Healing Hurts Read online

  “You lived in New York?” he asked as they settled in.

  “For about a month. I have a cousin who moved there years ago and she let me crash there for a while after my junior year of college. Have you ever been?”

  “Once, for a few days at a sporting goods convention. It was fun, for a short time. But I don’t think I could live there.”

  Penny grinned. “I wanted to, but this is home. I missed my family like crazy when I was there. And I wouldn’t give up the life I have here for all the bagels in New York. I don’t think I would be as fulfilled with my work there. I love the intimacy of the south, even with perfect strangers.”

  The waiter came and took their orders and brought them the wine Eric requested. Penny mused as she studied him. More to you than just the good ole boy jock, isn’t there? When the waiter left, Penny leaned forward conspiratorially, prompting Eric to mirror her.

  “So. How did you realize you enjoy turning women over your knee and paddling their backsides?” she asked.

  If Eric was taken aback by the question, he did a good job of hiding it. “I think it was something I always knew. I’ve had an itchy palm since I decided I wanted to get my hands on Susie Palmer in sixth grade,” he grinned. “I didn’t really do much about it until high school, when the same Susie Palmer placed herself over my lap in the back of my pickup truck when we were sixteen. And you?”

  Penny shrugged. “The usual. Watching Ricky turn Lucy over his knee while watching late night reruns set me off, even before I really knew what it meant. I experimented some in high school and then a lot in college. I’d like you to spank me tonight,” she added, taking a casual sip of her wine.

  This time she was rewarded with a single raised eyebrow. “I would very much enjoy that. Any preferences?”

  She took another fortifying sip. “Leather. Belt, tawse, certain whips. I have a variety at my place.” Her heart was hammering now, but she refused to let him see her nerves. For one night, she was going to take what she wanted. She was going to put aside her fear and live.

  “I can definitely get on board with that. Are you sure about this? I’m in no hurry if you want to take things slow.”

  Penny shrugged, hoping the gesture came off as nonchalant. “Elisa and Paul are my oldest friends and they’ve known you for years. I trust them, so I trust you.” Well, trust may have been a strong word, but it was close enough for one night.

  “Okay then. That’s good enough for me.”

  Back in Eric’s little red car, they flew down the interstate towards her apartment. Penny lightly ran her hand up and down his thigh, delighted by the warning growl he gave her. It had been so long since she’d really let loose and enjoyed herself with a man.

  Eric risked a glance in her direction and caught her smug smile. “Little girls who tease get their backsides paddled,” he warned.

  Oh yes. Please. Penny slid her hand higher up his thigh until she reached the bulge in his pants. “A spanking? Me?” she asked with feigned innocence.

  Eric barked out a laugh. “If anyone has ever deserved a spanking, it’s you, my bad little Penny.” He pulled into her parking lot and threw the car in park, reaching for her.

  “If you want to spank me, you’ll have to catch me,” Penny teased. With a loud whoop, she threw open the door and raced towards the front door of her building.

  For a moment, Eric could only stare at her retreating backside. At some point during the ride, the little minx had slipped off her heels and was now running barefoot across the parking lot. Pulling the keys out of the ignition, he took off after her. Unfortunately for her, his years of training paid off and he caught her just as she was unlocking the front door. Scooping her up, he threw her over his shoulder, smacking her denim clad bottom as he walked down the hall towards the elevators.

  Eric pushed the button for five and took a step back. “Now, how am I going to spank my bad Penny when we get to her apartment?” he wondered aloud.

  “You wouldn’t use your belt on me for such a little thing, would you?” The breathy quality of her voice told him that was exactly what she wanted.

  “Oh, I think the belt is perfect. You were a very naughty little girl.”

  He felt her sigh over his shoulder. “If that’s what you think is best.”

  Eric grinned as the doors opened on her floor. He was going to send Elisa the biggest bouquet of roses he could get his hands on in the morning.

