His Errant Educator (Willamette Wives Book 3) (18 page)

"And wash your mouth out," Roger said.

"But, I didn't call her a bit—that word, and I don't want you to!"

"Tessa, I'm not asking if you want me to. I'm simply reminding you of what I promised. I've warned you several times to watch your language, and what did I say would happen if you continue to curse?"

"But I was mad!"

"I realize that but that's no excuse. We talked about being a proper role model…"

"Well, that's no longer important," she said, her chin lifting and her eyes flashing. "I'm not going to be a teacher so no one cares how I act or what I say."

"You are wrong, little girl," he said, reaching for the latch. "I care a great deal. If I didn't, I wouldn't take the time to punish you." Opening the door, he placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside, pulling the door closed behind him.

Not wanting to draw out the unpleasantness any longer than necessary, he said, "All right. You'll spend a few minutes in your naughty girl corner thinking about why you are being punished…"

"Don't call it that!"

"Would you prefer I call it the juncture of two walls where my very disobedient, ill-mannered, defiant, wayward, contrary little miscreant will stand?"

When he finished, quirking one eyebrow, she looked toward the corner and sighed. "No, that makes it sound even worse."

"Then, Tessa, where are you supposed to be going now to think?"

"My naughty corner, but I don't need to think… I know why."

"Then use the time to ask yourself what could have happened and why your behavior has earned you a spanking." Taking the quilt from her arms and pointing to a corner, he nodded. "Go ahead. Nose to the wall and hands behind your back."

"Roger…"

"Tessa… go." He watched as she finally took herself to the corner, glad when she stepped close enough to the wall to place her nose in the juncture. While she spent her thinking time, he laid the saddlebags onto the table and pulled out a chair, setting it a few feet away. He gave her a few more minutes to settle, watching her closely until he saw her relax, her hands no longer twisting together, her fingers entwined at the small of her back.

"Come here, Tessa." Once she stood before him, he took both of her hands and pulled her between his legs. "Tell me, why are you getting a spanking?"

"Because I ran and rode Whinny… I mean, I never should have gotten on her because I… I was too upset to pay attention."

"Very good," he said, giving her hands a squeeze, very pleased that she hadn't begun her confession with an excuse. Patting his left knee, he released her hands. "Right over and put your hands on the floor." She hesitated and yet didn't protest when he took her hand and guided her into position. Lifting her skirts, he felt her tense and yet she didn't complain as he settled the heavy weight onto her back, piling her petticoat on top. Placing his palm against her bloomers, he knew that it wouldn't be long before he added pulling them down to the steps necessary in preparing his wife for a spanking. "I love you, Tessa, and I don't want to see you harmed."

"But you are going to spank me!"

"Yes, but while your bottom will hurt, it won't harm you. Falling off Whinny or being dragged along could have caused you lasting harm. Let this spanking remind you that you are too precious to me to allow you to put yourself in unnecessary danger." With that, he lifted his hand and began. She was soon attempting to swim off his lap as swat after swat landed on her bottom.

"Roger, that's too hard!" she wailed, her hand flying back.

"Put your hand down," he instructed and when it didn't move, he began to swat the backs of her thighs.

"Ow! Stop!"

"Put your hand down," he said again, continuing to spank her thighs, alternating the swats from one to another. "Once you do, I'll return to spanking your bottom." It took another two smacks before she jerked her hand off her behind and placed it back on the floor. "Good girl." Returning his smacks to her plump little cheeks, he continued her spanking, placing his right leg over hers when she began to kick up.

"Please! Ow… ow… it hurts!"

"Yes, I'm sure it does," he concurred, beginning to increase the strength of the smacks as her bottom was warmed. "Now, what should you have done instead of running?"

"I don't know!"

"Then, give it some more thought," he suggested, beginning to give two swats in one spot before moving to another. He gave each hillock a half dozen sets before she spoke.

"I should have stayed with you!"

"That's right, you should have stayed and allowed me to comfort you. Instead, you ran and I didn't have the opportunity to do that." He moved to the base of her buttocks, peppering them as he asked his next question. "Why was it dangerous for you to get onto Whinny?"

"Ow, please… not so hard!"

Knowing that he was not getting through to her, he increased the pace, his hand now giving one swat after another, back and forth until she was twisting, attempting to remove her bottom from his lap. "Settle down, Teresa. Answer the question."

"Because I was mad!"

"And?" he asked, his hand never slowing.

