Taming and Tanning Libby Read online

  “Libby… is something wrong?”

  Her green eyes darted back and forth, up and down the hallway to see if anyone was nearby. “I think Veronica’s back in our room taking a nap. Is Jasper going to be around?”

  Clay looked down at her with a look of concern. “Yeah… he’s studying for one of his classes. What’s the matter?”

  Libby bit her lip and seemed to be struggling to keep from crying. “I need some time with you alone. I have to talk to you.”

  Clay squeezed his eyes shut to think for a moment. “The hotel next door… want me to get a room there?”

  Libby closed her eyes and nodded. “Please.”

  They headed for a side door of their hotel, and then walked to the front of the neighboring establishment. As Clay stood at the desk arranging the room, he watched tensely as Libby paced nervously back and forth in the lobby.

  Seeing that he had a key card, Libby walked up next to Clay and they made their way to the elevator. They only had to travel to the third floor, and they were quickly walking into their room.

  As soon as the door was closed behind them, Clay took Libby by her shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. “Libby… I have to know right now what’s going on with you.”

  She stepped away and placed her hands over her blushing face, then walked to the bed and patted her hand on it for Clay to sit next to her. She took a deep breath. “Clay… I want to… I mean… I’minlovewithyouareyouinlovewithme?”

  In spite of the obvious anxiety she was exhibiting, Clay could not help but laugh. “Um… I need for you to try that again. And a lot slower.”

  Libby took another deep breath, as if she were trying to prevent herself from hyperventilating. As tears rimmed her eyes, she forced herself to speak. “I’m… in love… with you. Are you… in… love… with… me?”

  To their mutual surprise, tears begin to form in Clay’s eyes as he nodded slowly. “Yes… I have already fallen in love with you, Libby.”

  Libby raised both hands outward as if she was trying to receive a gift. “But this is totally… crazy. We have had… just a few real dates.”

  Clay shrugged. “Five or so, if you count that night in the tour bus.”

  Libby closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “But how can this happen?”

  Clay shrugged once again. “It just happens. Stop trying to make sense out of it, you little control freak.”

  Libby started to laugh as tears streamed down her face and she placed her cheek on Clay’s shoulder. She tried to speak, but began to simultaneously laugh and cry even harder before she finally gave up and just put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  Clay held her tightly for a minute. “Want to hear something really scary?”

  Libby drew away slowly and resumed laughing as she wiped tears from her face. “I suppose so… I just don’t know how much more I can take today and keep my sanity. But go-ahead… what is this scary thing you want to say?”

  Clay took a deep breath and turned her to face him. “There’s a wedding chapel across the street. So why not? After all, sudden marriage has been the theme of many a great song.”

  Libby sat in silence, and Clay once again had the rare opportunity to see her jaw drop open and her eyes grow as large as saucers. She gave no verbal response, but simply slowly nodded her head.

  Libby peered at Clay with her head tilted and an inquisitive expression. “Clay… when did you know you loved me?”

  “When I spanked you in the tour bus, and you wanted to stay over my knees while I caressed your bottom. When did you know that you loved me?”

  Libby took a deep breath and smiled. “When you spanked me in the tour bus, and I wanted to stay over your knees while you caressed my bottom.”

  * * * * *

  Libby and Clay emerged from the tiny chapel, both holding their cell phones to call family. Libby began to laugh before calling her parents. “Veronica is going to be furious at me for getting married without her knowing in advance, but she only would have made a scene and tried to stop us.”

  Clay began to punch his phone keypad. “I’m calling Max to advise him that we need to change the future room arrangements. Of course, I will have to take care of that.”

  Libby held her phone nervously until her mother answered. “Mom… I just got married… I said I just got married. My last name is now Harris… Clay Harris. You’re going to love him. And guess where we’re going to spend our honeymoon? Yes… St. Louis… Kansas City… Joplin…”

  * * * * *

  Clay stood outside the negligee boutique, and when Libby emerged with a shopping bag, he theatrically put his hands over his eyes. She elbowed him in the ribs as they began walking back toward the hotel where they had reserved their room for the rest of the night.

