language spoke for him. He was six-foot-one of very angry man.
“I think your husband wants a word with you.” Chet gave her an I-told-you-so look; having told her earlier that Erik wouldn't be pleased when he found her out here. She'd told the foreman her husband was sleeping and she hadn't wanted to disturb him. “Did I mention trouble?”
Henry walked away to no doubt join his wife and the other guests, who were all going into Dodge City for the evening. “See you in the morning.”
Chet took the reins of the horse she was sort of hiding behind. “Time to face the music.” He headed toward the side gate.
She glowered at him, hating that he was right. With as much dignity as she could muster, she walked toward her doom. Her buttocks were clenching already in anticipation. Maybe she could talk her way out of this. She didn't even have to let him do what she was fairly certain he had in mind.
At the last second she reached up to rub her head and tried to look worse than she felt.
“Drop the act, Mandy. You're obviously not hurting that bad if you could be out here giving riding lessons.” He didn't add 'against my wishes' but it was understood.
She let her hand fall away. “Are you rested now? You were pretty exhausted when I left.” What am I doing? Trying to make him madder?
“Come with me. We're going to have a discussion.” He shook his head. “Not about the subject you've been avoiding. About something more immediate and I know you understand what I mean.”
She glanced back at Chet and his head nod told her he'd heard the conversation. Her face heated. She moved directly in front of Erik and hissed, “I had a job to do. I'm feeling a lot better—”
To her surprise, he reached around her and sent a stinging Smack! to her bottom. Fortunately the heavy denim quieted the sound, but Chet still might have heard it. She didn't look in his direction.
“That whole 'feeling better' thing is going to change pretty soon.” He took her arm and tugged her with him back to the house. Neither of them said a word.
Erik studied his silent, clearly unhappy wife where she stood just inside the great room. He sensed she was trying to come up with something to change his mind, but so far hadn't thought of anything. He wouldn't accept any excuses anyway. When he'd awakened a short while ago and saw her side of the bed empty, he'd known immediately where she'd gone. She'd defied him, even knowing he was only worried for her sake. Now she was going to find out how serious he was about domestic discipline.
“Take them down and lean over the back of the sofa.”
She blinked at him. “I really am sort of hurting again.”
Impatient, he took her arm and led her behind the sofa. “You're going to hurt some more…in a different place. You can lie down pretty soon and sleep off both issues.” He reached around to undo the top button, then the zipper.
“Okay, okay.” She pushed his hands away and wiggled the jeans and panties down to her knees.
He stared at her and felt his cock hardening. But he wasn't going to be distracted. “Why are you going to be punished?” He wanted to be sure she fully understood.
Her face turned red, probably from standing there partially undressed in front of him. “Because you told me I was done for the day after being hurt earlier. Because I went against your order.” She looked straight at him. “I don't like being ordered around.”
“I know you don't.” He held her gaze. “I won't do it unless I feel it is necessary. You were injured enough that you needed to let your body heal today.”
He could see she wanted to protest, but she evidently knew he was right. Breathing out in frustration, she faced the sofa and leaned over, her hands flattening on the seat cushion.
“Good girl.” He really liked the sight of her bare bottom in front of him. So did his cock. He forced the tempting thoughts aside and removed one of his flip-flops.
She glanced back at him and saw