Cupid’s Surprises (A Valentine’s Day Romance Anthology Book 2), page 50
He shakes his head. “You need to learn your place, Jenna. Your place as my woman. Do you want that or not? I’m getting tired of having to beg you.”
Wow! This is begging?
“Let me read the whole thing.”
He moves off me and hands the paper back to me. “There. Hurry up. You’re making me feel weird.” He walks out of the room and I hear the fridge open and slam shut. Then the sound of him opening another beer as my eyes start at the very first word of the contract have me thinking about what I’m even doing.
Why am I contemplating this? The whole thing is crazy.
He stands in the doorway, leaning against the frame. Then he pulls at his thick cock inside the tight underwear. “Read it out loud, baby.”
I clear my throat. “This contract is between Jenna Foster and Rod Manning. This contract can never be voided. It will end only upon the death of either signing party.”
I look up at him and he smiles. “See, forever, baby.”
“Jenna Foster agrees to become Rod Manning’s subordinate in all ways. His slave for life. She agrees to do whatever he asks her to whenever he asks her to. Rod Manning agrees never to ask Jenna Foster to do anything deemed inappropriate in front of vanillas, children, or any family members.” I look up at him again. “So, we won’t do anything bad in front of anyone who matters, then?”
He nods and takes a swig of beer. “Keep reading.”
“Jenna Foster agrees to allow Rod Manning to punish her in order to teach her what he expects out of her. The punishments will be verbal, physical, and mental. All will be followed by Jenna Foster thanking him for showing her the way to please him, and she will willingly give herself to him sexually after punishments, if he so desires.” I look up at him again. “You want to spank me, Rod?”
He nods and looks right into my eyes. “I want to spank that ass until it’s red. Then s confused by this man …
Chapter 4
JENNA
Rod and I have made it another year, and Christmas Eve has us back at his parents’ home for their annual party. This is my first one. Sue picked me up earlier and Rod is going to meet me here a little later.
I have no idea where the man is, as he didn’t have work today, but he’s off somewhere and texted me to go with his mother. Hopefully he’s somewhere buying me a present and not doing anything bad.
Sue spins around with powdered sugar on her cheeks after closing the oven door on her last batch of sugar cookies. “Jenna, would you be a dear and watch these and take them out for me when the timer goes off? I have to shower and get cleaned up before the guests arrive.”
“Sure thing, Sue. I’ll handle this.” I take a seat on a barstool and pick up the food magazine she has laid out on the counter. “Take your time.”
She gives my cheek a kiss as she floats by me and I smile at her.
Sue’s been just like a mother to me. She’s the sweetest thing, and it kind of aggravates me how Rod is about her. He calls her meddling and tells me not to talk to her too much.
I like her though and don’t see her like that at all. The back door opens up and my heart stops as Reed comes inside. He looks at me. “Hi, Jenna. I didn’t know you were here. I didn’t see Rod’s truck outside.”
“Your mom picked me up.” I look back at the magazine that my hands suddenly hold very tightly to.
I knew he was coming in today. I have no idea why I’m reacting like a school girl with a crush.
Reed walks right up to me and holds out his arms. “It’s customary to give Christmas Eve hugs in this family, Jenna. And if anyone catches you under the mistletoe hanging in the living room then you have to accept the kiss. Even if it’s stinky old Uncle Lou.” He laughs and continues to hold out his arms.
I climb off the chair and let him hug me. I try to think of anything else as our bodies touch and all I can do is take in a deep breath.
He smells like pine needles and nutmeg. It’s awesome, and I shouldn’t love it so much. I also shouldn’t never want to let him go, but that’s exactly how I feel.
I pull away anyway and find him gazing down at me. His hand runs through my blonde waves and he lets out a sigh. “I’ve always thought you had the most beautiful head of hair in town, Jenna.”
I smile and blush. “Thank you. I have to admit I’ve always thought your hair was a nice shade of blond, myself.”