  Chapter 3

  Eric set Penny down in front of her apartment door. She fumbled with the keys for a moment before sliding them into the lock and swinging the door open.

  Calm down, girl. It’s just a man. And it’s just one night. With that thought, she strode into her living room and turned to face him.

  “Ground rules, before we go any further,” she said, internally cheering at the calm confidence in her voice. “First, spanking and sex only tonight. Second, no anal anything. Non-negotiable.”

  Eric took a step towards her. “Not a problem, though I hope I can change your mind down the road.”

  Penny shook her head. “There isn’t a road long enough.” And tonight is as far as our road goes. “Traditional safewords: green, yellow, red. I assume I don’t need to explain?” At his nod, she continued, taking a deep breath. “Lastly, I love being spanked, but I won’t go over your knees. Bent over, laying on the bed, anything you can think of but that.”

  Disappointment dampened the excitement Eric had felt walking into the apartment. Of all the ways to spank a woman, having her draped over his lap was his favorite. “Can I ask why?”

  Penny shook her head. “You can, but I won’t answer. I have my reasons.”

  The silence between them stretched and seemed to fill the room. “I can accept that.” For now. He took another step towards her. “Anything else?”

  Penny shook her head, sending her curls bouncing. “Other than that,” she said, and smiled, slow and sexy, “do your worst.”

  “Oh, little girl. Just wait.”

  Eric took another step towards her, amused when she took a step back. Another step forward for him, another back for her, until she had literally backed herself into a corner. With a slow, wicked grin, he grasped her wrists and pinned them over her head. Leaning in, he lightly kissed her lips. When she groaned and tried to press against him, he tightened his hold on her wrists.

  “Bad Penny,” he growled, before crushing his mouth against hers.

  Oh. God. More. Penny could barely form a thought as he took her mouth. Here, there were no worries, no concerns, no unpaid bills or nasty clients. Right here, right now, it was only her and the man claiming ownership over her body. She could give it over to him, let him control every step, just for tonight.

  He’ll want more. She pushed away the nagging thought and poured everything she had into the kiss.

  When he pulled away, she felt the loss down to her toes. “Bedroom. Now,” he ordered, making her pussy throb. He pulled away and she stepped to the side and turned to obey his command. A sharp, stinging slap to her backside made her jump.

  The shocked, pouty look Penny sent him when he swatted her nearly caused him to unman himself before he could even get his hands on her. “You forgot something, young lady. I believe I gave you an order.” He watched in fascination as her cheeks colored in response. He’d been with plenty of women, submissive or not, and he’d never had one react as strongly as the woman in front of him.

  She seemed to struggle with herself for a minute before replying “Yes, sir,” and running off towards the bedroom. He grinned and followed her around the corner to the stylish, if messy bedroom.

  Looking around, he raised an eyebrow in her direction, but she just shrugged. “I wasn’t expecting company,” she explained. “And it’s my room, so if you have a problem with it, you can go now.”

  Eric frowned at the sudden defensive tone. “Do you want me to leave?”

  Annoyed with herself for ruining the mood and interrupting their play, Penny shook her head.
“No, sir.”

  Eric looked like he wanted to press the issue, but instead he just said, “Strip.”

  Slipping back into the scene was as easy and comfortable as pulling on her favorite old sweatpants. Grinning, she replied “Yes, sir,” and pulled off her sweater. Watching the hunger fill his eyes, she slowly unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied them down to her ankles. For a moment, she wondered if he would think her thighs and ass were too fat, but the predatory look in his eyes told her he didn’t think that at all.

  “Stop,” he ordered as she reached back to unsnap her bra. God, why did his ordering her around make her so crazy for him?

  “Bend over the side of the bed.” When she complied, he ran a hand down her back and over the curve of her bottom. “You’re fucking incredible,” he murmured, right before raising his hand and letting it fall hard against her panty covered backside.

