Chapter Eleven

She didn’t feel like dressing up, so she just slipped on a sundress and a pair of sandals before heading out the door, another cup of coffee in her hand. Yet, the screaming of the unanswered questions tumbling around in her head weren’t the only disturbance to her morning. As she stepped into the condo’s corridor, the echoing of pounding on a door, as well as someone persistently screeching Clint’s name, assaulted her ears.

Karla groaned, knowing it couldn’t be Miss Fowler causing the ruckus. The woman was a snoop, but at least she was a quiet one. No, the only person who would cause such a commotion, who would disturb her peace, would be Bonnie. Karla’s temper simmered as her muscles grew taut. “Hey!” she yelled, stopping just outside her door and folding her arms across her chest as she thrust a hip out to the side. “Unlike yourself, Clint works during the day. You’re only disturbing the rest of us with your bullshit. Who the hell let you into the building anyway?”

Bonnie Asher turned, her face a mask of annoyance, as if Clint working was such an imposition. “My daughter lives here. I have a right to be here.”

“Correction. Your daughter has the right to be here, not you. You also don’t have a right to disturb the peace, so do us all a favor and go away.” She made a shooing motion with her free hand.

Miss Fowler opened her door a crack, her little Duchess in her arms as she peeked outside into the hallway. Bonnie shot the older woman a nasty look and Miss Fowler’s eyes widened as she ducked back inside her condo, shutting herself behind her door once again. Karla made a mental note to try that on the old snoop at a later date.

Bonnie turned her attention back to Karla, who could feel the woman’s hatred from where she stood. Karla slammed her hand onto her hip as she puffed her chest out a little, daring the woman to push her luck. “I will not be kept away from my daughter,” Bonnie said.

“I really think that’s between you and Clint, not for everyone in the building to hear. Frankly, since you’re the one who ran off, I don’t think you deserve another chance, but that’s just me. Now, if you don’t get the hell out of here, I’m going to shove you into the elevator myself.” She took a step toward the woman as if to prove she was ready to carry out her threat.

Bonnie shuffled back a step, but then stopped, her head cocked to the side. “Wait a minute. It’s your sister who’s screwing my husband, isn’t it? That’s why you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t belong here, and for the record, my sister is the one who’s standing by the side of the man you ran off on, so if I were you, I’d watch your mouth.” Karla took a few more steps toward Bonnie. “Now, are you going to leave the easy way or am I going to have to help you?” She could tell by the woman’s expression that she wanted to stay and fight, but instead, she just turned and walked away. Karla watched her until the elevator doors whooshed shut on her, taking Bonnie out of her life for the time being, but not for good.

Karla sighed as she ran a hand along the back of her neck, massaging it a little. As long as Aimee dated Clint, Bonnie would be a thorn in all their sides. Karla really hoped Ginny could solve the issue before Bonnie drove them all bat shit crazy. Karla had enough crazy in her life with Mitch Greenway at the moment. She didn’t have time to babysit Aimee’s life.

Once Bonnie left, Karla finished making her way to the elevator. It was safer to give Bonnie a head start. Safer for Bonnie, that is.

As she rode the elevator down, Karla turned her thoughts to Mitch. She still didn’t know what he intended with all his talk about rules and such. It seemed kind of idiotic to her, but she was willing to give him a shot and prove him wrong. She always proved the men in her life wrong. She didn’t want normal. She wanted adventure.

She had a few hours before work, and thought perhaps a visit to Mitch’s shop would help her calm down after the Bonnie Asher run in. If she was lucky, Mitch might have some free time for her to blow off some of her frustration.

Or talk.

Oh, who the hell was she kidding? As much as she wanted answers, she didn’t want conversation. She wanted sex.

Before driving off, she sent Aimee a text warning her of Bonnie’s visit. She didn’t envy her sister the impending drama. It was definitely a show that wouldn’t be canceled anytime soon. Her mind drifted back to her own drama and the main character in her play. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the part she was supposed to play. She just wished she had a chance to view the script before she accepted her role.

The traffic wasn’t bad for a Friday morning. Of course, everyone was probably at their day jobs and the third shift crowds still snored snuggly in their beds. She was one of the few who couldn’t sleep all day. There was too much to do, to experience, and she had every intention of doing it all.

As she pulled into the parking lot of waiting vehicles in front of Greenway’s Auto Repair, her nerves almost calmed down from her encounter with Bonnie, only to have them spike again. She stared at Sandy as her friend walked out of the bay, a silly grin on her face. Karla shoved her car into park as she glared at the other woman through narrowed eyes. Why the hell is she here?

