"In the bedroom! Now!" he ordered, pointing toward the private suite, waiting for her to comply, tired of arguing with her.
"You've got to be kidding," she muttered, moving away from the man she suddenly found herself alone with and who towered over her.
"Now!" he commanded, a firm hand on her back, giving her a little shove.
"You are out of your fu... fu... mind!" she yelled, the color in her face rising, the thunderous look on his face frightening.
"I won't tell you again," he said with an arched brow, his voice growing softer, the words almost hissed... menacing.
"Good," she smirked and advanced toward the door leading away from his overbearing presence and to the hallway - to freedom.
A strong arm reached out and grabbed her, pulling her to his chest. "I paid good money for you, woman and you belong to me! Get into that bedroom, NOW!"
"It was a game of cards, for Chrissakes!" she yelled for the fourth time after hearing what had transpired in this room before she arrived. Struggling against him, she tried wiggling out of his arms. "My father had no business wagering my hand in marriage. I'm over the age of consent and you can't make me marry you!"
"We're already married, woman."
"Really?" she said with as much sarcasm as she could muster, his arm so tight around her she could barely breathe. "You'd think I'd remember that little detail."
"We were married by proxy. If you don't believe me, you can ask your father when we return from our honeymoon."
"You married me sight unseen?" she asked incredulously.
"I knew what you looked like," he had the grace to admit. "I've seen you at numerous parties."
"Bully for you! Now let me go! I won't marry you!"
"We are married. Now get in that bedroom before I take you over my knee."
"Over your knee!?!" Her eyes opened wide and she stared at him a full two seconds before her knee swiftly rose to meet his groin. "You insufferable pig! You arrogant..."
Barely avoiding her knee, he winced slightly when it caught the edge of his sensitive sac, making him inhale sharply and with a growl, he threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the bedroom, tossing her onto the bed.
Locking the door behind him, he leaned on it and looked at the sensually earthy woman on the bed. Her chestnut hair had escaped its pins, long silky tresses draped over bare shoulders, covering high firm breasts. The slit in the skirt of her cocktail dress had torn, baring a thigh, the band at the top of her stockings exposed to his eyes.
His mouth watered.
She was beautiful and he wanted her. He had wanted her months ago but stayed away from her until he settled some personal affairs - blonde and redheaded ones. He knew all about her feisty temper, her strong and independent spirit and the vulnerability she hid, ashamed of her alcoholic father, her many debts on his behalf and her need to succeed.
She was quintessential ice queen, never letting anyone too close and her scorn for any man's integrity was legendary. There were those who tried to tame her, woo her, make her theirs, but none were as strong willed or as stubborn as she.
Caleb Hollis was going to tame her, but first, he had to marry her. The card game was an easy lure for the drunk that was her father and after the man had a few too many drinks and loss of coin, Caleb suggested a final wager. He'd offer $50,000 for the man's daughter if he lost the round of cards and pay $20,000 if he won. The chaplain and proxies were standing by. Either way, he'd get what he wanted. Mara Stevenson was his.
No one saw fit to tell her she was the stakes in a card game and that she had been married for two solid hours before she arrived at the hotel. She had never met Caleb Hollis but she remembered him from various gatherings she had attended with her father. It's hard to miss someone that tall and sure of himself no matter how hard you try. Now she was Mara Stevenson Hollis, solidly wed to a handsome and arrogant stranger who just threatened to spank her!
At my age? The man has balls!
She suddenly realized he wasn't making an idle threat.
Oh God!
"Take your clothes off," he said softly. "I want to see you."
"Go to hell," she spit, backing away from him to the other side of the bed.
"I'll tell you once and only once," he stated clearly, enunciating each word. "I will be obeyed - in all things! I will not tolerate your smart mouth, cursing or disrespect. You will have much freedom as my wife, but you will obey me or pay the consequences. Is that clear?"
"I obey no man," Mara said quietly but firmly, the anger evident in her golden brown eyes. "You may be my husband, but in name only. You are nothing to me. I'll ignore you like dirt beneath my heel."
The brave speech was delivered quietly, her small hands curled into fists, her spine straight as she kneeled on the bed, daring him to defy her.
He stared at her, amazed that a woman half his size would throw a gauntlet down. He was pleased. She had spirit as well as beauty. She wouldn't be easy to tame. With a wicked grin, he advanced on her.
"Stay away!" she growled.
"Or what?" he smiled, reaching for her hands, easily capturing them and holding them behind her back in one of his. His other hand cupped her chin and he kissed her until she stopped resisting him.
Letting her up for air, he dropped feathery kisses on her brow. She was delicious and he had to catch his breath so he could kiss her once again. "Last chance to concede, my beauty," he smiled at her.
"Never!" she insisted, a little shaken by his kiss.
"Even though you weren't there, we've had the wedding. You're here now, so we'll have the bedding," he grinned, cupping her bottom and fitting her to his groin.
"You arrogant and miserable piece of...!"
"My wife does not curse!" he growled low.
"Good! Divorce me and you can find a meek Miss Goody Two-Shoes who can be your holier than thou wife, you goddamn son-of-a..."
"I warned you," he roared, turning her over his knee and flipping her dress above her waist. "Now you'll see what happens when you don't obey."
"What are you doing?" she shrieked when his hand came down hard on her scantily clad behind.
"Spanking you, wife."
"I'll kill you," she screamed between shrieks.
"You'll have to do it standing up," he chuckled, enjoying the heat already forming beneath his hand. "Have you had enough? Will you behave?" he asked, pausing to rub her chastised cheeks, admiring the shape of the firm round globes.
"Go to hell," she said quietly, her butt suddenly turned into a three-alarm fire, her body limp across his lap.
He pulled her brief panties down and admired his handiwork before his hand descended once again. "Ready to behave?" he asked when she was silent.
But Mara Hollis, nee Stevenson, was made of stronger stuff. She remained silent and plotted her revenge.
~~~
Mara bit her lip, refusing to beg the arrogant bastard to stop, refusing to make another sound despite the stinging pain. Her eyes filled and overflowed, tears running down her face as the spanks were delivered harder and faster. Darkness finally covered her eyes and she passed out from the pain, collapsing under him.
Caleb Hollis was royally pissed. This woman... my wife!... remained silent when he asked her if she had enough and as long as she refused to behave, he would continue to spank her until she responded. She'll learn!
Her butt was the deepest red he'd ever seen and he thought it would soon purple. Both round cheeks seemed to be fuller after many minutes of really hard punishment and he paused to rub them, belatedly realizing their marriage had been a shock to her and that he had been unduly harsh. He should have given her time to adjust but he had wanted her for so long he let his body rule his mind. From what he knew about her, she was as feisty as they came, a real spitfire so he was genuinely surprised when she stopped hurling curses at him and just lay there across his lap. He was even more surprised when she didn't respond to the liberties he took with her body, touching her intimately.
"Mara," he said softly, lifting her to his chest. "Oh Jesus, Mara," he groaned at the limp woman in his arms. "You weren't supposed to pass out."