Cal's Law: A New Adult Steamy Romance Read online

  Cal shook his head wishing that could make everything come together in his head as it should. All he could really think about right now was talking to Jenny. All the rest would just have to work itself out somehow.

  Laughing at himself, Cal called Jenny’s cell. Her voice sounded so strange when she finally answered. “Jenny? What’s wrong?”

  Jenny tried to speak but all that came out was a sob. “I’ll be right there,” Cal told her as he hurried back to the car.

  Jenny sat on the steps of the dorm as Cal pulled up. She’d almost stopped crying until Cal hugged her as she stood to greet him, then the tears started again. She felt like crap. Cal had been so good to her; she honestly felt she was falling in love. Why had she acted like such an idiot?

  “Come on,” he told her quietly, “let’s go to the house.”

  As they came in Jenny sat on the couch, pulling her knees tightly to her chest her arms hugging them to her. It looked to Cal as if she were trying to disappear as she sat looking miserable.

  “Okay now, it can’t be that bad,” Cal began soothingly. “Did you screw up the exam?”

  “I didn’t take it,” Jenny wailed and then in a rush the whole story spilled out.

  Cal stared at Jenny in total shock. He’d been thinking of how mature she seemed and she was telling him she passed out drunk in a frat house and missed the test. Trying to keep his emotions under control, he went into cop mode.

  Cal’s questions were coming faster than Jenny could really answer: Are you sure you weren’t hurt? Where were you when you woke up this morning? What time was it? Who was with you? Were you fully dressed? Where was Megan?

  Jenny was trying to answer as she finally realized where Cal was going. “Nothing happened,” she said firmly. “Kyle’s a friend of mine and he looked after me. He didn’t take advantage as my mother would say. He saw I was too wasted to get home and he let me sleep it off. I woke up fully clothed and he was on the couch.” Jenny finished up sharply.

  “He’s a friend? Have you two been dating?”

  “No!” Jenny felt like he was accusing her of being unfaithful. “We have a class together and we’ve walked across campus a few times. We’re not dating.”

  “Fine, we’ll discuss this more later. Let’s go,” Cal told her.

  “Go, go where?” Please God. don’t let him be taking me back to the frat house to confront Kyle.

  Cal didn’t answer, yet Jenny found herself following him to the car. “I’m really sorry I didn’t stay in Cal. It was just going to be for ice cream, please don’t be mad.”

  Cal’s looked so angry as he turned to stare at her the rest of Jenny’s apology died on her lips.

  Cal couldn’t believe all she was telling him. The idea of her passing out in a frat house had his guts in knots. He’d investigated more than one rape that began this way and even one gang rape. He wondered how many of these rapes went totally unreported. He knew he was too angry to talk with Jenny about it at the moment. Right now he’d take care of the part that was easiest to deal with.

  Jenny’s phone chimed. She glanced at Cal before responding. He never looked her way. “It was Megan checking up on me. I told her I was with you,” she volunteered.

  “It’s a little late for her to be worried about you now,” was Cal’s terse comment. Turning into a parking lot Jenny realized where they were going and quietly followed Cal to Professor Wright’s office. After knocking, Cal had Jenny precede him into the office. The professor greeted them both warmly. “Take a seat,” he urged. Jenny sank into a chair as Cal began talking with him. Jenny sat miserably, not even registering what they were saying until Professor Wright addressed her directly.

  “Miss Anderson, do you have a good reason for missing my exam this morning?” She looked at Cal for a clue as to how she should answer, but no clue was forthcoming.

  “No sir,” she said quietly. “I don’t have a good reason.”

  “Hm, well Miss Anderson, I guess this is your lucky day. I wouldn’t normally allow for this. But as a favor to Sheriff Bennett and because of the significant improvement you have shown since the beginning of the semester, I will allow the Sheriff to administer the test and return it to me.”

  “Miss Anderson,” he continued, “I hope you realize how serious the consequences of missing this test could have been.”

