The Woman Next Door Read online

  “Because the police came when they did!”

  “Yes, I agree. Honey, I wasn’t about to lead them home to you!” she tearfully proclaimed. “I wasn’t just fighting for myself!”

  “Catherine, I am your husband! I need to protect you!”

  “And I need to protect you!” she insisted. “You can spank me if it will make you feel better, Hubert Eugene, but it won’t change anything. I did what needed to be done at the time. I didn’t like those two.”

  “Catherine, it scares the bejesus out of me when you do something like this. Fighting with that young woman next door is bad enough, but with those two men of McMaken’s? You are getting paddled, and I don’t give a damn whether or not you like it.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to the second bed where he took a seat, and then hauled her over his knee. It felt good to give her that first spank and hear her yelp of outrage. Catherine needed a good lesson!

  Catherine wasn’t surprised that Hubert Eugene was spanking her. She frightened him, and he was responding to that fear.

  Hubert pulled down her jeans and then spanked her pink nylon panties before pulling them down, too. He could see a faint pinkness on her left cheek from the first spank, and a bit darker handprint on her right cheek where he spanked her over her panties. Now that she was bared, her skin would color much faster and his hand would make more of an impression. “You are never to do something like this again, Catherine!”

  “I won’t, Hubert Eugene,” she quickly promised.

  “If you weren’t always fighting with the woman next door, this wouldn’t have happened!”

  “She planted that fire bush to deliberately block my view, and I don’t like it one little bit!” she angrily declared.

  “It is her yard, woman! She can do whatever she wants to do in it, and it is none of your business!”

  “It is when she blocks my view of the street!”

  “You’re just determined to be nosy! The neighbors call you ‘Mrs. Kravitz’ behind your back.”

  “They do not!”

  “Yes, they do! And you are going to stop nosing into everyone’s comings and goings!” Hubert put some effort into spanking his wife’s white backside, turning it a dark red before he stopped to speak to her again. “You are going to apologize to Elizabeth Matthews when she gets home, and you are going to mean each and every word. She has a right to her privacy, and she has a right to grow an enormous fire bush if she so chooses.”

  “I think it is unfair!” Catherine argued, and it was the wrong thing to do. Hubert Eugene started spanking her even harder than before and she decided right then and there that he wouldn’t be getting close to her for some time to come! Her poor backside was on fire and she didn’t know how she would be able to sit for the rest of the drive. The spanking seemed to go on and on, even though she begged him to stop. Finally, she caved. “I’m sorry!” she said, anything to end her suffering! She couldn’t believe he’d spanked her twice, and all because of the woman next door!

  “I don’t believe you, Catherine, but my hand is nearly ready to fall off.” He released her, pushing her off his lap and onto the bed so that he could get up and go into the bathroom and soak his hand in cold water to ease the burning sensation. He didn’t feel like comforting her in the moment, and knew that he should have taken off his belt instead of making his hand feel like he’d burned it on the stove. Catherine just might be in for round two tomorrow morning before they left. Sitting on a striped backside just might make her think!

  Catherine entered the bathroom, crowding him while she turned on the bathtub, setting the stopper in the right position to fill the tub. She gave him a wounded look as she picked up a bar of soap and opened it.

  “Catherine, you are not sitting in a tub of water,” Hubert said firmly.

  “Yes, I am! I need to bathe.”

  “Take a quick shower, but you are not easing the fire on your butt. You are wearing that until it goes away on its own.”

  “Hubert Eugene, that is just plain mean! You are soaking your hand!” she accused.

  “I didn’t earn a spanking, you did. And, I’m thinking of giving you another before we leave here in the morning. It’s best you get on to bed right now before I take off my belt tonight and then again in the morning.”

