His Loving Guidance Page 5

  He wanted his sweet, caring wife back. Didn’t Gina understand how much her recent misbehavior was hurtful to their marriage and possibly even to their family and friends? If she kept partying with Chelsea, the gossip would start, and it wouldn’t be pretty.

  This was the town they planned to spend their entire lives in, the town they intended to raise their future children in. Both sets of their parents lived here, as well as many of their extended family members and lifelong friends.

  Ben had known Gina her whole life. They’d both grown up here in Dalestown. Before dating, they were acquaintances who had a few mutual friends. He didn’t remember her friend, Chelsea, as a child, but apparently she’d moved away at age ten before settling back in town fifteen years later to care for her aging grandmother. He suspected the caring for her grandmother part of her story was nothing but a ruse though. Wherever Chelsea had last called home, something had happened to make her leave and seek out a fresh start.

  “I’m not saying what I’m about to say to hurt you, Gina,” he began, “but I want to save you from making a mistake you’ll eventually regret.”

  She picked at her dinner and watched him with increasing wariness. He took a deep breath, knowing what he was about to say needed to be out in the open.

  “Chelsea has a reputation for sleeping around, getting very drunk in public, and there are also whispers that she’s served time in jail. It’s odd that she’d just all of a sudden come back to town to supposedly care for her grandmother. You’ve seen her grandmother lately, the old woman walks by our house every morning and every evening on her walks. She’s in great health and very active in our community. A lot of people are saying Chelsea is living with her because she just got out of jail in another state and is having a difficult time getting a job because of her criminal record, so her family sent her to Dalestown.”

  “I don’t believe it. If Chelsea had been in jail, she would have told me.”

  “You sure about that? How much has she told you about her past? Just because you were best friends in primary school before she moved away and you lost touch doesn’t mean you still know her well. People change, sweetheart. I’m not wishing anything ill to Chelsea and I hope she can get her life together, but I won’t have you, my dear wife, the person I care about more than anyone else in the world, being dragged into her mess. I realize people make mistakes, and even if she did serve time in jail, that doesn’t mean she’s a bad person. You’re still allowed to be friends with her, but you aren’t allowed to join in her bad habits and put yourself in risky situations.”

  Tears glistened in Gina’s eyes and she blinked rapidly, lifting her chin in a stubborn gesture. “Oh, I’m allowed to still be friends with her?” she asked in an angry, sarcastic tone. “How very generous of you.” She rose and hurried from the dining room, leaving Ben to finish dinner alone.

  A few seconds later, he heard the slamming of a door upstairs. He cursed under his breath.

  Gina had never been one to frequent bars. Until Chelsea came along, she had never stayed out past midnight on a weekend, but for the past few weeks she had been staying out later and later on Friday and Saturday nights, then sleeping for most of Sunday. He took comfort in the fact that even though she was frequenting bars, she at least wasn’t getting belligerently intoxicated like her friend. She never imbibed more than a glass of wine.

  Is that why Chelsea kept inviting Gina out? Because the woman wanted a designated driver? Ben clenched his jaw at the thought of his sweet, generous wife being used. She tended to see only the best in people, and as a result was often naive about certain situations.

  Even though Gina wasn’t getting drunk, she was still out late and surrounded by intoxicated people. She could easily get hit by a drunk driver on her way home one night, or a drunk man might make a pass at her in a parking lot and not take no for an answer. Rage heated his blood at the idea of harm coming to her. As her husband, it was his job to protect her. Even from herself.

  Ben needed to be firmer with Gina. If she continued putting herself at risk and disobeying him, he would seriously consider the use of physical discipline. He swallowed hard, praying she didn’t leave him if he had no choice but to resort to putting her over his knee and spanking her bare bottom.

  God, he loved her. He couldn’t imagine life without her. But he also couldn’t imagine life to continue on as it had for the last few weeks. He stood up and began clearing the table, determined more than ever to make his errant young wife see reason. Even if it took a sore behind to make her grasp it.

