Laying Down the Law (8 page)

“You couldn’t pay me to eat that crap.

Besides, I don’t eat breakfast.”

“Callie, eating regularly is important, you cannot skip breakfast. You also cannot lift heavy objects like oversized dogs, nor can you continue to work the hours you do, which is why you’ll be cutting your hours down. Now sit down and eat your oatmeal. You won’t like it if I have to get up and force you.” Callie opened her mouth to protest before shutting it abruptly as he glared up at her. This, she would give in on, besides she was a little hungry. She sat.

“I’ll eat breakfast, but I won’t eat this.” She pushed the bowl away from her. He pushed it back.

“You will eat this unless you’re looking for a spanking?” His voice was mild enough for a spanking?” His voice was mild enough but the threat was unmistakable.

“You can’t spank me!”

He frowned in confusion. “Ahh, yes, I can.”

“No, you can’t. You love me.”

“Yes, I do. I’ve loved you a long time.

Loving you doesn’t mean I stop spanking you.

I spank you because I love you. Each day I spend with you I love you more.”

“Oh.”

“You know, if you want to avoid my hand on your butt then you just need to do everything I say.”

She snorted. “Yeah, buddy. Not gonna happen.”

“Didn’t think so. Open up.” He held up a spoon of gray goo and she took it, grimacing as she swallowed.

Standing, she walked over to the coffee pot to get something to wash it down with; frowning when she saw it was empty.

“Where’s the coffee?”

“I threw it all out; we’ll get you some decaf today.”

“Ah-ah,” Callie shook her head. “Now you’re going too far, no one messes with my caffeine mister, how am I supposed to get through the day?”

“Hopefully you’ll get through it without being in constant pain.”

“What are you reading?” Callie snatched the magazine he was reading from off the counter and looked at the front cover, moaning in annoyance. It was one of the doctor’s pamphlets on ulcers; one of those things she was meant to read but never had time for.

was meant to read but never had time for.

“This is my life, Tanner.”

“I believe we had this conversation last night,” he spoke quietly. “I love you, Cal. I always have. This is why I’m going to make sure you take care of your health. I want you healthy, squirt, because I intend on spending the rest of my life with you.”

She felt a surge of pleasure.

“Do you know I’ve never even been to your house?”

“Well then, let’s remedy that today, shall we? I thought we’d go stay the night at my place.”

“Ahh, I can’t,” she said slowly. “I have to work.”

“It’s Saturday, remember? You have the day off. Now eat your porridge. We need to day off. Now eat your porridge. We need to talk.”

Callie sat back down with a sigh, moving her spoon through the porridge that had, if possible, gotten even more disgusting.

“You know, I think the cure is worse than the disease.” She grimaced as she took another small spoonful.

“Yeah, it is pretty awful, isn’t it?” Tanner let out a small grin and Callie giggled.

“It looks like what came out of Mrs.

Jones’s hamster, and not from the front end.”

“Uhhh,” Tanner pushed away his bowl with a grimace. “Breakfast at the diner?” Callie nodded, smiling. “It’s a date.”

***

Callie sighed, crossing her arms as she stared out the window at the passing scenery.

“You gonna pout all day, squirt?” Tanner asked as they pulled into the long driveway that led to his cabin. Callie hadn’t been out to his place before. It was a few miles out of town, set on a bit of land.

“Will if I want,” she replied childishly.

“Callie,” his voice was a low warning.

“You can’t threaten to spank me every time I do something you don’t agree with, Tanner,” she protested. “Besides, I think I’m entitled to my bad mood, don’t you?”

“Sweetheart, I am not keeping you from drinking caffeine to punish you, you heard the doctor, you need to avoid it for your health.”

“It's my body; I can do what I like to it.” And right now, she wanted coffee. Her head was pounding with a headache and she felt tired and listless. Caffeine would cure all her ills. If he would just let her have some.

ills. If he would just let her have some.

Tanner pulled off the side of the road just as he reached his driveway. He turned off the car and turned in his seat, looking over at her seriously.

