Back in Charge Read online

  "I don't know when you began to think that it was okay for you to talk to me like this," he admonished firmly, "but I think you need a reminder of who makes the rules in this family."

  Flight! Flight! Her body screamed at her. She scrambled to get off the bed, but she got tangled up in the sheets and Robert was too quick for her. In seconds, it seemed, he'd caught her hand and yanked her face-down across his knees.

  "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, scissoring her legs for all she was worth.

  "Wow, I know we're both a little rusty, but I didn't think you'd forget everything."

  "Very funny," Sadie snapped, twisting and trying with all her might to escape his rock-hard thighs.

  "I thought so. Glad you're seeing the lighter side of things for a change. Your behavior, however, has not been amusing. That's something I'm going to change."

  "Robert, you can't do this! You can't just-just…"

  "Spank you?" he guessed, sounding much too smug for her liking.

  "Let me go, you jerk!" she spat.

  "There you go with the rustiness again. See, Sadie from a year ago would have known better than to call her husband names. Particularly when she was over his lap."

  She craned her neck and glared at him with a look that could have thawed icicles in Alaska. "Let me go!"

  "Tsk, tsk, tsk," he clucked his tongue at her. "Maybe if you had said please. But with such bad manners, I don't think I can even consider it."

  The pleasure he seemed to take in seeing her helpless and spitting-mad just irked her further. Yet, as much as she strained and fought, she didn't come anywhere near close to getting away. Damn her short genes! Damn her fragile, weak body! When she got away she was going to finally do that Jillian Michaels' workout for her upper arms! Then she'd show him!

  Robert waited patiently, doing nothing but watching her fight and struggle until she was wiped out. When she lay over his lap panting and still, he began to lecture.

  "This attitude of yours lately has been uncalled for and it's unacceptable. I know things have changed a lot around here, and I know you're under stress, but I'm your husband. I want to be your partner, not your enemy."

  "You have a funny way of showing it," she muttered, but all the rancor was gone from her voice. She was too tired for all that.

  "I'm trying to get your attention, Sadie. And I'm doing it in the only way I know how."

  "Well, consider your goal accomplished. If you let me go, we can talk."

  "Nice try, but I like talking this way just fine. I have such a lovely view."

  She snorted in laughter before she could stop herself and Robert surprised her with a smack right on the center of her left cheek.

  "I don't think you're taking this seriously."

  "Robert—"

  "You're not going to talk your way out of this one, Sadie-girl. You've had this spanking coming for a long time, and you're going to get it."

  Before she could think of a reply that might change his mind, he began spanking the seat of her jeans in earnest. It had been a long time—too long. She'd forgotten how much it hurt! Even though she had two layers of protection, somehow his hand still managed to cut through and punish her poor, clenching cheeks.

  "This isn't fair," she moaned, spank after spank raining down.

  "It isn't? I'll tell you what I don't think is fair—the way you've been treating this family. You're moody, you're distracted and distant. The kids and I deserve better than that from you."

  She opened her mouth to answer, to defend herself, when she realized that she was defenseless. Yes, she had just had a baby. She'd had major surgery, and she was still in recovery, but that didn't excuse the way she'd been pushing them away. Deep down, she knew that, which was why when she felt more painful, burning spanks land on her posterior, she whimpered and took it.

  "I know I've taken a vacation from being the head of this household," Robert lectured as he smacked her left cheek, quickly followed by the right. "But you'll be glad to know that I'm back on duty, and I intend to make up for lost time."

  "Honey, it hurts," Sadie whined.

  "I know it hurts, baby, and it's about to hurt a whole lot more."

  "B-but—"

  He cut off her feeble protest with a solid swat that made her gasp. The pain seared right through her clothing and made her wince. Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, he uttered the two words she used to live in fear of hearing. "Panties off."

  "Oh, honey, please. Please, no. I'll be good."

  "You say that now, because your ass is a little sore, but I want to make sure you remember to be good later, after you've recovered."