He sits on the barstool next to mine as I get back on it. He takes the magazine and pushes it away so I can’t reach it and have to talk to him, I suppose. “So, how’s everything been going? Have you jerked a knot in my brother’s tail yet?”
I laugh. “I don’t think that’s even possible. He’s pretty bull-headed.”
“And a complete ass,” Reed says with a laugh. “Is he still going out without you?”
I nod. “I don’t like to go out anyway.”
“Bet you don’t when he pulls the kind of shit he does. So when do you think you’ll have enough and come to your senses?” His fingers tap the countertop and I watch them.
They’re long and lean and look strong. Not that Rod’s aren’t, but Reed’s are well manicured.
“I love the man. What can I say?”
“Love? So when’s the big day? Has he asked you to marry him?” He gets up and goes to look in the fridge for something, then takes out two bottles of water and brings one to me.
“Marriage is not a thing he wants. He doesn’t believe in it,” I tell him as I try to open the water.
But it’s proving hard to open, and he takes it from me and opens it, then hands it back. “So what’s the plan, then?”
“I suppose this is it. We live together.” I take a drink as I notice him watching me.
“You, Jenna, are wife material. Not shacking up material.” He takes a drink.
My faces heats, and I know I’m blushing. “Thank you, I guess.”
Setting the water down, he looks me over. “So about college. Have you thought any more about going? I recall you made very good grades in school, young lady.” His hand moves over my shoulder and I freeze with the zing of the sparks that shoots through me.
“How would you know anything about my grades, Reed?” I get up so his hand can’t do that to me anymore.
The timer goes off, and I pick up the pot holder and get the cookies from the oven. When I stand back up I catch him looking at my ass with his head cocked to one side.
“So, my grades, Reed? How would you know about them?” I ask, making him look away from my ass. But secretly it pleases me to no end that he would do such a thing.
“I helped grade papers for a few teachers and yours were always very good. So, college? Tell me what kinds of things you’re interested in, Jenna Foster.” He gets up and comes to pick up a hot cookie off the tray fresh from the oven then quickly drops it back down on it. “Ow! It’s hot!”
“You think?” I ask with a laugh.
His lightly tanned cheeks go pink and I have to look away because I want to run my hands over them so damn bad. Placing the tray on the stovetop, I turn to find him kind of hovering around me.
So I pick up my water and go to the living room. “That was the last batch of cookies.”
He follows me and when I take a seat on the sofa he takes the place right next to me. “So, what kind of things might you want to go to school for?”
“Reed, I honestly don’t know. And what are you doing out there in California? Rod never talks about it.” I sit back and see his eyes light up.
“I’m actually doing very well selling real estate there. You know, if you wanted to go to college, my real estate firm could give you scholarships to go. It wouldn’t cost you a dime.”
“Your firm? Like the one you work for?” I ask as he runs his arm over the back of the couch and his fingertips are near my shoulder. And I swear I can feel sparks coming from them.
“I own it,” he says. Then his fingertips touch my shoulder and I go all hot inside. “And I would love to use some of that money to put you through college. So what is it you’d like to do?”
“Teaching little kids was a thing I always thought I’d like to do. When I was a Sunday school teacher for the little kids at our church, I loved it. But Rod doesn’t want me to work,” I say, and his fingers leave my shoulder and the heat inside me dissipates.
“Well, Rod can get the fuck over it, can’t he?” He smiles, and I frown.
Rod doesn’t get the fuck over anything!
The front door opens and in walks Rod. His face goes frozen as he looks at us. “How fucking cozy is this shit?”
Reed gets up and walks to him, holding out his arms. “Come on, big bro, Christmas Eve hugs!”
Rod looks over his brother’s shoulder at me with a bit of a glare on his face. Then he looks at his brother. “When did you get here?”
“A little while ago. Jenna has been keeping me company.” Reed turns around to walk back and my heart stops as Rod looks hard at me.
“Get me a beer, baby,” he barks, and I jump up and move fast to get it.
