An Old-Fashioned Education (10 page)

They were in the room together for two hours. Polly could hear Aidan yelling and his father quietly talking. Then he could hear the child crying. By the time he came out of the room, looking tired and weary, Polly had gotten Kerry to bed in the meantime, reading her a story to get the child settled.

“I’m going to need those articles,” Walt said. “I don’t know what to say to him.”

“No better?”

“I told him he would understand. He’s mad at me for not telling him before we went over there. I can understand that.”

Walt sunk down in a nearby chair. “I’m a terrible father.”

Polly knelt and put her hand on his. “You’re not,” she said. “Being a parent is hard work. There are no manuals and when life throws you a curve, it makes a hard job even harder.

He stood. “Your computer stuff. It’s in my room.”

Polly stood and followed him. His room was, like the rest of the house, spartan. A queen size bed with a handmade bedframe stood in the corner of the room, a handmade quilt spread across it. The bed he’d shared with Melissa and the bed she knew he wanted to share with her.

“What you said back there in the meeting hall, was it true?”

He stood. Her computer and iPad and cords were in the case he handed to her.

“Does it surprise you?” he asked. “I don’t think I have anything to lose by being honest. But don’t worry that I expect anything in return. I’m hardly what a pretty city girl is going to want, especially with two damaged kids and a community you’ve seen me let down.”

She walked over to him, putting the case on the floor.

“You’re wrong, Walt,” she said. “What I saw tonight was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen a man do. Ever. Some people think being in control means always being in control of others. Tonight, I saw a man step away from that to take control of his own life, of what really matters to him.”

She smiled. “And some city girls find that incredibly sexy.”

Polly was never one to make the first move, but now she found her arms winding around Walt Springer’s neck. His lips found hers in a deep kiss that she returned with equal vigor, and his hands moved down her back to cup and squeeze her buttocks in a possessive squeeze that made her turn away and gasp.

She’d thought so much about what he’d said about his relationship with Melissa, about the joy she’d found in limits, in discipline. Was it wrong for her to feel the same way? Did it mean she was betraying every conviction she’d have when she came to Pepper’s Hollow?

Polly suddenly realized she didn’t care. All that mattered was the man who was now pushing her down on the bed, his insistent hands everywhere on her body, and her sudden fevered craving for his touch.

“What’s that?” Kerry climbed up in her father’s lap, eying the iPad he was holding.

“It’s a, uh, computer you can hold,” he said.

“What’s a computer?”

A look passed between Polly and Walt, and she could see for the first time that he realized that he and the other leaders of Pepper’s Hollow may have been wrong to deny this incredible technology to their community. For most of the evening, he’d been reading articles on helping children deal with loss and grief.

Polly had been amazed that the 4G wireless card she’d purchased actually picked up a signal in the community. Even though the connection was slower than it was in the city, she’d been able to show Walt the benefits a computer could bring to Pepper’s Hollow. She pulled up radar on a website that monitor weather, and Walt was able track the trajectory of the storm still winding its way through the region.

“Cell phones,” she suggested. “They’d be wonderful to have.”

“Especially if the radio gets broken,” Walt said, raising an eyebrow. Polly colored uncomfortably at the remark. She knew that she’d never forget the spanking, and neither would he. But it did not take mention for her to think of it. As much as she hated to admit it, her thoughts turned to the punishment—and to Walt’s punishment philosophy—more and more often. And she was dealing with a dawning awareness; part of her growing attraction to Walt was because he was so willing to take charge of her, even when she resisted.

She excused herself early for bed in her old room, leaving Walt with his children. He knew they needed time together, and after the kiss they’d shared in the bedroom, she needed time alone.

Polly could see where this was going. She was falling in love with Walt Springer. And he was falling in love with her. But she knew even with the humility he’d expressed when he’d relinquished leadership of Pepper’s Hollow, he was not the kind of man who would relinquish leadership over his household.

Taking a deep breath, she Googled “dominant men,” and found herself staring at a list of websites about just the relationship dynamic she described. Links off of some led her to essays on domestic discipline, in which one partner designates himself or herself as the disciplinarian charged with shepherding the submissive partner through life with rules and consequences.

Submissive.
Was that what she was, then? Everything Polly had been taught surfaced and roiled in rebellion at the mere possibility that she would habitually stand before a man, having him pronounce judgment on her sins and then put her over his knee for a hard spanking that would produce tears and repentance.

But as she sat there pondering it, she could not deny the affect the mere thought was having on her body. She felt a tightening heat between her legs, and then the telltale throbbing that did not abate even when she shifted positions.