  "Honey, I promise."

  "I know, Sadie. I also know you too well to take your word for it. Panties off."

  With a loud hmph she sat up. She'd always hated how he made her take her shorts and panties down for a proper spanking. She'd rather he just do it, but he insisted on giving her orders during a punishment. He'd told her more than once that her willingness to comply told him a lot about whether or not his message was getting through.

  Oh, she heard him loud and clear. Or rather, her tingling, painfully prickly ass did. With a loud sigh, she unbuttoned her jeans and shucked them down her hips. With a finger pointing to the floor, he indicated that her panties should follow. She rolled her eyes skyward, but quickly complied and found herself hauled over his knee once more.

  Her obedience was promptly rewarded with a sharp, stinging spank that hurt worse than all the rest. "Ow!"

  "Maybe next time you'll think twice about rolling your eyes at me. You know I don't like that."

  He really was trying to make up for lost time, and she had a hunch that he wasn't going to make it easy for her. She was quickly proven correct when his hand set to work reddening her already sore rear. He spanked until her breath came in gasps and her lip quivered. After that, it wasn't long before tears came to her eyes and it wasn't just because of the fire he'd stoked in her sit spots. As much as she hated to admit it, even to herself—and hopefully he wouldn't demand she admit it aloud—she deserved this spanking. That knowledge was what made her cry, and once she'd started, she couldn't seem to stop. She didn't even notice when he stopped punishing her, she just sobbed over his lap.

  Robert didn't say anything. He knew as well as she did that a good cry was cathartic, so he simply patted her back while she poured out all her frustrations and feelings of inadequacy. When she finished, she felt limp as a rag doll and plain worn out.

  "May I sit up now?" she sniffled.

  "Sure, baby. Let me help you."

  She let Robert help her to a sitting position in his lap, after which she quickly ducked her head and buried it in her chest. She knew she looked like a mess. A crying, red-nosed mess. Good thing she wasn't wearing mascara, otherwise her cheeks would be covered in black streaks right about now. Thank God for small miracles.

  "Do you feel better?"

  The softly worded question gave her pause. Did she feel better? She was certainly glad the spanking was over, no doubt about it, but… had anything else changed? Pausing to take inventory, she realized that the tight, wound-up feeling she'd been carrying around for weeks had disappeared. It was almost like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "Yes. Thank you."

  "Are you thanking me for spanking you?" he teased, nuzzling her neck.

  "No, definitely not," she giggled. "But I do feel better."

  "Good. That's all I want to hear." He pushed her hair out of the way and kissed along the nape of her neck until she shivered. "You know; this is the first time you've really let me touch you in months."

  "It hasn't been that long," she protested, but it sounded weak even to her own ears.

  "It has. I used to know this neck like the back of my hand," he murmured, seconds before he gently nipped her ear. "I guess I'll just have to learn all over again."

  Sadie felt fresh and cleansed after her cry and she couldn't deny that his attentions were turning her
insides to liquid desire. "Poor baby."

  "Yes, poor me," he echoed in a sexy whisper that sent delicious chills sliding along her spine. "Lie down."

  She obeyed without hesitation, trying not to think about the extra baby weight she carried and focus only on her husband.

  "Spread your legs," he commanded huskily.

  Oh, yes, she'd missed this. She missed the spanking, sure, but she'd missed this. Robert being all in-control and authoritative. She'd never seen him look so sexy.

  As soon as she'd obeyed, he slid a finger in to test her wetness. When he pulled his finger out, he held it up, showing her how shiny it was with her juices. "Naughty girl," he tsked. "Now, is that for me, or because of that book you've been reading?"

  "I… um…" She stammered, flushing until her face felt like it might burst into flame.

  "Naughty girl," he said again, this time grinning wolfishly. "It doesn't matter. It'll be my name you're crying out. I'll make sure of it."

