Page 71 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 2

"I trust that will be the only reminder you will need today, Hallie. You remember what happens if it isn't, don't you?"

"Oh God, please, Troy. Not at the party."

He pulled back and lifted his wife's chin to look lovingly into her eyes. "Hallie, honey, you're in control here. You don't like the consequences, then stop talking like a sailor. You heard what worked for Zach and Erin. The punishment will get longer and harder each time, until you finally learn your lesson. I don't care where we are or who sees us here in Eagle’s Pass. You will obey, do you hear me?"

He was gently soothing her with loving words and slow pats to her blistered bottom when Traci appeared from her bedroom and stood next to Sean. He risked a glance sideways and could see her look of horror as she realized what she had missed.

"Oh, for crying out loud, Troy! I leave you alone with Sean for ten minutes and you have to give Hallie a spanking?"

Troy grinned at his sister. "Talk to your sister-in-law. She's the one who continues to talk like a truck-driver. I've tried everything else. The new rule is she gets a bare-bottom spanking the minute she lets it slip. If she's foolish enough to let it rip twice in the same day, the second one will be with my belt and the third, the Eagle’s Pass paddle. We haven't got to three in one day, yet, have we, baby?"

Hallie was swiping away her final tears on her cheek as she replied, "No, sir, but the day is young. I sure as... well I hope I don't slip up again at the party."

"So do I. I may need to borrow Sean's belt if you do. I didn't wear one today."

Hallie's groan of embarrassment brought an adoring look of love to Troy's face.

Troy continued to help Hallie pull herself together, hugging her close to whisper assurances of his love, while he held a tissue up for her to blow her nose.

Sean reached out to grasp Traci's hand. "Well, that was some introduction."

Troy had turned his attention back to his sister and Sean. "Consider it your welcome to Eagle’s Pass. I know I was a bit surprised to see you, Sean, but I'm happy you're here.

Especially if it makes my sister as happy as she looks right now."

Remembering his arrival the day before, Sean felt a connection to Traci's brother. "I'm not entirely sure she was happy to see me when I got here yesterday, but I think we're past that now, aren't we, Trace?"

He watched the shy blush creeping up her neck, consuming her. Sean was pleased with her simple, "Yes, sir."

Troy's knowing grin put Sean at ease. "You're in town from Chicago then?"

"Yep."

"You have a daughter. Is she with you? Traci didn't tell me her name."

"It's Ashley and she's in Wisconsin with her grandparents for the holiday weekend."

"You divorced?"

"Widower."

"Shit, I'm sorry about that. I didn't know."

"No worries, but thanks."

Sean was worried the game of twenty questions might stretch out longer, but Troy brought the conversation around to safer topics. "So do you like Texas BBQ?"

"You bet. Who doesn't?"

"That's great since that's the theme for today's party. We'd better get going if we want to get some of the ribs and Angie's cupcakes."

The foursome grabbed the salad Traci had thrown together and headed out to the party. Their conversation came easy, yet Sean wished he had a few minutes alone to think because something Troy had said earlier nagged at him, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on what it might be. Obviously, listening to a husband spank his wife in the next room was not an everyday occurrence, but Sean couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something else from the odd exchange.

Traci must have noticed as she held them back far enough to have a private word as they were nearing the community center. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry I left you alone to deal with that."

"I'm fine. Yes, it was a strange way to get introduced to your family, but they seem to be doing fine now." They both glanced forward to watch Hallie jumping onto her husband's back to catch a ride with a giggle since her too-tall shoes were already killing her feet.

"Yeah, well they're still in that sickly-sweet, in-love stage. It's been kind of hard to be around to tell you the truth."

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