Page 52 of Cowboy Daddies

Four times. That dreadful number, unfortunately, she couldn’t help but remember. Four times she got out of position, and that meant eight strokes with the rubber strap. Plus, the original two he’d promised of course.

By the time he was done with the paddle, she was a sobbing mess, and she wasn’t even thinking about the strap he’d still promised her. In her struggles it had been buried under the blankets. Out of sight, out of mind.

The punishment she’d already received was taking all of her focus. Her backside felt like she’d accidentally sat down on a charcoal grill. It burned and throbbed just about everywhere. Her thighs had gotten plenty of attention too.

With one last searing whack to each cheek, Carter finally stopped and set the paddle down. His hand stroked lightly over the punished skin, easing her pain as he gently rubbed.

She let out a long sigh of relief and relaxed into his touch, glad that it was finally over. It felt like the worst punishment she’d ever received, though, logically, she knew that was probably just because it had been so long. She was no longer used to hard punishments and had lost the tolerance for it.

“That’s my good girl.” His voice was low and soothing as he continued to massage her sore backside.

She sniffled and shifted her position so she could swipe at her eyes with the back of one hand. “I’m sorry. I really am. I should have told you.”

“Yes, you should have, but we’re both going to do better from here on out. Right?” His hand moved down to her thighs, and he rubbed there too. Everywhere his hand went, the sting lessened.

She hoped so because she didn’t want another punishment any time soon. “Yes Sir.” The after-spanking conversation was familiar, part of the routine, and she found that she’d missed it as much as the punishment itself. It was partly lecture, but mostly reassurance.

It helped. Not just with winding down from the emotions and pain, but also it was the signal that the punishment was over and she was forgiven. Except … as Carter was helping her off the bed, the blankets slid down to reveal the strap he hadn’t yet used. Her eyes widened and she shot him a panicked glance. Maybe he’d changed his mind and was going to let the extras go, but that wasn’t like him.

He noted her expression and jerked a head toward the strap. “I said you’d get extra, and you will, but I didn’t say when. I think you’ve had enough for tonight.”

That wasn’t as reassuring as it should have been. Allegra didn’t like things hanging over her head and part of her wanted to get it over with immediately. But sanity snuck in and assured her that she absolutely did not want that hellish rubber striping her ass right after a paddling. She accepted the moratorium and tried to put it out of her mind.

Her husband moved the strap to the dresser, leaving it laying in plain sight, which made forgetting about it difficult, but she did her best not to look at it as he tucked her under the covers and settled beside her. “Sleepy?” he asked.

She often was after a punishment, but tonight it was the opposite. She was filled with energy. “Not yet. She wiggled back against him.

“Good. We have some things to talk about.” He sounded so serious, which meant it probably had to do with everything that had happened.

She sighed. “Okay.”

“Tomorrow you’re going to put in a request for leave.”

“Leave? Why?”

“We’re going on a trip. We’re leaving Wednesday and we’ll be gone three weeks.” It was stated so nonchalantly, as though taking off last minute for a three-week vacation was normal.

Allegra shot up in bed, turning to stare at him. “Carter! I can’t just take time off like that! He’ll never approve it. And three weeks? Even if I didn’t have projects due soon, he’d never⁠—”

“He’ll approve it. Trust me.” There was iron in the words, and absolute confidence that Edward would bow to the request.

But he didn’t know Edward. Her boss was a jerk, and he never gave in on anything. “Even if he does, I still have all this work. And three weeks? I’ve never taken that much time off.”

“Then you should have plenty banked to use, yeah?”

That wasn’t the problem. She so rarely took days off that she’d lost almost a week of time last year because she hadn’t used it. It wasn’t exactly her choice; she couldn’t even take a sick day without Edward screaming that she was putting the whole department behind. “I do, but⁠—”

“But nothing. You will put the request in tomorrow and we’re going on a trip. If Edward has an issue with it, you can hand me the phone.”

Her mouth dropped and hung open wide. Put her husband on the phone to make excuses to her boss? She’d never get past the humiliation. “But-but I…”

Carter shook his head. “Our marriage is more important than any projects you’re working on. And while we’re on this trip I want you to take some time to seriously consider if you even want to keep this job. There are other jobs out there.”

She blew out a long breath. “I’ve worked so hard here. I know the promotion is coming soon.” That was more wishful thinking than anything, but it was the hope she clung to.

“Do you even like this company?”

“I used to … I mean, when I first started working there it was great. I learned so much and they gave me responsibilities that I could handle as I got more experience. Now, it’s this feeling of being overwhelmed constantly.”