  *

  Gina sat on the bed, hugging herself. She felt utterly lost and out of control. Shame swept through her at the memory of how rude she’d been to her husband. But she wasn’t a child, and he had no business forbidding her from going out with Chelsea, even if Chelsea didn’t always make the best decisions. Didn’t he trust her?

  Fatigue descended on her, as well as a heavy dose of guilt. The last few weeks since Chelsea had come back to town had been a blur of activity. Initially, she had been overjoyed to reunite with her old friend, and she had thought their first few outings to bars had been to celebrate their reunion. However, it was now clear to Gina that Chelsea had a drinking problem. She also went home with a different man every night.

  Gina felt sorry for her friend, but every time she suggested they see a movie or go out to dinner, Chelsea teased her that she didn’t know how to have fun anymore and had turned into a square. Maybe Gina needed to learn how to stick up for herself better, but for now it was too late. She’d already promised to pick Chelsea up at seven tomorrow evening. She didn’t want to go back on any promises.

  Ben’s mention of the rumors surrounding her friend’s past circled in her mind. Was it really possible Chelsea had been in a jail? If so, what crime could she have committed? Gina gulped hard and nerves tightened her stomach. Chelsea didn’t drive and claimed her license had been revoked due to a series of speeding tickets and fender benders. She also didn’t work and seemed to mooch off of her grandmother, the elderly woman she was supposed to be taking care of.

  Childhood memories danced through her mind, and Gina smiled as she recalled all the fun times she’d had with Chelsea. They’d become friends in kindergarten and had remained best friends until Chelsea’s parents got divorced and she moved away in the fifth grade, all the way to the west coast. They’d exchanged letters for a short time, but Gina had stopped sending her letters after Chelsea stopped responding to them, when they were both twelve.

  She sighed, her heart sinking with the realization that her friend had been exceedingly vague about her life up until now. She claimed to have worked retail jobs until her family begged her to come live with her grandmother, but damn it Ben was right. Chelsea’s grandmother was in great health and didn’t seem to need a caretaker.

  But Ben had also been too bossy. Who did he think he was, telling her she wasn’t allowed to visit bars anymore? She tried to ignore the heated tingling between her thighs as she recalled his stern, commanding tone. He’d never stood up to her so firmly before. Of course, she hadn’t given him cause to until now.

  Doubts paraded through her psyche. Had they gotten married too soon? Didn’t they know each other well enough yet? If she didn’t know better, she would think he worried about her meeting a man at a bar and cheating on him. Their one-year wedding anniversary was coming up in two months, and she suddenly worried for their future. Would there be other times when he forbad her from doing something? Other times he laid down the law as if he were her parent?

  Ben was a manly man. Tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome with dark hair and eyes. He was successful and owned the most reputable car repair shop around. He was well-respected in town, and she’d felt like the luckiest girl in the world on the day they became husband and wife. But now…now she wondered how the man she loved could be so controlling.

  Ignoring the strange fluttering sensation in her stomach as she replayed the conversation they’d had in the dining roo
m over and over again, she resolved to make him understand they were equals and he couldn’t treat her like a child. She would do as she pleased, and that meant she would still go out with Chelsea tomorrow night, even if Ben didn’t approve.

  In truth, she dreaded bar hopping with her friend yet again, but she couldn’t back down and let Ben think she was staying home simply because he’d ordered her to. No way. Whatever had gotten into her husband, hopefully he would stop acting like a caveman after she demonstrated her independence.

  She heard the clinking of plates downstairs as Ben cleared the dining room and tried to push aside her guilt over him cleaning up because she’d stormed off. Normally they cleared the dining room and cleaned the kitchen together after dinner each night. It was a ritual she mourned for right now. If they hadn’t gotten into a fight, they would be talking and laughing together. Now instead they would probably spend the remainder of the night in tense silence.

  She headed to the bathroom, planning to get ready for bed and fall asleep before he ventured upstairs. Well, at least pretend to be asleep. As fast as her mind was racing, she doubted sleep would come easily.

