Nosy by Nature Read online

  “Oh yeah,” she breathed. “Just like that.”

  He quickened the pace, driving her into the floor with the force of his thrusts and making it feel as if he was spanking her ass all over again. The mental image of getting spanked as they were having sex pushed her over the edge and she screamed out her pleasure as he pumped into her. Above her, Zak threw back his head and let out a hoarse groan as his own orgasm hit him. Knowing he was coming with her made it even better.

  Sometime later, after they had both come down to earth, Zak scooped her up in his arms and set her on the bed, where they made love again, more slowly this time.

  Afterward, they lay together, their limbs entwined, Daphne’s head pillowed on his chest, her bottom still tingling from the spanking she’d gotten.

  She trailed her fingers up and down Zak’s chest. “You never said what you thought of John and Claire.”

  He yawned. “They seem like a very nice couple.”

  “They do, don’t they?” She thought a moment. “ still think they’re hiding something, though.”

  “Daphne...” he warned.

  She lifted her head to look at him. “I’m just saying that those photos I saw...”

  His brows drew together. “One more word, Daphne, and I’m going to take the hairbrush to that bottom of yours again.”

  The threat of another spanking was enough to make her rethink what she’d been going to say and she snapped her mouth shut. Without another word, she lay her head back down on his chest.

  Beneath her, Zak let out a sigh. “You promised me that you would stop being so nosy.”

  “I will,” she said. “I promise.”

  The words came out automatically, but what she was really wondering was why a couple would go to all that trouble to make up where they were from.

  Chapter 3

  The next morning Daphne awoke to the aroma of freshly made coffee. Pushing herself up on her elbow, she pushed her long hair back from her face to see Zak walk into the bedroom. Dressed in a shirt and tie, he looked extremely handsome, and her lips curved into an even bigger smile when she saw the mug of coffee he was carrying. Setting it down on the bedside table, he sat down on the edge of the bed and bent to kiss her, a slow, sexy, make-a-girl-melt kind of kiss, and Daphne let out a soft sigh of pleasure.

  “Mmmm...” she breathed. “You should have gotten me up, honey. I would have made breakfast for you.”

  He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I just had time for a quick piece of toast anyway.”

  She formed her lips onto a pout and trailed her fingers over his strong jaw. “No time for a quickie then, I guess, huh?”

  As she spoke, Daphne teasingly let the sheet fall a little to reveal the tops of her breasts as she gave her husband a sexy little smile.

  Zak covered her mouth with his again, but then he drew back with a soft growl. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, woman?”

  She laughed and let her hand trail up his leg to the bulge in his pants. “I have a pretty good idea.”

  He gazed at her for a moment, his eyes smoldering with desire, and then he sighed. “I gotta get going, babe. I’ll call you later.”

  She reached up to touch his cheek again. “Be careful,” she said, leaning forward to kiss him gently on the mouth. “I love you.”

  He grinned. “I love you, too.” Giving her another kiss, he got to his feet and walked across the room. At the door, he turned back to look at her. “And remember what I said about the new neighbors. No more snooping.”

  She gave him an offended look. “I...”

  His brows drew together. “I mean it, Daphne,” he warned, his voice stern. “Behave yourself, young lady.”

  She sat up in bed and drew up her knees, her lips forming into a pout almost of their own accord. “Okay. I will.”

  “Good,” Zak said. “Because if you don’t, you’re going to be over my knee for another spanking like the one I gave you last night, complete with the corner time that you hate so much.”

  Daphne squirmed on the bed, her eyes going wide at his words. Her bottom was still a little tender from the spanking he’d given her the night before, and she didn’t want a repeat performance any time soon, not if she could help it. She had no desire to spend any more time in the corner, either.

  Knowing her husband had meant every word he’d said, she looked up at him from beneath lowered lashes. “I’ll be good,” she promised softly.

  His mouth quirked. “Then maybe I’ll give you a good-girl spanking when I get home.”

  Daphne felt her pulse quicken with excitement. A good-girl spanking with all the touching and teasing and caressing that went along with it? With a promise like that, she wasn’t even going to so much as look over at the new neighbors’ house.

