Here's an exclusive short story :)
I hope you enjoy it!
Happy October! In my part of the world it’s spring, and although there’s still snow on the mountains not far from my southern New Zealand town, there are gorgeous baby lambs bouncing around all over the place and daffodils everywhere and the sun makes me happy.
I don’t have a new release to share with you this month, but I do have an exclusive short story for you! It’s a taste of what’s to come, really - I’m working on an expanded version of this, it’s going to be a full-length novel, and even better, I’ve got an exclusive photo for the cover! I can’t share it yet, but hopefully next month I’ll be able to, so keep an eye out!
Before we get to the short story, have you checked out my latest re-release Kiwi Daddy ? Originally, it was part of the International Daddies anthology, but now you can get it as a stand-alone story! And it’s available everywhere: all the retailers, libraries, and subscription sites like Kobo Plus and Everand. Click the button below to get your copy.
What’s coming up?
The Gunslinger’s Woman is being re-branded and re-released soon. And on a western roll, book 3 in my Trail Drive series is also coming! The full-length novel of The Reunion (title likely to change) is in the works, and it’s going to be the first book in a small town romance series. I’ve got a cowboy-themed Daddy story in an upcoming anthology as well, and does anyone want a Christmas story? If so, let me know! If you do, I’ll get writing!
What am I reading?
Every year our small town has a fundraiser run by the Lions - a book fair! And I picked up Jodi Picoult’s Picture Perfect for $3 and I’m loving it! I love all Jodi’s books so it’s really no surprise that I’m finding this one great, too. The lady is a genius, honestly. I want to be her when I grow up.
And on the erotic romance side of reading…. sneakily on my kindle (don’t judge - I have nosey kids!) is Maggie Carpenter’s brand new cowboy romance The Cowboy's Wild Side
And now…. the short story! This brand new short story is exclusive to my newsletter and not available anywhere else. It’s my way of saying thanks to all my awesome readers! It’s long - 3000+ words long (so not loooooong, long, but you-might-want-to-settle-in-with-a-drink-to-go-with-this long)
The Reunion
Allie took a deep breath as she made her way through the house to the paved courtyard out the back. She hadn’t seen these people in years, and while she had been flattered when her mum insisted she come to this neighbourhood reunion, her heart was in her throat as every step took her closer to the people she’d grown up with, but hadn’t seen since she’d moved away as a teen.
Who would be there? Would they remember her?
She wasn’t even fully outside when her eyes fell on the trio of handsome men sitting together on fold-out camp chairs, bottles of beer in hand. They were older now, in their mid-thirties probably – she figured they probably had nearly ten years on her, if memory served correctly – but age had only increased their ruggedly handsome good looks. The one in the middle, Jeremy, had silver strands running randomly through his dark hair, stubble darkened the outline of his jaw, and his piercing dark eyes lit up when they met hers. He’d been the best looking of the three way back then, and at first glance, he was still the best looking of the bunch by far, now.
Sitting on Jeremy’s left was Stuart. The last time she’d seen him, he’d had golden curls to his shoulders. He’d never subscribed to the theory that mullets were uncool and had worn his proudly, but his golden curls had gone now, to be replaced by a crewcut, his spiky blonde hair sticking up all over the place. According to mum, he’d left town not long after she had. She wondered briefly what had brought him back.
On Jeremy’s other side was Craig. He’d always been the leanest one of them, all long lanky legs and arms, but wiry. He’d played rugby for the 1st XV at high school, his lithe body lending itself well to speed and dodging. What he’d lacked in brawn he’d made up for in speed. The youngest of the bunch, he’d been in seventh form in high school when she’d started as a tiny little third former, terrified and way out of her depth amongst so many students, after coming from a tiny little rural school.
A ring, a wedding ring she supposed, as he wore no other jewellery and the ring wasn’t ostentatious in any way, graced his left hand as he clutched his beer. He was clean shaven and aviator shades hid his eyes. He half smiled a greeting.
She sucked in a breath as she walked past them, wishing she could disappear altogether. It had been no secret throughout both the school and probably the entire neighbourhood, that she’d had a crush on all three of the men, although they’d been little more than boys back then, as a teen. And it was also no secret that one afternoon, when Jeremy had caught her smoking behind the bushes at the end of the road, he’d upended her over his knee and spanked her, in lieu of telling her mum. After that, Jeremy had been all she could think of. The crushes she’d had on Craig and Stuart took a back seat, and fantasies involving Jeremy had occupied her waking hours.