“Callie, I don’t want to fight with you about everything to do with your health and safety. I only want you well. Haven’t you had enough of being tired and sick?” She sighed and nodded. “Yeah. But I like to make my own decisions. I am an adult.”

“Even adults make wrong decisions. Me as well.”

“Yeah, so do I get to spank you when you do something wrong?” she asked cheekily.

His lips twitched. “That’s not the way this relationship will work and you know it.

But don’t worry; I’ll give myself a strong talking too.”

talking too.”

She snorted.

He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re so precious to me, baby. I don’t want anything happening to you.

You’re my world. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He pulled her over, hugging her tight.

“I don’t like to see you sick or hurting. It worries me.”

Callie immediately felt horrible, she was being selfish, making him worry.

She leaned back to look into his handsome face. “I don’t understand,” she whispered softly.

“Understand what, sweetie?” he asked, pushing the hair from her face.

“I don’t understand why you love me. I’m

“I don’t understand why you love me. I’m a mess, I’m sick; I’m hard work, why do you even want to be with me?”

“Well, sure, you’re sick, but that doesn’t make me love you less. No matter how sick you ever get or how much attention you need, I will always love you. Now, can we continue on without the pouting?”

Callie nodded. “Although, just for the record, I really, really miss my coffee and I can’t be held responsible for my attitude while I’m going through withdrawals. It really sucks.”

“Luckily, I think I have something to take your mind off that.” Leaning down he kissed her softly, gently, teasingly, a long, drawn out kiss.

“Anytime you find yourself needing a distraction, babe, just let me know.” Winking, he started the car and turned up the long he started the car and turned up the long driveway.

***

Callie was still feeling sluggish as she sat eating the fish Tanner had cooked for dinner later that night. She yawned, trying to hide it by standing and carrying the empty pates to the sink. But his eagle eyes narrowed in on her face.

“I’ll do the dishes, you need to get into bed,” he ordered as he rose and joined her at the sink.

“I’m fine.” She should have known it was impossible to keep anything from him.

“Callie, you can barely keep your eyes open. Get yourself into bed now.” His voice was pure steel encased in smooth silk as he ordered her quietly. Damn bossy, arrogant man.

“You cooked, I’ll clean. Them’s the rules,” she said cheerily as she cursed her shaking hands. Still, she continued to fill the sink with water even as she could sense him frowning down at her fiercely. “Besides its way too early for bed, I’d never sleep.” Suddenly he clasped her shoulders with hands, turning her to face him as he quickly turned off the running tap.

“You’re shaking,” he accused her, looking down at her piercingly, those sharp gray eyes seeing far too much. “You’re far too pale, Callie, and I’m not going to tell you again. Get into bed.”

Callie shrugged his hands from her shoulders. She tip-toed her fingers up his chest.

“Okay, if you join me.”

He smiled and kissed her. “All right. I’ll be there in a minute.” He turned her and with a smack to her butt sent her on her way.

smack to her butt sent her on her way.

She looked around his bedroom in interest as she got ready. She liked his place, it wasn’t too large, but it was open plan which made it seem roomier. It was simply furnished, no pictures on the walls and it could use a rug and some splash of color, still she could really brighten the place up.

Callie blushed a little at the thought.

They’d only just entered a relationship and already she was decorating his house.

“What are you smiling at?” He came up behind her, clasping his arms around her waist as he stared at her in the bathroom mirror.

“I like your house. It has a nice feel to it.”

“Good, I want you to like it here.” He ran his hand down her arm. “You know, if you’re too tired we can just sleep.”

Callie turned in his arms and hugged.

Callie turned in his arms and hugged.

“Uh-uh, you promised me sex and I want it.” He raised a brow. “Did I? I don’t remember that.”

She grinned. “Are you complaining?” He grabbed the bottom of the t-shirt she wore to bed and pulled it up off her head.

“Oh no, I’m not complaining at all,” he replied huskily, staring down at her breasts.

Suddenly, she found herself sitting on the counter, her panties landing in a heap on top of her t-shirt. Tanner pulled her legs apart.

“Keep them apart. I’m hungry for some of your sweet honey. Part your pussy for me, baby.”

“What?” she squealed.

