The Intruder

By Joannie Kay
(c)2011 by Blushing Books(r) and Joannie Kay

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Copyright (c) 2011 by Blushing Books(r) and Joannie Kay. All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Published by Blushing Books(r), a subsidiary of ABCD Graphics and Design 977 Seminole Trail #233 Charlottesville, VA 22901 The trademark Blushing Books(r) is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Kay, Joannie The Intruder eBook ISBN: 978-1-60968-533-1 Cover Design: by ABCD Graphics

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Blushing Publications thanks you wholeheartedly for your purchase with us! There are plenty more stories such as the one you've purchased from Blushing Books! Visit our online store to view our might selection! http://www.blushingbooks.com This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

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Chapter One
"Rats and damnation!" Jacob swore under his breath as he heard a key entered into the lock on the front door of the small apartment. He quickly looked around for a place to hide before Quincy Darles discovered him lurking inside the bedroom. The only window inside the room boasted a small air conditioning unit, and was, therefore, excluded as a possible escape route. Jacob made his way to the closet, buying a few precious seconds, and then quickly remembered the opening in the ceiling of the closet. He didn't waste time with himself debating the advisability of reaching up and removing the wood piece covering the opening, and just that quickly he was using his powerful upper body strength to hoist himself up into the attic above the apartment. He barely had time to replace the covering before the closet door opened below him.

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Darles swore when his cell phone rang, but he answered it with a menacing growl, "Yeah?" Jacob couldn't make out what was being said on the other end, but Darles replied, "I'll be there at midnight, and we'll deal with that bastard James. I'm going to catch some Z's in the meantime, so don't call unless the sky is falling. Got that?" He listened again, and said, "Yeah, yeah. 'Bye..." He snapped the cell phone shut and within a very short time Jacob heard the man snoring. "Great!" he whispered under his breath. How in hell was he to get out of here now? He couldn't risk waking Darles. Jacob's dark eyes were already adjusted to the cramped dark space, and he easily found the penlight he always carried and looked about for some way to escape. He was shocked to realize he could see beyond Darles' apartment, and immediately surmised the attic area was completely open above the apartments below and

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covered the entire building! Ever so slowly, Jacob rose as much as his six foot seven inch frame would allow, and silently made his way across the attic to the apartment next door, and found the small covering over the opening in the closet of that unit. He'd picked this time of day for his work since the occupants of the apartments were all at work and there was less chance of discovery, but Jacob preferred doors and picking locks to crawling through dusty attics that showed how cheaply the apartments were built, no matter the amount of the rent paid to live in them. Jacob shook his head when he realized how easy it was to get from one apartment to another and swore that no member of his family would ever live in one of these places! It wasn't safe! He quietly lifted the covering from the hole cut in the ceiling of the closet, and lightly dropped to the carpeted floor. Two seconds later he opened the closet door and

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stopped in his tracks! The woman who lived in the small apartment was home! Kari Morgan suddenly sensed she wasn't alone in the bedroom and was very aware she was standing there completely nude! She grabbed for her nightgown and hastily pulled it on before whirling to see a very tall man standing in front of her closet looking at her with large brown eyes! She opened her mouth to scream but the man was on her before she could make a sound, his large hand covering her mouth as he forced her down on the bed. Kari struggled, trying to get free, terrified he was going to rape her! "Sweetheart, I'm not going to hurt you!" Jacob whispered, trying to calm the pretty young woman. She couldn't be more than twenty years old, and she was scared out of her mind at the moment. "Baby, shhhhh! Stop struggling. I won't hurt you, I swear!" he said as convincingly as he could. Still, she continued to fight him, despite the fact she

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didn't stand a prayer of escaping whatever he intended to do. "Sweetheart... do not bite! I'll spank you if you bite again!" he promised as he felt his temper flare just a bit. "I won't hurt you," he repeated himself. Kari was not going to let him have his way with her! She didn't want her first time to be like this! She continued to fight with all she had, but she was running out of strength. She left work early because she was feeling like hell, and she'd wanted nothing more than to crawl in her bed. And now she feared she was going to be sick all over the place, and the man had his hand over her mouth! "Sweetheart, it is important that you listen to me," Jacob held her a bit tighter, limiting her movements even more, well aware she was trying to bite his hand again. "I am NOT going to harm you. Please settle down now and just listen. And, do NOT bite me again unless you want me to set your bottom on fire!" He saw her green eyes widen,

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and he suddenly realized her skin was burning. Her eyes were glazed with fever, and he feared she was having trouble breathing. "You're burning up, sweetheart!" Jacob suddenly realized the look in her eyes for what it was, and without giving the matter another thought, he jumped up and picked her up and carried her to the bathroom just in time for her to be ill. He held her long red hair out of the way. "Poor baby. You are literally burning up. It'll be all right, I promise." Keri was mortified. She hated being sick, but to be sick in front of a man dressed all in black who was hiding in her closet to rape her was beyond words! It was just too bizarre! When she finally finished, she was too weak to get up off the floor, but the intruder gently lifted her and helped her put toothpaste on her toothbrush.

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"Brush the taste out of your mouth, sweetheart, and then I'll get you back in bed." "No!" she pleaded. "Don't!" Her eyes filled with tears and she started to cry. "I promise I won't hurt you, baby." Jacob felt guilt wash over him for frightening her so badly. "Brush now," he kept an arm around her waist to steady her. Keri brushed, stalling the inevitable. When he filled a paper cup with water, she swished and spit, but felt so weak she wanted to die. Her head ached unbearably, and she was shivering uncontrollably. She felt so helpless... Jacob picked her up and carried her back into the bedroom. He managed to pull down the blankets and then said calmly, "Get into bed now, sweetheart." She resisted, crying, and Jacob simply picked her up again and placed her on the mattress. He pulled the sheet and blanket over her. "Don't cry. Is

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there someone I can call to come and help you? Your parents, or a sibling? A boyfriend?" "No. I just moved here and I don't know anyone at all," she admitted, and then wanted to kick herself! She'd just told a rapist that she was all alone and no one would be checking on her! "Don't worry about it," Jacob said. "I'll take care of you." He walked to the bathroom to look for a thermometer, found one immediately, and came back to the bedroom as she was trying to push down the blankets to get to her handbag and her cell phone to call for help. "Don't get up, baby. You're too weak for that." Before she could protest, he had the thermometer in her mouth, taking her temperature. Keri saw the frown on his face when he read her temperature. "Is it high?" "Very. You're sick, baby. Do you have a doctor I can call?"

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"No." "Okay." Jacob took out his cell phone, much to her shock, and hit a number on speed dial. The call was answered right away. "Hey, bro, I need you. I have a friend who is very ill, new in town, and she needs help right now. Her temp is nearly one hundred and four!" Keri's eyes widened at that news. No wonder she was so weak and felt like she was going to die. She listened in dismay as he gave her address to the other person, and then listened to some instructions. "I'll do that. Thanks, bro." "Jason said to give you some Tylenol to take down your temperature. He'll be here as quickly as he can get across town." "I don't have any Tylenol. I use regular aspirin." "That will have to do, then," Jacob smiled at her, and then headed for the bathroom once more. He returned shortly with two

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pills and a paper cup of water from the tap. He held them out to her and she looked at him suspiciously. "I'm not drugging you, sweetheart. These are aspirin from your own bottle. Now take them and stop being so suspicious." "Wouldn't you be suspicious if you found a stranger hiding in your closet?" she retorted angrily. "I'd probably shoot first; ask questions later," he admitted with a grin as he watched her examine the aspirin and then taste one with her tongue before she swallowed them with some water. "Now you rest until Jason gets here. He'll know what to do to help you get better." "Where will you be?" she asked worriedly. "Don't worry about me. I'll let Jason in when he gets here. You rest, sweetheart," he insisted, pushing her back down on her pillow and covering her once more. He gave her

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forehead a gentle kiss and said, "I promise you that you are safe, baby. No one is going to harm you in any way while I'm here, most especially me." He walked out of her bedroom, but left the door open so he could hear her if she called out for help, or in case she tried to get out of bed. She was too weak to try something like that, and he didn't want her to fall and hurt herself. Keri tried to get out of bed, but she was simply too weak. Her head and the rest of her body ached unbearably, and she felt so helpless. Her Dad had told her she needed to get a landline in her apartment and make sure she had a telephone beside her bed, but she'd told him that she couldn't afford the extra expense, and refused his help when he offered to pay the bill for her. She wanted to make it on her own, but her Dad was right. She needed that telephone right now! She was all alone in her apartment with a man

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who was either a thief or a rapist! And, he'd called another man to come right on over! What would they do to her? Or with her? What if they were traders in the white slave market? Keri started crying again, and just couldn't stop! She was so ill, and terrified out of her mind! The first thing Jacob did when he left the redhead's room was to find her purse on the table beside the front door, and without the least bit of hesitation, he dumped out the contents and went through everything in there. It didn't take him long to learn her name and where she was from before she came here. She had less than thirty dollars cash on her, and her checking account had approximately five hundred dollars. She certainly wasn't rich, but according to her checkbook her bills were all paid. She only had one credit card, and he nodded in approval when he decided that she paid her bill in full each month. The pretty little redhead

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had a head on her shoulders. He replaced everything in her purse, and then went to peek in the bedroom. Keri was crying and trying to be quiet so he wouldn't hear her. "Is there anything I can get you, sweetheart?" he asked, handing her a box of tissues from her dresser. "No. I wish you would simply go away!" she begged. "I can't leave you here alone while you're so ill," Jacob said gently. "Your temperature is too high, and you might need to go to the hospital." "I'll call my Dad," she said weakly. "Keri, your Dad and Mom live too far away to get here today. You're stuck with me." "You know my name!" she wailed. "I looked in your handbag," he admitted, feeling a bit sheepish. "I know where you moved from, that your bills are all paid up,

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and you like spearmint gum and orange Tic Tacs." She paled considerably and the bright spots of fever on her cheeks were even more prominent. "Are you a thief?" she asked. "No!" Jacob denied, insulted. The doorbell rang, and he went to answer the summons. Keri tried again to get out of the bed, but was unable to do so. A few seconds later, the tall man was back with another man who was almost as tall! The contrast between them would have been laughable if she felt better and wasn't so darn frightened! One was dressed all in black, and the other all in white! "Hello, sweetheart. Jacob tells me you're sick...? We'll take care of you," he promised, his words soft and soothing and she was surprised that she actually trusted him! "I'm Jason, by the way, and a doctor. Jacob is my big brother. What's your name?"

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"Keri," she answered. "Okay, Keri. Let's get your temp again, and your BP and pulse." The next few minutes were spent doing all the normal things doctors do, or rather, have nurses do for them... Keri decided that if Jason wasn't really a doctor then he was a very good actor. When he took out a swab for a culture, she didn't mind so much, but when he took out the tools necessary for a blood test, she tried to scramble out of his reach. "I'm not going to hurt you, sweetheart," Jason said soothingly. "I need to run a few tests to make sure I give you the right meds. I promise I'm very good at this, and I won't poke you a bunch of times." He was so fast that Keri didn't even realize he was ready to stick her until he said, "You'll feel a little stick now." A few seconds later it was all done. "There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he smiled reassuringly. "I'm

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going to give you an injection, sweetheart," he announced as he took out a syringe and a bottle of medication. It didn't take him long to prepare the shot. "This is an antibiotic, and while I would normally just start you on pills, I want this to get into your blood stream immediately. Flip over," he ordered matter-of-factly, and then added, "Bro, give the girl some privacy, will you!" "No! You are not going to give me any drugs!" Keri argued. "I won't let you do that! Go away!" "It's an antibiotic, Keri, sweetheart," Jason said calmly. "I'll be gentle." "No, I won't! let you!" she shook her head and moaned when the movement made the room spin. Jacob heard Keri's refusal, and hurried back into the room to deal with the recalcitrant patient. "Young lady, you are acting like a brat." Without another word, he picked her up and sat down on the bed and bent her

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over his knee. A second later he pulled up her nightgown to bare her bottom for his brother. When Keri continued to struggle he put an end to it the only way that seemed to make sense, giving her wiggling bottom two sound spanks. "Settle down unless you want me to spank you thoroughly, young lady!" he warned in a firm tone of voice. Keri stilled immediately and just that quickly, Jason gave her the injection. Jacob stood and then tucked a sobbing Kari into bed again. "You'll feel better soon, honey. No one is trying to harm you in any way." "Bro, what is going on here?" Jason demanded of his older brother. "Why is this little girl so frightened, and don't you dare tell me it's her fever. She is terrified." "I didn't know she was here, Jason, and I came out of the closet and scared her. I've told her she is safe," Jacob said defensively. "What were you doing in her closet?" Jason demanded, and then his dark eyes

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filled with comprehension. "Damn it, you are on a job, aren't you?" "Keep your voice down, Bro," Jacob warned quietly. "You are supposed to be on vacation!" "And?" "You're on a case, and you don't have any backup, do you?" "I don't need backup, and if I do, I can call in and get some help." "I don't like this, Bro," Jason got to his feet to glare at his brother. "Did you at least tell this poor girl who you are and that you're not a rapist?" Jacob frowned. "Damn it, Jake! Sweetheart, this idiot won't hurt you. He's a cop, and his name is Jacob Tobias. Unless you committed a crime, you have nothing to fear from him, and if he gives you any trouble at all, you call this number and Ma will come and read him his rights before she smacks him down to her size," he grinned, scribbling a number on the back of

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his own card. "My number is on the front, and if you feel any worse, let me know, no matter what time it is. I want you to stay in bed, sweetheart, and rest. Drink lots of water and juice, and if you get up to go to the bathroom, you ask Bro for help. He's on vacation, and he is officially your duly appointed nurse for the next few days. I'd send for Ma, but you don't want her nursing you, does she, Jake?" "No, you really don't," Jacob agreed, shaking his head vigorously. "Jake, if our patient gets hungry, chicken broth or Jell-O. Nothing else until we talk. Take her temperature, and if it goes up, call me right away. Did you give her the Tylenol?" "All she has is aspirin." "No, too hard on her stomach," Jason said firmly. "I'll make a run to the store and get some stuff for you and be right back. You call if Keri needs me."

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"I will. Thanks, Bro," Jacob said gratefully. Jason started to say something else but changed his mind when he saw the stubborn set of Jacob's jaw. Instead, he looked at Keri and said, "Rest now, sweetheart. Bro will take good care of you, and you have Ma's number if he doesn't." He left the room, Jacob behind him. "She's sick, Jake. Keep her in bed. Take her temperature every hour, and push liquids. I'll be back in a few minutes with food and Tylenol. Do you need anything special?" "No. Just something to eat. I don't know what Keri has in her kitchen." Jason left and Jacob went back to the bedroom, only to find his patient half out of bed. "Sweetheart, do you want a spanking?" he asked, reaching her side in less than two seconds flat.

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"No!" she denied. "I want to go to the bathroom, and I do not want help!" she pouted. "You heard Jase. You are too weak to attempt this on your own." "No I'm not!" she argued. He shook his head and let her stand up on her own. She took one step and the room started spinning and she would have fallen if he hadn't been prepared and caught her. He carried her to the bathroom, sat her down, and said, "I'll give you your privacy, but, sweetheart, if you even try to stand up before calling me to help you, I am going to give you a spanking." "I'm not a child!" she informed him. "Good. I'll expect you to act like an adult and obey me then." He stepped out of the room and waited for her to call him, but he didn't have any confidence that she would. Keri's head was spinning and ached abominably. Her legs felt like rubber, and she

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was so tired she wanted to cry. She didn't know whether or not to believe that Jacob was a policeman, or that Jason was a doctor. They could both be lying and just trying to get her well so they could kidnap her. She really did need to call for help, but she couldn't even get up off the toilet without help! The tears started again, and that make her mad. She said a few choice words, and then called out, "I can't get up by myself." Jacob was back in a heartbeat, mindful of her modesty, and he lifted her and carried her back to bed. "I'll get you a washcloth to wash your hands, baby," he promised, and then did just that. "I'm going to get you some water to sip on, and then you'd better go to sleep. Your body needs some rest. I'll wake you later for some broth and orange juice." Keri didn't argue. She was too tired for that. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Jacob checked on her a few minutes later and nodded. At least she wasn't afraid of him

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any longer. Jason returned, and Jacob had to admit he outdid himself. He had all the necessary items for Keri, but he also brought the things he thought his brother would need. Best of all was a book he'd been wanting to read, and a book of cryptograms to solve. He'd been addicted to those since they were kids. He liked to play against the clock these days. There was also a fried chicken dinner for him to eat later, vanilla ice cream, and a package of Fig Newtons, and his favorite drink... a gallon of milk. Jason brought him some personal items, too, so he could brush his teeth and shave and shower. "You did great, Jason. Thanks." "What is this case you're on? Is Keri involved or in danger?" he asked directly. "She just made the mistake of moving in here... next to a killer," Jacob told his brother. "And we need to tell Jenna not to even think of moving into an apartment until we check it out first. This place is not safe, and

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I'm going to insist Keri move elsewhere the very minute she is well enough to do it." "Jenna is too independent to ask her older brothers to look at an apartment first," Jason predicted. "What's wrong with these apartments? They're brand new and look great." "The attic is open from one end of the building to the other. Anyone could get into any apartment in this building from up there. That's what I did when my suspect came home when I was searching his apartment. I went up through the opening in his closet, and made my way next door, and let myself down. I came out of the closet, never dreaming Keri was home. She works all day..." he explained. "I had to keep her from screaming, and when I touched her I realized she was burning up. I couldn't just say, 'Sorry, honey, wrong apartment,' and walk out the door."

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"No, you did the right thing to call me, Bro. What can we do about this guy next door?" he asked. "Nothing, Bro. I'll keep Keri safe, and move her out when she's well enough to leave." They said goodbye and Jacob put away the groceries before going to check on his patient. When he reached the bedroom he shook his head and said, "Sweetheart, you need your bottom spanked." "I do not!" Keri defended herself. "I am an adult and I can do as I please!" she argued. "I am an adult, too, and I can do as I please, and what I please right now is to take a naughty little brat over my knee and spank her for not listening to what the Doctor told her to do and obeying him." Keri's green eyes widened when he slowly crossed the room towards the bed she was half in and half out of. She moved as quickly

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as possible to get back in bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin for protection.

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Chapter Two
Kari was ill and weak and frightened, and the big man approaching her looked fully capable of carrying out his threat to spank her! "Please don't!" she whispered as she pulled the blankets up even more, as if they would protect her from what he intended. Her green eyes filled with tears again as she looked at him. Jacob Tobias wasn't used to having a pretty woman look at him with absolute terror in her eyes, but that is exactly the way Kari Morgan was looking at him, and it stopped him in his tracks. "Sweetheart, I know I frightened you earlier, and I am sorry as can be about that. For the last time now, I have no intention of harming you. I am not a thief. I am not a rapist. I am a police officer, like my brother told you, and he is a doctor. You are seriously ill, and this close," he held his thumb and forefinger a scant inch apart, "to a stay in the hospital with an IV hooked

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up to you so you get liquids and meds to take that temperature down. You are new in town and you don't have anyone here to help you. I won't leave you to fend for yourself; Ma didn't raise me that way, and if you were my little sister, I would want someone to help you. That is all I am trying to do, Kari." He saw her relax just a bit and then said, "However, I am not a nurse or a doctor like Jase... I'm a cop, and I don't have a lot of patience. It really pisses me off when I'm trying to help someone and they won't listen to me. Jase said you are to stay in that bed and rest and drink liquids, and that, sweetheart, is exactly what you are going to do. I ought to set your butt on fire right now, but I'm a nice guy and I owe you a reprieve for scaring you half to death when I came out of your closet earlier... so you're going to get lucky this one time. Try getting out of bed again, and I promise you a spanking you'll remember for

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the rest of your natural life. Got it?" he asked. Kari swallowed hard, but nodded. He meant it! He really would spank her if she defied him again! She'd never been spanked in her entire life... except for that one time... and she refused to think about that! Jacob took out his cell phone and asked in a firm tone, "What is your Dad's telephone number, Kari?" "Oh, don't call him, please! He'll worry!" Her green eyes were wide. "You don't know him, Jacob! This would be enough to make him insist I move home, and I don't want to do that!" "You're twenty-two years old; he can't make you move home," Jake said, surprised by her reaction. "You don't know my Dad," she tried to smile, but it was too much effort. Her head was pounding and she felt awful.

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"You need to rest," Jake said firmly, the tears in her eyes telling him she was close to her breaking point. "Close your eyes, Kari, and go to sleep. Remember, you keep your little butt in this bed unless you want a spanking." His voice was soft, but firm. "I don't," she whispered, and then she found it impossible to keep her eyes open. Whatever the doctor gave her was taking effect and she had to sleep. Jacob left the door to her bedroom open and went into the living room. He turned on her laptop, and within a short time he had her cell phone records and her Dad's telephone number. Without any qualms whatsoever he called the man. "Mr. Keith Morgan?" he asked, and once he had confirmation, he continued, his tone professional as possible. "This is Lieutenant Jacob Tobias with the Oak Tree Police Department... No sir, Kari hasn't been in an accident, but I thought it best to let you know that she is ill and I am

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caring for her. I found her running a high temperature, and when she told me she didn't have family here, or a doctor, I called my brother, Jason Tobias, who is a Doctor at Oak Tree Memorial Hospital. He came and treated her, and said she will be fine in a day or two. She's on bed rest, antibiotics, and Tylenol for the temperature... and lots of liquids, Jase said." Keith Morgan had a lot of questions and Jake answered openly and honestly, doing his best to calm the man and let him know he didn't need to drive all night to get here. "I'll have Kari call you as soon as she wakes up, sir, and I give you my promise that I won't leave her alone until she is well enough to take care of herself. My Ma would have my hide if I did something like that," he added with a grin, knowing it was the absolute truth. "Jase is going to come back and check on her later," he assured the man that his daughter was being cared for. Keith thanked him for calling, and reminded him

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to have Kari call when she woke up. Jake promised he would, and then hung up, feeling just a bit guilty. Calling Kari's Dad was the right thing to do, but Jake would bet everything he owned that the man was already packing a bag and planning to make the long eight hour drive to get here as quickly as possible. It was what he would do if he received a call like that from a man he didn't know claiming to care for his loved one! Kari was not going to be happy with him. Jacob went and checked on his patient and was relieved to find her sleeping soundly. He knew he didn't have any right to spank her, but if she tried to get out of that bed before Jase said it was okay to do so, he would keep his promise... Just like he would if it was his kid sister Jenna. He'd learned a long time ago that a spanking worked better than pleading and arguing. The trouble was that he hadn't meant anyone yet who he

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cared enough to take over his knee and spank them to insist they work together to make a relationship work. But, in this situation with Kari, it seemed the natural way to settle her down. She'd probably never want to see him again once she was well. Jake's biggest problem right now was Quincy Darles. His investigation was on hold for now. He had expected to follow the man tonight, but it was out of the question now that he had little Kari to take care of. Jacob couldn't help smiling at the frustration Darles would feel when 'James' didn't show up at the appointed meeting place tonight. In fact, it was kind of funny to know that he was right next door to Quincy Darles apartment... Which brought up another question... Why on earth was Darles living here when he could afford to live anywhere he pleased? It didn't make sense. Yes, these apartments were brand new, and very nice... but... they weren't luxurious, and Darles made a lot of

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money. It just didn't fit, and Jake was puzzled. Did Darles think that living in a normal neighborhood would protect him? Make him look less suspicious than living in an expensive condo or house? Why would he settle for a one bedroom apartment, even if the apartment was new and clean and very nice? It wasn't typical behavior for a man like Quincy Darles, and it made Jake all the more suspicious of the man. It also put Kari at risk. If someone came looking for Darles and got the wrong apartment, Kari could be hurt or killed for no reason at all. Jake was going to move her out of here as soon as humanly possible... even if he had to take her to his place... or to Ma's. That might be even safer. His Ma wouldn't let anything happen to the little redhead when he was on a case. Jake heard movement in the other room and got to his feet and went to check on Kari again. She was awake and looking around her as if she didn't know where she was. He

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got the thermometer and approached the bed. "Let's take your temperature again, sweetheart. It's time for some Tylenol, and I want to see how you're doing." Kari looked up at him and was shocked to realize that her dream was so real. The big man was still in her apartment! But, now she didn't fear him so much. He hadn't hurt her, other than swatting her bottom so the other tall man could give her a shot. He read the thermometer and shook his head. "It's come down a little, but not nearly enough, sweetheart. You must feel like hell right now. Does your head still hurt?" he wanted to know. She simply nodded, and then closed her eyes. "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" he kept talking to her. She thought about it, and then nodded. She didn't know if she could even get out of bed because she felt so weak. She didn't have to. Jacob picked her up and carried her to the bathroom, and made her blush when he matter-of-factly pulled her

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nightgown up in back before sitting her on the toilet seat! He left the bathroom then, giving her a bit of privacy, but not until he warned her not to try and stand up by herself. As if she could! Her legs were like rubber. Her body hurt all over and all she wanted to do was lie down and go back to sleep. Jake got the Tylenol and a glass of orange juice for Kari, and put them on her bedside table before going into the bathroom to carry her back to bed. As he did the other time, he wet a washcloth and brought it to her to wash her hands. Then he gave her the Tylenol, and she took them without fussing. She tried to hand the juice back to him, but he shook his head. "You need liquids, sweetheart. Jase said so. Try to drink all of this juice, and then I'll let you sleep," he promised. Kari was too sick to argue, and she obeyed even though it took a lot of effort to drink the orange juice. "Good girl," Jake said

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in approval, and then he made her comfortable as possible and let her go back to sleep. Kari wasn't any worse, but her temperature hadn't come down nearly enough yet, and Jake was worried about her. If she wasn't a lot better soon, he would have to put her in the tub and give her a bath with ice cold water to bring the temp down. He remembered his Ma saying that would help once when Jenna was a little girl... and it did. Maybe he should just do that right now...? No, he would wait an hour, and if the Tylenol didn't help enough, he would put Kari in the bath tub. He could well imagine she wouldn't like that, but she wasn't in the best position to make decisions for herself. He was acting as a nurse, and he would remain impersonal and regard her in the same way he would his little sister, he promised himself. An hour later, Kari's temperature was still high. Jake went into the bathroom and started filling the bathtub with cold water. In

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the hospital they would pack her in ice, from what Jase told him, but Kari only had one tray of ice cubes in the freezer, so the cold water was next best. Jacob made sure he had a towel to wrap her in when he was done bathing her. He also found one of those things women use to pull up their hair so it won't get wet, and took it with him into the bedroom. "What are you doing?" Kari didn't like the look in Jacob's dark eyes. He was up to something and she was sure she wasn't going to like it. "Sweetheart, your temperature isn't coming down like it should. I'm going to try something else to keep you from having to go to the hospital. Remember, I am your nurse right now, and I'm not going to take advantage of you in any way. I'm going to give you a bath to lower your temperature." He waited for her reaction and it wasn't long in coming.