  After Zak left, Daphne didn’t get up right away. Instead, she lay back on the bed and daydreamed about the spanking her husband was going to give her that evening. It would include everything she liked best about a good-girl spanking, of course. Light spanks with lots of intimate touches. Sometimes, she got so aroused from those tender caresses she felt like she could have an orgasm before they even got to the actual sex. She moaned. She was getting aroused just thinking about it.

  She was always amazed at how turned on she got by the mere thought of getting a spanking. Sometimes, she’ would find herself thinking about it during the day while Zak was at work. Her mind would wander while she was cooking or cleaning or gardening, and before she knew it, she’d be fantasizing about all the different ways her husband liked to spank her. Of course, naughty thoughts liked that usually ended up distracting her from whatever it was she had been doing and she would have to run up to the bedroom for some quality time with her vibrator.

  Daphne couldn’t help but smile as she thought back to the first time Zak had spanked her. It had been her idea, actually. She had been thumbing through a fashion magazine when she’d come across an article about the various ways a couple could spice up their sex life. As newlyweds, she didn’t think she and Zak needed help in that area, but she had read the story anyway. It suggested incorporating things like sensual massage, roleplaying, even some light bondage, all of which sounded like fun, but then she’d come to the part about spanking and she had immediately been intrigued.

  For some reason, the thought of her big, strong, handsome husband putting her over his knee for a spanking had excited her like nothing else and had felt her pussy get wet even as she’d read about it. Of course, she had wanted to try it right away, but wasn’t quite sure how to bring it up to Zak. Still very much the blushing-bride, she couldn’t imagine herself simply telling him that she wanted him to spank her, much less drape herself over his lap.

  Several days later, however, the words just sort of came out on their own. Though just not the way she had imagined.

  She and Zak had been on the couch in their living room, watching football on television. Well, Zak was watching. She, on the other hand, had no interest in watching a bunch of grown men fighting over a funny ball. So, bored and much more interested in doing other things with her husband than watching a stupid game, Daphne had started doing everything and anything she could think of to distract him. But with Zak’s favorite team playing, all she did was get him annoyed with her and his repeated polite, “Honey, I’m trying to watch the game,” had finally turned into a stern, “Daphne, I’m warning you, cut it out.”

  “And what are you going to do if I don’t?” she’d shot back, her chin lifted defiantly. “Spank me?”

  For a moment, Daphne wasn’t really sure which of them had been more surprised by the words. She truly hadn’t intended for them to come out and Zak must have stared at her for at least a full minute before he spoke.

  “Maybe I should,” he agreed softly.

  As he spoke, his hand shot out and he grabbed her arm. Before she knew it, she was over his knee and he was spanking her. The skimpy shorts she was wearing had offered little protection from his hand, especially since they had ri
dden up to expose the tender skin of her ass cheeks, and she was squirming around and protesting almost from the very first spank.

  Despite how much the spanks stung though, she hadn’t wanted him to stop. That magazine article had been right. The whole spanking thing was fun. And much to her delight, Zak definitely didn’t stop. Not until he had yanked down her shorts and bikini panties and smacked her on the bare bottom a good dozen times. To her delight, the sight of her reddened ass, combined with all the wiggling she’d been doing, had finally been enough to distract her husband from the football game and they had spent the rest of the afternoon in bed. Well, actually, in the bed, on the floor and on the kitchen table. It had been an absolutely amazing day.

  A week later, with the memory of that first spanking still gloriously fresh in her mind, Daphne had asked Zak to give her another one.

  “Only this time,” she’d said softly as she leaned in close to him. “I want you to really redden my ass.”

  Zak had lifted a brow, obviously a little surprised by her words. But she could tell he was as turned on by the thought of spanking her again as she was. And the spanking she’d gotten from him that night had been even better than the first one.

  Since then, spanking had not only become a regular part of their sex life, but an integral one as well. Daphne shook her head as she pushed back the blanket and sat up. And to think they owed it all to football. Which, after Zak had explained the game to her, she had actually come to enjoy watching a little more. But she would still rather get a spanking than watch a football game any day.