  Clay took Libby by the hand as they strolled along. “So you got what you needed out of your room before Veronica realized what was happening?”

  Libby began to laugh. “Yes, and she is so happy. It surprises me, because she is always talked about my impulsiveness. But she has good intuition, and she seemed to spot us as a good match right away.”

  “And Max… well, his face just lit up in a big old smile when I told him.”

  Libby laughed. “Max has this stage persona as a tough old cowboy to go along with that leathery skin of his. The reality is, he’s a big softy. Around the other cowboys he talks about horses and cattle. But when nobody is watching, he sends money to pet rescue centers. He always worries about abandoned puppies and kittens.”

  Clay nodded slowly. “Just another reason for me to feel fortunate to be working for him now.”

  Libby leaned her head against his arm as they walked along. “And I am also very lucky because of how everything came together. And of course, Mister Harris, I think back to that poolside conversation that so quickly went downhill. “

  Clay laughed as they came to the crosswalk that would take them to their wedding night bed in the elegant hotel. “That was a bit unpleasant.”

  “But Clay… I remember you saying that you may need to… how was it you said that… work me over.”

  Clay burst into laughter as they entered the crosswalk and neared the canopied hotel entrance. “Oh, yeah. I remember saying that.”

  As a doorman held the door open for them and they walked toward the elevator, Libby gave his arm a squeeze. “Well now, you can work me over in every imaginable way.” They entered the elevator, and if anyone had been standing outside after the door closed, all they would have heard was a sharp SMACK and a high-pitched “Ouch.”

  Chapter Six

  Clay paced the floor in the bedroom, arguing with himself as to how much light there should be in the room. As he had showered and donned the cotton pajama bottoms Libby had purchased for him that afternoon, his mind raced as he tried to think of how to make everything just right.

  All the while, any attempt at serious thought was obliterated by the distraction of hearing the shower running, knowing that Libby was standing there naked under the stream, ready to put on a minimal amount of clothing that would further roil his already raging libido. While neither of them were virgins, he sensed that on this night it would seem that they were.

  * * * * *

  Clay found himself nearly giddy in anticipation when he heard the shower stop, followed by an agonizing session of listening to the sound of a hairdryer. Finally the hairdryer stopped, and he could only imagine what was taking place next in the bathroom. There may have been a light misting of cologne anywhere upon the freckled skin. He imagined her brushing her hair, but that only reminded him of the hairbrush and what had happened the last time it had surfaced, and his mind became a jumbled mess of erotic fantasies.

  It seemed like a year passed before the bathroom door slowly opened. As if in a dream, Libby stepped into the dimly lit bedroom, clad in a short dark blue satin nightie that only extended a few inches below her waist, allowing the ruffles on the matching panties to barely poke out beneath the hem.

/>   They walked toward each other and embraced, and then enjoyed their first passionate kiss as a married couple. Libby reached around and patted him on the butt while looking up at him and smiling. “Okay, big fellow… you ready for me?”

  Clay growled dramatically as he picked Libby up and carried her to the bed where the covers were already turned back. He gently lowered her, and then took his place beside his wife. They began to kiss and caress each other, while murmuring words of love. Suddenly, Libby began to giggle. “You are going to spank me, aren’t you? I mean, even if it’s just a quick little paddling? After all, it’s how we met and fell in love.”

  Clay laughed. “Hhhmmm… a quick little paddling? Well, I would love to. Anything that warms you up, I am all for that.”

  Libby giggled once again. “When you were shopping for those new ties today, I slipped into… let’s say… a specialty shop down the street.”

  “Oh you did, did you? And just what did you happen to find there that has given you the giggles?”

  Libby reached across him and pointed at the bedside stand. “Open the top drawer and just see what you might find.”

