Peter loved Kate with all his being, but that didn't mean he'd tolerate an ultimatum from her.
For Sneak Peek Sunday we share six paragraphs from a published work or a WIP (work in progress).My submission for this week is from my 5th book, and newest release, Acting Lessons.
He was a strict and demanding college professor turned professional director who excelled at giving acting lessons. She was his shy and uncertain former student who became a professional actress under his tutelage. They fell in love, married, and won two Tony Awards before tragedy struck and a simple kiss ripped them apart.
After a six month separation, Peter Thorton decides to take matters into his own hands by making his famous wife, Kate, an offer she wouldn't refuse. Plainly put, he wants her back and he intends to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even if it means giving his stubborn, willful leading lady a daily reminder over his knee that she promised to obey him.
In this scene, which occurs early in the first chapter, Peter Thorton, seated comfortably in an agent's office, is attempting to convince his wife, Kate, to give their marriage a second chance by signing her to appear with him in a College Summer Stock production of "Kiss Me Kate." Kate isn't sure she can trust Peter with her heart again, since she believes he's been unfaithful to her, but she's never stopped loving him. And though Domestic Discipline originally played a part in their marriage, their last two years together had them living like polite strangers sharing the same house. Peter realizes he made a mistake in letting Kate do as she pleased, so he's determined to rectify matters immediately, and informs his famous wife that if she keeps acting like a brat, he will turn her over his knee.
Kate's entire body went on instant
alert. "Try it and I'll have you
arrested," she warned, inching her chair out of his reach.
"I doubt it, but whether you
will or won't makes little difference, since your threats can't stop me from
doing what I feel needs to be done."
"Go to hell."
Though she spoke the words softly,
his eyebrows snapped together as if she'd shouted them. With a subtle shift in his position, he
leaned forward and scowled. A
reminder. Peter had a rule against
swearing. Kate's mouth grew dry with
uncertainty as an apology hovered on the tip of her tongue. Then, with a silent curse at herself for playing
into his hand, she surged to her feet and glared at her agent. "I won't--"
She didn't get one word further
before Peter grabbed her arm and yanked her face down over his knees. "No!" she cried out, beating,
pushing and kicking as hard as she could in an effort to get free. "Let me go, you oaf," she
screamed. "You have no right
to--"
His palm descended, cutting off her
complaint. Since the swat had been
applied over several layers of clothing it hadn't hurt, but she still shrieked
to let everyone know how strenuously she objected to the mishandling. "Don, help me. Call the police!"
Kate pushed, so Peter pulled. Now Kate's regretting having pushed so hard.
If you're 18 or older, you can read the first three chapters at Acting Lessons
Buy the book directly from Blushing Books
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and want more. Please click the link below to continue your hop Sneak Peek Sunday Wishing you a wonderful journey.
Wow! Great snippet, Kathryn. Peter seems kind of scowly here, but I bet he's redeemed before the end of the story.
ReplyDeleteGood snippet.
ReplyDelete