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"No you are not!" Kari immediately protested and she pulled the blankets up to her chin and glared at him. "You just go home and leave me alone!" she ordered. There was no way she would permit him to see her all naked! No way on earth! It was too humiliating to contemplate! "Get out now!" "I can't do that, sweetheart. You are much sicker than you realize, and I wouldn't leave my worst enemy alone in your condition. Ma would strip the hide off me," he said. "Please don't fight me, Kari. I'm only doing what needs to be done." He tried reasoning with her, but could tell by her body language that he wasn't getting anywhere with her. "No! I won't have it!" she protested, but it didn't do her a bit of good. Jacob was a very strong man, and he easily pulled the blankets off of her. Kari slapped him in the face as hard as possible when he leaned down to pick her up. She was as weak as a kitten, but she managed to hit him hard enough that he

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cursed and grabbed his nose to see if it was broken or bleeding, and then he leveled those dark brown eyes on her and she swallowed hard. She'd crossed a line! She, who had never struck another human being in her entire life, had dared to hit the biggest man she'd ever met! Was she completely insane? "That was uncalled for, little girl. I am trying to help you, not hurt you." In the next instant, he flipped her over on the bed, pulled up her gown to bare her derriere, and he gave her a dozen quick spanks, making her bottom burn, and bringing her to tears of shame and remorse for her actions. "I'm sorry!" she bawled. "I don't know why I'm acting so horrid!" "Because you're sick and you're half delirious because of your fever," Jake answered, feeling like an ass for spanking her while she was so ill. Without another word, he carried her into the bathroom and sat her on the toilet lid. He pulled her long red tresses up and

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wound the hair thingy around her hair a few times. "There, now your hair won't get wet," he muttered in satisfaction. Kari gasped when he unceremoniously pulled her nightgown over her head and dropped it on the floor. In the next second, he picked her up and carefully sat her in the tub. She gasped again, "This water is freezing cold!" she tried to get up, but he held her down. "The water needs to be cold, sweetheart. You're just burning up. Now try to tolerate this. I won't keep you here long, I promise. This is necessary to keep you out of the hospital." He picked up the wash cloth he'd tossed in the water earlier, and ran it over her back and shoulders. She was shivering, and he felt bad for her. "This will help, sweetheart. I promise." She had her arms folded over her breasts, trying to hide herself, "Sweetheart, pretend I'm a male nurse, assigned to take care of you. My intentions

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are pure, and I need to bathe your front, too," he cajoled, and gently pulled her arms down so he could run the wash cloth over her burning skin. Jake tried real hard not to notice how perfect her breasts were, but damn! Kari Morgan was a lovely woman! He'd have to be blind to miss that. She certainly didn't have need of a bra... Her breasts were firm and the nipples were puckered from the cold water and stood erect. He tried to keep his eyes averted, but it was hard to do as he cooled all of her skin. Finally, he decided she'd had enough for now, and he carefully lifted her wet body from the tub and stood her on the bathmat as he wrapped a soft white towel around her slender body, Kari's legs were so weak it was all she could do to stand there and when she thought she was going to fall she reached out and steadied herself on Jake. He looked at her and smiled, and she felt weak all over.

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But was it from her illness, or just because he was so close and so very handsome? The man had spanked her, but given the fact she'd slapped him so hard, she felt lucky that he'd flipped her over and spanked instead retaliating and slapping her in the face. With his large hands, he would have injured her. Better a burning bottom, she decided. She'd earned that spanking for being so impossible. Her feelings were all a jumble, and she didn't know whether to cry or laugh or just melt against Jake. He solved the problem by carrying her back to her bed and sitting her down, careful to keep the wet towel from soaking her sheets. "Where do you keep your nightgowns, Kari? The other one is wet," he explained. Kari told him, and he found a long tee in the drawer. It looked comfortable, and he quickly pulled it over her before taking away the damp towel. "I'm going to take your temperature again," he said, and Kari tried hard

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to be a good patient. Her head was still pounding! "Much better," he grinned at her after the thermometer beeped and he read the results. "I want you to drink some water, and then I'll let you rest, sweetheart." Kari sipped some of the water, but she really needed to sleep. Jacob helped her and tucked her in. "Jacob," she called to him as he was leaving the room. He turned around, looking at her curiously to see what she wanted, "I am sorry I slapped you. I've never done anything like that before." Jake could see the truth in her green eyes and he came back to the bed to lean down and kiss her on the forehead. "You're forgiven, sweetheart. I don't hold grudges." The smile she gave him touched his heart and for the first time ever Jake wondered if he was actually in love! He was shaken, and quickly left the room before he made a fool of himself and proposed right then and there! Hell,

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he didn't even know Kari Morgan! What was with him? Kari felt safe and protected... and it was easy for her to believe the big man loved her. Of course, she was being silly, and when she didn't have such a high temperature, she would scoff at herself, but for now, it was nice to believe... and she went back to sleep with a smile on her pretty face. Jason came by when he was through at the hospital, just like he promised, to check on his patient. He was encouraged that Kari's temperature was lower now, but cautioned Jake to keep an eye on Kari and call him if she got any worse. When they were out in the living room again, he said, "What's wrong with you, Bro? You look like you haven't slept in days." "Nothing." "It's not nothing. Are you getting sick, too?" Jase wouldn't drop it.

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"No, I feel fine. You know I don't get sick very often." "Something's wrong. Is it the guy next door?" Jase whispered. "Naw. Damn it, Jase. I'm a man. Kari is a pretty woman. It's hard to keep myself detached. She's beautiful, and she's touched me like no other female ever has," he admitted sheepishly, his face red, another unusual occurrence. Jacob Tobias wasn't easily embarrassed. To his credit, Jason didn't laugh at his older brother's discomfort. He simply nodded and said, "You've met the right one, haven't you, Bro?" "I think so, but I don't know the first thing about her... Other than stuff that anyone could learn. I don't know what she thinks of kids, family, religion, politics... Hell, I don't even know if she can cook! It's too damn soon to feel like this," he grumbled.

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"I know what you mean. It was like that for me when I met Gretchen. I felt like I'd been sucker punched. One brief encounter and I was drowning." "Gretchen is a great lady," Jake said solemnly. "She's perfect for you." "I'm a lucky man, and I can't wait for the wedding so we can actually live in the same place. You'll feel the same way once you know Kari better," he predicted. "She might not feel the same about me. She decked me earlier and I spanked her," he confessed. "What?" Jase was shocked. "Why did she hit you?" "Because I was going to give her a cold bath to take down her temperature. I remembered Ma doing that once when Jenna was little. It worked, too," he defended himself. Jason chuckled. "Yes, it worked, but I can imagine Kari wasn't happy."

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"I am her nurse, and I won't take advantage of her," Jake stated. "I know that, or I would have put her in the hospital," Jason replied. "She didn't seem mad at you, and she didn't argue when I gave her another injection." "No, she didn't get mad. She said she was sorry, and she meant it," Jake told his brother. "So, why are you worried?" Jase grinned. "Hell if I know." Jason did laugh then, and left before his brother could tear him apart. He had a lovely lady of his own to go and spend time with. After Jase left, Jake heated up the chicken dinner his brother brought earlier and enjoyed his meal. He turned on the television and watched the news, but kept the volume low so it wouldn't disturb Kari. If he figured correctly, Kari's Dad would be arriving around midnight, if he obeyed the speed limits. Kari still hadn't called him, but she

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wasn't talking much period. In Keith Morgan's shoes, he would be worried sick by now. Reluctantly, Jake picked up his phone and called the man for a second time, and Morgan answered on the first ring with an impatient 'Yes?' "Jake Tobias here, Mr. Morgan. Kari has been too weak to call you, but she is doing better. My brother was here a few minutes ago and was pleased that her temperature is coming down." He heard the sounds of traffic in the background. "Thank you for the update, Lieutenant. I'll be arriving in a few hours," he admitted. "I want to see for myself how my daughter is doing." "I understand, sir. I would do the same thing," he grinned. "Don't get caught on your phone..." he warned, and added, "There is no need to speed, either. I promise to call if there is any change in Kari's condition."

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"Thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate knowing Kari isn't all alone right now." The man was sincere. "I won't leave her alone, Mr. Morgan. My Ma would skin me alive. She raised us all to know what was right and to do it." "She sounds like a great mother to me," Keith chuckled. "She's only the best one ever," Jake grinned. They said goodbye, and Jake picked up his book to read after betting with himself that Kari's Dad would arrive closer to eleven o'clock than midnight. He checked on Kari often, and was relieved when her temperature came down a bit more. She was sleeping better, too, and he made sure she had lots of liquids, and he took her to the bathroom fairly often, too. She was polite and thanked him now for helping her, and he was falling in love. Maybe seeing a person at their absolute worst and falling in love couldn't be all bad, he decided.

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It was a bit after eleven when the doorbell rang, and Jake opened it to find a man with hair the color of Kari's standing there. "You must be Kari's Dad?" he asked with a smile for the worried man.

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Chapter Three
Keith Morgan looked up at the young man towering over him by several inches. He wasn't used to feeling 'short', and he was considered a powerful man, but next to this police officer, he felt insignificant. "Yes, I am Keith Morgan. And you are Lieutenant Tobias?" he asked, regarding the younger man suspiciously. Tobias was very young to be a Lieutenant already. "Jake," Jacob held out his hand and the other man gripped it firmly. "It's time for me to take Kari's temperature. Come on inside." Keith followed Jake into his daughter's bedroom and was immediately shocked when he saw the red spots on her pale face that told him she was still running a fever. "Hi, honey," he walked around the bed and took her hand in his when she opened her eyes. "How do you feel?" "I'm really sick, Dad," she answered, not finding it a bit unusual for him to be in her

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room. "My head hurts. Jacob is taking care of me. I hit him and he spanked me," she added, tears in her lovely eyes. "What?" Keith's green eyes were full of fire as he raised them to impale the younger man. "You hit my daughter when she is this ill?" "I was awful, Dad," she whispered. "Look at his nose!" "What's wrong with my nose?" Jake asked, insulted. "I broke it!" she pouted. "It's all crooked." "Oh, my nose is permanently crooked, sweetheart. Jase did that to me with a football when we were kids." He grinned. "You didn't hurt me, and I forgave you, remember? Now let me take your temp and stop trying to get me in trouble with your Dad. He's going to think I mistreated you when all I did was give you a few gentle swats to settle you down and keep you in bed." He popped the thermometer in her mouth before she

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could say another word. The doorbell rang again. "What the heck...!" he said. "Don't take that out, little girl," he shook a finger in warning at her, perfectly aware that Keith Morgan was thinking of different ways to kill him. He opened the door cautiously, his gun in his hand, just in case it was Quincy Darles on the other side, but to his dismay, it was his sweet little mother. "Ma! What are you doing here?" he asked hoarsely. He didn't need this right now! "Jacob Samuel Tobias, why didn't you call me to come over here? You cannot possibly take care of a sick female. It isn't proper. Not one bit proper!" "You don't say that to Jase, do you, Ma?" he asked with a grin, ever ready to tease his mother. "That's different. He's a doctor and it is his job to care for people."

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"It's my job to care for people, too," he insisted, but she was already making her way to the bedroom. "You poor dear," Jake's Ma descended on the weakened Kari, and put her hand on Kari's forehead. "You are burning up! Jacob, this young woman's temperature is 102. 4; what did Jason give you for her?" she asked. Jake would have chuckled at the expressions on Keith and Kari's faces, but if he didn't take charge immediately, he would lose his patient, and Kari didn't deserve to have his Ma take over her nursing care. The thermometer beeped, and he took it out and looked at it, amazed once again how his Ma could tell someone's temperature so accurately by using just the palm of her hand. It was uncanny... and downright scary! "102.4; you did it again, Ma!" he shook his head. "I don't trust those things," she waved impatiently, her short curls bobbing as her

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bracelets jingled. "Now, what medicine did-" "Ma," Jake cut her off, flashing the unsuspecting Keith an apologetic smile as he did so. After all, he had Kari's best interests at heart... "This is Kari's Dad, Keith Morgan. He's spent the last eight hours straight behind the wheel to get here and check on Kari. He hasn't eaten," he said, and predictably, his sweet little Ma reacted precisely as he knew she would. "You poor man; you come right with me and I'll fix you something this minute. Jacob isn't a good cook," she admitted, "but I'm sure I can put together something." Keith was obviously hesitant to leave his daughter's bedside. Jake thought fast and said, "Kari's temp is obviously coming down, and Jase wants her to rest. Ma, Jase brought some food, and Kari has a bunch of stuff, too. I know she won't mind if you take care of Keith."

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"Have you eaten, honey?" she reached up to pat his whisker covered cheek. "Yes, Ma," he confessed. "Jase brought me a chicken dinner, but if I'd known you were coming over, I would have waited," he added virtuously. That much was true. No one in the entire world cooked better than his sweet little Ma. She patted his cheek again and gave him a huge smile, perfectly happy. "Mr. Morgan, you come along now, and let Kari rest. My Jacob's heart is in the right place, and while he isn't a doctor like Jason, he is a good man and your daughter is perfectly safe with him here. My Jason has been here twice to see Kari, so she is getting the medical attention she needs," she added, guiding Keith out of Kari's bedroom. "I'm going to kill you," Kari whispered in Jake's direction. "Just as soon as I can get out of this bed under my own power," she

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added, her green eyes closed with the effort of speaking. "I told you not to call my Dad!" "I felt it necessary, sweetheart. The real problem here is my Ma. Somehow we have to get her out of the house. She is not a good nurse," he explained solemnly, but his dark eyes were twinkling. "She smothers people and won't leave them alone five minutes to sleep. And, she thinks food fixes everything." He went to the bathroom and filled a glass with water and brought it back to Kari, along with more pills. "Ma is the sweetest lady on earth, but you really do need to tell her you feel safe with me, or she won't leave and she'll drive you nuts in less than three hours, I promise. Take these, sweetheart," he insisted. Kari forced her eyes open and realized that Jake was offering her more medication. It took all the energy she possessed to take the pills from his large hand and put them in her mouth to swallow with a bit of the water.

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She took another sip, but then tried to hand it off to him. He shook his head 'no'. "You need to drink the water, sweetheart. We don't want you getting dehydrated on top of everything else." "I'm too exhausted to drink water. Take it," she snapped. Jake grabbed the glass before she could let it drop, but he wasn't about to give up so easily. He sat on the bed beside her, and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders to support her as he held the glass to her lips, which suddenly looked kissable. Jake wasn't prepared for the way his mind went to more sensual things when around his patient, and he did his best to remind himself he was her nurse. Kari didn't want the water, but it was nice to have Jake's arm wrapped around her. She could almost pretend that he cared for her as she forced herself to drink more of the water.

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When Jake was satisfied, he was gentle as he laid her back against her pillows. "Do you need to get up and go to the bathroom?" he asked matter-of-factly. She weakly shook her head 'no'. "Good, go back to sleep, sweetheart. I'll keep your Dad out of here so you can get some rest." "Good luck with that," she whispered under his breath, but was hurting too much to say anything more. She was going to get even with the big man, too. Jake found his Ma and Keith Morgan in the kitchen, laughing together. That didn't surprise him much. His Ma could make anyone laugh. "This hash is good, Molly. Best I've ever had," Keith complimented her cooking. "Thank you, Keith," Molly Tobias was pleased. She loved to see people eat. "Seriously, you should open a restaurant," he insisted, and Molly giggled and then

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glanced at Jacob in the shared joke when he chuckled from the doorway. "A lot of people here in town are very grateful that Ma decided to open her family style restaurant after we lost Dad," he explained, letting the other man in on the joke. Keith had the grace to laugh at himself. "I'm sure you're busy as can be, Molly, if all of your food is as good as this." "Actually, most of it is better," she stated. "I'm used to my own kitchen, and having all the different spices and herbs I use right at my fingertips." She looked at her eldest child and said, "I made some for you, too, if you're hungry?" "Thanks, Ma," Jake was always hungry for his Ma's food. He sat at the table while she fixed him a plate and served it. "What's in the pan on the stove?" "I'm making that for Kari, Jacob. She's going to need something better than the canned broth your brother bought. He

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should have come to see me at the restaurant..." she scolded. "I'm sure yours will taste better, and I know Kari will appreciate it," Jake nodded. He wanted his Ma to 'help' in this manner, and stay out of Kari's room. "Right now it's all I can do to get her to drink some water or juice," he admitted. "She's very ill, honey," Molly said quietly, looking at him closely. "She's doing better now than she was earlier this afternoon," Jake said quietly. "Her temperature is finally coming down a good bit. I was really worried about her." "How did you come across my daughter," Keith wanted to know. Jacob decided that lying to this man was futile, so he told the truth. "I'm undercover and investigating her neighbor. I was searching his apartment for evidence when he came home unexpectedly. I decided to hide in the attic above the closet so I didn't blow my

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cover. When I realized the attic runs the length of the building, I let myself down in this apartment, believing the occupant to be at work as usual for that time of day. Only she wasn't, and I didn't want her screaming and alerting her neighbors. When I tried to calm her, I could feel her burning up... and I wouldn't leave anyone alone in that condition. I called Jase to get over here pronto, and he swore me in as duly appointed nurse." He smiled, "Kari is very special to me." "Oh my!" Molly said, and then she sat down on a stool. "Oh my!" "What's wrong, Molly?" Keith looked around him a clue as to what she was upset over. "We're going to be in-laws, Keith!" Molly gave him a happy smile. "I think my Jacob has finally met the right girl!" "Ma!" Jacob couldn't believe how easily his mother could make him blush! He was a

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thirty year old cop, and she could make him act like a fifteen year old kid! "Am I wrong, honey?" she asked knowingly, her voice full of laughter. "I thought you just met my daughter?" Keith glared at him. "Ma, you can be damn thankful I'm your son!" he growled. "I swear, you need a spanking!" His words only made her giggle, and Jake shook his head in despair. "Don't you need to go and butt into Jase's life? Or make sure that Jenna isn't falling in love with her new boss...?" "No, darling, it's your turn right now," Molly didn't bat an eye. "Does Kari know how you feel?" she asked, not giving the first damn that Kari's father was sitting right there, plotting to murder her first born. "No, Ma; Kari is sick, in case you haven't noticed. I haven't even had a normal conversation with her yet, and you are not helping here," he jerked a thumb in Keith's direction.

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"Don't you worry, Keith. My son is a fine young man. I raised him with values and to respect others. It's very common for the members of my family to recognize their loved one on sight. I can still recall the first time I set eyes on my William. He was so handsome, and I didn't think he noticed me at all, but the very next day he spotted me in the library and came over and said 'hello'. We had a wonderful marriage until he was taken from me. Your Kari will consider herself lucky to have Jacob." "Ma!" Jake wanted to bang his head on the table. "You aren't helping..." "You don't know anything about my daughter," Keith stated the obvious. "I figure that I've seen her at her worst," Jake said with a smile, but to his surprise the older man snorted and then laughed. "You've seen Kari sick, young man. Just wait until she unleashes that redhead's

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temper on you; you'll run for your life," he predicted. *** Predictably, Keith offered to take Kari 'home'. Predictably, she refused. She reminded her Dad that he'd worked too hard to build up his landscaping business to sit in her apartment and watch her get well. It was his busiest time of the year, and Keith finally gave up trying to persuade his stubborn daughter to be reasonable. He thanked Jacob for taking care of Kari, and then promised to kill him and use him for fertilizer if he mistreated Kari in any way. Jake was hard put not to roll his eyes and point out that Kari got her temper from him, obviously. Since the man would someday be his father-in-law, Jake managed to appear properly 'threatened' and promised he would treat Kari with nothing but respect. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on one's point of view, one of the chefs who

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worked with his Ma fell and fractured her wrist, and Molly was running her kitchen by herself with minimal help and she was too busy to interfere with Jacob's patient. Jason made several more house calls, and then shook his head when Kari scorched his ears over being kept in bed and told she couldn't go back to work until the next week. All her sass just served to make the usually affable Jason dig in his heels and remain firm. He wouldn't release her to go back until then, and she couldn't return without a release slip. Jase wished his brother good luck with the stubborn young woman and slammed the door on his way out. It would have been funny to see Jase so disgruntled at any other time, but this was the woman that Jake hoped to make his, and since she would be a part of the family, he wanted his brother to like her! "What do you think you are doing?" Jacob growled when he went back into the

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bedroom to scold the redhead for giving his brother a rough time and found her trying to get out of bed. "Obviously, I am getting up! I'm sick of this bed!" Kari retorted sharply. She didn't much like the way she was acting, but she was going crazy! She had bills to pay, and she couldn't afford to be off work any longer. It was easy for Jason to tell her she wasn't ready to go back to work; he didn't have to pay her bills! "You are too weak to be out of bed right now. Jase said that if you were doing better tomorrow, you could sit up for a while. You try walking right now, and you're going to fall flat on your face." "I won't get my strength back lying in this bed!" she snapped. "Damn it, stop babying me!" Jake calmly gave her a little push and she flopped back against the pillows. "You were told to stay in bed until tomorrow,

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sweetheart, and you are going to do just that. Two days ago you had a dangerously high temperature, and you aren't ready to be up and about. Mind Jase, now, and stop giving me guff." "You aren't the boss of me!" Kari glared at him, her green eyes flashing fire. "I'm the boss of you until I say otherwise," he answered, his own temper starting to fray at the edges. "I'll get you some broth." "I don't want broth! I want some real food. Preferably McDonalds!" "Jase said you need to keep down some liquids first. Broth and Jell-O for right now, and something more tonight if that stays down." He pointed a finger at her, "Stay put in that bed, little girl, or you and me are going to tangle." Who the hell did he think he was, anyway! Kari was furious. She had every right to do as she pleased, and she wasn't going to let him tell her what to do! She threw off the

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blankets and sat up with effort. It took even longer to swing her legs over the side of the bed, and she was stunned to realize how weak she truly was! But, she was determined to prove to Jacob Tobias that he couldn't tell her what to do and she cautiously tried to stand up. She sat right back down when her legs were too weak to hold her weight. Of course, Jake picked that precise moment to walk back into the room with the mug of broth he promised her. The look on his face told her that she'd pushed him too far, and too late she remembered that he was extremely old-fashioned and believed in spanking grown women. "Don't you dare, Jacob Tobias!" she tried to scoot back under the relative safety of her covers, but she was simply too weak to make her body work like normal, even in the face of imminent danger! "I dare, sweetheart," he said softly. "You've been pushing all day now, and I'm

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going to show you what happens to little girls who don't do as they're told." "I'll stay in bed now," she promised. "I just didn't realize how weak I am," she admitted. "Please don't..." she whispered when he sat the mug down on the nightstand and then turned toward her. "It's time you learn a few basic facts, Kari. First, I am a man of my word," he picked her up and then sat down on the bed and flipped her over his lap. "When I promise a spanking if you do something, then you can bet your sweet ass you'll get that spanking if you go ahead and do what you were told not to do." He pushed her nightgown up to bare her bottom and deliberately gave her a stinging spank to her left cheek and another to her right cheek. Her skin was so pale that she was sporting two distinct handprints on her fanny.

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"No!" Kari protested. "Don't do this!" The two swats were stinging unbearably. "I'll stay in bed now, I promise!" "Yes, sweetheart, you will," Jake agreed and delivered several more stinging spanks to her lovely bottom. Kari cried out each time his hand fell, and he warned himself to be gentle. She needed a lesson, but she was still ill. "Second, sweetheart, I do not like the way you spoke to Jase." His hand delivered another two spanks. "He's gone out of his way to make sure you didn't have to be admitted to the hospital, and I expect you to apologize for being so rude to him when he checks on you tonight. Is that clear?" Two more spanks, a bit lower, right on her sit spots. "Yes! I'm sorry!" Kari was crying now. "I'm so sorry!" she cried. "Third, I expect you to knock off the complaining. I'm trying to take care of you, not poison you. Ma made this broth for you, and you are going to drink it and forget about

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McDonalds until you are well again. Clear?" he delivered two more swats on top of the last two. "Owwwwwww!" she wailed. And when he gave her a couple more swats on her upper thighs, she hastily answered, "It's clear! Please stop, Jake! I'm sorry!" "I think you need a few more to give you something to think about, sweetheart," he told her. "Nooooooo!" Kari tried to scramble away, but she was too weak to help herself. She couldn't protect her flaming bottom from whatever Jacob wanted to do, and she hated feeling so weak and helpless. Jake's hand was so hard, and her skin was very sensitive. She'd been hateful and rude, and after both Jake and Jase went out of their way to be nice to her! She deserved the spanking, but knowing that didn't make it hurt any less. "Please, Jake, I'm sorry!" she couldn't help pleading, but Jake ignored her and didn't

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stop spanking until her bottom was burning and she was crying hard. She felt so ashamed of herself, and wouldn't blame Jake if he walked out the door and didn't look back! Jacob knew exactly when Kari's remorse was genuine and he gave her a few more spanks after that just to reinforce the lesson. The little redhead was going to have to learn to control her sassy tongue or she wouldn't be sitting too easy. He pulled her gown down over her reddened bottom, and then carefully turned her over to sit on his lap so he could comfort her. He knew it was important to be firm, but it was just as important to make sure she knew he wasn't just spanking her to be mean. "I'm so sorry I was so awful, Jake. I hate myself when I act like that," she confessed. "I know you're sick, sweetheart, and it doesn't bring out the best in any of us to be so ill, but you really do need to let me take care of you. You'll get well that much faster if

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you do what Jase says. He knows what he's doing," Jake said calmly. "I'll apologize to him... if he comes back," she fretted. "He'll be back, Kari. He's got a thick hide, and so do I," he reassured her. "We aren't trying to be mean to you; we just want you to get well." "I'll behave now," she promised in a meek little voice. "I'm so ashamed of myself." "There is no need for that, sweetheart. You're forgiven now. I'm going to put you back in bed, and I want you to try and sip some of this broth. You're weak as a newborn kitten, and this will help you get your strength back," he promised as he stood with her in his arms, and then gently placed her in the bed and propped the pillows behind her so she could safely hold the mug of broth. "I'm not sure I can drink all of this," she said tiredly after taking a few sips of the liquid.

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"Just a little will do for now," Jake agreed. "I'll reheat it later and you can try again. In a day or two, you'll be ready to run races," he promised. It was all she could do to sip a bit more of the broth, and Kari felt so tired that she closed her eyes. Jake took the mug from her hands and then removed a couple of the pillows so she could recline and go to sleep. When she woke a while later, he helped her to the bathroom, and when she was back in bed, she had more broth and it tasted a bit better this time. "Your Mom is a good cook if she can make plain broth taste good." "Ma is the best," Jake said proudly. "You're so lucky to have her," Kari whispered, her green eyes filling with tears of emotion. "We lost Mama when I was little, and I can't remember much about her except the way she smelled and her beautiful smile." "I was only ten when my Dad was killed, and a lot of my memories of him are from

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photographs. It's even worse for Jenna, because she was just an infant and has no memories of him at all." "Your Mom never remarried?" Kari asked. "No. She's dated some, but never let it get serious. What about your Dad?" he wanted to know. "He remarried and then divorced when he caught his ex being horrid to me. She was abusive," Kari said sadly. "I felt terrible about it, but Dad has always insisted it wasn't my fault." "It wasn't your fault," Jake stated firmly, and felt his respect for Keith Morgan rise several notches. He and Kari talked about their respective parents for a few more minutes, and then she had to close her eyes and sleep some more. Jake used the time to get on line and do some more investigating on Quincy Darles. In another day or two, he would get back to

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work... Once he reached a dead end on the lead he was working on, he started looking for another apartment for Kari. There was no way in the world he was leaving her alone in this apartment with a murderer living next door.