“Part your pussy so I can look at you.” Blushing crazily, she reached down and Blushing crazily, she reached down and pulled the lips of her vagina apart. He looked down at her hungrily.

“Good girl. You are so beautiful. Now, I’m going to feast and you are going to stay very, very still, okay?”

Callie nodded, wondering how the hell she was going to achieve that.

It was impossible.

Every swipe of his tongue, every tap against her clit had her whimpering, trying to get closer, twitching and moaning as she searched for release. He drove up then stopped when she moved, pulling back to shake his head.

Over and over he tortured her until she could just sob, beg incoherently.

He pulled her off the bench, turning her.

“Grasp the counter, baby.” His voice was

“Grasp the counter, baby.” His voice was strained and though she bemoaned the loss of his mouth, she did as he asked.

And then he was inside her, his cock dancing against her nerve endings, his big body encasing hers. They were slick with sweat as he pushed into her then drew back.

“God, the things you do to me. I can’t wait, baby. When I come so do you.” He reached around with a hand, using a single finger to tap her clit. Callie felt the heat begin deep within her then push its way throughout her body, encasing her as Tanner shot his essence inside her. She screamed, following him over into bliss.

CHAPTER SIX

Taking a deep breath of fresh, crisp air, Taking a deep breath of fresh, crisp air, Callie followed determinedly in Tanner's footsteps. She'd always figured she was reasonably fit, but man, was Tanner putting her to shame! Even taking into account his much longer stride she could still barely keep up with him as they hiked along. But she was determined not to complain, she was the one who'd suggested this walk, who'd completely ignored his suggestion that they take it easy.

She knew what he was thinking, that she wasn't feeling well enough to go for such a long walk. But Callie had refused to listen, arguing that Dr. Samuels had told her to get some fresh air and exercise.

So it was no one's fault but her own that she was now huffing and puffing her way behind Tanner. Damn it. She would have loved to have blamed her discomfit on him. Why did he have to be right all the time, and why the hell did he have to have such a fine looking butt? Although, she did admit, it was the sight butt? Although, she did admit, it was the sight of those distractedly tight buns covered by tight green pants that had kept her going for the last twenty minutes or so.

"Here we are. Will you just look at that view!" His cheerful voice spoke from above her as Callie stumbled on.

"I would if I could get up there," she muttered quietly to herself.

"Need some help there, squirt?"

"No I do not." Using some of her last stores of energy Callie climbed the last bit of the trail.

"Wow," she puffed out, struggling to breathe evenly. "That is amazing!" The view was spectacular; it almost looked like a painting.

"Worth the hike, hmm?" Tanner took off his pack and began to pull out a rug and some his pack and began to pull out a rug and some food while Callie just stood still trying to catch her breath.

"Yeah, definitely." She walked over to where he was sitting on the blanket he’d lain out and attempted to sit down without looking like she was collapsing.

"Here. Eat." Callie shook her head at the large sandwich he held towards her.

"I'm okay," she muttered, feeling a hell of a lot worse than okay. Man, was she going to feel this tomorrow!

"Callie," he said with infinite patience.

"You need to eat, we still have to tramp back down and you're not going to make it without some fuel. Now eat."

Callie reluctantly took the sandwich, knowing he was right. Surprisingly it was quite good and she found with some shock that she'd managed to eat over half of it before her managed to eat over half of it before her stomach protested that it was full.

"Thanks, that was good," she commented as she wrapped the rest back up. Tanner frowned but didn't force the issue.

"I suppose you can eat the rest when we get back," was all he said.

"Come here." Callie looked over in surprise at the gruff words. He patted his thigh in invitation.

“Why?”

He chuckled. “So suspicious. I can tell you have a headache, squirt. Now come here and let me rub your head for you.” Callie moved over and laid her head on his hard thigh, trying desperately to ignore how close she was to his cock. Even though she was exhausted, her body still stirred at his scent. Sighing with pleasure as he rubbed her scent. Sighing with pleasure as he rubbed her temple she closed her eyes and drifted softly.

“Why did you allow yourself to get to this point, squirt?”

She stiffened and tried to rise, but he easily held her down. “What do you mean?”