  A thought struck her. She’d never gone to bed mad at Ben. Until now. At this realization, her heart plummeted to the floor. She didn’t like what was happening between them, but she didn’t know how to stop it.

  Chapter Two

  “I know you’re awake.” Ben shoved the covers partially off himself and leaned up against the headboard. He’d spent the last couple of hours growing increasingly restless beside Gina in bed. Neither of them liked fighting, and neither of them would get any sleep tonight unless they resolved their argument.

  A tiny snore emitted from Gina, and he bit back a grin at how fake it sounded. He knew the telltale signs of her sleeping. She breathed deeply all night, sometimes sighing faintly, but never snoring.

  “Sweetheart, sit up and talk to me.”

  Another fake snore.

  He expelled a long breath and stared at her lovely form. Long, wavy auburn locks cascaded over her face. The covers were only tucked up to her waist, and she was wearing her favorite nightie—a white, form hugging number that never failed to drive him wild when she walked around the house in it. Had she worn it tonight on purpose?

  “I’ll give you one more chance, Gina, before I take matters into my own hands. Stop feigning sleep and sit up and talk to me.”

  Her breath hitched, but she didn’t budge.

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, naughty girl.”

  He stood up and walked to her side of the bed, then tore the covers off her.

  “Ben, what the fuck are you—”

  He’d planned only to speak with her, but her continued rebellion, especially her cursing at him, caused him to rapidly rethink his approach.

  She needed a spanking right now.

  His decision made, he sank down beside her and pulled her over his lap. At first, she didn’t resist, instead remaining frozen as she peered over her shoulder at him. Her wide eyes betrayed her utter shock and confusion.

  “Um, Ben, what are you doing?”

  He maneuvered one of his legs over hers, to better keep her in place. He cupped her panty-clad bottom and met her gaze. The short nightie had already been pushed up around her waist while he got her into position.

  “Ben, please, what are you doing?”

  “I’m going to spank you, Gina.”

  Her eyes went wider and she turned around, grabbing onto the covers and trying to wrench herself off his lap. He held onto her firmly, not allowing her an inch. The rebellion and contempt she’d been showing him lately was a poison to their marriage. She could struggle and cry, but he would make his point.

  “Are you out of your mind, Ben? This isn’t funny at all! Now let me up!”

  “I won’t have you shutting me out, Gina, and I won’t have you walking down a path of self-destruction. You have been argumentative for weeks. The disrespectful way you’ve been speaking to me, including the cursing, which I have never heard you do until you started hanging out with Chelsea, is harmful to our marriage. I care about you too much to stand by and let you continue down this road.”

  “Ben, you can’t boss me around, and you certainly can’t spank me.”

  “When the decisions you make are dangerous, yes I can spank you. I will spank you. I’ve given this a lot of thought, Gina, and I think a hard spanking on your bare bottom will do you some good and make you understand it’s not okay to behave in ways that harm yourself or our marriage. I have been patient with you and tried reasoning with you for weeks, but enough is enough.” He proceeded to pull her panties down until they rested just beneath the curve of her ass cheeks.

  “Ben,” she said, her voice wavering, “please let me up. I-I promise I won’t go out with Chelsea anymore. Just don’t spank me.”

  “Sweetheart, as I told you during dinner, I don’t care if you remain friends with Chelsea. You can still see her, but no more bar hopping and hanging around unsafe places with her. This is a generally safe town, but the crimes that are committed usually happen late at night and in the part of town Chelsea always drags you to.”

  She once again peered over her shoulder at him. The tears glistening in her eyes made him ache with the urge to scoop her up in his arms and hold her. But he couldn’t. Not yet. He had to remain firm.

  “Please, Ben, I don’t want a spanking. I promise I’ll do as you say, just please don’t do this.”

  “Since this is your first time, I’m only going to use my hand. In the future though, when you show me as much disrespect as you’ve shown me lately, especially if you curse at me, you’ll feel the sting of my belt.”