  “Don’t worry, Professor,” Cal stated flatly. “I can assure her you she’ll understand the full consequences of her actions.”

  Jenny reddened and looked down missing the sly smile that played on the Professors lips. “Hm…” he mused quietly as they prepared to leave. “I just bet you’re right.”

  Chapter 11

  Cal remained silent until they entered his house then he said, “You can take the exam in the dining room,” he said. “You have ninety minutes.”

  “Cal, wait.” Jenny began. “Are you… I mean… are you… are there going to be any other consequences?”

  “You’re damn right there are. I’m going to spank your ass. What you did was beyond dangerous and you’re going to know my exact feeling concerning your actions.”

  “Cal, please, I’m so sorry. I know I was stupid. I really am sorry. I don’t want you to spank me.”

  “Yeah, you’re thinking now. But that’s what growing up is all about. Thinking before you do something stupid. You promised me you’d stay in and study last night,” Cal retorted angrily.

  “I did study. We only decided to go for ice cream. But when we passed the house, some guys called to Megan and we were just going to talk for a minute, and then some other girls showed up and, well, it was hard to leave.”

  Cal just stared. Jenny knew it was no use. “Cal please… I can’t think, I can’t concentrate on the exam knowing you’re so mad at me and knowing you’re going to… you know. Please can’t we do that first?"

  “You won’t be able to sit to take the exam when I’m done with you and that's a promise,” he stated flatly.

  She looked so pitiful that all Cal wanted to do was to hold her and comfort her. But breaking her word to him, passing out drunk in a frat house, all the things that could have happened raced through his mind and he knew it was not time for comfort yet.

  “All right,” he said crisply, “we’ll take care of this first. I want you standing in the corner. I’m going to take a shower while you think about the decisions you’ve made in the last twenty-four hours.”

  “The corner! Are you crazy? I’m not a child. I’ll be damned if I’ll stand in the corner like one. You have lost your mind.”

  “You think this is a good time to tell me how mature you are? You lied to me, you broke your promise to me, you got drunk and passed out in a frat house and you damn near screwed up this semester of school. You are a woman, Jenny. I’m more aware of that than you realize, but you acted like a four-year-old yesterday. So you are going to stand in that corner and you’re going to do it with your pants down.” Cal stopped in his tirade, trying to calm down. “You gave me the right to discipline you as I see fit. Now, I want you in that corner,” he told her, pointing.

  Jenny stared at him for a long moment. Then before she could think anymore, she turned and walked to the corner.

  “Jeans down to your knees, Jenny. You can leave your underwear on.” Cal noticed the sharp intake of breath and the briefest hesitation before Jenny did as he directed. He watched as she slid her jeans over her slim hips. Cal’s eyes widened as he realized she was wearing a thong. Cal stared for a moment, transfixed at this beautiful sight. Then he turned silently and headed to his bedroom. “Let’s make that a cold shower,” he muttered to himself.

  How the hell had she gotten herself in this position? She was nearly twenty-years-old, she was standing in the fucking corner with her ass on display for a man who was going to spank her until she couldn’t sit. Was she insane? Jenny took a deep breath. She realized she could just leave. She knew Cal wouldn’t, probably couldn’t, arrest her for the original crime. But Jenny knew she had rea
lly let Cal down and she wasn’t going anywhere. Hearing the shower stop she instinctively rubbed her butt.

  A few minutes later Cal spoke from behind her, “Over here, Jenny.”

  She shuffled across the room, her pants at her ankles which only added to Jenny’s embarrassment as she joined Cal at the couch. He sat and guided her over his knee. “You promised me you would stay in last night and you didn’t. I’m going to spank you for it. Do you understand? Do you have anything to say?

  “Only that I'm sorry.”