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Chapter Four
"But, I can't afford to move, Jake!" Kari insisted. "Especially with taking this time off from work." "You can't stay here, sweetheart. It's not safe. Anyone could rent an apartment in this same building and have access to your apartment whenever they wished. I'm not about to let you stay here and run the risk of being raped or assaulted, or even killed." "It's not your decision to make!" she reminded him. They'd been arguing for the last thirty minutes, and Jake was frustrated with her because she wouldn't look at any of the advertisements for other apartments. "I like this apartment, and if I move, my furniture might not fit as well as it does here." "So, you sell this furniture and get something new if that happens. You can't stay here, sweetheart." As far as he was concerned, she was going to pick an apartment or he would do it for her. "You'd better get

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some rest now, sweetheart. Jase said you were doing well, but that you needed to rest often." "I don't want to get back in bed!" Kari pouted. "I'm feeling much better now!" she argued. "And we want to keep it that way. Come on, now, and take a nap." He wasn't about to let her argue her way out of doing what Jase said. Kari was a grumpy patient, and Jake was positive that if he stepped one foot out of her apartment, she would be dressed and off to work in the next minute. She wasn't going to get that chance. "You know I'm well enough to be alone now...!" she glared at the man. "I don't need a nurse, or a babysitter. Go home and enjoy your vacation." Jake chuckled. "So you can sneak out the door the minute my back is turned? Do you honestly want another spanking?" he asked, and when her cheeks turned a bright red, he

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added, "That is exactly what would happen if I had to come and fetch you from work, and I would come after you, Kari. Now stop giving me guff and get you sweet tail to bed and take a nap." Kari wanted to argue, but she didn't dare. That spanking he'd given her had left her bottom very tender, and she had no desire to experience another at his hands. "All right... you win, but I don't like this!" "Duly noted," he grinned. He waited until she had time to get into bed, and then peeked in the room to make sure she was actually resting and not out of bed cleaning out drawers like she did earlier that day. Jake had to smile when he saw that she was already sound asleep. Her body was recovering, but she still needed a lot of sleep. She looked so young, and so pretty lying there, the thought came unbidden, and he shook his head to clear it. When she was well, he would have to tell her that he was attracted

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to her and ask her out on a regular date. He didn't know what he would do if she said 'no'. Kari was shocked to realize she'd been napping for nearly three hours! She hastily got out of bed and hurried to the bathroom, and once she relieved her bladder of all that water and juice that Jake kept pushing at her, she ran a brush through her hair and tried to make herself look as pretty as she could without resorting to makeup. It truly mattered to her that Jake find her attractive... and she didn't know what she would do if he said, "You're well, Kari. Good bye!" She was used to having him with her, and truth to tell, she'd come to enjoy his company a lot... even if he was too bossy for words at times. She liked Jason, too, and their Ma was quite a character. Molly came by every day and brought enough food to feed them and all the neighbors, too. She made Kari giggle at the way she talked to her son as if he was a

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little boy, especially when Jake towered over the woman by a good eighteen inches! "Hi!" she said as she walked out of her room to find Jake on his laptop. "What are you doing?" she wanted to know. "Looking for apartments for you," he admitted with a grin. "I've found several that are possibilities." "Jake, we had this conversation before I took my nap! I can't and don't want to move. End of story." "Don't get all stubborn on me, sweetheart. You can't stay here. End of story." "Ummmhummmm. I'm hungry," she headed for the kitchen. "Let me get you something," he was on his feet so quickly that it was impossible for her to believe he could move so fast. "I want to do it myself," she pouted. "I am tired of being waited on hand and foot, Jake. Please, let me do it."

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Jake reluctantly nodded. It was obvious that Kari was well enough to care for herself, and if he was a gentleman, he'd leave and get his butt back to work. But, he wouldn't be able to stop worrying about her if he did. This apartment wasn't safe. He continued to watch her as she filled two plates with food his Ma brought by and then she put them into the microwave, one at a time, and once they were heated through she carried them to the table and put one in front of Jake, a proud smile on her face. "See, I didn't pass out or anything!" she grinned impudently. Jake had to chuckle. "No, you didn't, sweetheart. It's good to see you feeling so much better." "I guess," she was suddenly sad, and doubted she was hiding it from his too perceptive dark eyes. "Kari, what are you thinking right now?" Jake asked quietly.

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She made a face, but looked at him and answered truthfully, "It's time for you to go back to your life, Jake, and I am really going to miss you. I like you... a lot!" Now, that was bold and brazen! And the truth! she reminded herself. Jake gave her the biggest smile ever and then reached across the table to take her hand in his. "I'm not going to give you a chance to miss me, sweetheart." "You aren't?" she asked hopefully. "I'm surprised that Ma didn't tell you," he admitted a bit sheepishly, but continued with determination, "The folks in Ma's family, clear back several generations, have had this strange ability to recognize the love of their life on sight. Ma felt that with Dad, Jase felt it with Gretchen, and Kari, I feel it with you." He smiled and asked, "I'm not frightening you, am I?" "Oh no," she shook her head vigorously. "I feel the same way," she shocked him by

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admitting, and then she giggled. "I've so dreaded you leaving, and I was so afraid you'd say good-bye and be happy to be rid of me...! I've been a real pain as a patient." "Wait until you get the chance to take care of me sometime. I'm a bear," he admitted and then laughed when her eyes went wide. "Oh, Jake, you aren't feeling ill are you? Did you catch this from me?" she immediately wanted to know. "No, I feel fine. I don't get sick often, but when I do, I'm worse than you could ever be, sweetheart." "Do I get to spank you?" she asked with a giggle. "You're welcome to try," he arched an eyebrow at her, and when she giggled again, he added, "I think you'd be the one to end up over my knee, however." "Oh, I don't know. I was as weak as a kitten, and if you were that way, I might stand a

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chance... provided I called Jason and asked for help," she tacked on. That made Jake chuckle in amusement. "Now, that might work, but you should realize that you'd both be in big trouble when I got well." The doorbell chimed and he was on his feet before she could move. "You stay put while I check that out." If she was shocked when he drew his gun from his holster, she didn't let on. Jake was concerned about her neighbor for some reason, and his fears were making her paranoid. However, a few seconds later Jase followed Jake into the kitchen. "How are you feeling, Kari?" he asked with a smile for her. "I'm all better," she said. "May I please go back to work tomorrow?" "No. Not until Monday," he answered without hesitation. "It's important that you rest a lot this weekend, sweetheart. You don't want to go back to work tomorrow, and have a relapse. You were really ill, and if Jake

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hadn't been here with you, I would have admitted you to the hospital, and I'd just be releasing you today with orders to rest a lot today and tomorrow, and take it easy over the weekend." When she stuck her tongue out at him he chuckled. "Besides, brother is going to make sure you rest anyway." "I know! He's impossible!" she quickly retorted, and Jason laughed outright before taking out his stethoscope and saying, "Let me listen, sweetheart." He listened to her heart and lungs and then checked her throat and ears. "You are much better, Kari," he smiled. "Do you think I could take Kari to look at a couple of apartments tomorrow, Jase?" Jake wanted to know. "Yes. But no more than a couple, and only if she feels up to it, and if they don't have a lot of stairs to wear her out." "Got it. I thought I'd take her by Ma's place, too," Jake admitted.

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"Sounds great." He took out a pad and wrote and then handed it to Kari. "This is a release for you to go back to work, sweetheart. You might not feel like working a full day on Monday or Tuesday," he warned, "So be prepared for that. If you feel worse, or start running a temperature again, you call me immediately." "I will, Jason. Thank you so much for taking care of me, even when I got so nasty and was rude." She stood up to kiss him on the cheek. "You're welcome, Kari. And," he gave Jake an apologetic look before saying bluntly, "it would please me to be the first to welcome you to the family. Now, if Jake hasn't talked to you yet about his feelings, you get on him until he does. None of the family wants him to let you slip away now that he's found you!" Kari giggled, and then shocked Jason by answering, "I'm not going anywhere without

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Jake. I feel the same as he does. Like I was knocked over the head with a club and dragged off to a cave! It's as elementary as that. Jake and I belong together, even though I'm sure we're going to fight constantly until we get it all sorted out." Jason laughed heartily and then said, "This is my cue to exit. Good luck, brother. You've got your hands full with this little lady." Once Jase was safely out the door, Jake looked at Kari and said, "My family is totally crazy, sweetheart. They mean well, but they are crazy." "Like my Dad," she nodded. She got up and started to clear the table, but Jake promptly swept her off her feet and sat her down again. "You cooked, I'll clean up. It'll be good practice for the future. I'm one of those modern guys who thinks a husband should help out," he said with a perfectly straight face.

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"Uh huh," she nodded. "Tell me another one." "I'm wounded that you don't believe me," he teased her, and they continued like that until he was done straightening the kitchen. When he was finished, he came over to her and said seriously, "Do you trust me, sweetheart?" "Of course I do!" she was amazed he would ask her that. "Good. We're going to go into your bedroom and pack a few things for you to bring over to my place for the night. I promise my motives are gold, but I really do need to get out of here, Kari. Each day I'm here only increases the odds of your neighbor spotting me, and it would put your life in danger. I want to take you home with me where I know you'll be safe while I deal with Darles." "Just what is it you think the man has done?" she asked curiously. When Jacob looked at her as if deciding whether or not he

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should tell her, she added, "I don't like to be treated like a child without a mind, or even worse, like a delicate female who can't handle the truth. Jacob, if we are going to make this work between us, it is going to mean sharing things with me... I won't wilt, I promise. I'm a lot tougher than I look." Jake grinned and nodded. "We'll get you packed while we talk. Come on." As they headed for the bedroom, the doorbell rang again. "Go on into your room, sweetheart." "Don't be ridiculous!" she snapped, and before Jacob could stop her, she reached the door and opened it without asking who was on the other side. "Yes?" she didn't recognize the man who quickly stepped inside her door. "I live next door," Quincy Darles turned on the charm. "I've been remiss in introducing myself, and thought to remedy that." He was all smiles, until he saw Jacob standing there. His eyes narrowed imperceptibly and

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the lines around his mouth tightened, but his smile never faltered as his eyes darted from Jake to Kari and back again. "Well, friend, I wondered where you disappeared to," he said with easy charm. His cold gray eyes looked over at Kari once again and Jacob felt a chill clear to his soul. "Now I understand perfectly." "Kari said she hadn't met any of her neighbors yet," Jake's voice was smooth as silk. "I wondered at that..." Kari didn't know what the heck was transpiring between the two men, but Jake didn't look or sound like himself. He looked... dangerous and like the sort of man she'd steer clear of under normal circumstances. Something was going on, and she decided to keep quiet and let the two men settle it. "Darlin', you go on in the bedroom and wait for me," Jacob ordered, his implied meaning very clear... and insulting. The look he flashed her warned her to obey him

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instantly, and the pat to her bottom made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She found her legs carrying her into the other room. Once the door was closed, Jake looked at Quincy Darles and said in a low voice, "This is my territory, Darles. If you expect to do business, then back off." "I don't know who the hell you think you are, James, but you don't tell me what to do... I tell you!" the man fairly hissed the words he was so angry. "Tell that to someone who gives a fuck what you think," Jake returned in a cold voice. For two cents he'd like to rearrange the man piece by piece and then hang him out to dry in a dark corner of prison for the rest of his natural life, which wouldn't be long once word got out among the prison population. "You did this on purpose, James. Right under my nose."

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Jake gave him a cocky grin. "Still sore about the other night, Darles? I found another buyer who was willing to pay a fair price." "You're a dead man, James." "Like I was the other night when you arranged a meeting?" Jake scoffed. "I'm on to you, Darles. I know what you think, where you are, and what you plan on a daily basis, and I'll always be a step ahead of you. It's my business." "You have someone in my organization!" Darles blurted furiously before quickly regaining his composure. "It would seem we have a standoff for now, James, but it won't be like this long, and then I'll hand you your balls on a silver platter and make you eat them!" "Fuck you, Darles. Now get the hell out of here and let me get back to work." The door slammed and Jake knew he didn't have a moment to spare. If he wanted to protect Kari, he had to get her out of here, and fast!

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Darles would be calling his henchmen as soon as he was out of hearing. Jake rushed into the bedroom to find that Kari was dressed in jeans and a sweater and was throwing things into a small bag. He was impressed. "We have to leave right now, sweetheart. No time to explain. Come on!" He grabbed the bag and her hand, and only paused long enough for her to grab her handbag and cell phone, and for him to get his laptop, which he shoved into his own bag before leading her out the back door to her small patio, which was hidden from Darles by a solid wall of fencing. "Don't talk now," he whispered, "and if I give an order, obey it as if your life depends on it, because it does." Kari nodded. This was the Jacob she was in love with and trusted. That other man in her living room was undercover, and once she was over her initial anger at the crude way he sent her to her bedroom, she realized it was his way of protecting them both. She'd

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hurried to get dress and pack a few necessary items, positive they would be leaving as soon as he got rid of the slick and smooth talking Quincy Darles. Explanations could wait until they were safe and away from danger. She made herself keep pace with Jake, although her legs were feeling weaker by the second, and soon she was breathing hard and couldn't help slowing down. Jacob realized that the little redhead was struggling to keep up and he cursed himself for leaving his car so far away, but he'd had no choice. He didn't dare draw attention to the fact that he was in Kari's apartment. Once he was positive they were out of Darles' sight, he stopped and said, "I'm going to carry you, sweetheart. It might not be too comfortable, but it is necessary. I'll buy you McDonald's later..." he promised, then, to her mortification, he bent low and scooped her over his shoulder and held her firmly in place with one arm around her legs while he

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fairly sprinted the two miles to the parking lot where his car was 'hidden'. Kari couldn't believe it when he gently put her on her feet and reached into the pocket of his jeans for his car keys and didn't even appear to be breathing hard! How was that possible! She was breathless and didn't run the distance! He had the door of his sedan open within seconds and then tossed their bags and his laptop into the backseat before carefully picking her up and gently placing her on the car seat. As he placed the seatbelt around her he asked, "Are you holding up, sweetheart?" "I'm fine, Jacob," she reassured him. "How could I be less than fine when I'm with you?" she asked lovingly, shocked by the strength of her feelings for the man. "Don't you worry. You're safe; I won't let anyone or anything hurt you as long as I have one single breath left in my body." The words were a sacred vow, and he sealed his

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promise with a kiss before running around the car and hurrying them away from the neighborhood. "I have to make calls, sweetheart," he explained, taking out his cell phone. He hit one number and said impatiently, "Linda, it's Jake. I need to speak to Ma, no matter how busy she is." A few seconds later he said, "Ma, just listen. Don't go to Kari's apartment for any reason at all." He shook his head and rolled his eyes, "No, we did not break up. It's too dangerous there. Kari is with me and that's all I can tell you over the phone. Just stay at work and when you're done, go on home. Kari and I aren't at her place." He listened again, and then said, "I am sorry about the dishes, Ma. You buy whatever you need to replace them and I'll pay the bill. They aren't worth risking your life, do you hear me? This is not just your son you're talking to, Ma. It's a Police Lieutenant used to being obeyed." He listened once more, and then said, "I love

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you, too, Ma. And you bet I'll tell you everything as soon as I can. I need to call Jason now..." He said goodbye, and then called his brother. The conversation was much briefer because Jase didn't ask for explanations. "Thanks, bro. You bet I'll call if I need back-up." His third call was for reinforcements. Kari was impressed by the cooperation and respect he received. By the time that call ended they were pulling into a gated community and Jake showed his badge to the guard on duty. The older man nodded, and greeted Jake by name, and said, "It's a shame this little gal is in some trouble, Lieutenant. If you need me, let me know." "I will, Gus, and it's still Jake to you," he grinned. "Even with that new shield?" the man teased. "I should still be saluting you," Jake replied seriously, and then said to Kari,

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"Sweetheart, Gus took me in as a green rookie and partnered me. What I learned, I learned from him. You'll be safe here. Gus can spot trouble a mile away." "High praise, youngster," Gus was beaming. "Sweetheart,' is it?" he looked at Jake in surprise." "Kari is my future wife, Gus. I've been undercover, and inadvertently put Kari in danger. She's not guilty of anything except being beautiful," he added, and it was Kari's turn to blush a fiery red. "I'll keep her safe, son. My word on that." Gus never thought he'd live to see the day his young partner fell hard for a woman, but he knew that when and if it happened, the young woman in question would be special. "You've got a fine man, Kari. He's not like other men who'll hand you a line then be on their way. He's for life." "I know," Kari whispered, her green eyes shining.

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"Do you want me to help you check out the house?" Gus was suddenly all business. "No, I'll do it, and then I'll give you the all clear to let you know we're safe." It was standard procedure. Gus would give them ten minutes to make that call, and then he'd call 911 and come running to give assistance. "You stay put here while I check the house, Kari. If something happens, drive yourself to Gus. He'll tell you what to do." He was proud of the way she nodded. He locked the car doors securely, and then drew his gun and made a thorough check of the house, room by room. He used his cell to call Gus as he went back to the car to get Kari, and once they were inside, he showed her around the nice home. It was a safe house, and he'd used it before to house witnesses. As far as the neighbors knew, it was owned by a wealthy widow who lived with her adult children now and rented it out occasionally to someone she knew who was visiting the city for a brief

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amount of time and didn't want to stay in a hotel. The cover worked. Neighbors expected to see different people at times, and no one came over to welcome them to the neighborhood when they were only going to be staying for a couple of weeks or less. At Jacob's insistence, Kari called her Father and let him know she was doing well, and she casually mentioned that she was visiting with a friend while looking for a new apartment. Her Dad seemed pleased, and assured her he was extremely busy with work, but told her to call if she needed him and he'd drop everything and come right away. She thanked him, and then hinted that she and Jacob were becoming more than just friends. That news didn't shock her parent as much as it should have, and she wondered what Jake had told him. Still, it didn't matter. What she needed was an explanation. She closed her cell phone and then looked at Jake.

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"So, Jacob, what is it that Quincy Darles does that has you looking to arrest him, and why are we in danger?" "We'll get to all of that, sweetheart, but first, we have a little matter to discuss about safety... and why you opened the door of your apartment without asking who was on the other side. And that discussion is going to happen with you over my knee!"

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Chapter Five
"Now, Jacob...! Be reasonable!" Kari quickly backed away from the big man. She did not want another spanking. "It's my apartment, and I am used to answering my door when someone knocks." "Without asking who is on the other side?" Jake listened in disbelief, unable to believe she was trying to defend her actions. "I am not as suspicious of people as you are," she informed him. "Kari, sweetheart, it is a matter of your safety to learn who is on the other side of your door before you let them inside. There are all manner of people in this world; you cannot risk your own safety by assuming that everyone who knocks on your door is honorable. You need a spanking to remind you to ask the next time, and that spanking is going to happen right now," he stated inflexibly. "I'm not a little kid, Jacob!' she stomped her foot in exasperation. "I don't need a

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spanking to... No, Jacob!' she cried out when he pulled her into the kitchen and found a bowl scraper that looked like a miniature paddle with a handle. He took her to the table in the breakfast nook and bent her over the table before dropping her jeans and panties and lighting into her with his hand. "Yikes, Jacob! Stop!" "No, sweetheart, I'm not stopping until you mend your attitude." "Okay, okay, whatever you say! I'll check who's on the other side of the door from now on! Please, stop! Owwwwww!" His hand was as hard as a board, and she suspected her bottom was already as red as could be! Jake ignored her pleas. He knew well and good she was just trying to stop the spanking, and there wasn't a bit of genuine remorse for her actions in her words. "It is common sense to know who is on the other side of a door, Kari. Anyone with good intentions won't mind answering you." He

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reinforced his words with hard spanks meant to chastise. Her bottom was already turning a bright red, and he was far from finished with the lesson. It was one she needed to learn and learn well. "Owwwww! Owwwww! OWWWW! Not so hard, Jake! You're killing me!" Kari insisted. "No, I'm not killing you. I'm setting your cute little fanny on fire because someone should have taught you this lesson years ago." He switched over to the scraper and it make a satisfying thwack when it met her bottom. "YeeeOUCH! What is that thing?" Kari cried out in pain. "It hurts too much. Stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please Jake, stop! I'll do better from now on, I promise!" Kari was at the end of her limit. The pain was simply too overwhelming and with her sensitive skin she was going to be black and blue in a short while! "No more, please!" She started

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sobbing and finally stopped fighting the spanking. "Oh, Jacob, please stop!" she begged. Jacob heard the utter desperation in her voice and stopped. Kari's bottom was a deep red, as were her upper thighs and her sit spots. She was sobbing and she was shaking when he pulled her up in his arms. "I never ever want to see or hear of you opening your door to someone you don't know without asking who it is and what they want. Even if a man claims he is there to do maintenance because the landlord called him, you tell him to wait until you verify that information. Do you hear me, sweetheart?" She nodded, and he said, "If you ever do something so foolish again, this spanking will seem like child's play compared to the one you'll get then." He held her for a while and his cell phone rang. "Tobias here," he said shortly, and then listened, a grim expression on his face. "I figured as much," he looked at the teary-eyed

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redhead beside him and his expression grew foreboding. He saw Kari shiver, and he tried to smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He was furious and it showed. "Keep an eye on him, Robbins. If there's anything I need to know, call me, day or night." He listened again, and then said, "Thanks," before hanging up the telephone. "It didn't take Darles long," he told her. "He and three other men just left your apartment, sweetheart. They would have killed me and taken you." "But why?" Kari demanded, the thought of four strangers inside her home without permission made her sick at heart! And, it terrified her, too. What if Jake hadn't known to get them out of there? "I don't understand any of this, Jake. What on earth could Darles want with me?" "You're young and beautiful, you have red hair and green eyes. Your skin is ivory and creamy smooth, and you look like an angel

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but you have spirit." He could see she still didn't understand and he felt like kicking Keith for keeping her so innocent of the world. "Darles deals in white slavery, sweetheart. You're worth a lot of money." "But, that's against the law!" she gasped in outrage. "And very profitable. If he took you, you would be in some Sheik's harem, or sold to an expensive brothel somewhere and put to work on your back." "No!" she whispered, throwing herself into his arms to seek comfort. "I couldn't bear that, Jacob!" "Now do you see why I smacked your backside, young lady? Opening your door to the likes of Darles would immediately put you on his 'list'. Once he made darn sure you were fairly alone here, he would have taken you in a heartbeat, and even now, he is out there, looking for us. I was working undercover, trying to gather information... who he

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sells to. If I can find a list of his contacts, I can put them out of business, too. Jenna's college roommate has disappeared; I think Darles took her when Deborah headed back to school after spending a weekend with Jenna at Ma's place. Deborah had an early Monday morning class, but Jenna didn't have to be back until Tuesday, so they drove separately. Deborah didn't make it back to school. No one has seen her since she left Ma's house, and the only information we can gather is that a man matching Darles description was seen talking to her in a convenience store where she planned to stop for coffee. Her car was found there, and had been disabled. I think Darles offered her a ride back to Ma's, and took her captive." "That is horrible!" Kari was shocked. "I don't want that to happen to you, sweetheart. I couldn't bear to lose you, so you wear that spanking and know that it was given because I love you. Hear me?"

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Kari nodded, and snuggled against him. "I'm sorry I was so careless, Jake. I won't do that ever again, I promise." The look in her lovely green eyes convinced him she meant her promise. "Let's get settled in here, and then you can lie down. Your body needs rest, and Jase would have my hide for letting you run like that earlier," Jake was worrying again. "I'm fine, especially considering the alternative," she said firmly. "I'm going to get you in bed, and then I need to get out there and work, sweetheart. You don't need to worry; you won't be alone. I'll have an officer stationed here with you." "I don't want to be separated from you, Jake!" she declared. "I'm afraid." "You're safe here, Kari. I wouldn't leave you if I thought otherwise." Jake didn't take the time to argue with her. He insisted she get into bed and rest and when Officer Kelly Wintrow arrived, he gave her her orders and

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then left. He was going to find Quincy Darles and take him in for questioning on Deborah's disappearance. He had quite enough evidence, and if he could get him to tell where Deborah was sold, he'd get her home safe if at all humanly possible. *** The house was silent when Kari woke from her nap, and she couldn't believe she'd slept so long! It had to be late by now. She jumped out of bed and put on a robe because the house felt chilly to her. "Jake?" she called out when she left the bedroom, and nearly shrieked when someone other than Jake came around the corner to the hallway. "Miss Morgan, I'm Officer Wintrow. Lieutenant Tobias is working now. I will be with you until morning, and then another Officer will be assigned this duty if the Lieutenant orders." "I see. How long has he been gone?" she asked in a voice that sounded whiny and petulant, even to her own ears.

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"About two hours," the Officer replied. "Why don't you go back to bed, Miss Morgan, and get some rest? I promise to wake you if anything out of the ordinary happens." Kari shook her head 'no' and then she smiled. "Please call me Kari, and the last thing I want to do right now is go back to bed. I've been in bed so much this week, I want to stay up late and eat junk food. Is there anything good in the kitchen?" she asked wistfully. "Jacob is a very strict nurse," she added. "No McDonalds, no chocolate... just healthy stuff to get me well, as he puts it. Now that he's away, this little mouse is going to play." She giggled at the other woman's amused expression. "Come on... I don't know your first name...?" she said expectantly, and the other woman promptly said 'Kelly'. "Well, Kelly, let's go on a junk food search. We'll stuff ourselves and get to know each other... unless that would get you into trouble with Jake?" she asked.

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"I'm allowed to eat, Kari," Kelly grinned. "Good! And BINGO!" she called out. "Look at this freezer, Kelly. Chocolate Ice Cream, the good kind... A Cheesecake, and Eclairs. MMMmmmMMMM" Kari pulled out the container of ice cream and said, "Does this look good to you, Kelly?" "Definitely," the other woman answered with a giggle. She would be in trouble later, but it was so hard to resist temptation all the time. She got out two bowls and spoons while Kari looked for an ice cream dipper in the drawers. She finally found one, and filled their bowls generously. "Now all we need is some chocolate syrup," Kari wiggled her eyebrows and went searching again. Kelly helped, and sure enough, there was a large unopened bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup in one of the cupboards. "This is going to be sinfully good." She put generous amounts in both bowls, and then put away the syrup and the ice

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cream, and cleaned her mess off the counter. Kelly went to sit at the table and Kari blushed and said, "Could we sit in the living room, Kelly? Those chairs look uncomfortable." She led the way, and then gently eased herself down into the softest sofa in the room. She still winced; Jake didn't know his own strength, and she was really sore! Kelly nearly dropped her ice cream as her brown eyes looked at Kari curiously. "Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only woman in this town with a man who spanks!" "You get spanked, too?" Kari was shocked. "Really? For what?" "For lots of things, but mostly for disrespect or sass," Kelly admitted, her cheeks pink. "But, you're a police officer! You could arrest him, or flip him on his back!" Kelly laughed. "My Nevin is a Police Officer, too, and he is an expert in Karate. I couldn't flip him if I tried all day." She

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giggled at the thought. "And, as for arresting him, it wouldn't be fair since I asked him to take charge in our marriage and begged him for a Domestic Discipline relationship. Both of my older sisters have been married and divorced at least twice, and I don't want that. I want one husband for life. A sore bottom works to keep communication open, end resentments, and it puts a stop to pettiness. Nevin and I are very much in love and very happy... even when I need a cushion to sit comfortably," she admitted. "You don't find it odd to accept a child's punishment?" Kari asked the other woman. "Nevin doesn't spank me like a child," Kelly answered. "We don't spank our kids unless the situation is extreme, and even then it is only a swat or two to get their attention while we explain why what they did was wrong or dangerous. When Nevin spanks me, it is very embarrassing, and I end up sore each and every time, but it isn't

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abusive... and he'd never, ever spank a child as he does me. It's an expression of love," Kelly insisted. "That's what Jake says, too. That he wouldn't bother to spank me if he didn't love me..." She looked at Kelly and said, "I answered my door without asking who was on the other side, and it's my fault that Quincy Darles learned Jake was in my apartment." "That would be spankable at my house, too, but I wouldn't answer the door without looking. I've been to too many crime scenes that started just that way and I know better." "I do, too. Now," Kari said with a rueful expression. She had to smile when Kelly giggled, and they talked like old friends. Kelly's cell phone beeped and she answered, "Officer Wintrow. Yes, Lieutenant. Thank you, sir." She hung up and smiled. "Your man is on his way. Maybe you ought to

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go on back to bed before he comes in...?" she suggested. "No, I couldn't sleep. I want to know what happened tonight," Kari answered. Jake came in through the garage door and came to find them in the living room. "What are you doing out of bed, young lady. You've been ill and you should be sleeping!" he scolded. "I slept six hours today, Jake. I'm not tired or sleepy right now." "Jase said you are to rest." "I've been sitting here resting all night, getting to know Kelly," Kari smiled. "Anything at all to report, Officer Wintrow?" he turned his attention to the Officer, who was standing. "No, sir. Everything has been quiet." "Good. Go on back to the Station and see where you are needed for the rest of your shift. I'll expect you back here tomorrow evening at eight o'clock."