When she was close to Walt, she could sense his authority. There was a quiet expectation that he would be obeyed, and his handing over control to Paul had not diminished that air of authority. If anything, Polly felt that it made him seem even more dominant, for lack of a better word. Walt was not the kind of man who led to satisfy his ego, but led because he was born to it. And she realized that he appreciated the value of consequences enough to apply them to himself. The enforcing of rules was not a power trip for him, but something he truly believed in.

But even if she wanted to be with him—even if she were willing to give up everything and stay in Pepper’s Hollow as his partner—could she ever find acceptance from the rest of the community? If their resentment persisted, it would become a barrier between Walt and the community he’d founded. He’d be unlikely to ascend to a full leadership position again, and down the road he may blame her for the community’s lack of faith. She did not want that for him. Or for her.

There was a knock at the door. Walt poked his head in.

“Can I come in?”

She glanced down at the laptop screen displaying an article on domestic discipline and quickly closed the lid.

“Sure,” she said.

Walt entered the room and shut the door.

“It shut off,” he said, handing her the iPad.

“No worries,” she replied, taking it. “It just needs a charge.”

“Oh.” He was quiet for a moment and she sat there on the bed, her heart pounding at his proximity.

“The kids?”

“Asleep.” He smiled. “Both of them.”

“Any progress with Aidan?”

Walt shrugged. “It’s hard to say. He’s a little like his mom. Melissa would tell me how she felt, but only to a degree. I realize in retrospect that what she didn’t say was exactly what I should have been paying attention to. It’s occurred to me that I’ve missed these same cues with Aidan, and the articles I read tonight really emphasized that. He used to be such an engaged, happy-go-lucky kid. Now, he’s sullen and spiteful and I know it’s because he’s internalized all the stuff he didn’t say because he didn’t think I’d listen to him if he tried.”

Walt sighed.

“So change it,” Polly said.

“I’m trying,” he replied. “I told him tonight that I’ve dropped the ball, and that he and Kerry deserve better. I told him that from now on he and his sister are all that matter.”

Polly felt her heart drop into her stomach. Then she felt guilt. The statement left no room for her, but she knew it was not something that should make her jealous. This was his family; of course, they should be a priority. The last thing he needed to think about was courting.

She measured her next words carefully so as not to convey the disappointment she felt.

“That’s the right attitude,” she said. “And I honestly believe that once you fix things with your kids, then it will be a bridge to fixing things with the community. You were the first leader, Walt. They’re lucky to have you. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

Her face reddened and she dropped her eyes.
Oh God...What did I just say?


“I want you to stay,” he said, as if reading her mind. “You know how I feel. I know, or I think I know, how you feel. But we also know we can’t just start shacking up here or it’s going to look like I just dumped the community to be with you. You’re better than that, and they’re better than that. I’d never want to disrespect anything I’m committed to.”

“What are you saying?”

“That I’m committed to you, Polly,” he said. “That I want a future with you, and with my kids. I want to protect and care for and lead you, if you’ll have me. You know what kind of man I am.”

“The spanking kind,” she said before she could stop herself, and he smiled.

“Yeah,” he said. “The spanking kind. And that’s another reason I want us to take it slow. You’re from a different world—a world that tells you that my way of running a household is wrong or disrespectful of women. But it’s not and I’m pretty sure we’re not the only folks who do this. In fact, I bet if you checked that fancy computer you’d see it’s more common that you realize.”

Polly blushed. “I already did,” she said. “And you’re right. But I agree. It’s still going to be an adjustment for me.”

He smiled slowly. “You’re talking like you want this, too. Is that too much to hope for?”

Polly felt a mixture of fear and excitement. Everything was happening so fast.

“I never thought when I came out here I’d end up feeling affection for this community, for the kids–for your kids.” She paused, searching for words. “And I never thought I’d be attracted to you, to this lifestyle you’re offering. But I realize that if I stay—if I accept—you’re not taking control. I’m giving it to you. I just want you to appreciate what a huge step that will be for someone like me.”

“I do,” he replied. “And I hope you understand that I’d devote every day earning that the right to have that kind of control. That’s why I want you to have your own cabin, and to meet with the other ladies, make friends, and learn about how our lifestyle has helped them. Women talk to each other and they’ll be honest; they’ll tell you the good and bad of it. I want you to go into this with your eyes wide open.” A pained expression crossed his face. “I don’t want another failed marriage,” he said.