I freeze as Reed grabs my arm as I try to hurry past him. “Hold up there, Jenna. No reason to run. I’ll grab him one. I am closer to the kitchen.”
I look at Rod, but he gives me no clue as to what he wants me to do. Reed lets me go and walks into the kitchen. I go to sit next to Rod.
Anger radiates from him. “Jenna, care to explain?”
Before I can say a word, Reed comes back and tosses a beer to him. “About Jenna, Rod. She has this crazy notion you don’t want her to get an education or a job. Tell her how she’s mistaken.”
“She isn’t mistaken.” He takes a long drink. “I take care of her. There’s no need for any of that.”
“When do you plan on marrying her?” Reed stands just in front of him.
“Take a seat, bro.” Rod looks his brother in the eye and takes another drink.
Rod sits in the chair across from us. “So, when was that you said?”
“Not that it’s a damn bit of your business, but I don’t believe in marriage. Jenna and I have discussed things. We know what we both want and we’re doing it.” Then his head swivels and he looks at me, then back at Reed. “Or did she tell you something different?”
“No!” I say and then shut up as his head snaps and he looks at me, then back at Reed.
Reed’s eyes go narrow as he looks at us both. “She didn’t say anything, Rod. I brought it up. I just want to know when you plan on making an honest woman out her.”
“Why?” Rod asks as he runs his hand down my leg. He takes the hem of my dress and curls his fingers under it possessively.
His mother walks in and I sigh. “Hey, Sue. The cookies are out. Want some help frosting them?”
“Sure,” she says, all cheerfully.
I look at Rod. “Can I go help her?”
“Sure,” he says, and I get up and notice Reed giving his brother a dirty look.
As I leave the room, I hear Reed ask, “Does she have to get your permission for everything, Rod?”
I listen for Rod’s response. “If she knows what’s good for her ass, she does.”
Then I slip into the kitchen and stop eavesdropping on them.
I pick up a spoon and stir the red food coloring into the white icing Sue’s dropped into it. “I love Christmas,” she says.
Reed comes into the kitchen. “Can I help?”
His mother is humming a Christmas carol. “Of course, my baby boy. Hey, would you put on some music to help us get into that holiday spirit, son?”
He goes over to the small television that hangs on the wall of the attached dining room, finds the remote, and puts on some holiday music, then comes back.
“Where’s Rod?” I ask.
“He went to go get some beer. He said he’ll be back soon.” Reed moves in next to me.
His mother places a bowl of icing in front of him and drops some green food coloring into it. “Reed, grab us all some aprons, would you, dear?”
He leaves the place next to me and in moments he’s back. I feel his body right behind mine. He’s so close, and then his arms are around me as he puts the apron over my head and his hands graze my stomach as he smooths it out, takes the strings, and ties it behind my back.
I have to fight myself not to let my body fall back to his. It’s nearly overwhelming. My head feels light, and I don’t know how he makes me feel like this.
It’s beyond anything I’ve ever felt with Rod, and I feel instantly awful for this. I shake my head to try to clear it. “Thank you, Reed.”
Then my panties go wet as he leans even closer. His lips brush the hair around my ear as he says in a deep, husky voice, “You’re welcome, Jenna.”
I’m nearly shaking as he moves back and puts his apron on, then hands one to his mother. All too soon he’s back beside me and his elbow gently pushes into my side. I scoot over a smidge to stop the connection.
“I’ll be right back,” I say and nearly run out of the kitchen to the bathroom down the hall.
As I get inside it, I close the door and fall back on it. I don’t understand how I can be so attracted to him. I do love Rod.
I do!
After splashing some cold water on my face and calming myself down, I go back out and find Rod standing under the mistletoe. He’s smiling at me. “Hey, baby,” he says with a sweet sound to his voice.
His arms open and I move into them, and his mouth takes mine in a sweet kiss. Not hard, not demanding. Just sweet. And my body melts into his.
His arms go around me as he sways with me, then our lips part and he looks down at me. The blue in his eyes has a silvery quality to them and sparkles a little.