  “I know you are, but you need to see what I mean about poor decisions have consequences.” With that Cal began. Jenny’s head shot up in disbelief at the first swat and gave a lusty “Ow!” Was that just his hand? The sting was amazing and Jenny couldn’t stop from kicking. Cal paused long enough to put his leg over hers as her jeans slipped off.

  The next twenty seemed harder still. When Cal paused he asked a question, “When Megan asked you to go for ice cream what should you have said?”

  This is no time for a damn question and answer period Jenny wanted to shout. Instead she answered, “I should have said no. That I’d promised you to stay in. I should have stayed in the dorm.”

  “That’s right,” Cal said calmly as he stopped spanking and began rubbing. Jenny relaxed in his lap pretty sure there was more to come. He rubbed a moment longer as he allowed her to catch her breath. Then he stood her up and said “Go get the paddle.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you get it if you wanted to use it so damn much?” Jenny snapped at him.

  She was back over his knee in a flash. He spanked hard as he suggested, “You might want to watch that temper in the middle of a spanking.” Setting her back on her feet he said, “I’m not going to repeat myself.”

  Wincing a little as she walked, she headed for the bedroom. Pissed as she was, she was glad for the brief reprieve. She glared at the paddle. It looked evil. After rubbing her ass thoroughly, she sighed and brought the paddle back to Cal.

  Pulling her back over his knee he told her, “I’m not even going to ask how much you drank. You aren’t supposed to drink at all. How old are you?” He asked as if he didn’t already know perfectly well. Jenny realized what was coming and steeled herself.

  “Nineteen,” she told him.

  “All right, let’s see how many that is.” And he took off with the paddle. Jenny was already burning from the first round and by five she couldn’t help throwing her hand back to try and protect her ass.

  “Jenny, you know that’s dangerous,” Cal said, as he trapped her hand to the small of her back. “Now let’s start over.”

  Jenny groaned as Cal peppered her with nineteen more short sharp spanks although not quite as hard as before.

  “Now,” he asked, as he stopped to give her a rub, “How old do you have to be to drink legally?

  “Two years older,” Jenny gasped and Cal had to grin at her quick thinking under stress.

  “Nice try,” he chuckled. “But the correct answer is twenty-one.” And with that he was off again with the hateful paddle ignoring her yelps of pain and her pleas until he finished. Now what was the difference between those two numbers again?”

  Gritting her teeth Jenny again said, “Two years.”

  “That’s right and you better remember that,” Cal said emphatically as a burning pop seared each cheek.

  With that he tossed the paddle onto the couch and again helped Jenny to her feet. She hopped and rubbed until Cal said, “We’re not quite done.”

  “But, but… that’s enough! I promise I will never break my word again and I won’t drink a drop until I’m twenty-one.”

  He stopped her, “I know and I appreciate it. That spanking cleaned the slate on the drinking. But you put yourself in serious danger.” He led Jenny to the arm of the couch. He stopped there and unbuckled his belt. She watched in horror as the belt snaked through the loops. Cal bent her over the arm of the sofa and doubled the belt.

  “Drinking enough to pass out in that frat house was as dangerous as it gets.” Jenny heard the first whistle of the belt just before it landed.

  “Please, Cal, don’t” she begged.

  “Be quiet,” he commanded. With the next lick she was far from quiet but she said no more. Each lick from the belt landed at the same spot on her lower bottom. She’d heard Cal call it her sit spot. He was ticking off danger points with each lick. “You could have been drugged. Molested. Raped.”

  Barely registering his words, she felt the last lick land its biting sting on her upper thighs.

  She didn’t hear Ca’sl final fear, “I could have lost you.”

  Cal stood her up and held her to him as she cried. “Shh…it’s all right now, Jenny. You’re going to be all right. Cry it out.”

  Jenny felt her body was a study in contrast. She hurt so bad and felt so good in his arms. She cried softly into his chest and enjoyed the feeling of his arms around her. After a few minutes Cal stepped into the bedroom and brought her some soft sweat pants she kept at his place.