Soon after that, she’d gotten herself into trouble at school, got kicked out, and moved down the line to live with her father. She hadn’t been back here since. And now, a decade later, here she was.
The memory of that event burned strong in her mind now and she felt her face flame at the memory of the desire that spanking had awakened within her. Jeremy’s huge hands looked a bit rough and weathered now, with grease or something embedded in the lines of his skin, but still just as strong and hard as she remembered, as he raised his beer bottle to her with a rakish wink. A shiver went down her spine.
“Allie!”
She looked up, relieved, at the friendly voice calling out to her. Rebekah Travis, her childhood next-door neighbour, greeted her with a beaming smile, patting the seat next to her. Allie sank into it gratefully. Rebekah had been a good friend over the years, and thanks to social media, they’d stayed in touch sporadically, although they’d never caught up properly.
It didn’t take long to feel at home amongst the people she had grown up with, and as she relaxed, the wine she was imbibing far too quickly loosening her inhibitions, she chatted to the women around her. It was almost like she’d never been away – she felt as though this was where she belonged.
“Jeremy’s single again,” Rebekah whispered. “His divorce went through last year. He’s still pretty sexy, huh? That smattering of grey gives him such a distinguished look.”
Allie felt her face flush. Yes, Jeremy was definitely still sexy. He was the epitome of hunk, his black shirt clinging to his muscular body, emphasising his broad shoulders and lean abs. She licked her lips as she watched him for a moment, his posture relaxed as he chatted to the men around him. He must have felt her watching him because he turned to her and winked, the corners of his mouth crinkling up into a smile.
“It’s little Allie Wilson!” he drawled, his deep gravelly voice rumbling through her. “You’re all grown up! And you’re looking mighty fine, too.”
Ordinarily, Allie would have wanted to sink through the floor in embarrassment, being singled out for attention like that. But the alcohol in her system made her brave and she looked Jeremy right in the eye, holding his gaze, as she got up from her seat and walked towards him, stopping just out of his reach. She adopted the flirtiest pose she could muster, with her chest thrust out, one arm pressed under her breasts to give her a bit more cleavage, the other hand resting lightly on her hip. She tossed her hair, feeling the thick locks fall around her shoulders.
“That’s right, I’m a big girl now,” she said evenly. “I’m not a scrawny little kid anymore. I’m far too big to spank for smoking behind the bushes.”
She smiled as laughter erupted all around her and the three men in front of her shrugged nonchalantly. There was no point trying to hide it, there wasn’t a person in the courtyard who didn’t know it had happened.
“Oh I don’t know about that,” Jeremy murmured. “I reckon I could still turn you over my knee easily enough if I was of a mind to. Tell me, do you still smoke?” He raised an eyebrow as he asked the question, fixing her with a stern look. She felt her knees quake under his authoritative gaze, his commanding presence twisting her stomach up in knots.
Her lungs were tight as she took a breath of air that was now thick around her, almost too thick to breathe. How was she supposed to answer that question? Did she dare to tell him that his deterrent had failed and she still smoked, albeit just occasionally? Or did she want to win his approval?
He raised his eyebrow that little bit higher and she felt herself shrivel under his penetrating gaze. She shivered as the memories of that day came flooding back: the way he’d held her upper arm in a tight grip as he’d scolded her soundly before putting his foot up on a rock and draping her across his dusty thigh and whacked her ass a few times, each slap jolting through her and making her cry out in pain. He’d been genuinely angry at her then, he’d clearly considered himself to be some kind of surrogate guardian of her.
What did he think of her now? Did he still see her as a bratty girl in need of guidance and discipline?
“You’re a gorgeous woman, Allie,” Jeremy murmured softly. “And you haven’t answered my question. Do you still smoke?” She stepped closer at the same time as he reached out and in a split second she found herself standing in front of him, his hands wrapped around her waist as he looked up at her.
She felt her breath catch in her throat. You’re a gorgeous woman echoed round and round in her head, tempting her to squeal in excitement. She’d had a crush on Jeremy forever. Was it possible that he’d finally noticed her as a woman and not the bratty teen kid he’d always known her as?
Too much wine had loosened her tongue too much.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Just sometimes,” she corrected herself quickly.
“Hmmm. Do you just?” Jeremy’s expression was both amused and disapproving. “Looks like I didn’t whack you hard enough, all those years ago.” He shook his head as he grinned at her. “It’s bad for you, you know,” he told her.
