Free Sweet Salvation by Maddie Taylor Page A

as she considered all this. She hadn’t know what risks she was taking.
    “Now do you see why I was so angry and wanted to paddle you?”
    “Yes, I guess I do, but it seems—” Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right word.
    “Old-fashioned?”
    “Yes, that’s it. The man lording over his woman, it’s like out of some medieval books I’ve read.”
    “Not so unusual, honey. As a matter of fact, this type of relationship has had a resurgence in recent years. Couples are becoming more traditional in their relationships, which keeps the roles well defined and expectations clear. I think it makes for stronger bonds between two people. Furthermore, and this is a big one, I wouldn’t be lording it over you. I don’t want to be your superior or your lord and master; that isn’t my intention at all. I’m talking about defined rules, expectations, and consequences for your actions.”
    “And spankings.”
    “Yes, although that is the least of this.” Jared brushed a tendril of hair from her cheek as his eyes searched her face. “If this is something that you can’t deal with, I’ll understand. We can put this aside and go back to what we were before.”
    “Which was what exactly?”
    “Passing acquaintances, I suppose.”
    “More like colliding acquaintances.”
    “I’ll try not to tackle you any more in the future. I promise.”
    “Much obliged.” Stacy’s brief smile faded, replaced quickly by a frown. Her thoughts had so frequently turned to him over the past two years and he had been a near constant in her mind in the last few days. Ever since he’d mentioned spanking her, she hadn’t been able to get that idea out of her head either. The image of being bared and placed over his knee freaked her out a bit, at the same time making her tingle in all of her wonderfully naughty places. Each time, like now, she found it surprisingly erotic, and wasn’t that bizarre?
    “Where have your thoughts gone, Stacy? You have a faraway look in your eyes.”
    She flushed, the heat spreading fast until her cheeks were burning and her ears felt singed. “I think I’m willing to try it your way, Jared.”
    “You are?” He let out a pent-up breath, looking at her in surprise as if unaware he’d been holding it.
    “Thought I’d cut bait, didn’t you?”
    “Pardon?”
    “You know that saying, fish or cut bait?”
    “Sorry. I don’t know what that means.”
    “My daddy used to say it when I had trouble committing to something. He was telling me to take it or leave it, whatever it was. Does that make more sense?”
    “Yes. You’ve decided to fish.”
    Nodding, she smiled softly.
    He took her mouth in another steamy kiss that once again left her breathless. They cuddled and kissed on her couch for the rest of the evening, then gentleman Jared called it a night, much to her regret. Before he left, what he whispered in her ear caused her heart to melt as much as her panties, and she fell just a little bit in love with him.
    “Be ready next Friday, sweet Stacy, because as I’m sure your daddy would say, ‘I’m fixin’ to start courtin’.”

Chapter Two
     
     
    The following Friday they had their first official date. Her knee was still sore, so dancing was out. Many of the other activities he’d recommended in the area would also have to wait until she was healed up, like the Detroit Zoo (only minutes from her apartment; she had never been), and the Henry Ford Museum with its outdoor historical village. There was a spring festival this weekend but walking in the late season snow that still covered the ground would have been difficult too. There was always a movie, but then they couldn’t talk. He’d said to leave it all up to him, telling her only to wear a dress and be ready at six o’clock.
    He’d picked her up in his silver BMW, the sweet ride she’d drooled over before. After he’d handed her into the low-slung vehicle, he buckled her in—a nice touch—giving her legs an admiring