  She closed her eyes, caught up in the picture he painted, nearly trembling in eagerness. With firm, but gentle hands, he spread her thighs wider and when she felt his fingers trace the line of her clit, she shivered. When he slid two long digits inside, her eyes snapped open as she tensed, yelping in protest.

  "What? What is it?"

  "Nothing, just… when did your hands get so rough?"

  "My hands?" His brow furrowed. "I haven't been doing anything differently. It's been a little while. We're just going to have to ease back into things and get reacquainted."

  "Yeah." She gave him a sheepish grin. "I guess you're right."

  "We'll get there. Don't worry." Robert leaned over her and Sadie raised her mouth for his kiss. He bent down, but stopped short just before he met her lips. "Unless…"

  "Unless what?"

  "Unless you think my hands are rough because you're used to different hands now?"

  Her flush went deeper still. "Don't be silly, honey, I—"

  He took her hand in his, brought it to his lips and kissed her fingers. "Maybe, for example, this hand?"

  There was nothing she could say. Well, she supposed she could remind him that she was right handed, but that was beside the point, and she knew it.

  "That's it, isn't it?" He sat back on his heels, a gleam in his eye. "Is that how you were getting yourself through those long, lonely nights?"

  "It's not funny," she grumbled, turning her head away.

  "It's a little funny. But Lucas is here now, which means you're mine again. Do you understand, Sadie?"

  His voice had magnetic pull, bringing her eyes back to his face.

  "All mine," he emphasized when he knew he had her attention. "Which means if I ever find those fingers of yours in my territory again, you'll go to bed with a hot bottom and a wet, unsatisfied pussy. Do I make myself clear?"

  Her juices gushed forth at the commanding tone he'd assumed. Yes, she'd missed this so, so much. "Yes, Sir."

  "That's my girl. Now, let's see if we can get reacquainted." He wiggled his fingers at her and she couldn't help but giggle. Soon, with his fingers thrusting in and out of her dripping pussy, her giggles turned to cries of delight, soon followed by pure ecstasy as she curled her toes and orgasmed, calling his name.

  Chapter Four

  As she awoke, Sadie yawned and stretched her arms above her head. When her eyes fluttered open, she wore a smile of someone recently pleasured. She couldn't remember the last time she'd woken up feeling so at peace—or so refreshed!

  Glancing at the window, she saw a golden morning through the slits in the blinds. No—it couldn't be. She sat up and threw the covers back, groaning aloud when she saw the alarm clock. It was almost eight in the morning! How had she slept so late? Had she not heard the monitor? And what about the girls? They'd be needing to get to school any minute!

  She saw her jeans from the night before laying on the floor and made quick work of picking them up. There used to be a time when she never would have worn clothes from the day before. Now she rewore them until the Cheetos stains were too obvious. She sprinted to the dresser to grab a shirt, snatching her hairbrush off the vanity as she went. Dropping the clothing to the floor, she was brushing with one hand and trying to pull off her gown over her head with the other when she heard the door open behind her.

  "Hey, babe."

  "Robert?" she practically squeaked. "What are you doing here?"

  "I took the day off."

  "You what?" She gaped at him. She couldn't remember the last time her husband had taken a day off. He always worried too much about whether the guys on his team could get along without him.

  "It's no big deal." He shrugged. "I just thought we needed some time together."

  She gave him a warm smile. "That was very sweet. I'd love that." They locked eyes, content to stand and smile at each other. It felt like she was in high school all over again, except this time her boyfriend had much better abs.

  "So, I thought we'd have breakfast—"

  "Breakfast!" Sadie was immediately pulled out of her love-daze, and thrust into the wild, frantic world of a mom who was running behind. She hurriedly pulled the brush through her hair and then tossed it aside. "I'm so glad you're home, and I can't wait to spend time with you, but I have to get the girls fed and—"

  "Sadie—"

  "And the baby will need a bottle—"

  "Honey—"

  "I can't believe I didn't hear the monitor! I haven't slept through that thing since he came home from the hospital!" she moaned.

  "Sadie."