  Catherine looked at him, intending to tell him he was being cruel to her, but the words died unspoken as she looked into his dark eyes. She was shocked to see that he wasn’t just making an empty threat! Her husband was dead serious and she quickly shut off the water, and allowed the water to drain from the tub. Her tears were very real as she donned her nightgown and crawled into bed. Part of her wanted him to sleep in the other bed as far away from her as possible, yet she knew she would be wounded if he did.

  Hubert dried off his hand and then came to bed, pulling the bathroom door mostly closed, but leaving a crack so that the light would act as a nightlight. He then shut off the light they turned on when they entered the room, and he made his way to bed. He got in beside Catherine, and heard her sniffles. He handed her a tissue, and then wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against him spoon fashion. “Hush now, Catherine. I love you or I wouldn’t be so damned upset with you for getting yourself into such a mess. You go to sleep now, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head, and his hand patted her flaming rear before moving up to rub her back in a soothing manner.

  Hubert was relieved when she stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep. He knew that he would be wary and afraid until this mess was over and it was safe for them to go home. If necessary, he would sell their home and move them far away if it meant keeping Catherine safe. He loved her. It was just that simple.

  * * *

  Lon McMaken was not happy, as several of his men found out the hard way. The police came and questioned him about their brutal murders, but Lon expressed grave sorrow and gave him his airtight alibi for the times in question. He was seen having drinks and dinner and partying in a restaurant downtown, with plenty of people who could swear he was right there the entire evening. Of course, McMaken put others to trying to find Elizabeth Matthews, but to no avail. It was as if she’d fallen off the face of the earth, and that cop with her! He couldn’t find that woman cop, either. She’d taken her mother and her baby and run, but she hadn’t told on him, either, so he was in no hurry to find her. He would tie up that particular loose end after he dealt with Gregory. She failed him, and he would see her suffer before he killed her himself. As for Gregory, he would like to pull that trigger, too, but it was better to hire a professional for the job so it was done right. He’d financed the man’s campaign, but now that Gregory was elected, he wasn’t doing anything Lon asked of him. He was out millions, but Gregory was out his life.

  * * *

  Not knowing what was happening in the world was making Elizabeth moody. She’d been cooped up inside this cabin for three days already, and there appeared to be no end in sight. If she mentioned anything to Craig, he simply told her not to worry, but how could she not worry? She wanted to go home, and back to her job. She wasn’t used to sitting around with nothing to do. She’d cleaned Wally’s cabin from top to bottom, cooked huge meals for herself and Craig, and started writing a children’s book. Craig, on the other hand, spent time reading some of the books that Wally had on hand. He tried to interest her in playing card games, but he was so good at bluffing that she finally gave up, totally frustrated.

  “I want to go home, Craig,” she announced.

  “Not yet, sweetheart,” he replied.

  “No, you don’t understand. I am going home, whether or not you approve. I am going out of my mind here. I need civilization.”

  “You need to have some patience.”

  “Yes, I need to see my patients!” she said, purposely pretending to misunderstand what he said. “I’ll get what we have and we’ll leave now.”

  “Lizzy, don’t act like a brat. You know I’m not going to permit you to walk through that door. Sit down and read a book, or
finish writing the kid’s book…”

  “I am going home. Either you take me, or I am walking.”

  “You are going to find yourself with a sore butt if you don’t find something to do and stop threatening me. The answer to leaving is a big no!”

  Elizabeth was very angry, but she made herself sit down and pretend to work on the book. She sat there, seemingly involved in what she was doing for what seemed like forever, plotting her escape. Eventually, nature was on her side and Craig said he was going to take a shower. It was all the advantage she had, but she slipped out the door of the cabin and to freedom in that second, and she ran like the wind to get to Craig’s car. If he wouldn’t take her home, then he could stay here, and she would take herself back to the city.

  Suddenly, she realized she was doing it again! She turned around and ran as fast as she could to get back to the cabin, angry with herself. She was crying and out of breath, but Craig was still in the bathroom. She sat at the granite counter and buried her head in her arms and cried. She hated her temper, but at least she realized how she was behaving and stopped herself. Elizabeth knew it was a case of nerves, but she felt so guilty.