Squaring her shoulders, she gave him her sauciest look. “And what are you going to do about it?”
Shut-up! She told herself frantically, but it was too late. Jeremy’s hands around her waist drew her in to him and when, too late, she tried to push herself away, his fingers enclosed around her wrists, holding her fast.
Her heart was pounding as Jeremy flashed her a wicked grin. “What do you want me to do about it?”
Allie had consumed too much wine in a short space of time to be embarrassed, and she wasn’t afraid. She knew that if she insisted he let her go, he would do so. But she also knew that if he did, that would be the end of it. The end of them. The end of the dream she’d been holding forever.
She licked her lips and smiled. “You can’t do anything about it,” she insisted, her voice light, teasing. “I’m a big girl now, remember?” There was an unmistakable challenge in her tone and Jeremy picked up on it.
Jeremy’s grip tightened on her wrist. “Is that what you think, is it?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He chuckled. “Well let’s see.”
“You’ll be in trouble now girl,” Stuart told her, his tone light. “Jeremy never was one to turn down a challenge.”
Damn. Her heart pounded at Stuart’s words. He wasn’t going to save her. Of course she wasn’t really in any danger, but still … Stuart’s acceptance of the situation somehow made it that much hotter.
A thrill shot through her as Jeremy’s fingers clenched tighter around her wrist. She was entirely at his mercy. He was going to spank her, right here, in front of all these people. After so many years of harbouring a crush, of reliving memories that still made her undies dampen with excitement, it was really going to happen.
“I’m glad to see you finally cut off your mullet, Stu,” Allie said loudly, turning to him. “It was never cool, no matter what you thought.” Shut-up! Her mind screamed at her, but she shut it out, smiling sweetly at him instead.
“Cheeky!” he growled. “Give her a smack for me, too, will ya Jeremy?”
She gulped, then turned to Craig.
“Don’t look at me for rescue,” he stated with a grin, shaking his head. “You deserve everything you’ve got coming to you.”
“You were so protective of me at school,” she reminded him, pouting. “What happened?”
“You followed me around like a shadow,” he reminded her. “All my mates gave me stick for it.”
Allie frowned. “Did they? I didn’t know that.” She pouted. “I thought you liked me!”
“Of course I did, you were like my kid sister. But you were annoying, sometimes. Especially when you tried to get me in trouble.” He caught her eye, then, and gave her a stern look. “Where did you get that cigarette from? The one Jeremy caught you smoking? You told him I gave it to you, but we both know that wasn’t true.”
Is that what she’d said? She didn’t remember. Thinking about it now, the memory came flooding back. That’s right… she had told Jeremy that Craig had given it to her.
“I’d forgotten that,” she admitted.
Jeremy had been bristling with anger. She’d been frightened as he snatched the cigarette out of her hand, threw it on the ground and crushed it beneath his boots. He’d demanded to know where she’d gotten it from, growling that he was going to take her straight home to her mum and she’d been desperate to get out of trouble. Right then, she would have said anything if she’d thought it would have saved her. She was already on thin ice with her mother, and getting busted smoking would have been the last straw. So she’d dropped Craig in it, and begged Jeremy not to tell her mum.
She looked down, then back at Craig, smiling sheepishly. “No,” she admitted. “It wasn’t true.”
“But you moved away before I could do anything about it,” Craig growled. “Now it’s payback time.” He smacked his fist against his palm, cracking his knuckles loudly. Tingles raced through her body.
Suddenly, before she had time to react, Jeremy had pulled her down over his thighs and held her firmly with one hand in the small of her back. She wriggled, her cheek coming to rest against the top of a denim-clad leg: Stuart’s. She felt his hand come down on the back of her neck, holding her in place. She grappled with her hands, feeling only grass beneath them, and grabbed hold of the thin steel poles of Jeremy’s canvas camping chair to steady herself.
She wriggled again, kicking out with her legs, but found them trapped under a bigger, heavier set of legs: Craig’s, no doubt.
Jeremy’s hand rested against her jeans-clad bottom, then lifted and came back down with a heavy swat, making her jump.
“What do you think now?” Jeremy asked, his voice mocking, but playful. “You still think you’re too big to spank?”
She gulped. “Uh … no sir,” she squeaked.
Jeremy’s huge hand smacked her again, his palm catching the underside of her cheeks in a stinging blow that made her yelp. He whacked her again, his hand landing across the crest of her buttocks this time, with too much force to be purely playful, but not hard enough to impart more than a moderate sting that quickly abated.
