by Elizabeth Belmont
Weaving its way through the downtown Las Angeles traffic, soft jazz coming from the front of the black sedan and low arguing coming from the back, a black Lincoln Town Car deftly carried its passengers to its first destination. A stop just a few blocks off the famous Hollywood Strip. A drop-off arranged the night before... and still being argued in the early morning.
"Jason, you don't have to walk me in. Besides, if you don't hurry you'll miss your plane." As the Tri-Star Luxury Car Services sedan slid to a stop in front of Valerie (Val to her friends) Howard's LA apartment, the frowning blonde once again checked her watch. It showed 5:10am. "Seriously, if you wait any longer you could hit traffic on the 405."
Stretching his legs as best he could in the confines of the sedan, the big man sitting next to her shook his head and pointed to his arguing girlfriend's building as the driver opened her door. "I'll worry about traffic baby girl. You worry about getting upstairs."
Pink lips closed in a hard line Val stepped out of the car and purposefully quick-stepped ahead of her bemused guy. She loves the man but damn it he can be pushy! Rushing into her building, the leggy blonde quickly worked the lock on her apartment door and stepped in with a toss of her purse and a slam of the hollow core door. Stalking over to the refrigerator, she grabbed a bottle of orange juice and slammed the door closed. Turning, she leaned against the still shaking fridge and waited for her mountain of a boyfriend.
And waited.
When the big man didn't appear, Val rubbed her face in frustration and set the juice down. Why was she so mad? Her evening with Jason had been wonderful, the perfect send off for his trip to the new Chicago office. Val had made her special pasta in Jason's expansive West Hills kitchen. Fresh tomatoes, basil and jumbo shrimp tossed with garlic and oil sizzled while the big man packed upstairs. After dinner they had shared a very fine central valley Grenache and puffed Cuban tobacco from a red-bellied glass hookah hidden under the stairs.
"The hookah's a gift from a glass artist I know up in Santa Barbara," Jason told Val as he showed her how to draw up the sweet smoke with minimal inhale. "Don't ask how I get the leaf and for God's sake don't tell my good buddy River about any of it. I don't need another hour lecture from the granola-boy."
Later they had danced by the pool. As the midnight winds picked up Jason had peeled off her clothes, covering every inch of newly bared skin with kisses, and warmed her naked body with passion until neither had the strength to make it up stairs. Early in the morning Val had awakened to warm sunshine bathing her naked back as she lay curled up next to her man in the oversized lounger under the veranda. She couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening.
Stamping her foot in temper, Val felt a hot wave of frustration course through her body. "Stop it Val," she whispered to herself. "Just stop it." Closing her eyes and drawing a steadying breath, Val exhaled through gritted teeth and quickly returned to her apartment door. She didn't know quite what was wrong with her, but she didn't want to send Jason off mad. Maybe she could still catch the car.
"Jason!" Opening the door, Val rushed headfirst into the solid form of her man standing in the hall. "You scared me. Why are you just standing out here?"
By was of an answer, Jason wrapped one arm around her waist and half carried, half dragged the young woman backwards into her apartment. Stopping just long enough to kick the door closed, Jason continued dragging Val back to her bedroom. Clinging to the big man's arm for balance, the tall blonde worried her lower lip with nervous teeth and tried digging in her heels only to have her long legs lifted even further off the ground. "Jason, wait."
"No."
Kicking the bedroom door closed, the big man wore a small frown as he threw a cloth bag on the bed and stood Val in front of him. Not a word was spoken as the broad hands of Val's lover began working the button and zipper of her skin tight jeans. Panicking, she tried intercepting the thick fingers. "No, Jason please wait. Baby, come on."
Stopping his work on the front of her jeans, Jason turned Val to the bed and lifted her by the back of her pants. Standing on tiptoe Val reached back with panicked fingers, grasping at Jason's shirt for balance only to be tipped further forward by six powerful spanks on the seat of her stretched jeans. The stinging blows had the squealing young woman dancing on her tip-toes. "Owww! Please baby, stop!"
