#6BestHop - 2/28/16 - Acting Lessons - Doing whatever it takes #KissMeKate #DD

Peter loved Kate with all his being, but that didn't mean he'd tolerate an ultimatum from her.

For Sunday's Six of the Best, we share six paragraphs from a published work or a WIP (work in progress).

My submission for this week is from my 5th book, Acting Lessons, loosely based on the story of Kiss Me Kate.

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 by informing his famous wife that if she keeps acting like a brat, he will turn her over his knee. Furious, Kate makes the mistake of challenging her husband, so he proves to her his threats are no longer idle.  

The spanking provides an emotional release for Kate, and she ends up crying in Peter's arms. Once she gets herself under control, Kate attempts to apologize, but Peter cuts her off with a kiss then informs her he wants them to have dinner together. Feeling cornered. Kate informs him she has a previous engagement she is not willing to cancel, but Peter presses until finally Kate grows petulant. When she complains that he can't just turn her over his knee whenever she disagrees with him, he warns her he won't hesitate to do whatever is necessary to improve her attitude if she continues to be snippy with him. Realizing this was an argument she couldn't win, Kate backs down. Though Peter is willing to meet her halfway, he still insists things are going to change between them, and when Kate asks him how, he answers by taking care of her. She complains that she finds his methods to be nothing short of bullying sometimes.

             Peter grasped her chin and pressed his firm, warm lips to hers, effectively cutting off her words of protest.  Though Kate welcomed the kiss, she suspected working with him would only complicate their already rocky relationship.  Then his fingers stroked her jaw, and she gave a soft moan that was part desire and part denial.  He drew back and regarded her through dark brown eyes edged with worry.  "I know you don't trust me, yet, Katie, but things will be better between us.  I promise.  You are going to be my leading lady, and I'm going to make sure you take proper care of yourself.  That's it."

            She raised one eyebrow in what she hoped was an elegant arch.  "So, you don't expect to….  I mean, you're not going to…."

            "What?  Make love to you?  Give you baths and massages when you're tense, and the occasional spanking when you're not paying proper heed to your loving husband?"

            Kate couldn't decide whether to groan or laugh at his blatant display of chauvinism.  So, instead, she nodded and shrugged, secretly pleased when he bent forward to give her another quick kiss.

            "I intend to do whatever is necessary to keep you happy and healthy, my stubborn wife.  But you know I would never force you to do anything against your consent.  Don't you?"

            When she gave another small nod, he put a warm hand on each side of her face.  "I want to try again, Katie.  It won't be easy, and I suspect we'll have more than one 'go round' together, however, I'm not going to give up so easily this time.  So, are you willing to let me back into your life, for this summer if not longer?" 

Kate pushed, so Peter pulled.  Temporarily reconciled, Kate has to decide whether to give into his wishes or stand firm so he doesn't think she's lost her backbone. In a case of push and pull, something has to give.

M/F, DD and a staged production of Kiss Me, Kate.

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 Sunday's Six of the Best. Wishing you a wonderful journey.