It’s times like this that make him so special to me. Love flows from my heart and I feel it coming from him, though he’d never say the word.
I run my hand over his scruffy cheek and he takes my hand and kisses the top softly. Then the doorbell rings and he reluctantly lets me go. Taking my hand, he takes me with him to answer the door and let in the first of his many family members who will be at the party tonight.
As he opens the door we find his cousin, A.J. holding up a bottle of Jack Daniels. “Ready to get fucked up, cuz?”
I roll my eyes as Rod says, “Fuck, yeah!”
I step back with Rod to let the man near Rod’s age in and say, “Now that’s the Christmas spirit.” My words come out heavily laced with sarcasm.
A.J. follows us to the kitchen and, as we travel through the living room, he stops under the mistletoe. “Jenna, look where I am.”
Rod and I turn back and Rod shakes his head. “Not happening, dude.” Then he pulls me along with him and leans in to whisper “Not with anyone but me. Got me, baby?”
“Yes,” I answer and see Reed glance up when he comes our way.
“You were helping frost cookies one minute, then gone the next, Jenna,” he says. “I suppose Rod happened to you.” He gives his brother a look.
Rod lets my hand go, then runs his arm around my neck and pulls me in tight to him. “And I happen to her every night, and sometimes in the afternoon and morning too. Ain’t that right, baby?”
I faintly hit at his broad chest and feel the heat filling my face with embarrassment. “My God, Rod!”
His lips press against my temple as he laughs deeply. “What, baby? I’m proud you’re, mine is all.”
Sue turns around and shakes a spoon dripping with red frosting as she looks at him. “Rod! Stop that! You know I hate when you talk about her as if she’s something that belongs to you. Jenna is a person, not an object you own.”
His hand runs down to my ass and he gives one cheek a squeeze and whispers to me, “If she only knew.”
With his words, my body heats with some type of excitement this time. I can’t explain what knowing I belong to him sometimes does to me. It’s odd, and I think it sets me back in the women’s liberation movement by decades, but it’s hot for some damn reason.
Reed turns back to his cookie decorating and I glance at him for only a moment. He wears a frown, and it makes me feel awful.
As the night wears on and Rod and his cousins get thoroughly trashed, I find myself sitting in a quiet corner of the den, a room not often used by the Manning family.
I like the fireplace in here, though. The fire has burned nearly all the way down and it gives the small room a nice golden glow.
I watch the embers and what’s left of the flames. Then I hear someone clearing their throat. “Mind if I join you?”
Without looking up, I know it’s Reed and answer, “Of course you can, Reed. This is your home, after all.”
The room has one loveseat and a chair in it and I’m sitting in the chair, so he takes the loveseat. He sprawls out on it, taking it all up, and lays his head back on the arm of it as he looks at me. Then his gaze moves to the fire.
“What a night, huh?” he asks.
“Yes, it’s very, let’s say, festive.” I smile, as it’s so different from how my family celebrates. Wild and full of alcohol and dirty jokes is what this family does.
My family is traditional. We celebrate on Christmas afternoon after church services, a place I have to be at tomorrow while I’m sure Rod will be staying home and sleeping tonight off.
“Your man is tying one on. I doubt he’ll be in any condition to drive home. You should talk him into staying the night here in his old bedroom. Mom keeps our bedrooms just like we’ve always had them. The bed’s a single, but if you work it out right, you’ll fit too.” He gives me a wink. “Or you can take the guestroom just down the hallway. It’s next to my room. You could drop by if you wanted to talk or something like that.”
My eyes move from the fire to look at him. Bathed in the golden light, he looks like some kind of model. The light brings out the especially shiny parts in his blond hair. His eyes seem to dance with the firelight and his lips look plump and very inviting.
My body feels the drag of the magnetism it has for him. I guess it’s kind of natural since I have such a strong thing for his brother to have some kind of attraction to Reed as well.
I suppose it’s natural …