Righting her again, Jason wordlessly continued working on removing the now quiet girl from her jeans. This time she didn't try to stop him, even when he moved on to her shirt and bra. Sitting on the edge of the bed, the big man pulled Val's naked body over his lap, adjusting her hips and tucking the trembling blonde in close. Val whimpered a little as Jason's large paw patted her already warmed bottom. She tensed and waited for the first terrible swat.
And waited.
Unclenching the bedspread the naked blonde relaxed a little as Jason's hand covered her bare backside not with punishing swats, but with gentle pats and the occasional squeeze. Up one side of her bottom and down the other Jason's rough palm patted and rubbed her full cheeks until she completely relaxed into the bed. Her legs lying limp over her lover's rock hard thighs. Crossing her arms, Val rested her head and sighed. "Baby?"
"Shhhhhhh."
Watching her body go limp, Jason smiled and increased the strength of his pats and caresses. God but she was beautiful, this vixen lying across his lap. It was all he could do to keep from laughing when she stomped up the stairs and slammed the door in his face. Hadn't taken her more then a minute to come back for him. Hauling her through the apartment may have been a little rough, but hey. She started it! Chuckling, the big man indulged in a few stronger swats that added some "ouch" to her purrs.
Lying across his lap, Val closed her eyes and allowed Jason's hand to lead a gentle bouncing dance with her warming cheeks. The occasional sharp swat only adding to the relaxing heat building in her body. It was wonderful, but somehow incomplete. Something in the back of her head, and deep in her heart, was keeping the naked blonde from sinking into the moment. Twisting around, Val reached back for Jason' arm. "Baby?"
Smiling down at her, Jason stopped the spanking and caressed her pink cheeks. "What is it baby girl?"
"I need... something."
"Tell me."
Shaking her head, Val felt a tightening in her chest. She had felt it for the past three days, ever since she found out her man was leaving. For a month he was leaving! She felt so sad, so angry. "I can't. I need... something."
Nodding, Jason reached a gentle hand and stroked her cheek. A lone tear was forming at the corner of her eyes. He figured as much. Ever since Monday afternoon he had caught her in serious moments, sad eyes and sudden barely controlled fits of temper. Patting her bottom, he reached over and set the cloth bag near her head. "Look inside baby girl. What do you need?"
Reaching inside, Val pulled out the two paddles Jason had bought her in San Francisco. The wooden one with the dragons burned in the flat of the blade made her shiver, and she quickly put it back. An action that pulled a chuckle from Jason and a blush from Val. Fingering the second paddle, burgundy leather with a wreath of roses stitched around the oval blade, the blushing young woman took a shaky breath. Not looking back, she handed the paddle to the strong hand holding her tight. "I need this one," she whispered into the bed.
Nodding, Jason accepted the paddle and laid the virgin leather on Val's twitching bottom. "Baby girl, I need you to listen carefully. You're not in trouble and I'm not angry. Understand?" Waiting for Val's nod, Jason rubbed the leather against her cheeks until the twitching stopped. "You can be honest with me love. You don't have to hold back. No matter what, I'm not going to be mad."
Twisting back around, Val frowned. "What do you mean?"
Wrapping a tight arm around her waist, Jason lifted the paddle. "Exactly what I said." Pulling her in just a little closer, he brought the paddle down with a smart flick of his wrist.
"Ouch!" Val's head snapped up as the leather made its first slap to her bared bottom. It hurt. Not as much as the big man's belt had, but it still hurt. The next spanks were no better. "Owie! Jason, not so hard. Please?"
Her tattooed lover didn't answer, just kept up a steady rhythm of stinging spanks to his love's quick ly reddening backside. Her kicking legs drummed on his thighs and her fists pounded into the bed, but the paddle never slowed. Only when Val put back a desperate hand did he stop the paddle's spanks. "Move your hand Val."
"No. I've had enough," she sobbed.
Smacking three shriek-inducing spanks to her thighs, Jason shook his head. "No you haven't. Move your hand."
Still shaking her head, Val did as she was told and grabbed fist-full's of bed linen as Jason resumed the spanking. Kicking and twisting, Val felt a pain in her chest growing past the burn in her bottom. She tried to choke it down, even bit into the blankets, but the pain wouldn't be ignored.