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"Yes, sir." She turned to leave. "Good bye, Kelly, and thanks for keeping me company." "It was my pleasure, Kari," she smiled in return and then left. "You need to be in bed, sweetheart," Jake said firmly. "Not until you tell me what happened tonight," she crossed her arms over her chest. "Nothing much, sweetheart. I spent all night looking for Darles, but didn't find him. He might have spotted the unmarked car I had on him," he admitted with a disgusted frown. "Well, don't worry about it. I feel safe here, and Kelly was very nice. We talked of everything under the sun." "Good. I'm pleased you made her feel at home. She's a nice young woman." "Did you know they have two children?" "Yes, they're Nevin's from his first marriage. His first wife was killed in a car

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accident, right after the youngest was born. He was left with a two year old and an infant. His Mom helped a lot, and then he met Kelly at work, and they hit it off right away. She adopted those babies as hers, and that was that." "Oh, she didn't tell me any of that! I wondered how she could be so young and have a five and three year old!" She paused and then asked, "Did you know that Nevin spanks her?" "What? No...! You talked to Kelly about spanking?" he was shocked. "She realized that you spanked me when I asked to sit in here instead of at the kitchen table to eat our ice cream. Those chairs don't have cushions!" she said in an accusing tone of voice. "And then she admitted that Nevin spanked her, too, and she asked for a Domestic Discipline relationship because she didn't want to be like her sisters and divorced several times."

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"You two did talk," Jake said quietly. "Ut oh... Did I do something wrong?" Kari wanted to know, and her green eyes were full of trepidation. "A spanking is personal, sweetheart. Like making love. It happens between two people who love each other, and it should be kept private and personal." "Oh... I'm sorry," she said contritely. "No harm done, but Kelly is under my supervision. I'm not saying she would want to make trouble for me, but having information of that sort could be a weapon in the wrong hands. Just as me knowing that Nevin spanks her. I don't feel that either of us are abusive, but it could be twisted and used against us by someone with a grudge or an axe to grind," he explained as gently as possible. "I'm sorry, Jake. I would never purposely say something to hurt you."

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"I know that, sweetheart, and I'm not upset with you. Kelly and Nevin are good people, and I trust them... but please be circumspect until you check with me... at least until you get to know everyone I work with a bit better." "I will," she promised. "And now, young lady, you are going to bed, and if I catch you up before eight o'clock, you'll get a spanking and sent back to bed." He scooped her up and carried her, giggling, to the large master suite and put her in bed and tucked her in. Goodnight, sweetheart," he said as he leaned down to kiss her. Kari returned Jake's kiss with passion, and was disappointed when he ended their embrace. "Go to sleep, sweetheart. We need to get a wedding planned soon," he said. "I'm sure you're the one, Jake. I don't care if you join me here..." the invitation was for more than 'sleeping' and he knew it. She

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loved Jacob Tobias and didn't want to wait any longer to make love. "You've been ill, sweetheart, and I don't want you to make a decision like this until you're well, and when your body isn't full of desire. I don't want to seduce you unless I'm sure that you are sure. If you want to wait until our wedding night, I'll wait. I might be impatient and think I'm going to die of frustration, but I'll give you time... all that you need, Kari. He kissed her once again, and then left her alone in the huge bed. Kelly came back the next evening, and Jake went looking for Quincy Darles. He didn't find Darles, but found one of his minions. The man was tying up loose ends for Darles and was to meet him elsewhere. Jake questioned him for hours but couldn't find out where Darles went. Rosenberg said he was to fly to Detroit and wait to hear from Darles. Jake asked him about Jenna's friend Deborah, and the man told where she was

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sold and he gave up several other names as well, trying to minimize the time he would spend in prison. Jake contacted the FBI, and heard a few hours later that they had found Deborah and she was being treated at a local hospital. The other girls were released from captivity, too, and Kari shivered to think that Darles was intending to do that to her, too. "You aren't going back to your apartment, Kari," Jake told her the next morning. "But, I can't afford..." "Hush, sweetheart. You cannot stay there. It isn't safe. I'll go and pack up the rest of your belongings, and I'll take you to my place, or to Ma's if you'd rather stay there until we're married...?" he gave her an option to consider. He didn't want her to set foot in her old apartment. Quincy Darles and his hired goons wrecked the place and left graffiti on the walls. A lot of her furniture was destroyed... and he didn't want her seeing any of the destruction.

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"I want to be with you, Jake. I'm sure of my feelings for you, and as long as you won't think less of me, I want us to be together. We can have our wedding night before the wedding, can't we?" Jake nodded. "If that's what you want, sweetheart. If you're sure...? I'm not going to rush you into this." "I wish the wedding was tomorrow," she shocked him by saying. "Couldn't we just call a judge and do it? Or fly to Vegas?" she suggested. Jake flipped out his cell phone and hit a number. Her eyes lit up as she listened without shame as he spoke to Judge Benson and arranged a time for them to get married. Then he hit another number. "Ma, what are you doing tomorrow? Could you plan a small wedding reception? Kari and I are going to get married at the court house at five o'clock." ***

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"This is not fair, bro, and you know it!" Jason fumed as he straightened Jake's tie. "I've been engaged for a few months now, and you're beating me to the punch!" "Just lucky, I guess," Jake grinned, and then said seriously, "If Kari wanted a fancy wedding, I would have waited, bro. She didn't, and I know she meant the words. I'm a lucky man. No tux!" he teased his brother. Kari's father was there, a stunned expression on his face, and one of her cousins came to be her matron of honor. Jake's family was there, too. His Ma, Jason, and even Jenna was there, looking very unhappy and glaring daggers at her new sister-in-law-to-be. Judge Benson was in a jovial mood, and admitted that he was a little surprised to get a call from Jake and couldn't wait to meet the lucky bride. The wedding didn't take long to perform, but it was done reverently and with respect, and no one in the room could doubt that Kari and Jake were truly in love.

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Jake moved Kari to his home from the safe house, and kept insisting that he would go and get her other belongings as soon as possible. Kari whispered that he didn't have to do it that night, and Jake didn't argue. He made sweet love to his bride, and when she shyly admitted she was happy they'd waited, he kissed her and made love to her yet again. The next morning, Jake's cell phone rang, and he told Kari he had to go to a crime scene. He was relieved when she didn't fuss and promised him she would be fine while he was gone. She unpacked her things as best she could, but learned there were a few things she really needed from her old apartment. She left a note for Jake, just in case he got home earlier than she expected, and then got into her car and drove to her old place. She parked in front and then used her key to let herself inside. What she saw was more than shocking! The furniture that she'd saved for months to buy was ruined. The

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walls were covered with spray paint and what they said was more than a little frightening. As she walked into her bedroom the stench was overwhelming. Her clothes, especially her unclothes, were lying in scraps on the floor and the bed was ruined completely. She started crying, and picked up her phone and called Jake. He told her he was on his way, and made her promise not to let anyone inside. It was obvious he was afraid the apartment was being watched, and in the next minute, there was a loud pounding on the front door... and a voice demanding she open up immediately.

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Chapter Six
"You open this door, girl. I seen you go inside there!" The pounding continued and Kari recognized her landlord's agitated voice. She crossed the living room, stepping over the mess laying on the floor and jerked the door open. "You're going to pay for the damages in here, girl." The man pushed her aside so he could step into the living room. "I didn't do this!" Kari was highly insulted. "And I'm not paying for it." "You are or I'll sue you!" he sputtered. "It's going to mean new carpet, and repainting this entire place. I want you and your stuff out of here now... today, girl!" "Who the hell do you think you're talking to, Mister? I did not make this mess; I am not responsible for any of the vandalism here, and I will not be intimidated by the likes of you. Is that clear? In fact," Kari warmed to her subject, "I am considering suing you for renting me an apartment next to

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a convicted felon. AND, how dare you purport these apartments as safe when the attic runs the entire length of the building? This place is not safe, which is false advertising, and for what you are charging for rent, it is high time someone take you to court and have you answer for your irresponsibility!" "I'm going to call the cops!" the man blustered. "I already did," she responded and smiled when she heard the siren getting closer. Jake came running when he saw the door to Kari's old apartment was hanging open, and the relief he felt at finding her inside and unharmed was overwhelming. She was standing there, spitting fire at the landlord, and gone was all the fear she'd felt when she'd called him just a few minutes ago. He much preferred seeing her angry, with her hands on her hips and glaring at the man, than frightened and whimpering and afraid.

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"Are you a police officer?" the landlord sputtered angrily. "Lieutenant Tobias," Jake stated, showing the man his badge. "I want to file charges against this woman for damaging my property!" the landlord insisted. "She didn't damage your property, sir. This property was in excellent condition when she left here with me, and it was vandalized by her neighbor, a man named Quincy Darles, who is a felon." "What? This woman is responsible since she signed a lease." "This building is supposed to be secure, and it obviously isn't. Anyone could have come into her apartment at any time through the attic. I had this sight under surveillance, and we know who did the vandalism, and I assure you it wasn't this young woman. If you wish to file charges, you can come into

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the station tomorrow and someone will assist you," Jake said politely. "I still want her out of here today!" the man sputtered again. "So do I," Jake agreed calmly. "I wouldn't permit anyone I cared about to live in this dump." The landlord's face turned a deep dark angry red and he stomped out the open door. Kari couldn't help laughing until she got a good look at her husband's face. Jake was obviously very unhappy with her. "Jake, I feel perfectly fine and you really do need to stop worrying about my health. I needed to get a few of my things and I couldn't see sitting on my butt and doing nothing while you were at work. I'm fine, really." "I told you not to come near this place, sweetheart, and you are going to get the spanking of your life for disobeying me," he promised. "Now come along and I'll take you home."

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"But, wait! Why shouldn't I come here? My stuff is all here..." "It isn't safe, Kari. What if one of Darles men was watching the place?" "I didn't think of that," she admitted. "I only wanted to get my things, Jacob. I thought they all left town and it was safe now." Her pretty face was full of dismay and Jake realized she'd had no idea she was doing anything wrong, but it didn't change the fact that he'd told her she wasn't to come to the apartment and she disobeyed him. "It's not safe, Kari, and when I give you an order for your protection I expect you to obey me. I'll make sure you learn this lesson before the day is over," he promised. "I'm sorry, Jacob," she said in a wounded tone of voice. "Please don't be so upset with me. I just didn't understand there was still a danger. I didn't do this to defy you, and I won't do it again now that I know there is

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still a possibility that Darles is watching. It isn't necessary for you to punish me; I understand completely now." She also was wise enough to know that Jacob didn't want her to read the painted threats on the walls and see all the damage done to her belongings. His face reflected his feelings, and if she didn't do some fast talking, her bottom was going to pay the price for frightening him. "There isn't a lot that is salvageable here. I need to call my insurance agent and have him come and take pictures before we get this mess cleaned up... Would you want to take care of that for me?" she asked hopefully. "Of course I will," Jake answered stiffly, and then he frowned. "I didn't want you to see any of this, sweetheart! I knew you would be upset!" "I was a bit shocked," she admitted, but then added, "It just proves how childish Darles is, though. Wouldn't it have been

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smarter to leave things alone instead of scrawling threats all over the walls? Now I will be much more wary, and he has to know that you will be on your guard, too." "I think the messages were more for my undercover persona, sweetheart," Jake stated bluntly. "Let's get you home now. You shouldn't be here at all." "I know that now, and I am sorry for assuming it was safe. Will you forgive me this once, Jacob?" she asked, touching his arm and looking up at him with complete innocence in her lovely green eyes, imploring him to understand this one time. Jacob felt powerless to remain firm when she looked at him so trustingly. "Do you promise you will stay away from here, sweetheart?" he asked. "I'm not foolish, Jake. Of course I will obey you; I would have done so today if I'd realized it was dangerous still."

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"Very well, Mrs. Tobias. You've earned yourself a reprieve this one time. I want you to go on home now and get some rest." "Okay, Jacob," she capitulated. He kissed her tenderly as he put her in her car, wondering how she could so easily bewitch him that he would let her out of a spanking she certainly earned. He just hoped he didn't regret being lenient. He turned to lock up the vandalized apartment and didn't see the dark colored car that pulled out of the apartment parking lot across the street to follow Kari down the street. Kari was halfway to Jake's when she remembered the reason she went to her old apartment in the first place. She needed a few things... and now she needed new clothing if she was going to go to work in the morning. She turned her car around and headed for the Mall. Luckily, she found a place to park close to one of the store entrances, and she ran inside, anxious to get

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her shopping done and get home before Jacob discovered she wasn't resting as she was told to do. Her purchases were going to make a dent in her next paycheck, but it couldn't be helped. She had to have clothing and new makeup. Kari completely lost track of time as she tried on clothing, and she admittedly chose things with Jake in mind, wondering if he would like this dress better than another one... It felt like she was only minutes in the large department store, but when she glanced at her watch on the way to the doors leading to the parking lot, she gasped in shock! She'd been shopping for nearly four hours and Jake would be home and frantic by now! What had she done?! She searched her purse for her cell phone, but it wasn't there! Oh great! Could this get any worse? She literally ran for her car, oblivious to everyone around her, especially the man who

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moved stealthily to intercept her before she reached her car. "Kari! Kari Morgan!" Kari heard a voice call her name and she automatically stopped to see who was calling out for her. She saw the other woman and smiled. "Kari! Are you all better now? We've missed you so much at work!" "I'm much better, Violet. I was truly ill, sicker than ever before in my whole lifetime. I'll be coming in tomorrow," she promised. "Good! It looks like you went on a real shopping spree!" Violet commented on the shopping bags packed to the brim. "There was a bit of a disaster in my apartment," Kari answered. "I lost most of my personal belongings to vandals... so this was necessary. She grinned and said, "I also got married yesterday." "What? Are you kidding me?" Violet was truly amazed. "Who did you marry?"

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"Lieutenant Jacob Tobias of the police department here. He's a wonderful man, Violet, and I can't wait to introduce him to all of you. We'll have to have a party..." she planned. "I should hope so!" Violet glanced at her watch. "I've got to go; Jerry will be pulling out his hair with the baby by now. See you tomorrow..." Kari unlocked her car door and jumped in, relocking the door out of habit. She put on her seat belt and quickly started the car and backed out of the parking place and drove to the mall exit, the one with the traffic light so she could pull out easier without having to worry about traffic. She heard her cell phone beep and spotted it lying on the passenger seat, where it must have fallen from her purse. Kari picked it up and saw she had five messages. As she dialed her voice mailbox, she glanced in the rear view mirror and spotted the same car that

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followed her into the mall parking lot several hours before. On impulse, Kari turned right instead of left and was stunned when the car followed her. She made another turn, and he followed. She turned into another parking lot, and exited at the other end. The car followed, mimicking her every action. She was being followed. The voice mails had all been from Jake... and Kari was in trouble... But, before she could face his anger, she needed his help. She quickly hit her speed dial. Jake answered on the first ring. "Jake... I need help. I'm being followed." "Where are you?" he was suddenly all cop, calm and reassuring, while getting all the details he needed to handle the situation. "I'm on my way, and I have uniforms on the way, too. Just stay calm and don't panic, sweetheart. You'll be fine." His voice kept reassuring her, telling her what to do, where to turn, and when he directed her into a

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parking lot, and the dark sedan followed her, it was quickly surrounded by police cars. Once Jake was positive that the suspect was apprehended, he walked over to pull Kari out of the car and he gave her a little shake. "I've been out of my mind for the last three hours, young lady. What were you thinking to be gone so long? Why didn't you answer your cell phone?" he demanded. "It fell out of my purse and on the car seat. I didn't realize it until I came out of the Mall," she explained. "I lost track of time, Jake. I didn't mean to worry you, and I'm sorry I did." "You were told to go straight home!" he scolded. "I know, but I needed something to wear to work tomorrow, and some makeup, and a few other things. I only intended to be a few minutes, but I was in the Department Store for over four hours! I'm so sorry, Jake."

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"I intend to make you even more sorry," he promised. "This is the second time today you disobeyed me... and you put yourself at risk both times." Kari didn't argue; she couldn't. Jake had every right to be vexed with her, but she did say, "If I'd gone straight home, he would have followed me there," she whispered. "What?" "He was following me before I turned into the Mall, Jake. I didn't think it strange that he pulled in behind me there, but it did seem odd that he left when I did, and then I made a few turns just to see what he would do, and he followed me... That's when I called you," she explained. "Darles is having your place watched," Jake said angrily. "I know you're really upset with me right now, and I won't argue your right to be upset. I worried you... but could you please

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hold me right now?" she shamelessly begged. "I'm frightened." Jacob wrapped his arms around his bride and held her close. She was shaking and he felt like an ass for scolding her before he reassured her that she was safe. "You're safe now, sweetheart. We'll get through this together." "I trust you, Jake, and I promise I'm not going to be foolish again. I'm not used to being at risk, and I'm not used to having a husband to obey. I promise to try harder." "I promise to give you plenty of incentive," he growled and was surprised when she giggled. "You think I'm not serious about setting your sweet ass on fire?" "I know you are serious, Jake," she looked up at him. "I was just wondering if all new brides are as foolish as I? This must me some kind of record for getting into trouble within hours of saying 'I do'!" She reached up to caress his cheek, "I didn't do it on

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purpose, darling. I'm not trying to provoke you or test you, and I need to know you believe me. I just simply didn't think it through before I made a choice to go to the Mall." "I believe you," Jake stated, realizing it was the truth. "But I'm still going to turn you over my knee and spank you until you learn to obey me," he promised. "Because you love me," she whispered, kissing him. "Definitely because I love you," he agreed, giving her still tender bottom a firm slap. "Now, Mrs. Tobias, you get behind the wheel of this car and drive yourself straight home and stay there. Officer Wintrow will meet you there and stay with you until I get home. Unless the Caller ID shows someone you know and trust, don't answer the phone. Got that?" "Yes," she said, as he buckled her seat belt. When he straightened and looked at her, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Jake.

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It's nice to know that I have someone to call who will actually drop everything and come running. Other than my Dad, I've not had that with anyone else in my entire life. I love you." "I love you, too, honey. Now drive safely and let me know when you get home. I'll be several cars behind you, but if you see anyone suspicious, call me. I won't leave you completely alone until Kelly is with you," he reassured her. "Okay, Jake." She felt safe, and while she was diligent, she didn't see anyone who looked as though they were following her. Officer Wintrow was already there when they arrived, and she insisted on going inside first and making sure the house was safe. Once she determined they were alone, she had Kari come on inside. Kari used her cell to call Jake, and he thanked her politely and told her to keep the doors locked and call him at the first sign of trouble.

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"Looks like you had some fun shopping?" Kelly said with a smile. "My things were all ruined that were in my apartment," Kari explained. "I was without much of anything... Want to see what I got?" she asked. "Sure. I love to see nice clothes, and I'm looking forward to the day I get to wear regular clothes to work instead of a uniform," she admitted wistfully. "I'm sure that day will come," Kari said. "I think you are good at what you do." "Thank you, Kari, but please, don't put any bugs in the Lieutenant's ear. I want to earn my way and not get promoted because we're friends," she stated bluntly. "You know what I mean? It wouldn't mean much if it was handed to me." "I appreciate that, Kelly. And frankly, I don't think my words would help all that much with Jake. He likes it that we are friends, but I really don't think that would

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make a difference as far as a promotion goes." "That's fair!" Kelly grinned. "Now, let me see what you bought." Kari obliged, and Kelly boosted her self confidence by approving of the outfits she bought. They discussed the current styles and found they were in agreement about avoiding clothing that was too trendy in favor of classic style that was timeless. Once Kari put away her new things, she decided to fix dinner. Kelly kept her company, and they were chatting amicably when there was the unmistakable sound of gunfire outside. "Go to the bedroom and lock the door, Kari," Kelly ordered, her own gun in her hand immediately. "Go now! Don't open the door for anyone but me or Jake!" She gave Kari a push down the hallway and waited until she heard the lock click before she eased herself into the entryway, killing all the lights as she went.

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In the meantime, Kari was on her cell phone. "Jake, there were shots fired outside. Kelly's investigating. I'm afraid for her." "She knows what to do. I'll be there shortly. Stay put like she told you," he ordered shortly, and the line went dead. Kari couldn't help worrying and when she heard a high pitched scream, she feared that Kelly was in trouble and knew that she had to go to her and try to help if she could. She unlocked the bedroom door and went flying down the hallway and outside, searching for Kelly. She spotted her just as two police cars and an ambulance arrived on the scene. Kari stood there and watched in horror as Kelly tried to pull a woman away from a child lying on the sidewalk. The paramedics took over and Kelly explained to the officers what happened and why she was first on the scene. Kari knew the exact moment that Kelly spotted her standing outside the house. She came running and took Kari's arm and

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pushed her inside. "You were told to stay in the bedroom with the door locked, Kari!" she scolded. "I heard screaming and thought it was you. I wanted to help," Kari explained. "Don't you ever do that again!" Kelly yelled at her. "I am a police officer, and my job is to keep you safe. You should have done what I told you to do, Kari." "Yes, you should have," a deep voice said in disapproval. "Officer Wintrow, you're needed outside. I apologize for my wife's behavior." "I'm sorry I left her alone, sir," Kelly stammered. "A child was shot. You reacted instinctively once you realized the incident wasn't a ploy to get you out of the way. You did the right thing to try and stop the bleeding until the paramedics got here to take over. If that little boy lives, it will be because of your quick thinking. Well done," he praised Kelly.

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"Now go and follow up. It's your crime scene to work." "Yes, sir." Kelly promptly did as she was ordered, leaving Kari alone with a husband who was more than a little irate. "I have dinner in the oven," Kari said with a smile. "Dinner can wait. Spanking my disobedient wife can't." "I don't suppose that saying I'm sorry again would work?" she asked in a small voice. "No, it wouldn't. You disobeyed three times today, Kari!" he exclaimed. "Three times! You need a sound spanking, and you are going to get one to remember for the rest of your life. Take off your jeans and panties and come here," he ordered as he removed his suit coat and took a seat on the padded bench at the foot of the bed.

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"Can't you at least wait until you aren't so... upset...?" she pleaded, making no move to obey him. "No, Kari. I let you talk me out of this earlier today, and I regret it. If I'd spanked you then, then the other two incidents wouldn't have happened." "No, that man would have followed me here, and who knows where I'd be right now!" she reminded him. "That man wouldn't have been able to follow you if you'd obeyed me in the first place, now would he?" Jake asked. "Stop trying to wriggle your way out of this, sweetheart. You've earned a sound spanking, and you're going to get a sound spanking to remember. If you don't want to make it worse than it's already going to be, then obey me right now and take off your jeans and panties and bring your sweet butt over here." The look in his dark eyes was full of determination to mete out the punishment he

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felt she deserved, and Kari was suddenly afraid. Not of Jake, but of the next few minutes. She'd already learned that Jake's hand was hard as a board and she didn't relish the idea of another spanking so soon. She was still tender from before, but he was giving her no choice. If he had to chase her down, he would spank even harder. Slowly, she undid the zipper on her jeans and slid it down. Jake's eyes followed her every move, and she tried to be as sexy as possible, hoping to distract him. Jacob wasn't stupid. He knew precisely what his new bride was doing. She wasn't to arouse him so his mind would go to other things, such as making sweet love and forgetting all about the spanking he promised. It wasn't going to work, he vowed, and did his best to ignore her blatant flirting. When she finally was bared from the waist down, he reached out and snagged her wrist, and settled her face-down over his thighs.

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Kari gasped in shock when the first spank landed on her right cheek. It was kind of insulting that her attempts to seduce Jake were all for naught! His hand landed again, this time on her left cheek, and she cried out in pain. That didn't stop Jake, either. He was determined to teach his bride a lesson, and he spanked in earnest, his hand spanking a steady tempo on her backside. "I'm sorry, Jake! I won't do it again!" she promised. "Please stop now!" "I'm not stopping until I know you will remember to obey me," he told her, his actions proving he meant the words. "I will remember!" she hastily told him. "I promise I will!" "Lie still," he ordered, trapping her kicking legs beneath his right calf. "You earned this spanking by disobeying me. I need to be able to trust you when I'm gone, and not worrying if you're where you're not supposed to be!"

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"You can trust me, Jake! Please, stop!" "I've barely started, little girl. I'm not going to start off this marriage by giving you the wrong impression and letting you think you can wiggle your way out of a punishment by either saying 'sorry' or by trying to use your body to turn me on. It won't work. And, all it accomplishes is to make the spanking you earned that much longer.

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Chapter Seven
Kari cried out in pain as Jake's hard hand continued to fall on her flaming backside. He was truly upset with her, and making it very plain with his scolding words and each successive spank to her bottom. "I'm sorry!" she cried out. "Not nearly as sorry as you're going to be," he informed her. "Saying 'sorry' doesn't pay the bill, sweetheart. It might have worked for you with your Dad, but it doesn't hold water with me. When you disobey me, saying 'sorry' doesn't automatically erase what you did and make it all right. In fact, I won't believe the words until I am sure you fully understand the situation... and even then, I'll spank you as you deserve. Is that clear?" he demanded, continuing to apply his right hand to her bared bottom, covering her cheeks, upper thighs, and her sit spots over and over.

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"Yes, it's clear! Jake, please stop! I'm in so much pain!" Kari started sobbing. "I won't do it again!" "I heard that this morning," he reminded her. "You did it twice more since then." "I just didn't realize...!" "You'd better realize. When I give you an order, I expect to be obeyed. I won't do that unless there is a damned good reason, but when I do, you'd best pay attention." He spanked as he repeated the words a second and then a third time. "Please stop, Jake!" Kari begged him, and to her surprise, he did. He released her and then stood her on her feet. She wanted him to hold her, but he shook his head 'no' and held her at arm's length. "We're not finished with this, young lady. You blatantly tried to use your body to escape a well-deserved spanking. I won't have that. You go and stand in the corner and think of a suitable punishment for yourself.