"I-I don't know… please, I'm sorry!"

Deciding to help her, he said, "What do you wear when you ride?"

"Boots! I should have put on my boots!"

"That's right. You are never to ride any horse without the proper footwear. You were very lucky today only getting a bruised ankle…"

"And a bruised bottom!" she wailed, arching her head as her hand reached back again.

"No," he said, capturing her hand and pinning it to her side. "Not bruised, but I guarantee that unless you stop fighting and accept your spanking, your heinie will be hot and very red by the time you get up."

It took another dozen swats before she collapsed over his lap, the tension gone as she submitted. He lifted his knee, tilting her forward, knowing the additional stretch would make the next area to be spanked taut. "Why do I have you over my knee taking the time to redden your bottom, Tessa?"

"Be-because you love me," she sobbed.

"That's right. I love you very much and don't want to lose you. Let this last dozen remind you of just how much I care." His hand flew as he gave her sit-spots each a half dozen swats, not allowing her sobs to keep him from his duty. Once he was finished, he ran his palm over her punished globes, able to feel the heat through the thin fabric of her drawers. He allowed her a few moments before he guided her up to sit on his thigh. She instantly buried her face in his shirt, her tears continuing for several minutes. While she cried, he stroked her arm and her back, giving her time to settle. Once her sobs turned into sniffles, he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and held it to her nose. "Blow."

She obeyed and then swiped her cheeks with her fingers. "I'm really sorry."

"I know," Roger said, guiding her off his lap. "Go to the corner and think about what you will do the next time."

"I… yes, sir," she said. He knew she loathed the corner and yet also hoped that knowing he would be consistent might help her to remember to behave. He'd not want to live without her and he'd already watched her put herself in serious danger twice!

As she faced the wall, he prepared to finish her punishment. "I'll be right back, don't move away from your naughty corner."

"Ye-yes, sir," she said, turning her head to look at him.

"No, nose to the wall. I'm just going outside for a moment." He waited until she was back in position and then opened the door, taking a deep bowl with him to the stream. Filling it with water, he returned to the cabin, placing additional items on the table after moving the saddlebags to hang over the second chair.

"All right, you may come out now," he said.

Teresa turned from the wall again. She felt her breath hitch at the sight of Roger rolling up his sleeve. The items on the table told her that he had been serious about soaping her mouth.

"Roger, please… I promise I won't curse again."

"A promise is very easy to make when you are facing a punishment. It is much harder to remember when naughtiness is allowed to pass without that punishment."

"But… it's going to be awful!"

"It won't be pleasant," he agreed, lifting the bar of soap and dropping it into the bowl he'd filled. "Come here and let's get this done so that I can hold you."

While she wanted to be held desperately, knowing she felt loved when cradled against his chest, she didn't want to have her mouth soaped.

"Tessa, don't make me spank you again," he warned when she remained frozen in place.

Finally, she forced herself forward until she reached the table. "Go ahead and sit down."

"I-I'd rather stand," she said, eyeing the hard wooden seat of the chair.

"Tessa, I'm not asking, I'm instructing you to sit. Do so now."

She sank onto the chair, hissing a bit as her poor bottom took her weight. She shuddered as she watched him dip a rag into the water, wrapping it around the bar of soap and rubbing until she could see bubbles.

"Why are you getting your mouth soaped?" Roger asked, wringing out the cloth a little. Her tummy churned as memories of having her mouth washed out by her ma flooded through her. She'd made promises every single time that she'd not use bad words and yet she had.

"I cursed," she said softly.

"Yes, you said naughty words and that is not something I wish to ever hear come from the mouth I love to kiss. Open your mouth and let's get those naughty words washed right out."

She could feel her face flush, hating that he repeated a word that she loathed and one that made her feel exactly like a naughty little girl. As he brought the cloth up, only a fraction of an inch away from her lips, she gave it one last try.

"I didn't mean to curse… I didn't even realize I had…"

"A very good reason to have a lesson, wouldn't you say?"

"I-I don't need a lesson. I won't do it again."

"I hope not because if you do, you'll not only receive a good mouth soaping, you'll not be allowed to rinse until your bottom is burning after I apply a paddle to it. Naughty words spoken by naughty girls need to be rinsed away. Now, open your mouth." His eyes never left hers and she knew that this man would never be one to go back on his word. Whether he was assuring her that she was loved, or lecturing her when she was naughty, he would always be consistent, always follow through with his promises.

