Page 25 of His Loving Guidance
“How-how did you find the exhibit?”
“I looked through your desk.”
“Oh.”
“Oh indeed.”
She gulped and glanced around the room. No one had taken notice of their strained conversation. Darla was still busy flirting it up with Mr. Moneybags and hadn’t noticed her brother-in-law’s arrival.
Stephie gestured to a bench against the wall between two large paintings. “Should we sit down?”
“All right. Might as well. After all, you won’t be doing much sitting for the next few days.”
She stifled a gasp at his threat. He guided her over to the bench, and they sat side-by-side, staring out at the crowd. Spotlights shone on the surrounding paintings but weren’t directed near the bench, so it provided a safe, quiet area for them to talk in private.
Except Stephie didn’t know what to say. ‘I’m sorry’ rested on the tip of her tongue, but a simple apology wouldn’t repair the damage she’d done. Marcus placed a hand on her thigh and cleared his throat.
* * *
He wanted to haul his naughty wife over his lap on the bench, but he couldn’t. They needed privacy. So, until they left the exhibit, he resolved to maintain appearances for her sake. Obviously this exhibit had been important to Stephie, but it wounded him that she’d gone behind his back. His anger flared so hot his ears tingled. He met her worried gaze before leaning over to speak directly in her ear.
“After the exhibit ends, we’ll spend the night in a hotel before heading home in the morning,” he said.
“But what about Darla? Besides, all my stuff is at her apartment. My car is there too.”
“We’ll swing by her place in the morning to get your things and your car.” He paused and drew back to pierce her with a firm look. “Unless you’d like your sister to hear your spanking?”
The color drained from her face. “Can’t my spanking wait until we get home? Someone at the hotel might hear.”
“No one will hear a thing. The walls at the hotel aren’t as thin as in Darla’s apartment.”
She tensed and glanced down at the drink in her hand. “All right. I should tell Darla. Are we leaving now?”
His mood softened to see her lip trembling slightly, as well as the disappointment in her eyes as she scanned the room. “We can stay as long as you’d like, sweetheart.” He brought her free hand to his lips, kissing the softness of the back of her hand. “I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried about you.”
“I’m sorry I was so thoughtless. I just wanted to prove to you I can do this. I can travel like I used to and nothing bad will come of it. I want you to trust me.”
“I do trust you,” he said. “Even despite this little stunt of yours, I do trust you, Stephie. That’s not the reason I’ve been hesitant to allow you to travel as you did in the past.” His throat tightened and burned. Once upon a time, he’d almost lost her. But she’d been given a second chance. They’d been given a second chance. Except he wasn’t living out the second chance. He’d become stuck in the past, and Stephie’s longing to embrace her life after recovery clashed with his constant worry. “Perhaps I’ve been a little too overprotective,” he admitted.
A smile broke across her face, lighting her eyes. “Just a little?” Her teasing caused his anger to wane.
“Okay, more than a little. But I think maybe we can reach a compromise. One overnight trip a month. Anything beyond that will be subject to my approval.”
Her grin widened. “You mean it?”
Once again, he brought her hand to his lips. “Yes, sweetheart, I mean it.”
Her expression turned playful, and she cocked her head to the side. Mischief lighted her features. “Does this mean I don’t get a spanking?”
“What do you think?”
She grew somber and her gaze flickered around the room. Finally, she met his eyes. “I know I was naughty.”
“Very naughty. You can count on a good scolding before your spanking, too, young lady. I’m not happy with the stunt you pulled. Yes, it got my attention, but your little stunt nearly gave me a heart attack.”
She sighed, closing her eyes as she nodded in acceptance. Marcus didn’t demand they leave the exhibit immediately, but he stayed at her side until the guests began to dwindle and the closing hour neared. Darla seemed relieved to hear they’d be spending the night in a hotel. Apparently she’d met a man at the exhibit and wanted to bring him home forcoffee.
Tension swelled in the car as Marcus drove them to a hotel where he’d made a reservation earlier in the day. After checking in, they found their room on the tenth floor and ordered a light dinner. Stephie picked at her food and kept casting him nervous glances. She had plenty to be nervous about, too, because he didn’t plan to go easy on her. He’d punished her thoroughly last week and brought her to tears, and this first real punishment hadn’t broken her. Or him. Instead, it had strengthened their marriage.