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I'll give you several minutes to think, and if I don't feel you've come up with a good suggestion, then I'll give you what I think you deserve, and I guarantee you won't like it." He helped her step out of her tangled jeans and panties so she wouldn't fall as she walked to the corner. Jacob was truly upset with her and it nearly broke Kari's heart as she made her way to the corner to stand. How was she to know that he'd be upset with her for trying to get him to make love to her instead of spanking her? She was new to this whole marriage thing. She tried to think of a punishment that wouldn't be so awful, and one she could get finished as quickly as possible, but she couldn't think. She was too upset over Jake's being upset with her! Jacob left Kari in the corner and went outside to check on his officers, and see if there was word of the child. Kelly spotted him as he stepped outside his front door and

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immediately came forward to give a report. She gave names of the victim, and of the other child who accidentally shot him. The boy found a loaded gun in his older brother's dresser drawer and took it outside to play. The parents weren't aware their older son had a gun. All a tragic accident. The injured little boy was in surgery, but expected to live. The families were close friends and supporting each other through the crisis. "Did the older brother give a reason for owning a gun?" Jake asked. "Yes, sir. He's been having trouble on the job, and they threatened his family. He wanted to protect all of them. He has a permit, and he did have the gun locked in the drawer. His little brother found the key," Kelly Wintrow replied. "I would like to rule this as accidental, sir. The little boy is too young to know guns are dangerous. The older brother took every precaution to keep the gun put away and locked up... I can't see

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where it would do any good to take this further." "I agree, Officer. Write up the paperwork and put it on my desk for review, and then go on home. You've put in your time for the day." "Thank you, Lieutenant," she smiled. "Sir, about Kari... I know she meant well when she put herself at risk. We've become good friends, and she wasn't thinking of herself. She heard the Mom of the injured child screaming, and she assumed I was being hurt in some way. She only wanted to help me." "I understand, Kelly, but the next time it could mean her life. I've got to make her understand that. As her husband, I can't let her disregard the orders she is given for her own safety and protection. If Quincy Darles gets his hands on her, we might not ever see her again, and if we do, she won't be the same Kari she is now."

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Kelly nodded sadly, but didn't argue. She couldn't. She'd seen women after they were kidnapped and abused. "I'll go to the station and get the paperwork done, sir." "You did a good job here, Officer." "Thank you, sir." Kelly was pleased. The Lieutenant didn't hand out praise unless it was deserved, and she was proud that he thought she did the right thing today. She was glad that he was able to look at the situation objectively, as a police officer, and not just as a husband who was afraid for his new bride. She was a little less objective, and it terrified her as a Mom to see the little boy lying on the sidewalk bleeding. She had to do what she could to save him, and she hoped it was enough to see him through. Jake went inside and walked to the kitchen to get a drink of water. He wanted nothing more than to go into the bedroom and gather Kari in his arms and hold her close. However, he still had to make it clear

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she couldn't use her cute little body to wriggle her way out of a punishment. He couldn't let that pass, and he hoped she had a good punishment in mind. They were newly married and he didn't relish punishing her sexually. He was afraid she'd misunderstand the lesson, or even worse, think him a cruel bastard. He put the glass in the sink and then walked into the bedroom. Kari was still crying and he felt guilty. Her backside was a deep dark red, and had to be stinging furiously. He hated knowing he was responsible for her pain. "Have you come up with a suitable punishment, Kari?" he asked. "No," she admitted. "I don't know what you think is suitable. I feel terrible that I've upset you so much," she cried. "I didn't think how it would make you feel, but I guess you get that all the time from criminals and it's the last thing you want from your wife. I just didn't think, Jake, and I won't ever try to

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seduce you again just to get out of a punishment. I didn't mean to make you so angry." "Come here, sweetheart," Jake said softly. She turned around and walked over to him, unable to look at him. He reached out and took her hand and pulled her into his arms and just held her shaking body. "It doesn't have a darn thing to do with my job, Kari, but everything to do with us. I'm a normal man and I find you sexy as hell. I want you day and night, and in-between. It's just not fair to remind me of that when I need to spank your bottom because you've done something to earn a punishment. I'm human; I don't enjoy punishing you and making you cry in pain. I'd much rather make love to you," he explained. "But, it wouldn't be fair to you to let you get away with seducing your way out of an earned spanking. I want our marriage to work, and it won't, not without loving discipline. You might get your tush swatted, but I have to discipline myself,

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and that means not permitting you to wiggle your way out of a spanking with your sweet body." "I won't do it again, Jake," she promised. "I'm new to all this marriage stuff and... it just seemed like a good idea at the time," she confessed. "That good idea gave me a hard-on that lasted for a while, young lady," he told her bluntly. "How would you like to get aroused and know you couldn't do anything to relieve the problem?" "I'm sorry!" she gasped and then blushed a bright red. "If you ever do this again, Mrs. Tobias, that will be your punishment." When she looked at him with wide eyes, he smiled grimly, "The only reason I'm not doing it this time is because I can see you really didn't understand how strongly I feel on the subject." "But, how can you punish that way?" Kari was curious.

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"Do you honestly want to find out?" he asked quietly. "No, it's just that I can't imagine how you could do that without leaving yourself in the same condition...?" she looked at him innocently, and it was the Lieutenant's turn to blush, something that didn't happen often. "Do you know what gingerroot is, sweetheart?" he asked. When she nodded, he said, "It creates a very nice burn when peeled and pushed into your backside, and once the pain of the burn recedes a bit, it leaves you feeling horny as hell. You came close to learning that today. As it is, this time I'm only going to give you a few more spanks just to reinforce the promise you made." "Please don't spank me again, Jake. I just don't think I can handle another spanking tonight. Please...?" she begged shamelessly. "You could have me write lines or an essay or stand in the corner for an hour... anything but another spanking...?"

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Jake hadn't thought of any of those, but had to admit there was merit in choosing an alternative to spanking. The lesson needed to be given, but she was sore, and sitting to write lines would be a damned good reminder. "Very well, sweetheart. You can sit at the kitchen table and write 'I will not use my body to try and escape a punishment.' over and over until you reach five hundred times. I will give you two hours to get this done, and if it isn't, then you get the rest in spanks, and sent to bed early. No fussing, no arguing, no complaining, no begging off, or you'll get the spanking in full." "But what about dinner?" she asked. "It'll be ruined if we wait another two hours to eat." "We'll eat now and then you can sit undisturbed for your punishment." To Kari's credit, she didn't argue. She merely slipped out of her sweater and bra and found a long tee shirt to put on. She didn't bother with

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panties because her bottom felt swollen to twice its normal size, and she didn't think she could stand anything snug on her spanked butt. At least Jake wasn't angry or upset with her now, and she had a much better understanding of him. She wouldn't use sex as a manipulative tool again now that she knew how it made him feel. It didn't take her long to put the finishing touches on their dinner and she was pleased when Jake complimented her cooking. She knew she wasn't nearly as good a cook as his Mom, but she did know how to keep them from starving, and she wasn't averse to learning more recipes. She wanted to keep her husband happy. When they were finished eating, Jake told her she could get started on her lines while he cleaned the kitchen. After a few minutes of writing as quickly as possible, hoping to get the five hundred lines done quickly, Kari was dismayed to

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realize that there was no way possible to finish all five hundred in the two hours he'd allotted! She was writing as quickly as she could and still be neat and legible, but the most she could write in one minute was three of them, and that added up to only one hundred and eighty per hour, if she didn't stop to breathe! She was going to be short over one hundred lines! The thought was depressing, especially since sitting on the chair was causing considerable discomfort, too. She continued to do her best, but when Jake came to tell her the two hours was up, she wanted to cry. "How many did you write?" he frowned. He'd expected her to be done well before the two hours was up. He knew she was writing hard every time he looked in on her, and seemed to be taking the punishment seriously. "I got three hundred and sixty-two," Kari admitted. "I could only write three a minute,

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Jake. I tried, but it wasn't possible for me to finish." "I didn't think it would take so long," he told her. "I thought you'd be done at least half an hour ago." He looked into her troubled eyes. "Do you think you'll remember your promise, sweetheart?" he wanted to know. "Yes, I gave you my word, and I intend to keep it," she insisted. "Good. This is done, then. I'm not going to spank you when I gave you too many to get done... it wouldn't be fair. You did your best, and I'm proud of you. Now, can I hold my wife and tell her how much I love her?" he wanted to know, and smiled when she practically flew into his arms. He picked her up and carried her into the living room and snuggled with her on the sofa. It was sometime later when he said, "I didn't want to start out our marriage by having to punish you, sweetheart."

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"It wasn't how I saw us beginning, either," she admitted. "I know you love me, Jake, and I know I was wrong today. I'll be more careful from now on." "Thanks, baby. I couldn't bear losing you now that I've found you," he said in a hoarse voice. "Am I permitted to seduce you now?" she asked hopefully. "I really wish you would," he begged. "I want my wife so badly I ache, but if you're too sore, or too upset, I won't insist. It's your call, sweetheart." "I ache, too, but it's because I need to feel forgiven, Jake." He smiled and easily lifted her in his arms and carried her to their bedroom. Since they both wanted the same thing, there was no sense in denying either of them. *** "You aren't to leave the office for any reason, Kari. Not for lunch, not in a group,

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not to run an errand for your boss. You are to stay there, inside your offices, until I come to pick you up. If something comes up, call me right away. Do you have any questions, or want me to repeat the rules?" he asked, his tone full of concern. "I understand, Jacob," she smiled at him, and then said, "You've repeated the rules at least four times now," she teased lightly. "I don't want to let you out of my sight," he admitted. "I really wish you would consider taking a leave of absence," he asked her once more. "I don't want to lose my job, darling," she got up to get the coffee pot and pour another cup of coffee for him, and for herself, and to give her sore bottom a brief respite from the chair, which desperately needed a soft cushion. "Mr. McCrady took a chance on me when I was new in town and just fresh out of college, and I don't want to repay him by leaving him in the lurch. He has been so

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patient while I was ill, and I'm anxious to get back to work and prove to him that he didn't make a mistake by hiring me, Jake." She was repeating herself, too. "I promise I will not leave the office for any reason. I will order lunch in, or ask one of the others to bring me something. I won't run any errands, which is something I'm never asked to do anyway, and I will stay inside the office until you personally arrive to pick me up. If there is any problem at all, I will call you immediately. I don't have any desire to upset you or worry you, Jake, and I do not plan to earn another spanking for a very long time. My bottom is very sore, and I am delighted that my desk chair is very well padded," she added virtuously. "I'm not a child, honey; I understand the danger now." Jake nodded. "I love you, sweetheart, and I'll try not to be controlling." "We'll find our way," she leaned down and kissed him, and then started clearing

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their dishes. "Drink your coffee, please. I don't want to be late my first day back," she said in an exaggeratedly bossy manner that made him chuckle. "You just sounded like Ma!" he teased. "I love her to pieces," she admitted with a grin. Jake locked the house tight and then drove his wife to work. Kari was surprised when he parked his car and walked her inside. She'd expected to be dropped off in front of the office, but that wasn't Jake's style. He took protecting her quite serious, and he wanted to see where she worked and see the office that was hers. Kari proudly introduced him to all of her co-workers, and then she knocked on Mr. McCrady's office door, and when he said, "Come in," she took Jake inside to meet her boss. Jake decided he liked the older man, and he explained why he was concerned for Kari's safety. Mr. McCrady assured Jake that

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he would personally see to it that Kari wasn't left alone in the offices, and he promised to be wary of any calls from prospective new clients. He explained to Jake that he personally did all of the interviewing and then assigned clients to the account managers. Jake nodded in understanding, and when he kissed Kari goodbye a few minutes later he felt a bit better about leaving her at work. He thought her job sounded pretty darn boring, but he knew better than to tell her that. She loved her job. Kari was relieved to settle into her office to work. She had a lot of work to do in order to get caught up, and she applied herself, stopping only to go to the break room to refill her coffee cup a few times, and to give her sore tush a break from sitting, even though her chair was well padded and normally as comfortable as could be. Kari discovered her mug was empty yet again, and she got up to go and get another refill. She heard someone

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crying, and peeked inside the break room to see that Violet was standing in front of the window looking outside and trying to hide the fact she was crying. "Violet...? What's wrong; can I help?" Kari offered, shutting the door to the break room. "No... I don't think anyone can help," she whispered sadly. "I've decided to divorce Jerry." "Oh no...!" Kari said. "I thought your marriage was wonderful...?" "I thought so, too, until yesterday." Violet turned to look at Kari and said, "Do you remember when I told you at the Mall I needed to hurry and get home because Jerry would be upset...?" Kari nodded. "Well, I hurried a bit too much and I got a speeding ticket, and it made me even later getting home, and Jerry..." she started crying again. Kari went into the bathroom and came back with a tissue for Violet. "Was he very

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angry?" Violet nodded. "Because you were so late?" Kari questioned, trying to understand the problem. "No. He said the baby was good, and he enjoyed the time alone with him. He was upset over the speeding ticket. It was my second one this month," she confessed. "Was he angry about the money?" Kari guessed again, and was surprised when she shook her head 'no'. "Well, he wasn't happy about the money... or the fact that our car insurance is going to go up... but that wasn't the main reason he was so angry with me." "He doesn't want you to have an accident and get hurt..." Kari said in a soothing voice, knowing full well that Jake would be upset with her if she got two speeding tickets. He took her safety seriously, and she probably wouldn't be able to sit down once he got done telling her how he felt about driving irresponsibly. "Ohhhhhh," she whispered,

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looking at Violet. "What happened, Violet? Did he scold?" "It was worse than that, Kari. He... he... he struck me," she whispered, her face turning scarlet with embarrassment. "I never thought he would abuse me, but he did!" "Did he use his fists on you?" I was confused. Why would a man who was concerned about his wife being injured because of speeding hurt her? It didn't make sense. "No," she said, and then said, "He treated me like a child and spanked me. I'm too sore to sit down today!" she confided. "Kari, I never thought Jerry was the type of man to do something so awful." "Violet, did you talk to him about this?" I asked. "No! I told him to get out before I called the police and had him arrested. I locked myself in the baby's room until he left. I don't want to talk to him."

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"If you talked to him, Violet, he would probably tell you that he spanked you because he loves you." Violet looked at Kari and said, "What? How is that loving?" "Jake says that a marriage can't survive without loving discipline. Jerry didn't really hurt you, did he? I mean, he turned you over and spanked your bottom, but he didn't hit your face, or strike you with his fist... He scolded you and said he didn't want you hurt in a car accident, right?" Violet nodded. "If you wouldn't have run to the baby's room, he probably would have held you afterwards and told you how much he loves you... enough to spank you when you earn a spanking." "You don't think a spanking is abusive?" Violet asked me. "No. I think it's another way of showing love." Kari waited a minute or two and then said, "Violet, if I got a speeding ticket, I can

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almost guarantee that Jake would make sitting impossible for a day or two." Kari smiled at Violet's shocked expression. "In fact, he would spank for my going shopping for over four hours and leaving my cell phone in the car... after I was told to go straight home and get some rest." "Oh my! You're sore, too?" she asked. Kari nodded. "I am assured I am very much loved, and I am guessing that you are very much loved, too, Violet. Why don't you call Jerry and talk to him. Give him a chance to tell you that. Crying and thinking of divorce isn't nearly as much fun as making up and knowing that you are tender because he wants to protect you." Violet swiped at her eyes and nodded. "I'll call him, Kari. Oh, please, don't tell anyone else. I'm so embarrassed!" "Now that I can understand and appreciate. I don't want anyone to know either."

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Kari quickly filled her coffee mug, added creamer, and then hurried back to her office. A short while later, there was a tap on her door and Violet came in, smiling happily, the sparkle back in her eyes. "I had to come and tell you that you were right, Kari. Jerry said to tell you 'thanks' from him, too. He said he was planning to give me today to calm down, and then he was going to come and turn me over his knee again and spank me until I listened to him! I'm so grateful that isn't going to happen now," she giggled. Kari reassured her she was happy she could help, and Violet went back to work, a happy smile on her face. Kari was busy until she looked up to see Jake standing in the doorway. One look at his face told her that he wasn't pleased. "Come with me now, Kari," he said firmly.

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Chapter Eight
"What's wrong, Jake?" Kari asked, getting to her feet. "Darles knows you work here," Jake said shortly. "But, how...?" "Let's go, honey. It isn't safe for you to be here right now," Jake's voice was stern, and Kari didn't argue with him. "I need to tell Mr. McCrady," she said quietly. "I already spoke to him, sweetheart. We're leaving right now." He took her arm and marched her out of the offices and Kari wanted to cry. She tried to hide the fact from Jacob, but he was too perceptive, at least where she was concerned. Once she was safely buckled in, he reached across the seat and took her hand. "I'm sorry, Kari. I know this is hard on you, and I blame myself." "Why? It's not your fault, and if you tell me that you started it all by dropping into

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my apartment, may I remind you that I might have died if you hadn't... and even worse than dying, my darling, would be not meeting you at all! I love you, and right now I'm acting like a big baby, feeling sorry for myself! I'm pouting!" she made a face, even as she reached into her handbag for the packet of tissues she kept inside. She took one out and dabbed at her eyes. Jake couldn't help chuckling, but he said, "I love you, too, sweetheart, and once this is all over, I'm going to take you on a real honeymoon." "Really?" Kari asked. "Really. Where would you like to go?" he asked of her. "I don't have a clue," she admitted. "I have a few places I don't want to go," he frowned. "Would you like to go to Paris... or Rome?" "No. I would rather do something right here in the States. There are so many

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wonderful places I've never been. I'd be perfectly happy with a cabin in the mountains, Jacob." "Which mountains?" he asked with a grin. "I don't care, just as long as I'm with you," she told him, meaning every word. "I'll surprise you, then," he said with a smile. "That will be fun," she nodded in satisfaction, and then asked, "Where are we going, Jake?" "Nevin and Kelly Wintrow own a farm; it was Kelly's grandparents' and she inherited it a couple years ago. No one is living in the house right now, and you are going to stay there with Kelly until I deal with this situation and put Darles behind bars." "How did you find out that he knew where I work?" she asked, and felt a twinge of fear when Jake's face reflected his outrage and anger.

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"He sent me a message." Jake wasn't about to tell Kari that the message was delivered via email, and contained an attachment of photos of her sitting at her desk working. Darles had someone in the next building shooting photos through the window... The camera could just as easily have been a gun! Jake was crazy with fear until he got to her office and pulled her out of there. Darles knew he was a cop... and that put the rest of his family in danger, too. He'd warned all of them to be especially careful, and insisted his sister come home from school. Jenna wasn't happy, but Jase went to bring her home, and if she didn't settle down and stay with Ma, Jake was going to put her over his knee and straighten her out fast... if Jase didn't beat him to it, and that was likely to happen if she cursed at him the way she did Jake when he called her to tell her to get packed up.

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"Jacob Tobias, do you remember a conversation we had about honesty and not keeping me in the dark for 'my own good'? I'm not a child, and you are hiding things from me..." He looked at her, and then nodded. "I just want to protect you, but you're right, sweetheart. You have a right to know what is going on, especially since it concerns you and your safety. That bastard Darles had pictures of you sitting at your desk working. They were taken this morning. He emailed them to me... along with the reminder that the camera could have been a gun. He wants you alive." "To sell me," she shuddered. "Or abuse you to hurt me," Jake said quietly. "I want you to be extremely careful, Kari. You need to mind Kelly, and let her do her job. She'll keep you safe as long as you do what she says."

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"I'm not exactly helpless myself," Kari informed him. "I might not be a police officer, but Dad made sure I took some self-defense classes." "I hope it doesn't come down to that, sweetheart," Jake said. "I'm going to catch the bastard and put him away. I have enough evidence to make the charges stick, and we have a warrant for his arrest. All you need to do is stay out of sight. Can I trust you, sweetheart?" he asked meaningfully. "Implicitly," she nodded. "Don't even let your mind stray where it's going," she warned. "I do not need another spanking for any reason ever again!" she assured him, her voice emphatic. "Pretty sore, huh?" he asked sympathetically. "Oh yeah!" she admitted, her cheeks turning a bright pink with embarrassment. "That doesn't make me happy," he told her. "Do you believe that?" It was important

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to him that she not fear him, or think him an ogre. "Yes, I believe you, Jacob," Kari smiled. "I know you love me... a lot...!" she added with a giggle. "Yes, I do, and I will love you a lot more if you give Kelly any grief whatsoever, Mrs. Tobias," he warned, his voice soft and all the more threatening for the quiet intensity. "I will behave," Kari promised. "I am already sore enough to remind me I don't want another spanking ever!" She changed the subject. "How much farther do we have to drive?" "Another five minutes," he admitted. "Where are you going to be while I'm out here?" she asked, a bit frightened at the thought of being so far away from him. "Searching for Darles until I find him, sweetheart. I can't run the risk of staying out here at night; I could lead him to you."

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"Are you sure we're not being followed now?" she turned around in the seat to look out the back window for any sign of another vehicle. "I'm positive. This car was searched thoroughly for any kind of bugs," he told her. "I had the car watched from a distance while I was inside getting you. I've been watching, and we've taken a scenic route to get out here. I'm doing my best to outsmart Darles, sweetheart. I want you keep you safe," he said solemnly. "I hate the thought of being separated," Kari admitted, tears in her green eyes. "I hate it, too," he admitted, and the look he gave her was sad. "I promise that I'll find him, sweetheart, and we'll get our lives back. Mr. McCrady gave me his word that he won't fire you or replace you. He says you are a good worker and he values you and wants to keep you." "He said that?" she was pleased.

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"Yes, he did," Jake nodded. "He knows this isn't your fault, and he wants you to be safe. So, please try not to worry about work right now. Just try to relax, and enjoy spending some time with Kelly. She said she had some ideas to keep you both busy while you have so much time on your hands." "What about her husband and kids...? Surely she can't stay with me until this is all over...?" Kari protested. "That wouldn't be fair to her... or them!" "She asked for the assignment, and Nevin supported her. They're acting as friends, sweetheart, and I trust them implicitly with your safety." "I do, too," she agreed, and a couple minutes later they pulled into a long driveway. Two large dogs came running, barking and growling, until Kelly came outside and called them down. "Queenie, Midnight, come here," Kelly patted her leg and the two animals came to

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her, wagging their tails. "This is Kari. She's a friend." She looked at Kari and smiled reassuringly. "Hold out your hand, palm up, Kari, and let them smell you. They won't hurt you, and want to say 'hello'. You can pet them now and they'll be friendly. Most of all, they'll protect you if need be." Kari wasn't afraid of the dogs, and within seconds they were friends and the animals were in love with her. Kelly insisted that Jacob do the same, and the dogs fell in love with him, too, especially when he picked up a stick and threw it for them to chase. "It's a great idea to have the dogs here, Kelly," he told her. "Thank you for going out of your way for us." "You and Kari are friends," she said simply. "The dogs are Nevin's idea. He knows that no one will get close to the house with them here to guard us." "I feel better about that, too," he confessed. He then smiled at Kelly and asked,

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"As a friend who cares about you, do you have plenty of ammunition if you need it, Kelly?" "Yes. Nevin made sure I was well stocked," she replied, and she looked at Kari and gave her a barely perceptible nod, but Jake saw it and asked, "What?" "Kelly was telling me that she brought a weapon for me to use, too, if necessary," Kari immediately spoke up. "Now, don't look at me like that. I'm aware of what you think about civilians arming themselves, but I'm not a novice, Jake. Dad taught me self-defense, and that includes guns. Someday we'll go to a range and I'll show you, but Kelly trusts me to help out if need be, and don't worry, I won't shoot you or Nevin if you come in some night after dark." "You didn't have a gun in your apartment," Jake said. "Yes, I did. You just didn't know where to look, and it sure didn't do me any good

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where I had it, either," she confessed, and then admitted, "Darles and his men have it now, honey. It was taken when they trashed the place." Jake wasn't happy and it showed for one brief second until he forced it down. "We'll discuss a better way of keeping a gun once this is all over, sweetheart, and just for the record, I'm glad you couldn't get to your gun that day. I wouldn't have been expecting it, and one of us could have been injured or killed." He kissed her, hard. "Be careful, and listen to Kelly. Trust her instincts. Don't argue if she tells you to do something. Do it as if it was me telling you. Got that, sweetheart?" he asked gruffly, grasping her shoulders and giving her a single shake. "I give you my word I will do everything possible to keep us both safe," Kari promised, and then she grabbed his shoulders and tried to give him a little shake. "I want your word that you won't take any stupid risks

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with your safety, either, Jacob Tobias! I love you!" "I promise," he grinned at her, then leaned down to kiss her. He turned to Kelly, and gave her a hug. "You be careful, too, little one. Thank you for your help." They watched Jake drive down the long driveway and onto the road. Once he was out of sight, Kelly said, "Come on inside and I'll show you the house, Kari. I want you to memorize where everything is so that you could walk through here blindfolded. If something happens, we'll kill all the lights and have an advantage. Pretend that you are in school now. This house is old, and has lots of doors and little cubbyholes. And the floors are uneven in spots. Rooms added on, and at different levels. Just part of the charm, but dangerous in the dark if you don't remember." Kelly was a relentless teacher and Kari proved herself an apt pupil. She didn't

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complain, even when Kelly put a blindfold on her and made her navigate the house without any help at all. Kari passed with flying colors, and then hugged Kelly. "Thank you for believing in me and treating me as a competent person capable of helping in an emergency. That means so much to me, Kelly. I'm so grateful to have you here with me, although I feel guilty at taking you away from Nevin and the kids." "You're my friend, Kari. Even though I never ever want you to do it again, I was so touched when you came running outside when you thought I was in trouble. I don't think either of my sisters would have done that; they'd be too scared and afraid for themselves. You're special, Kari," she said emotionally. "Nevin thought it 'foolish but very brave,'" she imitated his deep voice, and then giggled. "I felt awful that you got into trouble with Jake because of me."

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"It wasn't your fault, Kelly; it was all mine. And, it was just the last straw with Jake for the day," Kari admitted. "I earned the spanking I got, and I know it was given with lots of love," she said, although her cheeks were pink. "He hated it, Kari. I could see the regret in his eyes; reminded me of Nevin when I've crossed that proverbial line." "I know of a third lady who has discovered her husband loves her enough to spank," Kari confided without mentioning any names. "I'm beginning to believe there are lots of special husbands out there." "Maybe we should form a club to pass out frozen peas and sympathetic hugs," Kelly grinned, then reached for her gun when the dogs started barking like crazy. "Go and hide where I told you, Kari," she said firmly. Kari nodded and did as she was told. The farmhouse was very old, and one of the features was a secret hiding place that was used

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in case of Indian attack, and also has a place to hide runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. Now it was a safe place for her to hide while Kelly faced danger! Kari didn't want to remain hidden. She couldn't hear what was going on, but Kelly was back in less than ten minutes, a smile on her face. "Come on out, Kari. It was Mrs. Henderson from next door. She noticed the lights and decided to come and say hello. I've known her all my life. She brought us a loaf of freshly baked bread and it's still warm. You want some?" "Of course!" Kari promptly agreed. She followed Kelly to the kitchen, and once they were happily eating their snack, she said, "I hate hiding and leaving you alone to face whatever, Kelly. It just doesn't feel right to me." "I understand, but I want you to know that I expect you to do it anyway." She leveled her eyes on Kari. "I'll tattle if you don't listen!" That made both of them giggle.

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Kelly talked about her grandparents and spending time on the farm, and said that of all the grandkids, she was the one who loved it most, and that was why her Granddad left it to her, much to her surprise and her siblings and cousin's envy. "He gave them some money each, but made it clear the farm was mine because he trusted me to keep it as a farm, and leave it to a child or grandchild of mine who would do the same. He wants it to stay in our family as it has since it was built." "It's lovely, Kelly. Do you and Nevin plan to live here someday?" "No. Nevin likes to come out here on weekends, but he's a city boy and uncomfortable with the idea of living here. I'm okay with that. We hire the farming done, and maintain the house and use it to get away. The extra income helps a lot with the kids, and now..." she suddenly broke off. "Kelly?" Kari looked at her. "Are you pregnant?"