She smiled sympathetically and then sighed. “I don’t know how much the women of Pepper’s Hollow are going to want to have to do with me,” she said. “The whole community hates me. Even though we both understood why you did what you had to do, you were more than a leader, Walt. You were the heart of Pepper’s Hollow. They don’t want to think you’d just back off. They need a scapegoat. I don’t know if I can ever shake that off. What if they can’t?”

“Then saying goodbye would be hard,” he said.

Polly felt a lump in her throat as she tried to imagine climbing into the twin engine plane that had brought here here and taking one last look back at Walt and the kids before flying back to the modern world that was so different from what she’d fallen in love with.

“Yeah, it would be,” she said. “I’d hate to go, but if I had to–”

“What are you talking about?” he asked, a puzzled look crossing his handsome face. “I’m not talking about having you leave. I’m talking about me and you and the kids leaving—all of us.”

“You’d leave Pepper’s Hollow?” she asked, mystified.

“I don’t want to,” he said. “But I started one community and I’m not so vain to think they couldn’t live without me. I could start another. Who knows? It might be part of the plan for my life, Polly. And it might be part of the plan for Pepper’s Hollow for someone else to take the reins.”

He walked over and took her by the shoulders, guiding Polly until she was standing in front of him by the bed. “I don’t know if it’s all part of an overall plan. All I know is that I want to be with you.”

His lips claimed hers, then, and Polly opened her mouth to allow admittance of his tongue. She sighed against his kiss, offering no resistance as his hand skimmed down her shoulders and back to rest on her bottom, which he squeezed possessively.

It felt like someone had turned on an electric charge in her nether region. Polly felt her pussy clench with need as her panties dampened. The pressure of her jeans against her mound was almost painful. She closed her eyes, willing his hands to the clasp on her jeans and the shuddering when she felt them there. Every nerve in her body screamed in expectation as he skimmed the pants over her hips and then down until they dropped to her ankles. As she stepped out of them, he raised the sweater over her head and she found herself standing before him in just her bra and panties.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, and she blushed. Walt stepped back, pulling his shirt off to reveal muscular arms and a well-defined chest tapering to tight abs that looked like they should be on a man half his age.

Polly’s heart was thudding when he pulled her close again. His hand went directly to the warm, wet spot between her legs. He touched her through her wet panties, the pressure of his fingers exquisite against her throbbing clit. When he pushed her back against the bed, she lifted her hips so he could remove her soaked panties, not caring whether he thought her wanton, although judging by the size and hardness of the erection straining against his jeans, he wasn’t in a mood to hold back, either.

Her bra was off now and she was naked, and Walt’s mouth was everywhere, nibbling and suckling. But it was when he squeezed her bottom that Polly felt the most visceral thrill. There was something about the idea of his being in control of her body, of bringing her both pleasure and pain at his discretion that awakened sexual senses she’d never known existed.

When the mouth suckling her breasts moved lower to lap at her labia and then attach itself to her needy clit, Polly came immediately, the waves washing over her so strongly that she turned her head and buried her face in the pillow to keep from waking Walt’s sleeping children.

When me moved up again to kiss her with a mouth slick and salty with her own juices, Polly reached for the clasp on his jeans and pushed them down. Walt kicked them off and positioned himself between her legs. Polly opened herself up to him and orgasmed again almost immediately as soon as his hardness penetrated her. His movements were hard but controlled as he masterfully set the pace of their lovemaking. Polly had never felt more wanted or more feminine or more turned on in her whole life. She wrapped her legs and arms around him, pulling her to him. Despite their size difference, they fit together perfectly, like interlocking pieces and she moaned low as his hips pistoned back and forth, driving his huge cock into her over and over.

No. I can’t.
But she was building to an unprecedented third orgasm. And Polly knew that this time Walt would join her at pleasure’s peak. Walt cried out into her hair as they came.

For long minutes they lay there, feeling one another’s heart beating in the dark, each feeling as if they’d finally found a home within the arms of the other. Polly did not want it to end, but it was she who finally suggested that he seek his own bed. The temptation to fall asleep together was strong for both of them, but they also both knew the kids did not to see them together. Not like this, and not this soon. Before going to bed, Walt brought Polly a washbasin and a towel. In the solitude of her room she cleaned up, loving the tenderness she felt as she toweled her nether regions. The experience had left her feeling claimed somehow. His woman. Walt Springer’s woman.

She smiled up at the ceiling after crawling back between the still-warm sheets. She felt like she could face anything now, as long as he was by his side. And Polly felt asleep with those thoughts, which were nearly as comforting as the body of the man she’d made love to.