"You fucking bastard!" With a vengeance the pain leaped from her chest and spilled out in a mighty fury. "You're leaving! God damn you, you're leaving!" Pounding on his rock hard thigh Val shouted, twisted and cried as the punishing leather continued to smack her red cheeks. An eternity passed until, finally, Val collapsed exhausted and horse onto the bed. Choking on her sobs, she trembled and twisted with weak kicks. "You're leaving me. I don't want you to leave. I don't want you too." Unaware of the gentle hand now stroking her flaming flesh, Val shook her head and cried into the bed. "Please don't go. Please."
Lifting her up, Jason set the sobbing young woman gently on his lap. Stroking her hair and kissing her face, the big man rocked and whispered until Val's sobs turned to hiccups and her trembling body quieted. Carrying her around the bed with confident arms he laid his sniffling girl carefully on her stomach and pulled a light sheet over her naked body. "Stay here baby girl, I'll be right back." True to his word, the big man returned quickly with a glass of water and a cool cloth. Wiping her face, Jason kneeled at the bed side and smiled at his red faced girl. "Feel better?"
Smiling shyly, Val sat up on her elbows and accepted the glass of water. "I feel a little embarrassed."
Taking back the glass, Jason smiled and shook his head. "No need baby girl. You were upset." Giving her a naughty grin, the big man rubbed her bottom through the sheet. "Getting this upset over me leaving? I don't know if my ego will fit through the door."
Val giggled. "I don't know how it fit getting in."
Laughing, Jason gave her an affectionate swat. "Brat." Sitting on the bed's edge, he pulled Val into his massive arms and gave her a crushing kiss. "I'll miss you like crazy baby girl. It's going to kill me being away from you for so long."
Melting into his embrace, Val sniffled a little through her smile. "I wish you didn't have to go."
"Me too." Releasing her, Jason reached for the bedside clock and reset the alarm. "Take a nap baby girl. You don't have to get up for another hour."
Val nodded and snuggled into her covers. Rubbing her sore bottom, Val blushed and hid her face in the pillow. "I'm sorry I got so crazy Jason. I don't know what came over me."
Bending down, Jason rolled Val on her side and gave her a kiss. Taking hold of the jade charm hanging between her breasts, the tattooed giant ran his finger along the turtle's golden shell. "I made my promise, remember? I'm here for you baby girl, no matter what you need." Giving her a final kiss, Jason picked up the two paddles and set them on Val's white painted bureau. "Besides, I've been known to get a little crazy myself."
"No, not you."
Laughing, Jason adjusted the paddles and then turned back to his smiling girl. "Yes me, Miss Smart Ass."
Raising an eyebrow, Val stared at the two paddles now set front and center on her bedroom dresser. "Jason, why are those up there?"
Stopping at the bedroom door, Jason gave Val an evil grin. "Reminders baby girl. I figure after a month away you're going to need at least one of those." Chuckling at her grimace, Jason shook a teasing finger. "You just leave those paddles where they are, my naughty girl. I want you to be thinking every day about which one I'll use when I get back."
Val stuck out her tongue, but still giggled. "Fine you brute." Sinking back into the pillows, the naked blonde stretched, yawned and rubbed her bottom. "Have a safe trip. Call me when you get to Chicago?"
Jason smiled, drinking in the sight on the bed. It was going to be a rough month. "I will. I love you baby girl."
"I love you too."
Whistling a happy tune, Jason locked the door behind him and quickly made his way back to the waiting car. Getting in the back seat, Jason pulled out his palm top. "You think we'll still make it?" he asked the driver.
Looking back at the grinning giant dressed in khakis and an outlandish Hawaiian print shirt, the grey-haired driver shook his head and smiled. "I've been driving longer then you've been alive son. We'll get there in time." Pulling into traffic, the driver half turned to Jason. "If you don't mind me asking, is the little lady all right? She seemed to be in a temper."
Jason chuckled. "Tempers are her specialty. Yes, she's all right now." Looking out the window, his grin grew. "Just already missing her man."
