Setup: After injuring her knee and spending a few hours in the hospital, Kate ends up sleeping in Peter's bed. He's taken very good care of her and she's torn between allowing him to continue leading the dance they've started, or leaving before she gets hurt again. Her heart is still bruised and tender and she's not entirely sure she trusts her ex-husband not to hurt her again. Though he's warned her to call him before she gets out of bed, Kate decides she needs to be less dependent on him, and more self-reliant. However, she didn't expect to get caught. Though Peter is not above teaching Kate a lesson, he chooses instead to carry her over to the breakfast table set up in their bedroom. Peter waits until she's had her fill before he addresses Kate's disobedience the day before by asking her why she won't simply admit she'd been jealous. Kate admits that she may have acted out on purpose, but that doesn't mean she wants him to punish her for it. Peter disagrees saying her actions were a deliberate challenge, and ignoring it would be doing both of them a disservice, however, Kate still hesitates.
So, the choice, my love, is simple. Do you wish to re-establish our relationship, or are these delaying tactics meant to convey an aversion to having me in your life again?"
She scowled at him. "That's not fair. I just don't think we need to do--" She waved her hand indicating him and the chair. "--this anymore. We've moved on."
"Is that how you felt yesterday, when I took you over my knee? Were those tears you spilled merely an act? Were you only pretending to submit to me?"
Lowering her eyes, Kate shook her head. "No, I…."
"Tell me, Kate. How did you feel bent over my knee knowing I could and would punish you for your shrewish attitude?"
"Angry, uncertain."
"Is that all?"
She shook her head again. "I felt as though you really cared what I did, and that my actions mattered to you."
"They do. Very much so. They always have, I just stopped letting it show. I don't want to make that mistake again, and I intend to prove to you right now that I won't. But it's your choice, Katie. It always has been."
She was so close now, her knee brushed up against his leg. "I know."
"So, this is it. You can either walk away, or prove to me now that you are willing to give our relationship another try, safe in the knowledge that I will take care of you in every way I can."
If you're 18 or older, you can read the first three chapters at Acting Lessons
Buy the book directly from Blushing Books, Amazon, Amazon UK
This can be such a hard decision to make. Head, heart, emotions and past history all colliding.
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