed the eggs back to me and shut the door.
“Imaginary money?Really?”My voice rose on the last word.“Did you put Monopoly money in my purse?I doubt it.In fact,” I said as stubbornly as I possibly could, “I'm not going to even look at how much you put in my purse.Because as soon as we get home, I'm giving it all right back.”
Stefan let out a small laugh.“As I said earlier,” he glanced down at me, “wife.Keep it up.I'm going to enjoy taking all of this out on your gorgeous ass later.”
My lower belly clenched.
Hard.
And my nipples got painfully hard.
But I wasn't going to let Stefan know that.“Big deal.I told you that your spankings don't bother me.They don't even hurt.”
He sighed and shook his head.“Oh, Francesca.Keep talking.But you should know,” he looked at me, “you're not helping your situation.At all.”
We walked through large gates.There were booths and booths and booths everywhere my eyes could see.People walked around, carrying various bags and goods in their hands.
Some of them even had ice cream.
It seemed a bit early for that, but should there really be a time limit on ice cream?
Stefan guided me through the crowd.We looked at a few of the tables.One had some really nice women's jewelry on it.The next one had homemade canned goods that looked yummy.But this current table had my interest.The artist drew you—and whoever you were with.He had a bunch of caricatures hanging all around his booth.“Tell him I want to do this,” I said to Stefan.I needed his help.
Stefan's eyebrows raised.“This?You want some guy to draw you?”
I bit my lip and then said, “You said I could spend your money however I want to, right?”
His head dropped, and he glared at me.“It's your money.And yes.”
I smiled and handed Stefan the basket of eggs.Then I started rummaging through my purse for the wallet Stefan secretly hid in here.I found it and pulled the gorgeous pink wallet out.It had a fancy, recognizable brand name on it.
“Do you like it?”Stefan asked in a low voice.