  A gasp left her, and she turned and buried her face in the covers. Her knuckles were white, she was clutching onto the covers so hard. His heart ached for her; he didn’t want to scare her. But damn, he couldn’t allow her to talk her way out of a punishment. Be firm, he reminded himself.

  He caressed her curvy behind, paying equal attention to both cheeks, as he considered his next words. She quivered at his touch, but she had stopped attempting to escape. He suspected after she endured the first stinging smack on her bottom, she would resume her fight.

  “How would you feel if I stayed out late with one of my friends at various bars, every Friday and Saturday night, Gina? How would you feel if I cursed at you or stormed out of the room during dinner? How would you feel if I refused to listen to you when you confessed you were worried about my hurtful behavior?”

  She turned her head out of the covers, her expression filled with sorrow. Minutes passed, and he kept rubbing her backside while waiting for her response. He sensed her frustration and her guilt as she struggled to sort out her reasons for her recent behavior.

  A tear trickled down her face and she swallowed hard. “I-I would be devastated if yo-you behaved the way I’ve been acting lately. Oh God, Ben, I-I am so sorry.” Sincerity resounded in her trembling voice. “I’ve been so hung up on how I don’t think you should treat me like a child and boss me around that I guess it all got out of hand. That, and I’ll admit I have a hard time telling Chelsea I’d rather not stay out all night. We used to be best friends though and I keep hoping she’ll change back into the person she used to be. Maybe this all sounds silly to you, but it’s the truth. And I want her to like me. I worry she’ll think I’m totally lame and find another friend to hang out with all the time.”

  “Sweetheart, not wanting to stay out late every weekend doesn’t make you lame. Look, I think the best thing you can do is set boundaries with Chelsea. Tell her you’re happy to hang out with her, just not bar hopping through the bad part of town. Dinner. Movies. Heck, invite her over here for a girls’ night in.” He forced her legs apart and shifted her higher over his knee. “As for bossing you around, Gina, I’m not trying to be a dictator here. But I won’t keep silent when you’re behaving badly, and I’m not going to allow you to get away with naughtiness any longer. I should have put my foot down a
while ago and turned you over my knee.”

  *

  Gina’s heart beat wildly in her chest. Guilt weighed her down. She’d acted poorly, but it still stunned her that Ben had decided to spank her. Why wasn’t she fighting him more? She was over his knee, and while she’d squirmed a bit earlier, she wasn’t currently trying to escape.

  The same pulsing heat that had gathered between her thighs as he’d been firm with her in the dining room returned, only this time the sensation spread into a full out throb. She gulped and hid her face again, not understanding how she could actually crave his discipline, especially after she’d put up such a fuss about him bossing her around.

  Except he’s not really bossing, her mind whispered. She’d been out of line and had deserved his scolding. Is that why she wasn’t attempting to run from the room? Because she felt she deserved to be punished for her bad behavior?

  She blinked as tears spilled from her eyes. Shame heated her all over. Ben had forced her legs apart and shifted her high enough over his knee that he likely had an unhindered view of her pussy. Maybe even her bottom hole too, she thought as the cool air of the room wafted against her most private parts.

  “You know you were naughty,” he finally said, his hand leaving her ass. “And this is what happens to wives who disobey their husbands.”

  Smack! His palm descended on her left cheek in a smarting blow. Before the sting had a chance to fade, he struck her right cheek with equal force. And back and forth, and back and forth, he alternated. It wasn’t long before tears wrought from the physical pain of her spanking, and not just from the turmoil in her heart, cascaded down her face.

  She wiggled around, trying to evade his punishing hand, but he tightened his hold on her and spanked harder and faster. Sobs broke from her and her shoulders heaved. She couldn’t believe she had pushed Ben this far and vowed to never disobey him again. Anything to avoid this pain and humiliation. Not to mention the horrible sickness in the pit of her stomach from the knowledge that she had disappointed him.