  Craig heard her crying before he left the bathroom. He hurried to her side. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Are you ill?”

  “I’m awful, Craig. My temper is so terrible at times. I’ve earned another spanking. And, I don’t want a spanking!” She cried even harder. “Why do you put up with me?”

  “Because I really do love you,” he answered her. “Now tell me why you earned a spanking.”

  “I don’t want to tell you… You’ll be so mad! Can’t you just spank me and I’ll know what it’s for?”

  “No. Lizzy, talk to me right now and tell me what you did.” Craig was worried.

  “I only pretended to work on my book. Instead, I was waiting until you went to the bathroom so I could steal your car and go home! I was almost to the car before I realized what I was doing… again. I was breaking my promises to you, and I ran back here as fast as I could run. Please don’t hate me; I don’t like disappointing you.”

  Craig held her, closing his eyes as he imagined all the things that could have happened to her if she’d returned home by herself.

  “You’re really mad, aren’t you?”

  “I am thankful that you realized what you were doing and you came back. Honestly, honey, it won’t be much longer that we have to stay here. Senator Peyton Gregory is expected in town to dedicate a new wing at the library in honor of his mother on Saturday. It’s only a bit longer.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?” she asked.

  “I did, but you were in such a snit you weren’t listening. Are you okay now? You aren’t thinking of plotting another escape?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not. I know I say I’m sorry all the time, but I really do mean it, darling. I’ll try to accept the consequences without complaining.”

  Craig was proud of her for telling him the truth; she could have kept it hidden and he wouldn’t have known. He didn’t hear her leave or come back. Still, she needed the consequences in order to forgive herself. The last thing he wanted to do was spank her, but he had to be consistent or she wouldn’t feel safe with him. “Good. We’ll go into the bedroom and you can prepare yourself.”

  Craig watched in growing surprise, as Elizabeth walked into the bedroom without hesitation or argument… not her usual style. Her shoes went flying, and she removed her jeans and panties before turning to look at him questioningly. Craig took the pillows and put them at the end of the bed. “Bend over these so that your backside is right on top.” Again she obeyed him, and he realized he was doing her a service to spank her soundly.

  Elizabeth cried out at the first spank, and it didn’t take long for the tears to start in earnest. “I’m so sorry, Craig.”

  “I know you are, sweetheart.” He spanked her sit spots and then her upper thighs before returning to her bottom cheeks and spanking them again. “Are you ready to forgive yourself, Lizzy?” he asked softly, pausing the spanking.

  “I just want you to forgive me, Craig. I hate it that you keep seeing the worst of me.”

  “I just saw a very honest and truthful woman tell on herself when she could have said nothing and I wouldn’t have been the wiser. I saw a beautiful young woman take strides in learning to control her temper. You are special, Miss Elizabeth, and I love you. Now, answer me; are you ready to forgive yourself or do I need to continue spanking you?”

  “I’m already sore, Craig, but I don’t want to lose you,” she confessed. “I promise I will forgive myself as long as you can forgive me, too.”

  “You were forgiven before I spanked you, sweetheart,” he admitted.

  “Thank you,” she tearfully replied. “I forgive me, too, and I’ll try harder to control my horrid temper.” He helped her to her feet, and then pulled her into his arms and hugged her and made her feel cherished and safe. He slightly rocked her as they stood there, and Elizabeth felt no shame. Yes, her bottom burned, but it was no more than she deserved for allowing her temper to run wild. “I truly hate that our lives are upside down, Craig.”

  “I understand that you are frustrated, Lizzy. I want to go home, too. I want to court you in the old-fashioned way. I want us to get engaged and plan our wedding. We can’t do that from here, and while a crime family is trying to kill you.”