  She stopped short, blinking at him in surprise when his firm insistence finally came through her worry-soaked brain. "What?"

  "I've been trying to tell you not to worry about it."

  "But—"

  "I took care of it, honey."

  "What?" she asked, just as dazed and confused as when he told her he'd taken the day off.

  "I fed the girls and I asked my mom to get them to school. She picked them up half an hour ago."

  "Why didn't you just wake me?"

  "I didn't want to wake you. I wanted you to get some rest."

  "But now your mom is going to think—"

  "My mom is going to think you just had a baby, and that you're tired," he interrupted her mid-whine. "She's going to think that your husband is trying to take care of you and that's all there is to it."

  "But…" she trailed off, not sure what to think. Last night had had a dreamlike quality that had left her waking up this morning unsure of what had actually happened. Now, with Robert standing in front of her and using that no-nonsense tone of his, there could be no doubt.

  "As for LJ, I took over the feedings this morning."

  "You what?" Her mouth dropped open, and she didn't even care how ridiculous she must look.

  "It's no big deal. I'm up then, anyway. I just skipped my morning run."

  "But you love to run," she protested, feeling like she had been thrust into one of the old Twilight reruns she used to watch as a kid.

  "I do." He gave her a teasing grin. "Maybe I'll get you out there with me later today, hmm?"

  "Oh, I don't know about that. I'll need to cook dinner, and—"

  "I thought I might cook tonight."

  "I think I need to sit down."

  "Very funny," he chuckled. "We'll do it together. It'll be fun."

  Fun. She couldn't remember the last time she'd actually had fun. "What is this foreign thing you speak of?"

  "Why don't I remind you?"

  Mmm, if that wasn't a welcome invitation, she didn't know what was. "I'd love a quick refresher."

  He sidled toward her and slipped his arms around her waist. She sighed in pleasure, welcoming his touch. "How is your bottom feeling this morning?"

  She giggled, caught off guard by the question. "Um, it's okay I guess."

  "Let me take a look."

  "What?" she choked out a laugh and craned her neck to look at him. To her surprise, he looked pretty serious. With a shrug of her
shoulder, she took a step forward and lifted the hem of her gown until her panties showed.

  Robert stepped forward—feeling him behind her, knowing he was looking at her ass made her clench her cheeks in both embarrassment and delight. He took his time, first resting his hands on her hips before he put his fingers in the band of her panties and gently worked them down.

  "Well? What's the verdict?"

  "I think you've recovered just fine," he mused.

  That was funny. She didn't feel recovered. In fact, she could still feel every single swat he'd given her.

  "Why don't you get dressed?"

  "Are we going somewhere?"

  "I thought I'd take you to brunch."

  An excited smile leapt to her lips. She knew exactly what he had in mind. Pancakes by Pearl was her favorite restaurant, and a very popular, high-end brunch spot. Before they'd had the twins, they'd gone at least once a week, sometimes twice. Now, she couldn't remember the last time they'd been.

  When she turned to face him, she was smiling fit to split her face. "What did I do to deserve such a thoughtful husband?"

  Robert surprised her by looking thoughtful. "I don't think I've been thoughtful enough, or considerate enough of what you need. I'm sorry for that and I want to make it up to you."

  "Oh, honey." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his lip. "Don't say that."

  "No, it's true. I'm sorry I didn't realize it before now, but it won't happen again. I'm here for you, whatever you need. You got that?"

  She grinned, inhaling the wonderful manly scent of him. "Yeah. I've got that." She leaned in and met his soft lips with her own. The kiss started out slow, but deepened until her knees felt like they were made of jelly.

  "Don't be afraid to fall," he murmured in her ear. "I'll catch you."

  Sadie threw her head back and laughed. She laughed until tears came to her eyes. It had been the pick-up line Robert had used when they first met. She would have walked away then and there if she hadn't been intrigued by the hour they'd spent together prior to his horrible one-liner. Well, that and his amazing smile. And firm ass. Lucky for him, it canceled out his faux pas.