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Kelly smiled and then nodded. "I just found out this morning, and I'm so excited!" "Does Nevin know?" Kari couldn't believe he would let her take on this assignment if he did." "No... and please don't tell him. He will want me to take a leave of absence right away, and I would go nuts at home right now." "He's going to turn your bottom red when he learns you've kept this from him," Kari predicted. "No he won't," Kelly grinned. "He won't spank me if I'm pregnant," she stated knowingly. "Please, Kari. I want to do this for you and Jake. After we know you're safe, I'll tell Nevin, and my Lieutenant." "I'm not going to let you get hurt protecting me, Kelly," Kari stated firmly. "No more hiding unless you hide with me, or I tattle, too." "Kari!"

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"Kelly!" "I feel as though we're sisters," Kelly said emotionally, and then hugged the other woman. "I can't imagine telling anyone else the things I share with you." "I don't have any siblings, but I would be honored to be your sister," Kari answered. "Let's talk babies..." *** "I hope the girls are behaving," Nevin said to Jake as he dropped into a chair across from the other man's desk. "Do you think we need to check up on them?" Jake asked in concern. Nevin's uncanny instincts were legendary in the department. "I already did... Just called and talked to Kelly. She's all bubbly; says they're having girl fun and talking. She had one visitor and Kari did what she was told to do," he told Jake. "Guess that little lesson you gave her

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took pretty well," he added with a familiarity that spoke of friendship. "Not a good way to start a marriage," Jake grumbled, still feeling bad over the incident. "She loves you; told Kelly that," Nevin shared with a grin. "Those two have a lot in common. Kelly considers Kari more of a sister than she does those two brainless wonders who are her biological sisters." "So, why the frown?" Jake asked. "Something is off," Nevin frowned. "I know Kelly. She's hiding something, but she doesn't lie, and they aren't doing anything they aren't supposed to be doing. They haven't been outside, aren't on the phones. Things seem normal. She gave me all sorts of instructions for laundry tonight, and on how to do Gracie's hair in the morning," he shook his head. "Like I'm going to do more than brush it out..." he growled.

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"Do you want me to ask Jenna to come over and help out in the morning?" Jake offered. "It might give her something to do that won't get her read end paddled." "Nope. You keep her at home. It's one thing if you or Jase whack her, but I don't have the patience you do, and she might not like it if I whop her one." Jake hooted with laughter. "I need to find a guy who knows how to deal with her sass," he admitted, and then said, "Seriously, she's a handful right now. I don't trust her not to mix into this mess because she wants to get even to what Darles did to her friend Deborah." "You'd better put someone on her, Jake," Nevin said at once, "or send her over to help with my girls. I can keep an eye on her that way," he offered. "I put Officer Aiken on her, with strict orders not to put up with any of her crap." "He's a green kid," Nevin said in surprise.

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"And anxious to please. Jenna will find him cute," Jake grinned at his friend. "All he needs to do is turn those blue eyes on her and she'll melt, and hopefully behave." "What if she tells him to go to hell and gives him the slip?" "I warned her she might try that," Jake shook his head. "Jase is working, and I can't stick him with her, and I've got to find Darles. Aiken will have to do his best, and sit on her if she won't be reasonable." *** "You're a cute little handful, honey," the man reached out to grab Jenna's arm. "Let go of me, moron. You're drunk!" Jenna tugged on her arm, and when the man didn't release her, she made a fist and slugged him in the nose! "You bitch!" the man roared and drew back a fist to repay her in kind. The blow Jenna expected didn't come, but instead she found herself freed.

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"Leave the lady alone," her rescuer said by way of warning. "Look, pretty boy, that girl slugged me and all I done was offer to buy her a drink." "You put your hands on her. Now back off." The man lurched forward, but overbalanced and went crashing to the floor, out cold. "Thanks," Jenna smiled at the handsome man who came to her aid. "You shouldn't be in here, Miss Tobias." Jenna's smile immediately disappeared. "Who are you? How do you know my name?" "I'm Linc Aiken, and your brother is my Lieutenant. I've been assigned to protect you, and I sure can't do it in a place like this. We're leaving for your home right now," he said firmly. "You can leave when you want; I'm not going anywhere." "You're too pretty to be so stubborn. Let's go."

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"I said 'no'," she told him. "Oh, I heard you," he nodded affably. "You owe the bartender anything?" he asked. "No, she don't," the man answered. "Get her out of here before she gets herself hurt," he warned under his breath. "Thanks," Linc gave the man a nod, and made a mental note to call that bit of information in to the Lieutenant just as soon as he got Jenna out of the place. "I'm tired of your silly little games, girl, but if caveman is what you want, then caveman is what you'll get!" he spoke loudly, and then beat on his chest a bit, all for dramatic effect. "What are you doing?" Jenna hissed angrily. "Getting you out of here, princess," Linc answered. "Easy or hard, makes me no difference." He bent down and scooped her up over his shoulder, and when she started kicking her feet and beating on his back with her

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fists, he reached up and smacked her backside. "Settle down woman! The cavewoman is supposed to come along quietly!" he pretended to be just a bit drunk. "Put me down, you moron!" Jenna yelled. "HELP ME!" she cried out as he headed for the door. "Hell, honey, they're gonna help me if you don't stop kicking. You tell me you want a Caveman, and when I give you what you want, you act like a spoiled little bitch!" he kept his words slightly slurred. "Now settle down so we can go home and get to work makin' those babies you want, sugar!" he slapped her bottom once more, and the people standing around watching curiously hooted in laughter. Linc continued to make jokes the whole of the way to the door, and kept drowning out anything that Jenna tried to say in her defense. Once outside in the parking lot, he walked swiftly to his car, but was suddenly

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aware that three men were following. He quickly shoved Jenna in the car and told her to lock the door, and turned to face the three. "Give her up, boy, and you won't get hurt," one of the men smiled. "She's my wife, and I don't give her up to anyone," Linc replied calmly. "I protect what's mine, so move on unless you want to find out the hard way." "You aren't too smart, are you, boy?" the man asked as he took out a knife and flicked it open.

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Chapter Nine
Jenna was terrified as the three men drew knives and came at the handsome young police officer who'd carried her out of the bar! She took out her cell phone and called Jake for help. He answered immediately, and listened as she told him what was happening. She knew she sounded hysterical, but she was hysterical, and just didn't know what to do. She hadn't realized that Darles would send so many men after her! Jake told her to stay in the locked car, and promised he would be there as soon as possible. Jenna prayed that he would hurry because Linc was definitely outnumbered. Linc calmly watched as one of the men nodded to the others, and the next couple of minutes happened as if in slow motion. Linc remained focused and calm, and by the time it was all over, the three men were lying unconscious on the pavement. They'd drawn a crowd, and obviously someone had called 911

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before he could call it in himself. Two cruisers came flying into the parking lot and officers jumped out; Linc pulled his badge and held it out to identify himself as a police officer. Another car pulled in right behind the other officers, and Jenna jumped out of Linc's car and ran straight into her brother's arms. "Jenna, are you all right?" Jake asked, taking note of the fear in her pretty eyes. "They were trying to take me, Jake. Linc didn't let them. He risked his life to save me!" she burst into tears. "I didn't know what to do!" "You did the right thing by calling me," Jake gave her a hug. "Officer, do you need medical attention?" he asked Linc. "No, sir. I'm fine," Linc responded. "You did a fine job, Aiken," Nevin nodded in approval. "Sir, the bartender warned me to get Miss Tobias out of the bar before she got hurt. I

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think he might know something that would help with your investigation." Jake nodded, and then said, "Bring Jenna with you, and we'll sort this out in my office." "What about my car?" Jenna asked. "What about it, young lady? As of right now, you don't have a car. You were told to keep your butt at home tonight. You're damned lucky that Officer Aiken takes his job seriously and found you. He wasn't ordered to do so. I suggest you think about that and what might have happened to you if he wasn't here to save your butt." Jenna wanted to die of embarrassment at the public dressing down, but she wisely knew it wasn't the time or place to push her eldest brother. He was angry with her, and anything she had to say on the subject would have to wait. When Linc opened the car door for her, she got in without a word. It was going to be a long evening... and then she'd have to face her Ma, too!

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"You're the one who called 911?" Linc asked as he started his car. "I called Jake," she answered, and then admitted, "I was afraid for you, Linc." "You did the right thing to call for backup," he smiled. "Thanks, Jenna." "No... Thank you for protecting me," she looked at him. "They were Darles' men and they were trying to kidnap me for him. I was trying to bring him out in the open so Jake could arrest him. The man hurt my best friend," she tearfully explained. "I only wanted to help and I nearly got you killed in the process! I'm so sorry!" "I've been in worse situations," Linc confided. "This wasn't so difficult, and I had an added incentive, to keep them from getting to you." "You're very nice, Linc," Jenna whispered emotionally.

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"Well, I try to be, but I'm going to be blunt, little girl. If your brother doesn't warm your fanny for this stunt, I will." Jenna gasped angrily. "You have no right to say that, and you had no right to treat me the way you did inside that bar! You smacked me several times!" she accused. "I still have your handprints on my bottom!" "Good," he grinned. "I was trying to get you to shut up, and it was pretty darn effective. You know you had no business going to that place, Jenna. You were told to stay home, and I wasn't a bit happy when I got to your house and found you missing. It took me several hours to find you, and that drunk was about to fist you in the face!" "I can take care of myself!" she indignantly complained. "Yeah, I saw how well you could do that," he growled, pulling into the police station's parking garage. He pulled into his assigned space, and then hurried to catch up to her

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when she jumped out of the car and took off running. He grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Little girl, you are just begging for a spanking. Settle down now, or it's going to happen right here," he warned. "I'm going to tell Jake that you mistreated me!" she promised. "He'll give me a commendation," Linc replied, grinning. "Ohhhhh, I hate you!" "You're just mad because you know I'm right," he marched her inside the building, nodded at the guard, and then took the elevator to the third floor, where Jake's office was located. Once they were inside the small office, he seated Jenna on a chair with a hard thump. She immediately jumped up and slapped his face as hard as she could. Linc rubbed his stinging cheek, and then shut the door before turning on the pretty young brunette. "You just bought yourself a trip over

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my knee, little girl," he promised, his blue eyes glittering like blue chips of eyes. "You wouldn't dare!" Jenna backed away from him. He followed. "I'm serious, Linc... I'll tell Jake and he'll kick your butt!" She backed even further as he continued to come closer. "Okay, I shouldn't have slapped you... I'm sorry!" she apologized. He grinned and backed her right up to the window that looked out over the street. In the next second, he snagged her wrist and pulled her over to one of the wooden chairs in front of Jake's desk. "Don't you dare!" Jenna yelled in a pleading tone of voice. "I said I was sorry!" she reminded him. "You're only sorry because you're going to get a good spanking," Linc told her, easily tugging her down over his knee even though she was struggling and trying to stop him from doing so. Jenna was so embarrassed she didn't know what to do. Her skirt was really short...

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perfect for clubbing... but it exposed entirely too much of her while in this awful position. "Let me up," she begged, trying to reach back and tug the hem down to cover herself. "This skirt should be burned," Linc said in disapproval, giving her bottom a sound spank right below the hem and leaving a red handprint on her sit spot. "Your butt is practically hanging out," he told her. "If you were mine, I guarantee you wouldn't be wearing this ever again!" His hand fell again, and then he shoved the scrap of fabric up to show her panties, which were equally skimpy. Jenna was mortified. "Pull down my skirt, Linc! Please! What if someone walks in here?" "I guess they'll see you getting your almost bare butt spanked," he said, and then proceeded to do just that, reining spank after spank down on her bottom and sit spots until Jenna was crying and begging for mercy. Linc wasn't inclined to be merciful. He

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spanked her for not staying home when she was told to do so. He spanked her for dressing like she was selling herself, much to Jenna's shame, and he spanked her for antagonizing the drunk to the point she was almost beaten, and he spanked her for giving him a hard time getting her out of the bar... and then, he finished the spanking by giving her ten really hard spanks, all to her sit spots, for slapping his face! *** "You don't want to go in there just yet, Jake," Nevin reached out to stop Jake before he got to his office. "Why not?" Jake demanded. "Your sister might be embarrassed if you walked in right now. That kid Aiken just finished spanking the daylights out of her. He's wiping her eyes right now and talking to her, but she's pretty emotional. You picked the right man for the job, for sure."

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"I had a feeling he would be able to deal with her, but it still doesn't set well with me that he took it this far." "I spanked Kelly within twenty-four hours of noticing her," Nevin admitted in embarrassment. "The little fool nearly got herself killed to save my life," he confided in his friend. "It was so damned brave of her, and it went on her record that way... but as a man, she scared the hell out of me, and I spanked her that night." Not very nice of me, considering, but I loved her already. Then, after we got married and had a fight... a bad fight... she came to me and asked me why I was letting her get away with acting like that? She wanted us to have a domestic discipline relationship within our marriage. I was trying to be the modern husband, and it wasn't what she wanted." He grinned. "Kelly told me that you and Kari have the same type of marriage... and it could be your little sister needs the same type of man? You have to let

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her take her lumps, Jake. She slapped Aiken hard, and he probably has the handprint on his face. Little Jenna needed a spanking." Jake took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I figured on doing it myself," he admitted. They waited another few minutes, and then Jake walked on in, pretending not to notice when Linc took his arm from around his still sniffling sister. "Jake...?" she asked for his attention, and when he raised his eyes to look at her he could see she'd been crying. "Jake, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and stay home tonight... but do you think they would have come there to get me?" she asked, sounding more like a scared little girl than a young woman about to graduate from college. "That is why I sent Officer Aiken to protect you, honey," he said patiently, and then added in a stern tone of voice. "I had your car taken to the house, but the keys are mine for the time being. You are grounded, little

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sister, and if you fuss at me, you'll get another spanking. Is that perfectly clear?" Her face turned scarlet, but she nodded. "I am well aware of what happened in that bar before Officer Aiken carried you outside, and I hope you know how lucky you are he went beyond the call of duty to find you tonight. He didn't deserve your sass, and he certainly didn't deserve to have his face slapped. Am I making myself clear?" Jake knew he was being hard on her, but the handprint on Linc's face was still a bright red and had to sting like hell. "You deserved that spanking, little sister, and if Linc hadn't already tended to the matter, you would be over my knee tonight getting the same damned thing. Are we on the same page now?" he asked. "Yes, Jake. I am sorry. I really am. I just wanted to do something for Deborah! She's in so much pain right now, and she is terrified Darles will come after her. I thought I could..."

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"Set yourself up as bait...?" Jake asked in a strangled voice. "Jenna, honey, what were you thinking? You had no protection whatsoever... You aren't carrying a gun, are you?" he demanded, and was around the desk in the next second, grabbing her handbag. He found exactly what he expected to find. "Good God, Jenna! This is illegal!" his voice was hoarse. "I'm going to have to arrest you!" he wanted to cry. "It is too legal, Jake. I'm of legal age to own a gun. I have a concealed carry license," she announced, and then she had to giggle when he looked at her in such obvious relief. "I know how you feel about people carrying guns, but I did this all legal, and I took classes, too. I'm not irresponsible, big brother. I love you too much to embarrass you by doing something illegal and stupid." She got up and put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I just have to help you take care of Darles."

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"Jenna, I know you feel terrible about Deborah; we all do; but I cannot and will not permit you to use yourself as bait. If I have to finish the spanking that Linc started, I will, and I promise I won't stop until you are too bruised to dress like a tramp in clothes like these!" He could see how red her upper thighs were beneath the short skirt. "I already have his attention, Jake. Those were his men who tried to kidnap me, and I am in over my head," she admitted, her lower lip trembling. "If Linc hadn't been there, I would have been in so much trouble I can't bear thinking about it. I wanted to help you, and I went about it all wrong. I'm sorry, Jake, and I promise I'll do what you say now. My word on it," she said emotionally. She turned to Linc and said, "I'm so grateful to you for helping me tonight. I'm sorry I made it more difficult, Linc, and I apologize for slapping you. I was embarrassed because I knew you were right to

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scold, and I was angry at myself... and I took it out on you. I really am sorry I hurt you. You, of all people, didn't deserve that," she tearfully proclaimed. "I understand, Jenna," Linc got to his feet and gave her a hug. "Now, I'm not going to apologize for spanking you, little girl. You needed that... but I am sorry it was necessary. It wasn't how I planned for us to get acquainted," he said earnestly. "Were you in the military?" she suddenly asked. "Like in special forces of some kind? You did not learn to fight like that at the police academy," she said. Linc nodded. "Marines, and proud of it," he answered. "And I was in Special Forces," he admitted. "I'm glad," Jenna said softly. "Those three were dangerous, and they meant to kill you." "You handled yourself well, Linc, and on a personal level, I want to thank you for protecting Jenna. We love her and would be

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devastated if anything happened to her," Jake admitted. "I understand, sir," Linc smiled. He'd seen the love in Jake's eyes as he'd scolded his sister, and the pain in them when he thought he'd need to arrest her for carrying a concealed weapon. Yes, Jenna was loved... and he was pretty darn sure that he was falling hard for the pretty young woman himself! Jake returned to his seat behind the desk and was all business as he asked questions to determine exactly what happened and how it happened. He told the Officer to write it up and submit it by the next morning, and then he asked him to take Jenna home and see to it she stayed there. He promised to relieve him in a few hours, once he went to the hospital and interrogated the three men who tried to abduct Jenna. Then he leveled his gaze on his sister, "When I get home tonight I expect to see your license to carry a

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concealed weapon, and the proof that you took classes. You have them ready, young lady. We will be discussing this further." Jenna knew what that meant, and she wanted to cry. She knew full well how Jake felt about civilians arming themselves, but she went about it in the right way! Still, he was more than likely going to set her bottom on fire for the second time that evening, and she was already very tender and sore. Sitting wasn't impossible yet, but it would be if Jake decided to spank her again! Linc was just as happy as Jenna to get out of Jake's office. He knew how lucky he was that he wasn't sitting in a cell because he'd taken things too far with Jenna by spanking her. Jake could have had his badge, but instead he'd thanked him and said he understood his spanking Jenna. Of course, the pretty brunette deserved a spanking, but it wasn't the best way to start a relationship. He was alert as they left the building and

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went to his car. He knew that other cops had been attacked in the garage as they left work, and he wasn't about to give someone a chance to get the drop on him, especially when he was responsible for Jenna. No one was lurking about, and he put her in his car and left to drive to her home. "I don't normally dress like this, or wear this much makeup, Linc," she startled him by saying after a couple minutes of silence. "That's good to hear, because you're done with it as of tonight, sugar," he looked at her. "You are too sweet a girl to dress like a hooker, or a cheap pickup." "You think I'm sweet?" she asked. "I surely do," Linc answered. "And, I understand you wanting to go after the ones who hurt your friend." "I love her, Linc, and she is so shattered, so frail. I'm so afraid for her. She feels so dirty now, like she's done something to be ashamed of. They did all sorts of things to

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her... to break her. They beat her when she fought them, and they used her over and over and over," Jenna said, her voice breaking. "She didn't tell Jake and the others all of it. She was too embarrassed. They deserve to die for what they did to her. She was saving herself for marriage, and now she thinks no man will ever want her because she's so hurt and terrified of being touched." "Is she in counseling, sugar?" Linc asked, his voice full of sympathy. Jenna nodded. "I've gone with her... until Jake sent Jason for me today!" "He's trying to keep that from happening to you, Jenna." "I know... but what about Deborah? She needs me to be with her right now! She's so afraid they'll come after her again." "She's being watched," he told her. "The Lieutenant isn't taking any chances. She has a female officer with her at all times, and

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there are others working undercover. If Darles tries to take her, they'll catch him." "I didn't know that!" she said, her eyes snapping with temper. "Jake could have told me so I wouldn't worry so damned much!" "He's got a lot on his mind, sugar, and I'm sure he would have said something if he knew how upset you were." "I suppose," Jenna answered, and then she groaned. "Oh no! Ma is home, and she's going to be really upset with me!" She turned to him and said, "Couldn't we go to your place instead?" "Do you want the Lieutenant to kick my butt, literally and at work?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "No, of course not, but are you sure you're ready to face Ma? She's going to be upset with you for spanking me, and you can't keep anything a secret from her. She's one of those people who can look at you and just know things."

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"I can't wait to meet her," Linc said with a grin. "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you," she folded her arms across her chest while he parked the car. Linc got out and looked all around. It seemed safe, but he wasn't taking any chances. "Do you have your door key?" he asked. "Yes." "Give it to me," he ordered. Once she handed it to him, he reached inside the car and pulled her out, and then tossed her over his shoulder for the second time that night, and ran toward the house. "What are you doing, you moron! Put me down!" she screeched, earning herself a hard whack on the backside. "Trying to keep you safe, and you'd better settle down, or isn't your butt sore enough yet?" he gave her another spank for good measure... and to hear her squeal.

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"Okay, okay! Please stop spanking me," Jenna begged. "I just find this embarrassing," she admitted as he put her key into the door lock. "I'm sorry," he said, putting her on the floor in the foyer, and quickly shutting the door and locking it. "I'm going to check out the house just to be sure it is locked up tight." He took two steps and was facing an irate woman with a gun in her hand. "You stand right there, handsome, and tell me who you are and why you are here, and just why my daughter is dressed that way!" "Ma, he's a police officer; put the gun down," Jenna moved to stand in front of Linc. "He saved my life tonight, and you're going to want to feed him and hug him, not shoot him, and does Jake know you have a gun?" she demanded.

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"No, he doesn't, and it isn't any of his business, do you hear me, Jenna?" Molly said firmly. "Yes, Ma, I hear you. Please put it away now. Linc is a nice guy." "I'm sorry, Linc, is it? Jacob warned me to be careful, and I am doing just that, and you, Miss Jenna, were supposed to be in this house and not out gallivanting all over the place, and what is with those trashy clothes and the makeup?" she demanded without taking a breath. "Ma, may I please change first, and then I'll answer all of your millions of questions," Jenna answered, and then said the magic words, "Ma, Linc and I haven't eaten and we're starving... Could you fix us something?" "Of course, I'll fix you something. Young man, just where do you think you are going?" she demanded when Linc started to follow Jenna to her bedroom.

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"I'm assigned to protect Jenna, Mrs. Tobias. I'm going to make sure her bedroom is safe, no one hiding in the closet or under the bed. I'll step outside while she is changing her clothing," he promised with a smile. "Very well," Molly gave over. "Are you a picky eater?" she asked as he walked away. "No, ma'am, I am not a bit picky." "Handsome and not picky. That's two!" he heard Molly say and looked to Jenna questioningly, but she was blushing. He stopped her from going into her bedroom until he searched thoroughly, his gun in his hand. He wasn't taking any chances. The bedroom window was unlocked, and he quickly locked it. "Did you have this window open, Jenna?" "No," she answered. "Do you think that someone was in here and unlocked it to come back later when I was home?" "It's possible. Grab up your clothes and what you need, and go on into the bathroom.

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I'm going to sit right here while you are dressing, sugar. If someone tries to come in that window, they're going to get a big surprise." Jenna scrubbed her face and took off the offending garments. She also slid down her panties and looked at her still-red bottom in the full length mirror on the door! She was definitely sore. She pulled her panties back up, and decided they were much too tight. She took them off, tossed them into the hamper, and then pulled on her flannel sleep pants and a sweat shirt. She brushed her hair, and tied it back with a scrunchie, and when she felt more like herself, she padded barefoot into her bedroom. She felt Linc's eyes on her and blushed. "Now you look really pretty without all that goop on your face," he said with a smile. "Thank you," Jenna smiled in return. "I thought you were planning to step out of here while my daughter changed, young

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man?" Molly was standing in the doorway and she wasn't a bit happy. "Mrs. Tobias, did you notice anything out of the ordinary when you got home today?" Linc asked seriously. "The front door was unlocked... but I just assumed that Jenna left and forgot. We've both done that before," she said, but when Jenna paled, she whispered, "Was someone inside, do you think?"

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Chapter Ten
"I think it is very possible that someone was inside the house, Mrs. Tobias," Linc answered. "Jenna's bedroom window was unlocked. We'll stake it out tonight," he promised. "I'm going to check all the other rooms to make sure the windows and doors are locked," he told them. "Jenna, do you seriously know how to use your gun?" he asked. When she nodded in reply, he said, "Keep it with you, please. If anyone tries to come inside that you don't know, use it." "You have a gun!" Molly looked at her youngest child in shock as the handsome young police officer went to search the rest of the house. "I do, and Jake knows, and he is not happy," Jenna answered, taking her weapon out of her purse and leading the way into the kitchen. She checked the locks and closed the blinds over the windows to prevent anyone from looking inside, and then turned off the

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bright overhead lights. "We don't want to be silhouettes on the blinds, Ma," she said. "I'm coming into the kitchen, sugar," Linc called out as a precaution against startling the women and getting himself shot. He knew they were both frightened. "Your bedroom window was the only one unlocked. "Did you check these locks before you closed the blinds?" he asked. "Yes." "I called the Lieutenant and let him know about the door and your window. He said to tell you both not to worry. He's on his way here." He looked at Jenna. "Do you have your permit to show him, Jenna?" "Yes. It's in my bag." He got her bag and once she found it, he looked it over, and nodded. "Good for you, sugar. This will go a long way toward easing his worry." Linc looked at Molly and asked, "Ma'am, do you have a permit for your gun?" he wanted to know.

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"Would you arrest me if I didn't?" she asked in a testy tone of voice, and Jenna wanted to laugh at the startled expression on Linc's face. "No, ma'am. I wouldn't dare. But, the Lieutenant might," he added with a spark of humor. To Jenna's relief her Mother laughed, and then said, "I have a permit. I've had this gun since my kids were small, and I do know how to use it." "I believe you." "So, Jenna, would you care to explain to me why you were dressed like a prostitute tonight, and why you were out of this house after your brother made it so clear you were to stay right here?" Molly turned her eyes on her squirming daughter. "Can't it wait until after we eat, Ma?" Jenna pleaded. "Oh, I'm going to be so mad at you!" Molly exclaimed.

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"I've already been spanked and Jake took away my car keys, too, and grounded me!" she blurted, pouting just a bit. "Jake spanked you?" Molly was surprised. "No..." She was too embarrassed to continue. "I did, Mrs. Tobias, and I'm not going to apologize for it, either," Linc told her, his voice firm and full of conviction. "Jenna had a spanking coming to her, and I did a good job of setting her backside on fire! If that chair didn't have a soft cushion on it, she wouldn't be sitting down," he added with a touch of sympathy for the young woman. "Jenna, what on earth did you do?" Molly actually turned away from the stove and the food she was cooking to look at her daughter, a sure sign she was very upset and concerned. "I tried to draw out Darles so Jake could arrest him," the pretty brunette told the

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truth. Lying to her Ma never worked, and she'd just find herself in more trouble with her family, who all loved her. "Jenna! What were you thinking? That man has no scruples whatsoever! Look what he did to Deborah!" Molly exclaimed, and when she saw the look in her daughter's tearfilled eyes, she said, "I see, honey. You were trying to see justice done. Oh, baby, that wasn't a smart or safe thing to do," she gently scolded. "You're right, Ma. I got in over my head, and three of Darles' men came after me. Linc saved me, and it is a miracle he wasn't killed or hurt. I expected Darles to come, not to send three of his men..." she admitted tearfully. "If Linc hadn't been there... One man, Darles, I could have handled... maybe... Linc saved me, Ma, and I was so awful to him. I slapped his face," she confessed. "Oh, Jenna! Why did you do that?" Molly asked her daughter.