  “This would make sense to me IF I was part of the criminal element, but I’m not! I’m just the nurse who had the misfortune of being assigned to him while he was in the ER. He’s paranoid, and wants me dead because I overheard something he shouldn’t have said.”

  “Honey, the man has no conscience. You are nothing more than a pesky mosquito he wants to squash so he can continue to gain power and money. Thanks to you, however, we have a real shot to take him down.”

  “You wish you were there to help, don’t you?”

  “I won’t lie; I do want to be in on it, but I wouldn’t trust anyone else to keep you safe. You belong to me, Lizzy, sweetheart.” He kissed her then and they forgot all about McMaken…

  * * *

  “I don’t like it,” Lon McMaken said loudly, slapping his hand on his desk. “It doesn’t make sense that no one knows where that cop is hiding the Matthews broad.”

  The door opened suddenly, and his two men went for their guns, ready to shoot to protect themselves and the boss, too. The blonde who came floating into the room was oblivious to the fact she was interrupting a serious discussion. “Oh, baby, I am so upset! I don’t have the right shoes to wear with the gown I bought to wear to the party we’re giving Saturday night. I know you said I couldn’t spend any more money, but baby, I really need to! I saw a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes online that are absolutely perfect, baby. May I please buy them? They’re only a measly nine hundred dollars!”

  “Athena, was the door to my office closed?” Lon asked in a quiet voice and his two men realized the blonde was in serious trouble. When the boss was quiet, he was furious; loud was better.

  “I forgot, baby,” she pouted. “May I have the shoes?” she asked again. “I want to look really pretty for you Saturday night.”

  Lon suddenly got to his feet and walked toward the blonde. “You have greatly displeased me, Athena, and you are going to be punished.”

  “What did I do, baby?” she asked, her lower lip trembling and her blue eyes filling with tears. “I know you said my dress was too expensive, but I want to look nice for you… and I need the shoes for everything to be perfect!”

  “You entered my office without knocking. How many times have I told you not to do that?” he demanded.

  “I forgot, baby. I’m sorry.”

  “This time you’re going to be punished.” He took her arm and marched her over to a corner and said, “You stand here and think about what is going to happen in a few minutes.” He came back to face the two men, who were trying hard not to smile. “My contacts at the police department don’t report that anything is
in the works about Gregory, just the normal. I say we go ahead, and hope we flush out the Matthews woman in the meantime. We have two days.”

  “What do you suggest we do, Boss? No one knows a thing.”

  “Yeah. Maybe we lay low for today; let her think she’s safe. Lull her into the open. Keep an eye on her house and on the cop’s place.”

  “Will do, Boss.” The man’s eyes went to the corner of the office, where Athena was squirming in her five-inch heels. Her leggings were skintight over her plump butt, and he decided he was a bit jealous of the boss. He wouldn’t mind slapping that ass himself!

  “Get on out of here. I have another matter to tend to.” Lon McMaken wasn’t blind and he knew what his men were thinking, but Athena was his, and he was going to enjoy spanking her. He sent the two on their way with instructions to shut the office door. No one else but Athena would think to open that door without an invitation, and now she was going to pay the price for that bit of disobedience. “Athena, come right on over here.”

  Chapter Nine

  She turned to look at him, and she clearly was not aware of what he planned to do to her. She came to him and then offered, “Do you want a blow job, baby?”

  “What I want is for you to lie over my lap so that I can spank you for barging into my office again.”

  “You want to spank me?” she exclaimed, shocked. “I’m not a little girl, baby!” Her blue eyes were wide.

  “You act like a little girl.”

  “You don’t think so when we’re in bed together. Then I please you, right?”

  “Yes, you are fantastic in bed, but we aren’t talking about that. We are talking about you barging into my office any old time you feel like it. How am I supposed to conduct business when you keep interrupting me?”

  “I’m sorry, baby. You don’t need to spank me; I promise I will remember from now on.”

  “You are going to be punished, Athena.”