  Full of anticipation, Clay rolled over and pulled the drawer open, then rolled back to face Libby, his eyebrows arched as he examined the foot–long wooden paddle decorated with painted flowers on one side. He grinned and shook his head, as he menaced Libby with the paddle. “Are you ready for some of this? I don’t care anymore if anyone hears; we’re married now.”

  Libby’s giggles continued as she got up into a kneeling position while Clay moved to the center of the bed and leaned back against the headboard. Having done so, he held up the paddle once more, and then patted his lap as Libby crawled toward him, then lay down across his knees.

  Clay began to massage Libby’s bottom with the slow and circular motions she so loved. After nearly a minute of that, he brushed the nightie up onto her back, then hooked his fingers into the waistband of the panties and slowly drew them down to her thighs.

  He then picked up the paddle, and began circling and teasing her bottom with the cool flat surface. In return, he heard murmurs of pleasure, and got to watch a brief exhibition of wiggling and writhing. When he decided it was time for Libby to find out what her new paddle felt like, Clay thought that some mischief would be in order.

  He raised the paddle to the height of his shoulders, deciding to give Libby a little more than she was likely to be expecting. The implement landed with a loud CRACK that echoed in the room. But instead of hearing a squeal of scolding protest, he heard a hiss of breath being sucked in, followed by “Mmm… mmm”, and a couple more wiggles to reward him for his efforts.

  Clay shrugged his shoulders, and then resumed the circling, teasing caress of the paddle on her now stinging bottom. He raised the paddle again, and thought… “Oh well…” POW! Again, there were murmurs of pleasure, accompanied by a high-pitched giggling.

  He resumed caressing the warm area with the cool paddle, but hesitated long enough to pull the panties down her legs, off over her feet, and toss them onto the bed. The paddle circled for a few more seconds, then… WHAM! That one generated a “Yeeeooooww…” and Libby jumped off his lap and tackled him in an embrace.

  They kissed, caressed, teased and petted. When Clay began to suckle her breasts, she nearly went over the edge. He finally entered her so that she could appreciate in full what her fingertips had previously fondled.

  Their lovemaking was slow and rhythmic at first; Libby enjoyed the burning sensations on her bottom as Clay pressed her down with each thrust. Her urgent need for release was manifested in her moans and undulating movements to meet his. And Clay’s already raging passion was heightened by seeing Libby’s excitement.

  As Libby was brought to the edge by the higher level of urgency in his thrusting, Clay suddenly rolled them onto their sides and pulled Libby on top of him. Their coupling resumed, but now Clay’s hands were bringing forth a delightful irritation to the warm red patches where the paddle had landed minutes before. His raspy, stroking motions allowed Libby to relive the sensations of the paddle striking her bottom and she went into the abyss of a pulsating, shuddering climax, causing Clay to lose any ability to delay his own completion.

  They stayed in place, kissing, murmuring and laughing as Libby continued to enjoy the feel of Clay’s hands in motion on her stinging bottom. As the welcome movements continued, Libby sighed and placed her head on the pillow next to Clay’s head. “I think I picked out the right little toy. I really like that thing.”

  Clay stretched his arm out and grasped the paddle that had been tossed aside in loving chaos, and reached down and began to rub its cool surface across her bottom. Libby started to giggle, and raised her bottom up to encourage his playfulness. In response, Clay slapped the paddle down lightly on each cheek.

  “Mmm… my… I love the hot sting; I know that you were whacking me pretty hard. That is an ouchee little paddle. Just right for our playing around, but I don’t think I would’ve wanted any more like that at the moment.”

  Clay patted her lightly a couple more times. “Have you considered this? Maybe the next time you get spanked for real, I just may go looking for this paddle.”

  Suddenly Clay saw those entrancing green eyes framed by raised eyebrows. “So, Mister Harris… I take it that you think that will be necessary in the future.”

  “Well… it depends on whether the leopard can change her spots.”