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"He was scolding, and I knew I had it coming, but I was so angry with myself... You know me, Ma. I take my temper out on anyone foolish enough to be within proximity of me. I'm not proud of it, either," she confessed. "I earned a spanking for sure." Coming from Jenna, it was a huge concession. "Yes, I believe you did," Molly agreed, and then her worry took over. "Oh, Jenna, you have to promise me right now that you won't try anything like that ever again!" "I won't, Ma," she promised. "I've learned my lesson. I'm so fortunate Linc spent hours searching for me tonight, and that he was willing to risk his life to protect me. Jake and Nevin both think highly of him," she said with a smile for the man. Linc was blushing at Jenna's praise, and he was proud of her for accepting responsibility for her actions. She wasn't the spoiled brat he first thought her to be.

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"Thank you, young man, for saving my little girl," Molly said emotionally, putting down her wooden spatula long enough to give him a big hug. "Jenna is precious to me, and to all of us. I just can't bear to think of her in the clutches of that horrible man Darles!" "We won't let that happen, Mrs. Tobias," Linc promised, meaning every word. He wanted a chance to get to know the brunette better. She was pretty, spunky, and smart, too. There was the sound of a key in the front door, and Linc was immediately alert. He motioned for the ladies to stay where they were while he covered the door. He was fairly sure it was the Lieutenant, but he wasn't taking any chances. *** Kelly looked up from her knitting to see Kari sitting motionless, looking off into space, her own knitting lying in her lap.

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When Kelly learned that she and Kari would be staying at the isolated farm, she decided to bring knitting needles, yarn, and a few pattern books, thinking that learning to knit would be a fun project for the two of them. But to her surprise, Kari already knew the craft, and was more than willing to teach her how to cast on, and Kari made perfect sense of the directions that Kelly found confusing to read, but much easier to do when Kari showed her how. Kelly was now making a pair of bootees for the new little life she was carrying inside her, and Kari was working on a matching sweater and cap. It was going to be a very pretty little outfit, and done in white, it would be perfect for either a boy or a girl. Kari said that she'd show Kelly how to make a blanket, too, and Kelly was excited. Knitting and talking was a good way to pass the time while they were waiting for Darles to be captured and arrested. When she looked up again, Kari was still staring out

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into space. "You're missing Jake," she smiled at Kari. "I am," Kari admitted with a deep sigh. "It's only been a few hours since I kissed him goodbye, but I already miss him so much. I would love to talk to him," she admitted, and then jumped when her cell phone rang. "Oh, that has to be Jacob!" she said enthusiastically, setting her knitting aside and jumping up to grab her cell. "Don't answer it, Kari!" Kelly raced to grab the phone before Kari did something foolish that could lead to Darles finding her. "It's not Jake, honey. I don't recognize the number, and it's not your Dad. Let it go to voice mail. Darles could find out where we are if he gets you to answer. I don't understand all the tracking stuff, but we do it all the time to find people." "It didn't occur to me that Darles could use my phone to find out where I am," Kari

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admitted sheepishly. "What would I do without you, Kelly?" "It's my job to know these things. Just try to be patient and give Jake time to catch Darles. He will; he's a good cop." "I feel like I created this problem just by opening the door to my apartment that day," Kari admitted. "You drew Darles' attention because you are young and beautiful, but he was already being investigated, Kari. You didn't cause this problem." The dogs suddenly started barking again. "Go and hide, Kari, while I see what is going on." "Kelly, I just can't do that! If it is Darles and his men, you'll need my help." "If it is Darles, I want you to stay hidden. Now go!" she ordered in a sharp tone, and then purposely softened her tone to add, "Seriously, Kari, it's probably Nevin, or Jake... If you aren't where you are supposed

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to be, we are both going to get our tails busted." Kari decided that Kelly was right. Her backside was much too sore to contemplate another spanking so soon. She said a prayer that it was either Nevin or Jake, and hurried to do what Kelly said. It wasn't long before Kelly came to get her. "It's Nevin," she whispered, and then put her finger over her lips to remind Kari to keep her silence about the baby. "I'm glad to see you are doing what you're supposed to be doing, Kari," Nevin said solemnly. "Jake will be pleased." "I promised I would," she said, more than a little relieved she'd trusted Kelly's instincts. She didn't want to be responsible for getting Kelly in trouble, not only with Nevin, but with Jake, too! "Yes, I know you promised," he looked at her and then at his wife. They were up to something and he just knew it. It showed off

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of both of them. His experienced eyes went over the room, taking in every detail. He couldn't spot anything that would tell him that they were plotting mischief. The only thing it appeared he'd interrupted was their knitting, something Kelly had wanted to learn to do for a couple of years now. "Kari's cell phone rang," Kelly reported. "We didn't recognize the number." "You didn't answer it, did you?" he demanded, positive that he'd finally discovered what they hadn't told him earlier when he called. "No, of course not!" Kelly replied indignantly. "I know better than that!" "Okay. Good. Let me write the number down and run a check on it," he said. Kelly handed him Kari's cell phone, and he quickly looked up the number and was surprised that the call just happened a few minutes before he arrived. Kelly hadn't hid it from him. He looked back over other calls and there

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weren't any that he needed to be concerned over. Kelly was a good police officer, and it wasn't like her to withhold information, and he was relieved that she wasn't doing so now. Still, something wasn't 'right', and Nevin knew it. Once he was finished with checking out Kari's cell phone, he handed it back to Kelly and then asked, "Is there anything you two ladies need?" "No, we're just fine, babe," Kelly answered with a smile. "Are you staying the night?" she asked hopefully. "I wish I could, but things are hectic on the Darles' case. Nevin filled them in, and Kari gasped in dismay when she learned that Jenna was also being targeted by the criminal. "Kari, Jake is about as stressed as a man can get right now. It would be a very good idea for you to do exactly as he told you and not give the man any guff." His voice was firm as he delivered his warning.

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"Nevin, why are you scolding Kari? She hasn't done one single thing to deserve it," Kelly defended her friend. "She has done exactly as I instructed, and I don't understand why you sound so accusatory right now." Kelly's eyes were full of surprise, and there was a hint of temper in her eyes. "I'm just concerned, Kel. I want to keep both of you safe," he admitted sheepishly. "I am sorry, Kari. I didn't mean to sound like I was scolding you." "We aren't going to get into any mischief out here, Nevin," Kari promised. "Kelly and I have discussed all sorts of plans for 'just in case'. We don't want to upset Jake... or you. We'll be fine." "I wish I could believe that," he stated, looking from one to the other. "Please, both of you, be cautious." Nevin headed back to town, his instincts screaming at him and telling him the two women were definitely up to something that

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he and Jake wouldn't approve of. Surely his wife wouldn't agree to lure Darles out to the farm, thinking she could take him into custody without back-up? No, Kel wouldn't defy orders. It would cost her her job... and he'd spank her until she couldn't sit down for a month of Sundays for risking her life like that! But, they were up to something! He just didn't know what... yet! *** "It's the Lieutenant," Officer Aiken called from the foyer. Jenna visibly relaxed until she saw the expression on Jake's face. He didn't waste time saying 'hello', but started the interrogation, "Jenna, are you positive your window wasn't unlocked?" "Positive, big brother. I live on campus, remember, right off a wooded area walking path. What is the one thing you stressed to me every day and night for at least a month? 'Make sure you keep that window closed and

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locked, Jenna. It's too easy for someone to climb inside your room without being seen.' I never leave the room or go to bed that I don't check that window, especially after Deborah was abducted. I do listen to what you tell me, Jake," she said so sincerely that he had to smile at her. "That's good to know, honey," he admitted. "I really think the school should install bars on those ground windows," he grumped. "It would feel like I was living in a prison if they did that, Jake. I just make sure to keep it locked, and the habit is so instilled that I'm sure to do it here at home, too." Jake nodded, and then took out his cell phone and pressed a couple of buttons. "Officer Greene, would you go and check out my sister's room. I particularly want to know if her window is locked. Be careful entering, just in case Darles or his men are hiding inside. I don't think they would do that, but it's

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better to take precautions. Call me back," he ordered. "Ma, are you sure the front door was locked before you found it unlocked?" he turned his questioning to his sweet little mother. "I wasn't the last one to leave, dear; Jenna was. I thought she was the one who left it that way, but I took precautions, just in case. I looked through the house, and nothing was missing or out of place." She reached up and patted Jake's face, "Don't worry so, sweetheart. I'm not stupid, and I was cautious." "Ma, any time you come home to an unlocked door when you know it should be locked, you should call me and have me come and check it out for you. It's my job as a Police Officer, and my duty, responsibility, and act of love as your son to do so." "That is so sweet, Jacob. I'll remember that the next time," she patted his cheek

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once more. "Are you hungry, dear? I made plenty of this stir fry," she told him, hurrying to take out plates and serve the food while it was steaming hot. "I could eat, Ma," Jake admitted with a smile before he looked at Jenna. "Honey, are you positive you locked the front door when you left?" "Yes, same reason as before, Jake. I remember testing the door knob to make sure it was locked, and I used my key to lock the deadbolt. I also checked this back door," she told him, and Jake promptly went over to try the door. It wasn't locked! "Damn it." His cell phone rang as he was making sure to lock the locks on that door as well. "Tobias," he growled. Jenna felt sorry for the person on the other end of the call. Her brother was in a very testy mood, and she had yet to live through a 'discussion' with him on the subject of guns.

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"Son of a bitch!" he muttered under his breath. "Lock it, Officer. I'll station someone in the room. I don't want any of the other kids who live in that dorm put at risk. I want you to move Deborah off campus and into a hotel suite, someone inside her room and with her at all times, someone just inside the door to the suite. I'll send some help." "Darles was in my dorm room?" Jenna asked fearfully. "Yes. The door was unlocked; your window unlocked, too." When her eyes filled with tears he said, "We'll catch him, honey. In the meantime, you have to promise me that you'll do as I tell you." "I will, Jake. I am in over my head, and I don't blame you for being so upset with me. I was unbelievably foolish to think I could take on Darles." "Yes, you were," he nodded, but then added, "Your heart is in the right place, though, and I respect that you want to put the

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bastards away for what they did to Deborah. But, you can't just shoot them, sweetheart, not even if you're licensed to carry a concealed weapon." "Shooting is too good for those men, Jake," Jenna's dark eyes flashed angrily as she jumped to her feet to put her hands on her hips. "I want them to go to prison, and I hope they're raped over and over while they are there! They should suffer exactly what they put Deborah through," she burst into tears, and if Jake was surprised when Linc pulled Jenna into his arms to hug and comfort her, he didn't let on. "Jenna, dear, sit down and eat something. Food always helps," Molly insisted, and was well aware that her children looked at each other and smiled the moment they thought she wasn't looking. She knew they thought her a bit silly at times, but that was okay. Food prepared with love always helped, no matter what the situation. "Sit

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down now," she said firmly, placing plates on the table. "You too, Linc. You saved my daughter's life and that makes you family." "Thank you, Mrs. Tobias," he said politely. "Call me Molly," she insisted. "While we eat, you can tell us all about your family and where you come from." Jake knew he should probably rescue the young man, but if he was right about things, Linc was already under Jenna's spell and would actually be family when the time was right. His Ma certainly thought so, and she knew these things. Jake decided that Linc was a good man, better than some of the flakes that Jenna had dated in the past. He'd personally scared off a couple of those, and Jase took care of another one that he knew was doing drugs. They weren't about to let Jenna marry someone who wasn't right for her. Linc would be 'right'. He had a good record with the department, and Jake had

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studied his personal file before assigning him to guard his little sister. He wasn't about to risk putting her with just anyone! "We still need to discuss this gun situation, little sister," Jake said when they were nearly done eating. "I have every right to carry a gun, Jake. I did it legally, and I took classes to make sure I know how to safely handle a gun." Kelly had been planning her defense for the last couple of hours. "Honey, I don't like the fact you have a gun. It's not safe to have them... A criminal could take it from you and shoot you with it," he said. "Or, God forbid, someone you love could show up late at night, and you would get frightened and shoot them. I've seen a lot of cases that support this!" "And those are the ones you hear about, Jacob. You don't come in contact with all the gun owners who are responsible citizens. And, I will remind you, Jacob, that the right

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to bear arms is given to all citizens in good standing." Molly was defending her daughter. "Ma, you can't honestly want Jenna to carry a firearm?" Jake looked at his Mother in surprise. "Lieutenant, you're walking into a trap," Linc whispered as quietly as possible, trying to warn the other man. Molly was a sneaky woman! Jake looked at Linc, trying to decide what he meant, but the warning came too late. "I think Jenna has every right to carry a firearm, and since she went about it responsibly, I have no problem with her wanting to protect herself." "Ma, what if...? "Jacob, you are jaded because of your work. Do you honestly think that every person who owns a gun is foolish and likely to shoot without a damn good reason?" "No, but..."

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"But nothing." She got up and took her gun out of a cabinet and brought it to the table. "This has been in my possession since your father died, Jacob. I learned to use it so I could protect all of you in case someone decided a widow with small children was an easy target. I've never fired it in anger, and have never once took it out without a good reason. I go to the shooting range at least once a month to stay in practice. I have a license to carry a concealed weapon, and I kept it put up so my children couldn't touch it. Not one of you knew it was in the house... and I dare you, Jacob, to tell me that I have been irresponsible!" Jake looked at his sweet little Ma in shock! Once he recovered, he stood up and said firmly, "Okay. I want to see your paperwork, Ma. Yours too, Jenna. You'd both better hope to God that you aren't lying to me." "You would arrest me, Jake?" Molly looked at him in disbelief.

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"I might not go that far, but I swear Ma, I'm going to find a husband for you that will give you a sound spanking! You are out of control!" he stated. "I'll find my own husband, thank you very much!" she retorted and went to her purse and returned with her permit. She also handed him another card, and he was surprised to learn his sweet little mother was rated as high as he was in proficiency with a weapon. He looked at Jenna's next, and it was in order, too. She had proof of her classes, too. He shook his head. "I'll admit I'm not happy that you two have armed yourselves, but legally, I can't put a stop to it. As myself, though, I wish you'd reconsider." "No," Molly said firmly. "I might remind you, Jacob, I am still the mother in this family and I am in my right mind and capable of deciding what is right for me. I have only used this gun once... well, twice now," she

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looked at a grinning Linc. "The first time to keep from being attacked. I held that bastard at bay until the police arrived and arrested him. Do you think I would have stood a chance at fighting off a two hundred pound man without a gun, Jake?" "When did this happen, Ma?" Jake was furious at the thought of his Ma in danger. "You were about ten years old, honey. It happened at the restaurant. I was in there alone, doing some prep work for the next morning, and he sneaked in the back door and I had my gun in my pocket. He cried like a baby when he thought I was going to shoot him." Jake simply hugged her tightly, his emotions in turmoil. "Okay, Ma. I'll keep my peace. You did just fine. I love you," he whispered. "The second time I pointed my gun was at Linc earlier tonight. He came in the house ahead of your sister, to make sure it was safe.

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I didn't recognize Jenna at first because of all the makeup and the fact she was dressed like a hooker, and I called him out." "You were being cautious ma'am, and when I identified myself, you didn't shoot me," Linc grinned at her. "I would have done the same in your circumstances," he added. "Ma!" Jacob looked at her in exasperation. "A husband is what you need, and once I catch Darles, I'm going to find a man for you... and make sure he believes in spanking!

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Chapter Eleven
Quincy Darles was furious. His whole operation was at stake because of that bitch Deborah, and the fact that her best friend just happened to be the sister of a cop. He was going to take her back, and Jake Tobias' sister, too. That little bitch needed a lesson and he was going to see to it she got it. And, Tobias' pretty wife was going to be his, too, as was the lady cop he had protecting her. He would take all four women and hustle them out of the country before Tobias knew what hit him. Mock him, would he? He'd see the bastard pay. Darles gathered his men into one room and gave concise orders. He wanted all four women alive, and he would personally skin alive the man who harmed any one of them. Two brunettes, one redhead, and a blond who would need very little training to have her on her knees begging to be used over and over again! Once Darles pulled this mission

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off to his satisfaction, he and his operation would move elsewhere. Killing Jake Tobias would be too merciful for the man. Letting him grieve over his wife and sister and fellow police officer would be a punishment to live with for the rest of his life. *** "This hasn't happened before," Kelly told Kari with a weak smile. "I've heard that nibbling on crackers before you get out of bed in the morning will help," Kari told her friend. Kelly was sitting on the floor in the bathroom and she looked positively ill. The dogs started barking furiously, and Kelly tried to get to her feet, and that set off her nausea again, and she grabbed the toilet and was ill. "You go and hide," she gasped. "No," Kari said firmly. "I'll see what is going on. I'm armed." "Kari, no!" Kelly tried to argue, but was retching again and felt helpless.

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Kari went and looked outside. She didn't recognize the car, but she did recognize the young woman getting out of the passenger side door. It was Jake's sister, Jenna! She opened the door and stepped outside to call off the dogs. "Get inside the house now, Mrs. Tobias!" the young man said firmly, rushing Jenna up the steps and pushing them both inside the kitchen. "Where is Officer Wintrow?" he asked with a frown. "Lighten up, Linc," Jenna bossed. "Kari is your boss' wife, you know," she reminded him, and then said, "Kari, this is Officer Linc Aiken. He's my body guard," she added glumly. "Are you doing all right?" she asked politely. "I'm all right, Jenna. I heard about your close call. I'm so sorry if I put you in danger," Kari said guiltily. "Jenna put herself in danger, Mrs. Tobias," Linc said firmly. "Where is Officer

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Wintrow and what were you doing answering the door?" he demanded once again, and it was easy to see that he was not a bit happy with her. "Kelly is ill," Kari said. "Please come in and have a seat, and I'll fix us all some breakfast after I check on Kelly." "If she is ill, she should have called in for a replacement," Linc stated forcefully, taking out his telephone. Kari took the phone from his hand. "You just mind your own business, Officer Aiken." Her green eyes flashed fire at him. "I mean it. This is none of your business, and if you call Jake to tattle, I'll... I'll... I'll do something awful to you! I promise I will!" she threatened him, then carried his phone off with her to check on Kelly. "Oh that was great, Linc," Jenna laughed. "I've never seen Kari go off like that at anyone. Of course, I barely know her, but she doesn't like you at all!"

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"I'm not here to be liked, but to protect you and Kari and Kelly," Linc said. "I wonder why she doesn't want me to call in for a replacement for Kelly?" "I don't know," Jenna shook her head and then got to her feet. "I'm going to put on a pot of coffee. I need a cup, and so do you. You're grumpy in the morning," she accused. "Yeah, I am," he admitted. "One of my many faults," he told her with a grin. "I need coffee, and I wasn't happy when the Lieutenant sent us directly out here." "I could tell. I heard you muttering under your breath about 'wouldn't hurt to drive through McDonald's or go to Starbucks's on the way'," she giggled at the sheepish look on his face. "You follow orders well, I'll give you that." "Habit." "Yes, I imagine so." She looked at him for a full minute and then said, "I respect that about you, Linc. You might not like it, but

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you do it. You have an ingrained sense of duty... You remind me of Jake and Jase, and in a good way," she added, and then turned her attention to making the coffee, embarrassed that she'd revealed herself in that way. "Thank you," Linc replied. "Seriously, that is a nice compliment, Jenna," he smiled. After a pause he asked, "Do you think I should go and check on Kelly and Kari?" "Not if you value your life. Didn't you notice that gun my sister-in-law was carrying? I'd leave well enough alone right now." *** "Oh, this is awful," Kelly groaned, was sick again, and then she started crying. "Oh, honey, don't cry," Kari knelt down to hug her. "You'll feel better soon, once this passes." She handed her a cup of water to rinse her mouth. Kelly did so, and then tried to nibble on the cracker that Kari offered her. "I can't do

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this, Kari. I've got to call Nevin and tell him I'm pregnant, and then get another officer out here right away. I am useless to you right now." "That other cop is out there, so we aren't alone," Kari reminded her. "I can't believe you took his cell phone!" Kelly giggled in spite of her misery. "I'm amazed, in fact." "He made me angry," Kari sputtered indignantly. "I didn't like his attitude at all!" "Linc is a good guy, and a good police officer," Kelly defended him, and held out her hand for another cracker. "I'm starting to feel a bit better," she said in relief. "I just need a few more minutes to pull it together before facing Linc. I don't want HIM to tell Nevin. That is my job." Kari held up his cell phone. "He won't get the opportunity as long as I have this," she said smugly.

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"I hate to mention this, but if Jake finds out about this, you're going to get your rear end dusted." "I don't care. I'll find a way to make him pay if I get into trouble," she promised. "I'm not nice when I get mad." Kelly actually laughed, and her color was returning. "You are something else, Kari Tobias, and I am so glad you are on my side of things." She took a deep breath, and got up off the floor. "I'm going to freshen up a bit and I'll be right out." She hugged Kari and said, "Thank you, my friend, for taking care of me this morning. I'm not going to handle this part of being pregnant very well, I'm afraid." "Tomorrow we'll make sure you eat some crackers before you get out of bed, okay?" Kari hugged her back, and then left the bathroom, pleased that Kelly was finally past the morning sickness for the day. She went out to the kitchen, prepared to fix some coffee,

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and was pleased to see it was already made. She needed a cup. "Thanks, whoever made the coffee." "I did. I would have started some breakfast, but I didn't know what you wanted, Kari," Jenna said. "Kelly really stocked up on food. We have pretty much whatever anyone wants," Kari answered, carrying her mug of coffee over to the table. She had a seat and asked, "What can I fix for you?" "You can give me my cell phone," Linc said firmly. "Nope." She saw his eyes light up. "I will warn you right now, Officer Aiken, that I might be small, but you are not getting this phone without one hell of a fight." To her surprise, Jenna started giggling. "I'm not joking, Jenna." "I know you aren't, but, Kari, Linc took out three of Darles men, and they were huge and armed!" she giggled again.

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"Well," Kari turned up her chin, "he hasn't tangled with ME yet! And he doesn't want to!" "Do you sass Jake like that?" Jenna asked with a laugh. "Man alive, I'd love to see that. Jake has met his match for sure. I thought you were all sweet and mooshy, but you aren't. Oh, that didn't come out right. I meant to say that you have spirit, and you will keep Jake on his toes. Not that you aren't nice," Jenna was red-faced by now. Kari just grinned at her. "I have a temper, and yes, I've let Jake have it a few times." She didn't add that she'd lost those skirmishes, but she suspected that Jenna already knew that. She sipped at her coffee, and then got up and started breakfast. Jenna offered to help, and Kari kept her busy. Kari also kept an eye on Officer Aiken and glared at him every so often so he would sit still. Kelly finally came into the kitchen and smiled at Kari. Her eyes were shining and

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sparkling and her cheeks were pink with pleasure. She quickly said 'hello' to Linc and Jenna before turning to Kari to say, "I'm in 'big trouble' according to Nevin, but he's happy! About broke my eardrum letting out a whoop! He's so excited!" "Oh, that's wonderful!" Kari exclaimed. "He said I can stay as long as Linc is here, too. They caught several of Darles men last night. They tried to break into the dorm, and were also apprehended outside Jenna's house... and they broke into your home, Kari. The Lieutenant had officers everywhere. Darles wasn't with them, however. Jake doesn't think Darles knows about this place, and that is why he sent Jenna here." "I think that is a good idea," Kari nodded and then smiled at Jenna. "The more the merrier. It will give us an opportunity to get to know each other better, and I would really like that."

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"I would, too," Jenna said, stunned to realize she meant it. A telephone rang and Linc held out his hand. "My phone, please, Mrs. Tobias...?" His look was somber, but turned to surprise when she handed it over immediately, and without protest. He answered, and then listened. "Yes, sir, I will. Yes, I understand." He was smiling. "Congratulations, sir," he added before disconnecting the call. "Nevin?" Kelly asked with a knowing smile. "Yes, I am ordered to keep you safe," he answered. "Congratulations, Kelly." "Thank you!" "Well, darn it, someone please tell me what is going on?" Jenna looked around the room. "I'm pregnant, Jenna," Kelly explained. "I just learned about it... and had my first bout of morning sickness this morning. That is

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why Kari took Linc's phone. She knew I wanted to be the one to tell Nevin." "Ohhhhhhh....! I understand now! Great move, Kari!" she praised her sister-in-law. Linc shook his head. "I would have held off making the call if you'd just told me the truth, Mrs. Tobias," he said earnestly. "With your grouchy attitude? I don't think so!" Kari snapped. "I hadn't had my coffee yet," he told her, wishing he could turn her over his knee and smack her butt. The Lieutenant would kill him, though, for even thinking about it.... "If you say so!" Kari put a platter of bacon on the table, and followed it with a bowl of scrambled eggs. There was toast and orange juice, and she felt that was enough, but she asked politely, "Can I get anything else for anyone?" "I'd like sausage, biscuits, and gravy... and some grits," Linc simply couldn't resist yanking her chain a bit.

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Kari looked at him and then pointed, "There's the stove, Officer." Everyone laughed but Kari, and Linc immediately felt bad for teasing her. "I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot, Mrs. Tobias." "I don't like being yelled at, Officer," she snapped, and then turned her attention to her food. Kelly was surprised by Kari's behavior. It wasn't like her to be so... rude! She looked at Linc, and he just shrugged, but she could tell that he was bothered. A few words from Kari to Jake, and Linc would be as good as gone, not that Kari would be that vindictive... but Linc didn't know that. "These scrambled eggs are almost as good as Ma's!" Jenna said to break the tension in the air. "No one cooks as good as Ma, so don't be offended, Kari." "I'm not," Kari laughed. "Molly is a wonderful cook."

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Jenna entertained them with an exaggerated account of Jake's 'battle' with Molly the evening before and how he ended it by threatening to find her a husband who would take her over his knee and spank her! They were all laughing, even Linc. "What did your Mom say to that?" Kari asked curiously. "She threatened to take a wooden spoon to Jake, but she was laughing, and she hugged him and told him everything would be all right. He calmed down some after that, and then went all Cop like he does, and started giving orders right and left. He put Ma and I down in the basement because there was no way they could get in down there, and we didn't even know that those men came to the house and were going to come in my window until we were told this morning that Jake arrested them. Poor Linc spent the entire night in the kitchen, sitting on a chair in front of the back door and the basement

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door, which are beside each other," she added for Kelly's benefit since she'd never been inside the house. "Jake had men at the dorm, too, covering my room and Deborah's, and they arrested five more of Darles' men. He had officers at your house, too, Kari. They expected to find you... and you," she told a startled Kelly. "One of the men talked... told them where they met with Darles. Jake went there hoping to arrest him, but he was gone." "Sugar, we're going to have to have a little talk," Linc warned. "Why? What did I do now?" Jenna asked innocently. "The Sergeant is the one who should have told Kelly about that," he said in a scolding tone of voice. "Ohhhhh... Oh... I'm so sorry, Kelly. I didn't realize that you didn't know... You talked to Nevin, and I was so sure... I am so sorry. I have a big mouth." Jenna had tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry."