  “You looked wiped out. Why don’t you take a power nap before your exam?

  Jenny woke a short time later. Her ass throbbed like crazy but she still found herself smiling a little. Cal had to care about her more than just as a mentor. Why would he take the time to bother with all this if he didn’t? Jenny came out of the bedroom to find Cal reading in the living room.

  Before he could say anything Jenny sat gingerly on the ottoman and took his hand. “I know I said it during the spanking, but seriously Cal, I’m sorry I broke my promise to you. I’m not going to do that again. And I really appreciate you getting Professor Wright to let me take the exam anyway. You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.”

  Cal stared for a moment not trusting himself to speak. She looked so beautiful, so sincere. He loved her so much he just wanted to take her in his arms and carry her back to the bed and show her how much.

  Restraint there, sheriff, Cal told himself. She’s still on your probation and she’s still a pretty little sorority girl and she’s still too young for you. A small town sheriff is not in her future.

  “It’s okay, kids make mistakes. Just don’t make that one again,” he told her.

  Jenny frowned, “I’m not a kid, Cal, I’m a woman. You need to start realizing that.”

  Not sure he could answer at the moment, Cal just nodded. “Come on, let’s get the exam over.”

  “Why did Professor Wright let you do this? Is it just because you’re the sheriff?”

  “Well that doesn’t hurt, but actually we’re old friends. He used to teach at the community college. I took several of his classes, he’s a fine man and I felt he’d trust me enough to give it. He also likes you Jenny, I know he wants you to do well and he wants to give you every chance. Do us proud now.”

  Walking to the dining room, Jenny grinned when she saw the pillow Cal had placed in her chair. “You’re sweet,” she told him. She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek as she sat gently and picked up her pen.

  “You have ninety minutes,” Cal told her again before abruptly heading back to the living room. He picked up his book trying to ignore the painful bulge in his pants.

  Chapter 12

  Jenny let herself into Cal’s house smiling. She wondered how many would-be robbers got their own key to the house they burglarized. This had been the best week Jenny could remember. She still had a hard time realizing that once Cal spanked her for something he just let it go—forgiveness and a clean slate, what an alien and wonderful concept.

  She’d been able to see Cal every night and this was the third night she was cooking for him. Cooking had surprised her. It wasn’t nearly as hard as she always thought. Of course here they could eat real food, not like when she was growing up where everything had to be pretentious, even their meals. The last time she’d been home they’d had spinach and leek pilaf one night with king prawn and clam minestrone. It was fine, but it was always more about the presentation than the taste. They’d never have some
thing like hamburgers or pizza. Thankfully Cal had simpler tastes.

  He was also a good teacher. Tonight she had the baked chicken, wild rice and carrots ready for him when he came in, and she’d even attempted brownies from a mix that weren’t too bad.

  “Damn girl, if I’d known you were going to turn into such a good cook I’d have made your probation six months to a year,” Cal told her. He was shocked at how happy he felt coming in when he knew Jenny would be there. His feelings were getting too deep and he knew he was in for heartbreak down the road, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

  “How’s the paper coming?” Cal asked at dinner.

  “Fine. But I hate writing papers. What a waste of time. You know the professors have read millions of them over the years. You’d think they’d get tired of assigning them.”

  Cal laughed, “Don’t worry about the professors, you just get it done.”

  “I’m doing it; I just said I hated it.” And by doing it, she meant she worried about it occasionally. She supposed she really needed to get that thing started.

  “You’ll have plenty of time next week to work on it. I’ve got three guys out and it looks like I’ll be pulling double shifts all next week. I’m going to miss your cooking.”

  “All week, that’s crazy. You’re the boss, have someone else do it.”

  “I am the boss and that’s why it’s my responsibility,” Cal told her quietly. “You can have time off from here and finish that paper before it’s due and then you can relax and forget about it.”

  “Thanks,” Jenny sneered, “sounds like a fun-packed week.”