“I’m sure we’ll still snap and snarl at each other. But you’re right. We need to talk this shit out.” He grimaced. “Christ, can’t believe I just said that.”
“Poor Doc, allergic to talking.”
“Poor Caley, about to get her bottom spanked.”
Her mouth dropped open. Her hands came around to protect her bottom. “What? Why? I didn’t do anything!”
“Didn’t do anything? Did I imagine the water on my face?”
“I was just trying to get your attention! To stop you guys!”
“Would it be acceptable if I threw water in your face?” He took a step closer to her.
“Well, no, but. . .”
“You could have hit one of us with that glass. . .would that be acceptable?”
“It was an accident.”
“I understand that, which is why I’ll go easy on you. But you still intended to throw the water, didn’t you? And what if you’d then stepped on the glass and cut yourself?”
“I was going to put shoes on to clean it up.”
“Or you could have not thrown anything in the first place.”
“You admitted that you shouldn’t have been arguing, does that mean you’re getting a spankin’ as well?”
“Unfortunately for you, girl, there’s only one of us that gets spanked when they mess up. And it ain’t me. Pants and panties off. Turn around, hands on the bed.”
Her eyes widened. She gaped at him.
He studied her for a moment. The hard look on his face faded into understanding. “If you’re not ready for this step, I get it. We can stick with a scolding and corner time.”
Scolding and corner time versus a spanking? She knew which she’d rather.
She licked her lips nervously.
“You have a safeword,” he reminded her. “You can use that anytime.”
“I know,” she whispered. “Dave would never have spanked me for this.”
He flinched. “I’m not Dave, sweetheart. I wish I could bring him back for you. But I can’t. I also can’t replace him. I’m sorry for pushing too far too fast. I’ll—” He turned away and she realized he’d misunderstood her.
“No, wait, you don’t understand.” She reached for his arm.
He turned back. “I can only be me, Caley.”
“And I want you. I do.”
“There’s nothing easygoing about me. I’m gruff. I don’t have much of a filter. You break the rules, and I won’t just give you a slap on the wrist. You’ll be over my knee, with my handprint on your ass. I can be soft and indulgent, but I can also be strict and hard. And I’m too set in my ways to change.”
“I don’t want you to change, Issy, that’s not what I meant. I just…I barely know you and yet I care for you so much. When Dave and I first met, I needed that softness. I needed gentle. I still do. But I think part of me always wished for some more firmness. And that makes me feel guilty, for thinking that way.”
“Oh, baby. You shouldn’t feel guilty.”
“I know.”
“Every relationship is different.