The driver nodded. "My Abby's the same way. Twenty-five years and I still never know if she's going to show tears or claws when I have to travel." Meeting Jason's eyes in the rear view mirror, the driver gave him a wink. "Take my word for it son, those are the best kind of women. The one's who keep you on your toes, I mean." Merging into the morning freeway traffic the driver flipped off a thick-necked motorist in black shades and a Mercedes convertible. "Yep. Keeps you young, them kind." Turning up the radio, the driver nodded. "Ok son, you just sit back and let old Al do his thing."
"Yes sir." Jason chuckled and pulled up his two day schedule. Flight at nine, hotel by three and his new office on State Street by five. Louie already had a good crew hired and clubs lined up. It was going to be a maddening evening, going over everything before the weekend but this was his chance to expand JC Securities into Chicago and he wasn't going to waste it. By the end of the month his company should be solid with the clubs in the Windy City.
And Val's best friend and fashion designer from San Franscio, Kylee. He had to remember to call the young woman from the plane and confirm tomorrow's appointment. Kylee's boss, Trisha Tellers wanted Jason's crew to work security for Saturday's fashion show at the Christopher Koll gallery downtown. Apparently edgy art and edgy fashion were going to converge at the gallery and Double T Fashions wanted everyone to look the part.
"Hey Ming," Kylee had shouted into her phone Tuesday night over the rumble and shouts of Trisha's pinning loft. "You're going to be in Chicago this week right? You got any guys that look like you on the payroll?"
"Kylee! You tell your friend I want muscle darling. Muscles and tattoos and ... Marcus! That looks like something a drag queen would wear. We're designing for the East Coast shows darling, not the Stockton street fair." Trisha Teller's shrill voice had cut in loud and commanding over Kylee's cell. "Ooooh Darling, facial scars! Does he have any men with facial scars? Or women. Yes, women in ripped shorts and facial scars and ..."
Jason sighed at the memory. Mrs. Tellers sounded like a real peach. Kylee promised him her boss wasn't as bad as she sounded, but Jason wasn't convinced. Still, the money was right and a flashy venue with lots of press was just what his new office needed. But fashion people, they were a notoriously neurotic bunch. Flipping his cell phone, Jason decided not to wait for the plane ride. He'd better get the inside scoop on Double T Fashions. Also, he wouldn't mind getting a little more unedited background on his blonde devil with the sore backside. "Hello? Kylee? What are you doing for dinner tonight?"
Relaxing into the tall leather-backed stool Kylee took a second sip of her Michigan Avenue Mojito. Lime and mint danced on her tongue as the pure cane rum soothed her sore throat and warmed her cheeks. The din of the Omni Hotel 676 Bar was a welcome relief to her over-taxed senses. All day Kylee had stretched, ran, shouted, pleaded and fought with Trisha Teller's design staff in a converted warehouse near the art gallery. Dresses were finished, shirts and pants pinned, models were consoled and through it all Trisha's shrill yet demanding voice kept a constant beat. Grimacing, Kylee took a larger swallow of minty comfort and promised herself if she ever did make it big with her own design house, she would never call anyone "darling". Never ever!
"Well hello sweet thing. Buy you a drink?"
Startled out of her reverie by a voice to her left, Kylee half turned to a dark-suited young man leaning on the bar next to her. Taking a quick inventory, Kylee figured him to be some junior executive type, maybe a dot com kid. Shaking her head, Kylee gave the guy a polite smile. "No thank you. I'm fine."
Muted chuckles and laughter further down the bar let Kylee know her admirer was not alone. Looking to his friends, the young man scooted a little closer to Kylee's chair. "Come on, let me buy you a drink."
"I already said no thank you."
"Hey Tommy, I don't think she likes you." More laughter followed from down the bar.
Kylee sighed. Nothing good could come of this. Signaling the bartender, she handed the young woman a twenty. "I'm going to settle up here." Turning to - was his name Tommy? - Kylee pushed his hand off the back of her chair. "Excuse me."
Returning his hand to her chair, Kylee's unwanted friend tried to turn her back to the bar. "Aww, don't be like that. You're looking hot. I'm looking hot. We should get to know each other."
"Hey buddy, why don't you go back to your friends and leave the lady alone." Walking back up with Kylee's change, the slim bartender pointed down to the group of grinning fools in $200 suits. "She already told you, she doesn't want company."
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