  Libby laughed as the paddle continued its cool caress. “If the past is any indication of the future… I suppose that paddle should stay in your custody, so I won’t even be tempted to hide it from you.”

  The paddle was cast aside, and the serious stroking and caressing resumed. Soon they were treating each other to an encore-animated romp, to be followed by yet another as the sun was rising.

  * * * * *

  Libby and Clay were the last two of the crewmembers to board Max’s bus for the ride to St. Louis. As they appeared in the doorway, they were greeted with cheers and applause. Then, as they made their way to the back to where a small sofa remained empty, they were subjected to a number of wisecracks and catcalls.

  In a pretense of trying to be productive, Libby pulled her sketchpad from her briefcase and opened it on her lap. As for Clay, he did manage to go over some business details with Max, who understood the situation and expected little from his business manager after his wedding night.

  Throughout the day, Libby and Clay would doze off, either individually or together with their heads resting against each other. And whenever that happened, each or both would be good-naturedly teased.

  In fact, the cycle of dozing off, waking up and facing the humorous wisecracks of their fellow passengers was the routine of the entire bus ride. Although Libby and Clay were not at all offended by the many attempts at humor at their expense, they were relieved to arrive at their St. Louis hotel the night before the next concert.

  As they filtered out of the hotel lobby with their key cards, Veronica came up and gave them a hug, joking that she finally was able to have a private room, now that she was the only unattached woman on the tour.

  Their eyes twinkling at the prospect of their second night together as a married couple, Libby and Clay went into the room, and Libby promptly put the “Do not disturb” sign on the doorknob. On this evening, they would enjoy room service when they were not ravishing each other.

  * * * * *

  Late that evening, between their passionate sessions, Libby came out of the bathroom in her robe to see that Clay was studying something intently on his laptop computer. She walked up behind him and saw that he was looking at a website that prominently displayed a mountain resort featuring small log homes.

  He looked over his shoulder at her, and then pointed to the screen. “After the Joplin show, we’re going to have a few free days. Unless you wanted to go home to visit your parents, we could have a little retreat in one of these cabins. It’s only about a four hour drive from Joplin, so we
could rent a car, then get a flight to rejoin the tour when they arrive in Phoenix the next week for the big show there.”

  Libby looked intently at the information on the screen. “I texted Mom that I would see her in a couple of months.” She leaned down and nibbled on Clay’s ear. “For now, I would just love for you and I to have a few secluded days together. After all, you have a lot of work to do before I am truly and thoroughly worked over.”

  * * * * *

  Libby and Clay found their days to be very hectic leading up to the Joplin concert that would be the final program before their days off. Libby was becoming exasperated with the costume company she had lined up to provide the outfits for the Phoenix concert.

  She had worked feverishly on the designs, but every emailed image that came back in response to her instructions contained mistakes. By the morning of the Joplin concert, Libby was in a near rage when the latest photo revealed that the placement of some fringe and sequins had been reversed.

  Even as Max and the band were dressing for the show, Libby was scampering through the room, making sure that everyone looked just right, but still talking to the costume company on her phone headset. As the minutes wore on before the concert was to begin, the performers were very aware of just how hyper Libby was becoming. Max and Clay stood in a corner of the room going over some details of the Phoenix concert, when they were distracted by Libby’s voice becoming louder.

  Max laughed at first, appreciative of Libby’s concern that everything be just right, and Clay motioned for her to come over to where they standing. “Libby… Phoenix is over a week away. Everything can be taken of by then.”

  Libby did not bother to cover the microphone on the headset before she responded angrily, “This bitch doesn’t have a brain in her head.”

  As Max and Clay cringed, Libby spoke into the microphone once again. “Okay… okay. Look I’m getting tired of being screwed with. Just get your ass in gear and get those costumes right.”

  Libby listened some more as Max and Clay were making hand motions indicating that she needed to calm down. But once she spoke again… “Dammit… Just get it done right this time.”