Swallowing hard, she allowed her lips to part. "Wider, Tessa." With a soft whimper, she obeyed. Despite her determination to accept the punishment, the moment the tip of the rag passed her lips, her hand flew up to push away his hand.

"Put your hand down," he ordered. "In fact, put both of your hands beneath your spanked bottom." She slowly did as she was told, tucking her hands out of the way. He nodded and placed his palm behind her head as he worked the soapy fabric over her tongue, coating it well before moving to the roof of her mouth. "You are a beautiful woman, Teresa, but when you spew ugly words without even being aware of doing so, you are disrespecting not only the person you are addressing but yourself." As he lectured, he continued to move the cloth, scrubbing each tooth. Adjusting the sodden cloth once again, he ran it over her gums, suds dripping from her mouth, her eyes watering as he finished both his lecture and her punishment. "I saw how those children looked up to you but what would they think if they heard you saying naughty words? Even if you aren't their teacher, you need to know that they listen to you, watch you and respect you. How would you feel if Jane got mad and repeated the word you used to describe Miss Jenkins?"

She felt shame fill her at the thought and more tears fell. "Ba… bad," she managed, bubbles forming on her lips as she sputtered her answer.

"Do you like feeling bad? Do you feel good inside when you know you've been a naughty girl?"

"No… thir."

"Then remember how you are feeling right now the next time you get mad. I don't like punishing you, but I will. Every time, understand?"

"Yeth… th-thir." Speaking was horrid, the soap coating her tongue feeling slick, thick, sliding into her throat, making her want to gag. He gave the insides of her cheeks a pass then, removing the cloth, he dropped it into the bowl of water, instantly stopping her when she pulled her hands free and reached for the bowl.

"No, you'll keep the suds in your mouth for five minutes."

"I-I… can… can't," she stuttered, her tongue attempting to push the offensive suds from her mouth.

"You can and you will, unless you'd like a repeat of the lesson."

She snapped her mouth closed, knowing he'd reach for the cloth if she protested his decision. Fighting to keep from swallowing more of the awful soapsuds, she would have sworn time had stopped except for the fact that he'd placed his pocket watch on the table's surface. Once the second hand ticked off the last of the required time, he asked, "Do you believe you've learned your lesson?" When she bobbed her head vigorously, he said, "You may spit."

As she rid herself of the soap, he filled a glass with water, offering it to her, instructing her to rinse and spit repeatedly. When she was done, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and used the cloth he'd rinsed to gently wipe her face. "I love you, Tessa," he said.

"Will you hold me now? Rock me?"

"I'd like nothing more," he said, taking her hand and walking her outside. He took a seat and she climbed onto his lap, tucking her head beneath his chin. They didn't speak for several minutes.

"You were right," she said softly, the fingers of one hand splayed against his chest. "I do feel better, even though it was really awful."

"That's because you know that even when it is going to be awful, you deserve the punishment. The spanking hurts but, Tessa, paying the price, atoning for your naughtiness, wipes the guilt away."

"I still hate that word," she said. She could feel his chest shudder as he chuckled.

"Well, you know what you need to do in order not to hear it, don't you?"

"Yes, but it might take me a while before I learn all the lessons I need."

"That's fine, we have a lifetime," he said, holding her just a bit tighter. "And I promise, not all lessons will be so hard."

"Since I'm not going to be a teacher, I suppose I can be your student," she said.

"Nothing would please me more." When he tilted her chin up, she felt her tummy tingle again. The kiss was gentle and yet it stirred every nerve in her body. When he pulled away, his eyes were full of desire and she knew without a doubt that hers reflected the same.

"I love you," she whispered, "even when you spank me."

He chuckled and she blushed but realized she had spoken the truth. It was only when her tummy growled that he stopped the rocker with a press of his boot. "I think it's time I feed my bride-to be," he said.

Nodding, she slid off his lap and after he brought the saddlebags and quilt from the house, she took his hand and they walked to the grassy area. The day had caused her great disappointment and yet, as he helped her spread out the quilt and then pulled her onto his lap after taking a seat, she knew that life might not be fair but she had someone who would always be there, sharing both sad times and joyful ones, and loving her through them all.

***

After Teresa took her first tentative bite of a drumstick, Roger grinned when she took a moment, chewing slowly as if expecting the fried chicken to taste as bad as the soap he'd used in her lesson. He chuckled when she saw him watching and as her cheeks flushed, she grinned and then took a large bite.

"It's very good," she said.

