Chapter Three

It was a rocky peace, at best. Samantha put up with Joel Cameron another three days after the infamous, unsettling spanking, spending a good deal of time avoiding him, since she could hardly face him. The picture of herself, so unceremoniously pulled over his lap, her ass bared, her bottom slapped until it stung, kept popping into her brain without warning, especially when Joel was around. Every time she saw him, a red blush threatened her face. She’d make excuses, turn the other way and quit his presence as fast as she reasonably could. Her mind was invaded with the terror of having him do it again, while at the same time her body responded strangely as if it liked what she felt. Since that was impossible, she chalked the incident up to the surprise and turmoil of the moment, having nothing to do with physical desire. Thankfully, the odd sensations began to fade by the third day, leaving her with simple revulsion for Joel Cameron. Now, the way he was insinuating himself intoher sales department became too troubling to avoid.

“What are you doing making agreements with my clients without my knowledge!” she confronted him in his office. This was her first visit there, and the setting was a surprise. It looked as if he were permanently lodged in what should have been just temporary quarters. His desk was new, as nice as hers, the bookcases were filled with his personal mementos, and there were expensive prints hanging on the way, and two fresh potted plants by the window.

“I was taking care of business that you didn’t have the time to do,” Joel brought the stunned Samantha back to the present moment.

She turned to him, noticeably incensed. “I have plenty of time to do my work, as long as I don’t have to be looking over my shoulder for your nosy face!”

“Better watch what you say, Miss Brinkman,” he sounded threatening. It didn’t help that just inside her peripheral vision, she could see the spanking paddle lying on Joel’s neat desk next to his nameplate.

Easing off to a mere simmer, she answered him pointedly, but with a deliberate air of calm in her voice, “I will say anything I damn well please, Mr. Cameron.” She could feel her whole body quake as she plastered a smile on her face and looked into his sexy eyes. She thrummed the desk surface with her fingers, nervously. “Trust me, Iwill get you fired,” she added her own threat.

“You might,” he conceded. “But until then, I’m still in charge here, and as far as I’m concerned, you’ve earned another go round over my knee, with the paddle this time.”

Samantha immediately reached for the wooden implement to take it away. But Joel was as quick with his hand, covering hers, extending his warmth and his determination into her.

“I have left you alone, Mr. Cameron. I hardly think my behavior warrants punishment.”

“And that is the point. You’re letting your work slide in fear of me.”

“I am NOT afraid of you!” she jerked