  Penny whimpered, not from pain, but from the intense pleasure coursing through her. Another spank fell, this time to the other cheek. Eric quickly fell into a rhythm, relaxing her as he spanked. Her bottom warmed and her pussy throbbed as he switched between swatting and rubbing and squeezing her quickly warming cheeks. After a few minutes, the swats stopped coming, and she felt a flash of disappointment. Then she heard his belt buckle jingle and everything inside of her came alive.

  Eric stepped back to admire his handiwork. What he could see of her bottom where the lacy black panties didn’t cover was now a gorgeous shade of pink.

  He couldn’t wait to see it after he finished with the belt.

  “Pull your panties to your knees,” he ordered, inwardly groaning when she obeyed, slowly pulling them down before bending back over the bed. He folded the belt in half, making sure he had a good grip on the buckle before stepping to the side. “Don’t forget your safeword,” he commanded before raising the belt up and whipping it against her exposed backside.

  Penny threw her head back and gasped as the red line formed on her spectacular backside. Again he raised it, bringing it down at that sensitive junction where ass meets thigh.

  “Ouch! Fuck!” Penny cried, stomping her feet in response to the pain.

  “Language, little girl,” he chided before snapping the belt twice against the tops of each thigh. He chuckled at her little yelp of surprised pain. He didn’t really mind the occasional curse, but he always appreciated an excuse to turn up the heat.

  He was fairly certain her ‘Yes, sir’ was more than a little sarcastic, but he decided to let it slide. He tapped the belt gently against her backside before bringing it down again against the full curve of her ass.

  Penny was in heaven. Other than the two smacks he’d landed on her thighs, this whipping was exactly what she’d been craving. The intense sting from the leather quickly faded into warmth that spread from her bottom to her pussy. Without realizing it, she began wiggling against the bed, desperate for release.

  After another dozen with the belt, Eric’s hand returned to her backside, rubbing and squeezing the inflamed skin. With another small whimper, she spread her legs and leaned further into the mattress. Behind her, she heard Eric chuckle. “Somebody’s in a hurry,” he commented as he brushed his fingers against her soaking wet lips.

  Penny groaned at the feather light touch. “Would you fuck me already?” she demanded, turning her head to glare over her shoulder at him.

  One look at his face told her she’d made a mistake. Shit. Should’ve kept my mouth shut.

  Eric shook his head as he stepped back again, transferring the belt back to his right hand. “I think someone needs a lesson in using respectful language. You’re lucky it was just a four-letter word. Count them,” he ordered, before swinging his arm back and bringing the belt down with a thundering crack!

  Penny gasped at the explosion of pain. “One, sir!” she called out, fisting her hands in the comforter. The next stroke fell before she could catch her breath. “Two, sir!” If you don’t fuck me right now, sir, I might explode. Then the belt crashed against her exposed flesh a third time. “Three, sir!” She wiggled against the comforter, pain and pleasure combining in an excruciating torture.

  “Last one. It’s going to count,” he said, right before he cracked the leather right at the junction where her butt met her thighs.

  “Four, sir!” she cried out, arching her back at the sharp, exquisite pain. Breathless, she collapsed on the bed. Before she could recover, Eric’s hand returned to the place between her thighs. He stroked her lips before plunging a finger into her.

  Penny could only whimper as pleasure overtook her and her orgasm tore through her like an explosion. As the intense pleasure subsided, she slumped against the comforter, boneless.

  Eric watched Penny writhe in intense pleasure, and then she collapsed in a heap, all her energy gone. Her reactions fascinated him. She was unlike any woman he’d ever been with. Not only had she taken the extra whipping he’d given her, she had apparently reveled in the pain. Her ass was a light red, with four large welts running across her previously unmarked skin. But Penny had seemed to enjoy every second of it. Not that he minded, since this was all for fun. He made a mental note in case they took their budding relationship to the next level that he’d have to really turn up the heat if he wanted the belt to be an effective deterrent.