Mitch followed Sandy out of the opening, wiping his hands with an old rag. He was talking to the other woman, but Karla couldn’t hear what they said. Whatever they said made Sandy giggle as she turned and wiggled her fingers at him in farewell. What the..?

Her hands shaking, Karla stayed in her car, gripping the steering wheel, until Sandy drove off. Mitch watched the other woman leave, and then turned back into his shop, shaking his head. If he’s still banging Sandy, why in the world is he all up into my shit? She jerked her car door open and stormed into the morning sun. Her day started out with a bitch pounding on Clint’s door and continued to go downhill from there. She should have just stayed in bed.

Entering the bay area of Mitch’s shop, she spotted his ass first as he was bent over the side panel of a Toyota, the top half of him lost in the cavity of the engine. If she hadn’t been so annoyed at the moment, she would have admired the way his jeans made his derriere look, but her anger tinted her vision so much that, instead of wanting to grab his ass, all she wanted to do was smack the hell out of it. She glanced around, making sure Lloyd wasn’t nearby, and then started in on Mitch. “I don’t get you,” she said, coming to a halt at the grill of the car, arms crossed over her chest, hip thrust out. “Why the hell are you giving me such a hard time and pestering me to go out with you, if you’re still screwing my friend?”

Mitch kept working on whatever it was he worked on, choosing to be quiet, instead of answering her right away, which only drove her into a further tizzy. When he did come up for air, he just lifted his upper body without coming out of the engine space. And smiled at her. She wanted to throw something at him. “Good morning,” he said, his voice chipper, as if she hadn’t just busted his ass about her friend. “I’m surprised you’re awake.”

She started tapping her right foot. “Is that why you fucked Sandy here this morning? You thought I would still be in bed?”

He turned back to the part he worked on, his hands twisting a socket wrench, his arm muscles flexing. “You’re assuming I fucked her. Of course, that would have been fun with Lloyd working out back. I wonder if he would have watched or joined in. Besides, even if I did screw your friend, I would have done it even if I knew you were awake.” He lifted his head and glanced up at her, a shit-eating grin on his face. “After all, according to you, we’re not in a relationship.” He winked at her as he turned back to his work.

Now she really wanted to throw something at him. Instead, she growled. “Then what was all that talk about rules and shit?”

He grunted as he twisted the wrench one last time, then lifted himself out of the engine cavity, reaching for the rag draped on the side of the car. “That shit let you know that I wasn’t expecting you to change for me. The rules were to protect us if you decided to be in a relationship.” He shrugged. “You haven’t exactly given me an answer, you know. So… The ball is in your court.”

“You’re just wanting to prove I’ll fail.”

He shook his head as he tossed the rag toward his workbench. “No. That’s you. You want to prove to me you’ll fail. I, on the other hand, will prove to you that you won’t.” He walked over to where she stood, his hands in his pockets as he grinned down at her. “So, let’s see who wins, shall we? What do you have to lose?”

Only my damn mind, Karla thought.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mitch stared at Karla, fighting the urge to snatch her into his arms and squeeze the hell out of her. It was in her nature to see the negative and think the worst of everything and everyone. It was maddening at times.

“So, let’s see who wins, shall we? What do you have to lose?” To be honest, she had nothing to lose, and he knew it. Even if she failed, even if they failed, she was already so set on not being in a relationship that it would be him who was left with a broken heart. She didn’t seem to be the type to invest herself too much into anything. Oh, she pretended, of course. It was part of the game after all. But it wasn’t real. She always played a part, a role for others, while doing her best to rake in the proceeds of the box. He knew he had his work cut out for him, but he was determined to see it through, even if she forced them to crash and burn.

Karla stayed still, hands still crossed over her chest. “And what about these rules of yours?”

He shrugged. “There’s really only two. We both have to know what the other does, no matter what it is.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him, and he knew she waited for more, but that’s all there really was. He didn’t like being monogamous, so he didn’t expect her to be, either. However, that didn’t leave either one of them free to go off and screw whoever they wanted, not without some guidelines, anyway. “Just tell you about what I’m doing. That’s it? It doesn’t even matter what I do?”

He shook his head. “Nope. If you decide to sleep with Brad again, then go for it. I just have to know beforehand, and it doesn’t keep us from popping in on the other, like the other morning. After all, we’re the ones who will be in the relationship.”

She nodded, still looking unsure about what he said. “And rule number two?”

“Sex is one thing; emotions are another. Who we hop into bed with should never lead to our hearts getting involved. I want you. I can share your body, but not your heart.”

She snorted a small burst of laughter. “Who said you had my heart? We’re just hanging out for now, remember?”