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"It's all right, Jenna. I needed to know, and I am grateful you told me, even though it startled me a bit. Now I know why Nevin let me stay here. He thinks I'm safer here." She was stunned to realize that she was also a target of Darles. "Don't worry, Kelly. You are a trained police officer and you know what to do to protect yourself. I'm here, and they won't get past me. I give you my word on that. I've got your back." Kelly nodded and squared her shoulders, and Kari realized that Linc had said just the right thing. He'd given Kelly confidence and courage and reminded her that she was strong. Kari smiled at Linc in appreciation. He returned her smile, and just like that, her opinion of him did a complete turn around. "Can I get you some more coffee, Linc?" she offered, getting to her feet to go and get the pot. He thanked her as she refilled his cup, and Jenna accepted some, too. Kelly

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wasn't touching coffee because of the caffeine, so Kari topped off her cup, and then sat down once again. It wasn't long before the dogs sounded an alarm and Kelly ordered Kari to take Jenna and go to the safe room. Kari flat out refused. "You're in as much danger as me, and I'm not hiding from that bastard. I'm going to fight, too!" Kari insisted. "That's my godchild you're carrying! And, I'm not abandoning you to protect myself." "Damn it, Kari, I'm a police officer! Now go!" "No. You're pregnant, and I'm staying." She had her gun ready, and wasn't surprised to see that Jenna was also armed. "Sugar, if I give you an order, obey it. Hear me? I'll spank you proper if you don't!" Linc promised, on his way to the door to look out and see who was approaching. Kelly and Kari looked at each other in surprised and then smiled. "Is that the way

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of it with you, too, Jenna?" Kari asked in a whisper, trying to keep Linc from hearing." "I think it is," she answered truthfully, not bothering to pretend she didn't understand what she was being asked. "You can join our club then," Kelly said with a wide grin. "What club is that?" Jenna asked curiously as they all watched Linc for any sign of coming trouble. "The Spanked Wives Club. We offer sympathy and a soft pillow to sit on," Kelly replied with a straight face. "Sounds like a great club," Jenna laughed. "I have a tender tush today... I earned it," she added, looking at Kari. "Don't be mad at Linc." "I understand, hon. I really do. I'm still recovering from the last spanking Jake gave me, although I'm a lot better now. I earned that one, too."

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"See, doesn't it make you feel better to have someone to talk to about this?" Kelly asked in a soft whisper. "I mean, it's not like you can walk into work and say, 'my husband spanked me so I don't feel like sitting down for our meeting today'." "Or, 'sorry professor, I need to stand up while you lecture because I have a sore butt'!" They all giggled and Linc shook his head and muttered something about 'silly females' under his breath. That made them giggle again, even though Kelly went 'shhhh'. "I think it's okay, ladies," Linc finally announced when the car came a bit closer. "Just stay down until I'm positive it's the Sergeant. It looks like his car. Kelly jumped up to go and look, and Linc growled at her, "Get your butt over there, Kelly. I'm supposed to be protecting you, too!" "It's Nevin," she said in excitement.

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"It's a car like his; we haven't seen him yet. Now, do as I say, Officer, before I have to report you for not following orders." "No one in authority has told me I have to take orders from you, Officer, and my rank is the same as yours, but I have seniority," Kelly stuck up for herself. "Do you want your husband finding you standing right here when you're supposed to be with the other two ladies?" Linc asked pointedly. "It's your butt..." Kelly quickly returned to their 'hiding' spot, which was in a corner behind a tall cupboard A minute or two later, Linc said calmly, "It's the Sergeant, and the Lieutenant is with him." "Jake is here, too?" Kari squealed in delight. The two men came in the door, and were greeted with hugs and kisses. Linc had to smile, and he noted that Jenna was watching

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her brother and sister-in-law with unbridled curiosity, and then she nodded and smiled. She looked over at Linc, and gave him a wink, and then moved to his side and said in a whisper, "I was worried at first because they met and married so fast... but they really love each other, Linc." He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. "It happens like that sometimes, sugar." The look he gave her was full of promise and Jenna caught her breath. It felt 'right', just like Ma always said it would. "Have you two had breakfast?" Kari asked. "I'll be happy to fix something for you if you haven't eaten yet. She didn't really care for the look in Jake's dark eyes. "We had something, Kari, thank you," Nevin answered. "I would like a moment with you, Kelly. We'll talk upstairs in our room." He turned to Jake and said, "Feel free to use the study, friend."

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Jake nodded, and then said, "Come along, Kari. We need to talk." When they left the room, Jenna turned to Linc, and said, "Ut oh!" "Want another cup of coffee, sugar," Linc asked, trying to distract her. "No... I want to go and eavesdrop and find out what has those two men all ticked off at Kari and Kelly," she admitted with an impish grin. "You go to doing that, sugar, and you'll be the one getting another spanking," he winked. "So, tell me, Jenna, how do you feel about babies and kids in general?" *** "Just what I need," Jake said as he picked up a wooden ruler from the desk. "You can come right over here, young lady, and take down those jeans and bend over this desk." "What? Why?" Kari looked at Jake in dismay. "What did I do, Jake?" she asked, confused. "I haven't done anything wrong?"

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"No? Do you call interfering with a police officer 'nothing'?" he demanded. "Kari, you can't treat the men and women who work under me the way you treated Linc Aiken. You were rude, threatened him, and you took his cell phone from him. What if there'd been an emergency and he needed backup right away?" "I was trying to keep him from calling Nevin and telling him that Kelly was ill. It was her right to tell Nevin about the baby," Kari blurted. "You didn't have the right to do that, sweetheart. You can't threaten an Officer and use me as the threat. It isn't fair." "I was protecting Kelly, and it was fair. You weren't here to see the whole thing, and..." "I don't need to witness what you did to know it was wrong, Kari. Now bend over this desk, or this spanking is going to go from a simple reminder to an all-out punishment."

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"You are being unreasonable, Jake!" "Now, Kari. Jeans down." "Jake!" she stomped her foot in frustration. "This isn't fair!" "Last chance, sweetheart," he told her, and she could see he meant it. If she did not cooperate, he was going to get mean. "All right, but I can promise you are going to be apologizing for this, Jacob Tobias, and I am not going to be very forgiving!" she told him. Jake hid his grin as she leaned over the desk, presenting her bare bottom for a spanking. He hated having to do this, but she had to learn that she couldn't tangle with his officers and get away with it. It wouldn't do at all. They would be afraid of her... and of him for allowing her to behave that way. Jake started with his hand, and learned that Kari was still a little tender from the last punishment he'd given her. It wasn't the best way to start a marriage, but he had no

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choice. He had to follow through and make the lesson sharp enough she would recall it the next time she was tempted to give one of his officers a hard time. Kari was truly upset and it didn't take long for her to start crying as Jake spanked her bottom. His hand was large and hard, and she couldn't imagine why he thought he needed the ruler when his hand hurt so much! "Owwww!" she finally cried out. "Jake, please! I'm still sore from the other day!" "One has nothing to do with the other, sweetheart. I'm sorry this is necessary, but when you misbehave, we'll deal with it immediately, no matter how sore you already are." He did lighten up just a bit since her skin was already feeling hot to his touch and was a flaming red. Her skin was delicate, and he didn't need to spank really hard to make his point. "Are you ready to apologize to Linc?"

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"Yes!" she said, anxious to end the torment on her bottom. "Good. I'll give you a few more with the ruler, just to remind you that this is not to happen again, and you can make your apology." "Jake, no!" she protested, but he merely put his hand on the small of her back and held her in place while he peppered her sit spots with the wooden ruler. Kari was angry when he finally released her. She quickly pulled up her panties and her jeans and moved away when he tried to take her in his arms. "Just get out of here and leave me alone, Jake. I'm mad at you, and I don't want you to touch me at all right now." "Kari, don't make more of this than it is. Come and make your apology to Linc, and it'll be all over." "I'm not ready to speak to anyone. Get out and let me calm down."

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Chapter Twelve Jake looked at Kari in surprise. She was more than a bit angry, and he could see that she was struggling to control her temper after the spanking he'd given her. Part of him said the answer was another spanking to deal with her sulking and pouting, but the other part of him said it was time to give her some space, as she requested. Perhaps the last part of the spanking had been overkill since she'd already agreed to apologize to Linc Aiken...? It was not the best way to start off their marriage, and Jake was determined to whisk her away for a honeymoon just as soon as he wrapped up this case and arrested Quincy Darles. "Very well, Kari. I'll go and have a cup of coffee, but I expect you to come out and make your apology within the next fifteen minutes. Is that understood?" he asked in a firm tone of voice. She nodded, but did not look at him or speak. She was rigid with

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anger, unlike his sweet Kari. He left the room and went out to talk to his sister and Linc. *** "Nevin, what are you doing?" Kelly asked in shock when he startled unbuckling his belt. "What do you think I'm doing?" he asked, looking at her. "I told you that you were in big trouble with me, and while you seemed to think it a big joke, I was perfectly serious." "But... I'm pregnant!" she insisted, taking a few steps backwards. "You can't strap me now!" her eyes were wide. "I most certainly can and most certainly will. Kelly, do you have any idea at all how much risk you placed yourself and Kari in by accepting this assignment, knowing you are pregnant?" His eyes were full of accusation. "What if Darles would have shown up this morning while you were ill? Kari would have been on her own to handle those men, and they would have taken both of you. When

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Darles learned about our baby, he probably would have destroyed the fetus so he could sell you to the highest bidder!" Her eyes filled with tears at the thought, and her hand moved protectively over her tummy to protect her child. "You should have told me you were pregnant, Kelly; and this punishment is not going to be put off. You are going to lie over the foot of the bed, and give me a nice target to spank, and you are going to stay right in place until we are done. This won't hurt the baby, but it will give you a damned good reminder that you need to think of our child before placing yourself in a situation that could potentially be dangerous." "Kari is my friend, Nevin. I want to protect her and keep her safe." "I understand that, honey. I honestly do; but our child comes first," he said bluntly. "You need reminding of that. Take down your jeans and panties to your knees, and lie over the bed. This is going to sting, but it

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won't hurt you nearly as much as what could have happened if Darles came while you were ill!" "I didn't know I was going to be ill!" she exclaimed. "Today was the first time, and I did call you as soon as I stopped throwing up... I knew I couldn't protect Kari then... I am a cop, Nevin! I am permitted to work while pregnant!" her chin went up several notches. "I'm not spanking you as your Sergeant," he assured her. "This is purely as a husband, wife, and I am through with this discussion. It's time for a good strapping. Down with your jeans and panties, and over the bed, Kelly. Arguing with me isn't going to prevent this spanking," he insisted. "But, what about the baby?" she cried out. "I don't want to hurt the baby!" "Then lie still," he said firmly. "The baby won't feel a thing."

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"I don't want a strapping! Can't you just use your hand, Nevin, please? I'm scared... Really and truly," she insisted. "I would never forgive you if I lost the baby over this," she said truthfully. Nevin looked at her, and could see she was frightened, and that upset him. He never wanted her to be frightened of him. He loved her and wanted to protect her. There was a time for holding firm and not permitting her to call the shots in their marriage, and there was a time to be sensible and listen to her fears, and this was one of those times, he quickly realized. He dropped the belt on the floor and then walked over to where she stood and took her in his arms and held her close. She was trembling, and he hated that. "You don't need to fear me, honey. I'd never harm you or our child," he whispered. "I know that intellectually, but emotionally, I can't deal with a belt right now,

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Nevin," she explained. "I love this baby so much already!" He held her a bit tighter. "So do I, Kelly," he assured her. "I won't use the belt, honey, just my hand," he agreed. Kelly finally stopped trembling and felt safe once again. She waited another minute or two, looking for her courage, and then said, "I'm ready now, Nevin. Would you hold me, please? I don't want to be allowed to wiggle too much. I know I shouldn't have taken this assignment without telling you the truth first... no matter how much I care about Kari. I am pregnant now, and the baby's safety has to be my priority." "Good girl," he whispered. He carefully pulled her over to their bed, took down her jeans and panties himself while she stood there without moving, and then Nevin helped her lie over his left thigh so that her upper body was supported on the bed. "I love you, Kelly, and this is necessary so that you

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will remember to be careful from now on." His hand landed with a crisp smack on her left cheek, and then he spanked the right side. Nevin heard Kelly gasp at the immediate sting, but she did her best to lie still and accept the spanking. He continued to set her cute little bottom on fire, alternating cheeks as he spanked and scolded. Once her cheeks were reddened, he moved lower and spanked her upper thighs. It didn't take long to make them match her bottom cheeks, and then he concentrated on the tender area in between. Nevin spanked and spanked, concentrating on making those two spots very sore. He wouldn't be able to spank her when the baby was larger and Kelly started showing. It would be too risky... and she needed a spanking to remember; one that would stay with her mentally for the next several months. "Please, Nevin! Owwww! I've learned my lesson! Please forgive me now!" Kelly tearfully begged. "It hurts so much!" she started

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crying in earnest. "I'll be good now, I promise!" "I intend to make sure you keep that promise, darling," he said emotionally as he carefully helped her up. "You are my life, and I couldn't bear losing you." "You aren't going to lose me, silly man!" she kissed him, realizing how frightened he was. "I'm a damn good cop, and pregnant or not, I can take care of myself," she said proudly. "I love you, this baby, and our other children, too. I'm planning to grow old with you!" she held him tight, and after a couple of minutes, she said, "Hey... I was the one who got a spanking! You are supposed to be comforting me!" Nevin chuckled, and did some comforting of his own. *** "Kari will be out to apologize shortly," Jake said as he spoke to the young officer.

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"For what, sir?" Linc looked at his Lieutenant, clearly puzzled. "I know she took your cell phone and threatened you, Officer. I won't tolerate that." "No offense, Lieutenant, but you just messed up real bad... especially if you spanked Mrs. Tobias! She's going to hate me now for sure!" his face turned red, much to Jake's surprise and his sister's amusement. "I don't understand?" Jake felt the first pangs of doubt. "Mrs. Tobias only took my phone long enough to give Kelly a chance to call the Sergeant with her news. I have a back-up," he admitted, pulling another cell phone from his pocket and holding up the two of them. "I didn't make an effort to take it back, and I was glad I didn't when I learned her reasons. Besides," he admitted sheepishly, "Mrs. Tobias and I got off on the wrong foot this morning, which was entirely my fault, sir. I

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yelled at her, and she didn't like it. But, we made peace between us, or I thought we had... Now she is going to hate me!" he repeated himself, and the look he leveled on Jake told the older man exactly what he thought of that, and who he blamed! "Nevin gave me a different view of the situation," Jake stated bluntly. "Pardon me for saying so, sir, but the Sergeant wasn't here." Jake felt his face turn red, and Kari came into the kitchen at that precise moment. "Officer Aiken, I apologize for taking your cell phone and for refusing to give it back. I also apologize for threatening you in the heat of the moment. I would never try to influence Jake about one of his officers without a good reason, and clearly, I had no good reason this time." "You don't owe me an apology, Mrs. Tobias," Linc said sincerely. "I understood why you took my phone, but I am carrying a

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back-up, just in case of an emergency." He showed her the other phone, and then continued, "The Lieutenant didn't hear the straight of things. I have no problem with you, and I hope you know that. I was testy with you when Jenna and I first arrived, and I hope we can put all of this behind us and be friends. I'm sorry as can be the Lieutenant didn't speak to me first and get the facts straight before talking to you. You didn't deserve punishment," he added, lest Jake miss his message, and he didn't give a damn what Jake thought right now. He was more concerned with the young woman looking at him with such a wounded expression. "You are being nice, Linc. Thank you," she said, and then turned away to go into another room... away from everyone. She didn't feel like facing people at the moment, especially since they all knew her husband had punished her. It was mortifying! "Kari, I..."

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"Not now, Jake. I don't want to talk to you right now." She left him standing there and went into the living room to pick up her knitting and sit in the softest chair she could find. Her bottom was still stinging, even though it was far from the worst spanking she'd ever had. A few minutes later Kelly and Nevin came downstairs, and went to the kitchen. She heard voices raised, and then Kelly came running into the living room. "Kari, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to tattle on you! I thought it was so amusing that you took Linc's cell from him and I was telling Nevin... with pride... not to tattle. That dratted man takes everything so damned serious, and he ratted you out to Jake without any of the humor or the loyalty...! I'm so sorry. Please forgive me," she was in tears by the end of her speech. "I don't want to lose your friendship!"

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"I'm not upset with you, hon," Kari reassured her. "I'm mad at that stubborn, pigheaded man I'm married to because he wouldn't even listen to my side of things. It's going to take me some time to get over my mad, too!" she insisted when Jake came into the room. "Go away, Jake. I seriously am not ready to talk to you. I'm mad, and I'm plotting your demise right now... so get out before I say something really awful I don't mean!" "I came in to tell you good-bye, sweetheart, and I am sorry I didn't listen to you, just like you said I would be," he added with a good bit of shame. He walked closer, leaned down, and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you, sweetheart, and I humbly apologize. Please get over your mad, and I promise I'll make it all up to you somehow. I've learned an important lesson today, and I won't forget it, either." He kissed her again, and then left after telling Kelly goodbye, too.

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"Are you still mad at Jake?" Kelly whispered a few seconds later. "Yes! When I get this angry it takes me a while to get past it and cool down. I go off real easy at other people, too, Kelly, so I'm going to be quiet for a bit," she said. "I'll take my knitting upstairs and come down when I feel I can be civil." Kari got up and went upstairs to her room; she was going to cry and didn't need witnesses. *** "I'm sorry, Jake," Nevin was red-faced. "I sometimes forget that Kelly tells me things as a wife, not as a cop. I should have kept my mouth shut. Hell, I didn't know the kid was rude to Kari; didn't know he was smart enough to have a back-up cell, either. He's a smart one." "Kari warned me I would be sorry if I spanked her. I should have listened, and talked to Linc first. I'm going to be lucky if she ever forgives me."

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"She will. She loves you, Jake," Nevin said simply. "We need to catch Darles so we can get our wives home with us and life back to normal." He looked at Jake. "You're going to think me crazy, Jake, but what if he hit last night to be obvious? Most of those men claimed they were just hired for one job. They weren't Darles' regulars. I just feel it in my gut that he's playing with us. What if he knows about the farm? If he knows that Kelly is guarding Kari, it's a matter of public record that she owns that farm. He won't wait until night to hit, either. He'll want to come when they least expect him. I just have a feeling," he said, looking at Jake, who was paying close attention to his words. "Do you think we should go back to the farm?" Jake asked seriously. He'd worked with Nevin for several years and knew that his 'feelings' were often accurate. "I don't want to take chances with our wives and my sister," he added.

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Nevin nodded. "I think we need to get back there right now." *** Darles waited in the woods, a safe distance from the farm, watching and waiting until Tobias and Wintrow left. Three women would be the prize... after they dealt with that other cop; the one who put three of his best men in the hospital and behind bars. Aiken was as good as dead, but he would suffer a bit first, Darles gleefully decided. The bitch cop wouldn't be a problem, either. She was just a female, and only good for one damn thing. They went in on foot, and threw steaks to the dogs before they could start their barking to warn the ones inside. While the dogs were eating, they hurried up to the house and entered quickly, catching everyone off guard except Aiken. He was armed before the first man came at him.

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"Now, sugar!" he yelled at Jenna as he aimed and fired at the man closest to him. The man screamed and fell to the floor. "Hurry, you idiots," Darles yelled, and then realized he'd drawn Jenna's attention! He saw his death in her eyes, and yelled, "Nooooo!" as she fired. "You're under arrest!" Kelly yelled loudly. "Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air!" When one of the men turned toward her, gun in hand and prepared to fire, she shot without hesitation. Kari came running down the steps, and came up behind another man who was taking aim at Linc while Linc had his back to the man, taking out another of Darles' men. "Drop it or I'll shoot!" she promised. He wisely dropped his gun. "Are you ladies all right?" Linc asked after he felled the last man, looking around the room just in case anyone was in trouble and needed his help. There were twelve men,

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plus Quincy Darles, lying on the floor, and unconscious or moaning in pain. Only one man was still standing, and Kari had a gun trained on him as if she did this sort of thing on a daily basis. Linc quickly cuffed the man and told him to sit on the floor and not move. The man listened because he knew he was lucky to be alive. "Well done, ladies," Linc announced proudly, taking out his cell. *** Jake and Nevin reached the end of the long driveway just in time to see the men running from the woods toward the house, and got out of the car in time to hear shots fired. They both ran for the house, drawing their weapons as they ran as fast as they could. By the time they reached the living room, it was all over. Linc was on his cell phone, calling for an ambulance and backup.

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"Are you all right, sweetheart," Jake took Kari in his arms, permitting himself to be unprofessional for a moment or two. "I'm sorry I was so angry earlier, Jake. I love you!" she whispered. "I was so scared, but we all pulled together, and we're fine." He gave her a big squeeze. "I love you, too, sweetheart." He kissed her and then said, "Just take a seat and stay calm. This is all going to take a while, but the worst is all over now, Kari... You're safe," he told her. Then he went to his little sister, who was crying. "Honey, don't cry. It's over now." "I shot Darles, Jake," she whispered. "I wanted to kill him, but I couldn't...!" "No, you couldn't," he agreed, watching Darles as he cried like a baby. Jenna shot him in the knee. "He'll go to prison for the rest of his life, honey. You did just fine." Nevin made sure his wife was all right, and once she assured him she was fine, they both went to work. Jake joined them, and

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within a short time the house was flooded with officers and medical personnel. Even though both Kari and Jenna were questioned, they didn't have a lot to do but sit and keep each other company. Kari spent a lot of that time comforting her sister-in-law and telling her that Deborah would be pleased that Darles was behind bars. Of course, Darles' cursing and threats on Jenna upset her even more, but Jake leaned down and whispered something to the man, and he wisely decided it was time to shut up. Jake also took the time to praise Linc and and Kelly for their bravery. Two more men were found on the other side of the woods, waiting in vans for the others to return with the women, and they were apprehended, too. Once things finally calmed down Linc came over to Kari and said, "Kelly told me that you stopped one of the men from shooting me in the back. Thank you, Mrs. Tobias."

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"It's Kari, and no thanks are necessary, Linc. You fought like crazy to keep us all safe, my thanks go to you and Kelly. You were both so brave," she smiled at him, meaning every word. "We have a lot of paperwork to do on this, Kari," Jake said as he approached. "I'm going to have an officer drop you and Jenna off at Ma's. Will you stay there until I come for you, sweetheart?" he asked, and when she nodded in agreement, he leaned down and kissed her. "I'm so proud of you," he admitted. "Of Jenna, too... Please tell her that, okay?" he asked. "Yes, I will," she replied, and then stood on tiptoe and kissed him. "I'm never going to let you leave me again without telling you I love you, Jake," she said tearfully. "I learned that lesson today, and I'll never forget it. I love you, Jake." "I love you, too, sweetheart. I'll come for you as soon as I can. You'll be safe now."

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The Officer drove them home and came inside just to be sure the house was completely safe and none of Darles' men were left behind 'in case'. The house was empty and Jenna reassured the officer they would be fine. She made sure the doors were locked and then looked at Kari and asked, "Would you think me a big baby if I called Ma...?" she asked. "Call her. She'll be relieved to know it's over, Jenna. I'll make us something to eat." It was way past lunchtime, and she knew they should eat something, whether or not they felt like it. Jenna didn't bother going into another room to make her call, and while she tried to sound calm, Molly said she was on her way home, and Kari was sure Molly broke every speed limit on the books since she walked inside the house in record time! Molly hugged Jenna tightly. "Tell Mama what happened, honey. Are you both all right?" she included Kari in her gaze.

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"We're fine, Ma," Jenna answered for them. She told her Mother about shooting Darles and Molly reassured her that she'd done the right thing, and told her it wasn't in her to kill anyone unless she had to. She calmed her daughter while watching Kari prepare lunch out of the corner of her eye. "I'm so proud of all of you for staying calm and doing what you needed to do," Molly said quietly. "That young man Linc is very special, isn't he, honey?" she asked her daughter. "I'm going to marry him, Ma," Jenna said matter-of-factly. "He's the one," she said, "even if he doesn't know it yet." Molly nodded. "I think you may be right, dear. Kari, that smells heavenly." "It's almost ready, Molly. I made plenty," Kari replied with a smile. "I'm not a professional like you, but it is eatable, I'm sure." "Oh, you've done a great job," Molly assured her. "I was watching. It's wonderful to

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know that Jacob isn't going to starve," she said teasingly as she jumped up to set the table. Within a few minutes they were eating, and Molly was telling her daughter-in-law that her dish was fantastic. Molly said she had to go back to work once she was assured the two women were all right, and several more hours passed before Jake finally arrived. "I'm sorry it took so long, sweetheart," he held her close. "I was patient," she answered, smiling up at him. The doorbell rang a couple minutes later, and Jenna was all smiles when she realized it was Linc. "You came!" she said happily, throwing herself in his arms. "Of course I came, sugar," he answered. "Where else would I be?" he teased. "You did a good job today, Jenna, and I am very proud of you," he told her.

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"You did a good job," she argued. "You're something else, Linc," Jenna told him, her eyes shining. "I wasn't about to let them take you, or Kari, or Kelly," he said firmly. "You girls gave me the best back-up a guy could want or expect, especially you, Kari. You had my back, literally. Thank you." Kari just smiled and said, "Thank you, Linc. And thank you for saving our butts, too." "Let's go home, Mrs. Tobias," Jake said. He put his hand on Linc's shoulder, "I know I said something as your Lieutenant, Linc, but as a husband and brother, I want to thank you personally for keeping my family safe today." They left, and Jake held Kari's hand all the way home. She was precious to him. "We're going to take that honeymoon just as soon as I can get it all arranged, sweetheart," he promised. "And, I want you to

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know that I'm well aware I owe you something very special for not listening to you this morning. I'm so sorry about that, sweetheart. I promise I will never just assume that because I heard something from one person that it has to be the absolute truth. I was wrong, and I am sorry I spanked you this morning." "Jake, dear, I wasn't exactly blameless in the matter," she confessed. "I didn't show Linc the respect he deserved, and looking back now, I can see where he might be concerned I could or would cause him trouble with you at work. That was unfair of me. I was only thinking of Kelly's feelings." "Linc said he was rude to you...? What was that about?" "Kelly was ill, and we heard the dogs. I took my gun and went to check it out, even though Kelly said 'no'. I recognized Jenna, and stepped outside to call off the dogs. Linc yelled at me to get inside, and was

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thoroughly upset with me, and with Kelly for not protecting me. He had a point, too, Jake," she confessed. "I knew the situation, and he didn't," she admitted, and then said, "Can we just forget it and say we both made some mistakes this morning? I'm not upset with you, and I hope you're not upset with me...?" "Not a bit, sweetheart," Jake stated. "I'm a lucky man, you know. Nevin said I'd be in the doghouse for days," he grinned. "Nope, life is really too short for that nonsense. I want to make love... and just be with you." Jake stepped on the gas a bit and said, "I aim to please, Mrs. Tobias." He hurried them on home, and pleased them both. A few weeks later, they went on their honeymoon, a secluded cabin in the mountains of Virginia, and Jake surprised Kari by renting a luxurious 'cabin'. They stayed for two weeks and during that time Jake

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introduced her to the pleasure of spanking for erotic purposes. He laughed when she tried to convince him that she much preferred this kind of spanking to the other kind, and tried to convince him that he could just give her this kind from now on. He told her he would be happy to do that provided she was a good girl all the time, and Kari promised she would be very good!

The End

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Blushing Publications thanks you wholeheartedly for your purchase with us! There are plenty more stories such as the one you've purchased from Blushing Books! Visit our online store to view our might selection! http://www.blushingbooks.com This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.