  He gave her a few moments to enjoy her post-orgasmic haze before he couldn’t stand it another second. “Up on the bed, on your knees.” As she pulled herself onto the bed, nestling her head on her arms with her ass in the air, he quickly shed his clothing and pulled out the condom he had stored in his wallet. After rolling it on, he climbed onto the bed behind her and slid into her waiting warmth.

  Eric groaned as her walls closed like a vice around him. Pulling out slightly, he slammed himself into her again, reveling in the gasps and moans of pleasure he elicited from her. Reaching around to her front, he found her clit and rolled his fingers across it in time with his thrusts. She exploded around him a second time, her pussy contracting with the orgasm as she screamed into the comforter. Within seconds he came, shuddering as the most intense orgasm he’d experienced in his thirty-two years rocketed through him.

  Together they slumped onto the bed, panting heavily. It was several moments before either one spoke. “That was incredible,” Eric commented, rolling to face her. “You’re incredible.”

  To his surprise, she blushed prettily and looked away, but he could see the smile on her face. Grinning, he forced himself out of bed and got rid of the condom. When he returned, he noticed she was on the verge of sleep. He reached out and pulled her close so that her head nestled on his shoulder. He felt her yawn and heard her mumble, “Stay,” before she dropped off.

  Chapter 4

  The next morning, Penny awoke to the heavenly scent of coffee. She inhaled deeply, then froze. Who was making coffee? Had she overslept? She shoved herself up in the bed, looking wildly around the room.

  No. This was her apartment, where there was no one to tell her when to get up. As she struggled to get her breathing under control, the door opened and Eric strolled in.

  “Morning, sunshine. I hope you don’t mind, but I had to get some coffee in me.” He held a mug out to her. “Thought you might like some as well. I didn’t see any creamer or anything so I assume you take it black.”

  Penny took the mug from his hand. “Thanks,” she mumbled, grateful that he didn’t seem to notice she’d been on the verge of a panic attack when he walked in. She took a sip, closing her eyes as the warm liquid hit her tongue. She savored that first sip for a long moment, then opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Morning. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

  “Well, since you asked me so sweetly to stay, I thought it would be rude not to. Besides,” he reached out and ran a hand over her hair, “I had a great time last night. What are your thoughts on brunch?”

  She’d asked him to stay? She didn’t remember that, but then, with the way he’d so delightfully used her body last night, she was pretty much out of it befo
re her head hit the pillow.

  Now, however, it was morning and she had all of her wits about her. And a cozy brunch after a night of incredible sex was absolutely out of the question.

  “Look, Eric. Last night was,” she finished lamely, “great. I don’t know what Elisa told you, but I’m not looking for a relationship right now. At least not one with someone—” she trailed off, unwillingly to explain further.

  Eric studied her as he stood by the bed, sipping his coffee. “Elisa told me you were gorgeous, smart, and funny, with a bit of a mouth on you. So far, she’s been dead on. As for a relationship, it’s just brunch, not a marriage proposal. If you want me out of your hair after we eat, I’m gone. Scout’s honor.”

  Penny couldn’t help but giggle when he held up three fingers in the time-honored salute. “Were you even a scout?” she asked skeptically.

  “For about a year.” He shot her a cocky grin. “But I still keep my word.”

  “Fine, just brunch and then you’re on your way. Let me grab a shower and change.” She smirked. “Guess you’re doing the walk of shame,” she gestured to his clothes, the same ones he’d worn to dinner the night before.

  The cocky grin returned. “Didn’t I just tell you I was a Boy Scout? I’m always prepared. I grabbed my bag out my car this morning, if you don’t mind letting me use your shower.”

  Penny rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Of course. But I’m going first in case you’re a hot water hog.” She stood and brushed past him, still naked. She grinned when she heard him groan as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

  Eric’s hand positively itched to bend her back over the bed and spank her gorgeous backside when Penny rolled her eyes at him and sauntered past on her way to the shower. He thought back to the look on her face when he’d walked in the bedroom earlier. She had looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Who hurt her? He wondered, staring at the closed bathroom door.