The Bet

He said her name in that tone of voice. She peaked her head around the corner of the living room. He was on the couch. In the middle of the couch. He never sat there. Not smack dab in the middle.


She flew back to the bedroom, zipped on her coat, jerked on her hat and gloves, grabbed her car keys.


She scuttled by him, avoiding his  gaze. Her hand was on the door, thumb pressed on the top handle, when she felt his arm around her waist, his strong hand wrap gently but firmly around her wrist. "Where do you think you're off to?" The question was almost a whisper, and her breath quickened.


"I'm getting ice cream."


"Like hell."


She squirmed in his half embrace, dreading what was coming, and also...wondering..as always, wondering...would he give up this time?


She giggled. "I didn't realize that kissing me good bye was so important to you. Since when has that been such a big deal?" And she turned in his arms, snuggling in and reaching up for his face in a movement that had been honed with time and practice.


In a smooth move, he stepped backwards and her hands met empty space. So he was airing on the side of caution. Good, she liked a man to be scared of her.


To bad he hadn't thought more into the movement. Right on beat she spun, pulled the door open, and sped out, not bothering to close it. A nervous squeal rose in her throat as she dashed to her car, keys extended. The car beeped at her as the remote engaged, and she opened her door, jumped in, and moved to slam herself into safety, but the door wouldn't budge.


He was holding the handle. "Get out. I will come in there and drag you out. You don't want that."


"I don't want you." Yeah, she knew she didn't play fair. So?


"Get out."


They stared at one another, her brain starting to realize that she wasn't going anywhere.


"Why?" She decided to play dumb. "Why do you always think this will help us? Spanking me doesn't help. I like spanking."


It was dark outside. So she saw the sparks clearly as they flashed in his eyes. "I like spanking too. And I'm going to enjoy this spanking a hell of a lot more than you're going to."


"You wanna bet?"