"Don't let Mr. Rooster hear you say that," he said, loving it when her head tilted to one side. He held up his own piece of chicken and began telling about what he'd witnessed that morning. By the time he was done, she was giggling, her chestnut hair swinging against her back.

"I think you made that up," she said.

"Nope, it's the absolute truth. I'm telling you, Agatha has got some sort of magical power over that coc—rooster." Almost having that word slip made him extremely conscious of his cock, which had been twitching against its restraint from the moment he'd pulled her onto his lap. Whenever she laughed, or reached for another chicken leg, a napkin, or bent forward to pick up the jar of lemonade, her little bottom would lift and then settle again, squirming a bit to find a comfortable position, pressing against his crotch.

"Are you all right?" she asked, drawing him from his thoughts. "Did that groan mean you are too full for cake?"

"Absolutely not, it means I can't wait to share dessert with my girl." After eating every crumb, he took the wrappings she handed him, placing them back into the saddlebag. "Come on, we'll wash up at the creek and then tour the house."

He pulled her up and led her to the stream. They crouched at the edge of the bank, dipping their hands into the water.

"Oh, it's really cold!" she said, pulling her hands out.

"Yes, but it will warm up. There is still snow melting up in the mountains."

"Will it freeze in the winter? Can we skate? I mean, only where it's safe?"

Taking her hands in his and giving her fingers a quick wash, he smiled. "See, you're learning already." Standing, he used the last cloth Catherine had packed to dry first her hands and then his own as he continued, "You thought about safety instead of just about doing something."

She smiled and then giggled. "To be honest, I thought about how scared you were and how bad I felt. And, of course, that awful spanking."

He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked back towards the cabin. "All of those are good things to think about. Now, did you remember you wanted to make a list of things you think we need?"

"Oh, yes," she exclaimed, reaching into her pocket. Instead of pulling out the paper where she'd begun a list, she pulled out one of the packet of seeds she'd planned on giving the children. "I guess I don't need this now," she said, her voice far softer than it had been just a moment earlier.

"I don't know," Roger said, "I think some flowers would look mighty pretty right here."

She looked up to see they had reached the steps to the porch. The ground was a bit churned up from the work done and yet she could instantly picture a flower bed on either side of the stairs. "They would be pretty…"

"Will you show me how to plant them?" he asked. She nodded and pulled another packet from her pocket.

"These are just wildflower seeds. Vegetable seeds need to be planted in little holes, but these we can just sprinkle on top of the dirt and pat them down just a bit." She tore off one corner of her packet and moved to the right. "You do that side and I'll do this one."

"No, let's do them together," Roger suggested, holding out his palm. "That way, every time we come home, we'll see the beauty that working together can make." She smiled and nodded, pouring half the seeds into his hand and showing him how to allow a few to drop to the ground. Using the toe of her shoe, she gave each one a light press so that it wouldn't just fly away with a breeze. They repeated the planting on the left side and then climbed the steps, hand in hand.

"I thought you were going to make two rockers," she said.

"I was but decided that I'd much prefer having you on my lap while we watched the sunset. Do you mind?"

"No," she said, looking up at him. "There's no other place I'd rather be." He bent and kissed her, his cock jerking as her lips parted and his tongue slipped between them. Even after their lunch, he could faintly taste the soap he'd used but that didn't keep him from tangling his tongue with hers. His hands dropped from her waist to cup her bottom as hers lifted to entwine around his neck. Her soft moan as he squeezed her tender cheeks was the only thing that kept him from forgetting he was a gentleman. Pulling back, he pressed his forehead to hers.

"Two weeks?"

"I-I know, it seems like forever," she said, her chest heaving a bit. Tearing his eyes from the sight of her bosom, knowing he was standing on the edge of a precipice he was fighting not to fall into, he fumbled for the latch behind him, stumbling backwards when the door swung open.

They toured the house, and while Teresa took notes on the paper she'd found, all he could think about was a list of his own. Of course, while hers included things like towels, mixing bowls, a tablecloth and napkins, his was a list of the order in which he'd slowly remove her clothing on their wedding night, unveiling his bride to his eyes for the first time.

"Oh, Roger, the bed… the carvings are so beautiful." She gave his cheek a kiss as she continued her list. As she added a quilt and soft pillows, and linens, he added laying her down onto their bed, teaching her how wonderful he'd make her feel as he loved her.

"Are you all right?"

"What?"

"You groaned and you look a little funny," she said, her head tilted again.