She sucked in a breath; the air was thick. There was a slickness between her thighs now, and she was grateful that her arousal was hidden by her clothing. She wriggled; Jeremy’s erection pressed against her hip.
“One more,” he announced. “This one’s for Stuart.”
She squealed and clutched a handful of someone’s jeans leg, she couldn’t see if it was Stuart’s or Jeremy’s leg that she held, but she twisted the denim tightly in her fist as Jeremy’s palm crashed down on the centre of her bottom once again with just enough force to impart a sting through her clothing without being excessively painful.
“I’m sorry Stu!” she shrieked. “Your mullet was uber-cool! You should have kept it!”
Smack! Jeremy’s hand landed against her backside one more time, much lighter this time. “Shush, you,” he scolded. “Lying doesn’t become you.”
“My mullet was great!” Stuart told her.
“Yeah,” Allie agreed, totally deadpan. “Sure it was. Great.”
Allie’s heart raced as Jeremy rested his hand lightly on her bottom, the weight of his hand heavy on her warm skin.
“Do you think you deserve a couple of whacks for lying about Craig all those years ago?” Jeremy growled, his voice husky with what she hoped was desire.
She relaxed her grip on the jeans leg she held, still not entirely sure whose leg it actually was, and took a deep breath. Stuart’s hand on the back of her neck prevented her from turning her head.
“Probably,” she admitted. “But it was so long ago. Does it really matter anymore?”
“No,” Jeremy said, quite cheerily. “But you’re in the perfect position and your butt is so spankable. You’re impossible to resist,” he whispered, patting her bottom affectionately. “Tell you what, you can choose who wallops you next. Do you want Craig to smack you, or do you want me to do it?”
Allie groaned. Her whole body was zipping with tension. She couldn’t stand much more of this! She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. Exhibitionism had never been her thing, she was shy by nature, but the wine had chased away her inhibitions and she writhed over Jeremy’s lap, doing her best to rub her clit against him and only partially succeeding.
“You,” she ground out through clenched teeth.
Jeremy swatted her butt. “You, what?” he asked.
She swallowed. His dominance turned her insides to mush; she was putty in his hands.
“You, please sir,” she answered, breathless.
She sucked in a breath as he squeezed her bottom through her jeans.
“How many swats, Craig?” Jeremy asked. “Two? Three?”
“Four,” Craig answered firmly. “And that’s letting her off lightly.”
“Four it is,” Jeremy confirmed.
She felt his hand on her back press harder, holding her firmly, as he lifted his other hand off her butt.
She gasped as the first swat fell, catching her down low, at the juncture where her bottom met her thighs. Three more fell in quick succession, spread out randomly, Jeremy’s huge hand covering most of her ass. There was just enough power behind the swats to make her yelp and squirm and kick, but Craig’s legs over hers held her fast.
“Now, what do you say to Craig?” Jeremy asked in a scolding tone, his deep voice washing over her. His big hand rested lightly on the seat of her jeans, its heavy presence prompting her to respond.
“Sorry Craig,” she ground out through clenched teeth, hoping against hope that her arousal wasn’t evident in her voice. “I should never have lied about you giving me that cigarette. You would never have done anything like that. You were never anything but good to me.” Her apology was genuine, but it was tempered by desire. Jeremy’s slaps hadn’t been hard enough to have any punitive effect; but the shameful position she was in now, especially with her juices dampening her knickers, made her truly remorseful. Well she sounded truly remorseful, anyway. What was she actually was, was horny.
With one ear still pressed against Stuart’s thigh, she heard Craig chuckle. “No worries Allie.”
Jeremy patted her ass in approval. “Good.”
Craig shifted his legs off hers and she tried to stand up but Jeremy’s hand on her back, and Stuart’s grip on her neck, held her fast.
“Can I get up now?” Allie asked.
“No,” Jeremy answered. “I like you right where you are.” He patted her bottom again. “You lying across my lap like this, it’s right where you should be. It’s exactly where you belong.”
Her breath caught in her throat as Jeremy’s voice lowered, the last few words spoken so softly it was all she could do to make them out.
“Tell me, Allie, have you thought of me since you’ve been away? Is there a special man in your life?”
But she couldn’t answer. All she could think of, were Jeremy’s words, rolling round and round in her head. The husky tone doing wicked things to her insides, the possessive words claiming her very soul. This is exactly where you belong. And she knew, without a doubt, that it was.