His smile never left his face as he gave her a slow nod. “Oh, I remember, but, after all, you are here asking about my rules. That kinda says something, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, it says you can be an annoying ass who drives me crazy.” She slipped her hands to her waist, opening herself back up to him. He won, even if she wouldn’t admit it. “And what happens if I forget to tell you?”

He grinned. He knew without a doubt that she would forget to tell him at some point, just to prove she could. “Then you’ll be punished.” He tilted his head to the side, as if contemplating the subject, when in fact he already knew what he would say. “If I discover you’ve broken either of my rules, you will be bound,” he gestured around the bay, “here, in this place, and I will spank you.”

“Spank me? First rules and now I’m getting spanked like a toddler?”

“You only get spanked if you break the rules. And everyone follows rules of some kind, even you.”

“Yeah, but I usually make them.” He noticed she didn’t cross her arms across her chest again, a sign she was still open to what he said. She glanced around his workshop, obviously debating within herself. “What if you break the rules?” she asked as she turned her gaze back to him.

“Oh, I won’t break them. I made them after all. However, if it would make you feel better, you can bind me and spank me if I do.” He gave her another wink.

She grinned, swaying her body in a semi-circle. “I like the sound of that.”

“I bet you do. I also remember how turned on you were by your last spanking.”

“That was sex, not punishment.”

He cocked his head a little, his eyes narrowed. “No one’s bent you over their lap and spanked you for being a brat?”

“You really think someone would dare?”

He highly doubted it. He grinned at the thought of being the first at something with her. He really didn’t think there would be many firsts.

Stepping closer, he took her in his arms, pulling her toward the car he was repairing. “Perhaps, you should experience it. You know, just to see what to expect when you break the rules.”

“When I break the rules? Aren’t you supposed to be convincing me I won’t break them?” He noticed she wasn’t fighting him.

“Now, Karla, while I hold out hope, I am also a realist. I know you have it in you to be a good girl, but I also know you just enjoy breaking rules." He led her over to the side of the Toyota and smiled as she automatically placed her hands on the side to brace herself. “Don’t you want to know what you’re getting into?”

“Not really, no. And what about Lloyd? Isn’t he out back? Aren’t you worried about him walking in on us?”

“Nope. I want him to watch. He just loves looking at your ass. He told me so. Now, do you think you can keep the rules?”

She stayed silent, not even facing him, but rather staring straight ahead.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked.

She didn’t say anything.

“Karla? Do you want me to stop?”

She took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling. “No.” It was barely more than a whisper, but that was enough for him.

Mitch stood behind her and just to the left, his hand caressing her back through her sundress, holding her in place, as he slid his right hand up under her dress, grazing her bare legs. Goose bumps peppered her exposed flesh as the air hit it. Mitch pressed down on her back a bit, bending her over even more. He lifted her dress up until he could hold it in his left hand. With his other, he raked his fingers across her ass, drawing white lines in her flesh. Her body tensed, braced. He took his hand back and waited. He knew she expected a sudden smack on the ass, which is why he did the opposite. He counted to ten, and then he spanked her, the sound of his hand slapping her ass echoing in the confined bay. She yelped but didn’t move. He pressed in where he hit, feeling the heat his hand caused. He pulled his hand back again, and he knew she expected him to pause as he did before, but this time, he spanked her in two sharp, quick smacks. Her body jumped, her hands gripping the sides of the car.

She pushed her ass out to him. He grinned. She wanted more. He gave it to her. One. Two. Three. Quick. Hard. Stinging. He slid his left hand up to her hair and gripped it, pulling her head back, and then smacked her ass four more times, his handprint leaving dark red splotches over her flesh. Leaning back, he admired his handiwork, hoping she’d break his rules often.

He slid a finger down her ass crack, along her thong, until he reached her pussy lips. Rubbing them from outside the material, it pleased him to find them wet. Leaning in, he whispered, “I think perhaps we’ve found a new pastime for you. You’re even wetter than last time.”

She groaned. Her body was still tense as she danced from one foot to the other trying to alleviate the pain. “Is this where you fuck me now?”

He kissed her ear. “I wish, but I have to work, remember? And Lloyd is still right outside.” She groaned, and it stirred him even more. “Tonight, however. When you get off work.”

“You think I’ll break the rules that fast?”

“Not all spanking is punishment. Trust me. You’ll enjoy what we do.” He let her dress fall back down, covering her again.

She turned, her hands sliding to his waist as she pressed against him. “I always enjoy what you do, except when you make me wait.”

“Tonight.”

She grinned, her ass swinging back and forth in that schoolgirl way she had about her. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He kissed her nose. “As am I.”