  Daphne padded barefoot into the bathroom, took a quick shower, then got dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast.

  Determined to behave herself, Daphne didn’t glance over at the new neighbors’ house even once all morning. Around lunchtime, however, she reasoned that one little look in their general direction couldn’t hurt. Besides, it wasn’t like she would be snooping or anything, she told herself. Just a quick look out the window.

  With that in mind, she walked over to the living room window and looked out just in time to see Claire slowly dragging the garbage can out to the curb. Frowning, Daphne watched the other girl struggle with the heavy can for a moment. Thinking Claire could probably use some help, Daphne hurried next door.

  “Here,” Daphne called. “Let me help you with that.”

  At the sound of Daphne’s voice, Claire jerked her head up, clearly startled. Daphne stopped in her tracks, stunned to see that the other woman had been crying. From her red-rimmed eyes and blotchy skin, she had obviously done a lot of it.

  “Are you okay, Claire?” Daphne asked, concern etching her brow as she took a step closer.

  Nodding her head, the other girl looked away, but she couldn’t stifle a sniffle. “I-I’m fine.”

  Tightening her grip on the garbage can, Claire began dragging it down the driveway again. Without a word, Daphne took hold of the can’s other handle and helped her the other woman maneuver the heavy container over to the curb. The can was stuffed so full of boxes that Claire hadn’t even attempted to close the lid, so Daphne had a good view of the stuff inside. Almost of its own accord, her gaze was drawn to one of the half-open boxes. She blinked when she saw that it was full of what looked like photo albums. What the heck? Why would Claire throw away such precious keepsakes?

  Daphne looked at Claire, the question on the tip of her tongue, but fell silent when she saw tears shimmering in the other girl’s eyes. “Claire, what’s the matter?”

  The other girl blinked back tears. “N-nothing.” She tried to give Daphne a smile, but couldn’t quite manage it. “Everything’s f-fine. Really.”

  Daphne frowned. Everything didn’t seem fine. Reaching out, she put a gentle hand on the other girl’s arm. “Claire, you’re crying, so everything obviously can’t be okay. Tell me what’s bothering you. Maybe I can help.”

  Claire’s dark eyes filled with tears again and Daphne’s heart went out to her. For a moment, she thought Claire might actually confide in her, but then the other woman shook her head.

  “It’s nothing. I’m just missing all my old friends.” She sniffed. “I...I have to g-go.”

  Dumbfounded, Daphne stood and watched as the other woman hurried up the driveway and disappeared inside the house. For a moment, she considered going after Claire, but then shook her head. If Claire had wanted her to know what was wrong, then she would have told her. Besides, if she pried, Zak would probably only say she’d been snooping again and spank her for it. He’d be right to do it, too, because it would definitely be snooping.

  Even so, she couldn’t help but wonder what had upset Claire so much.

  Daphne’s gaze went to the garbage can, her brow furrowing as she considered the box of photo albums. Were they the reason Claire had been crying? Daphne couldn’t imagine what would have made the other girl throw them in the trash. There was nothing in the world that could get her to throw out their photo albums. The fact that Claire had done it was really odd.

  Daphne knew she should be minding her own business, but her hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they reached in and took the box of photo albums out of the garbage can.

  The box was heavier than it looked, but Daphne managed to get it back to her own house without too much of a problem. Once in the garage, she set it down on the floor and bent to open the flaps when she heard a car pull into the driveway. She whirled around, afraid it might be Zak and she breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized her sister’s car.

  Her gaze swung to the box. Not wanting her nosy, younger sister asking questions, Daphne bent to tuck it among the other boxes underneath Zak’s workbench. It was as good a place as any to hide it. Her husband might be more observant than most men, but she doubted even he would notice it among all the other junk he kept there.

  As it turned out, her sister, Chloe, stayed most of the afternoon. Though Daphne enjoyed talking to her, she really wanted to get a look at the Anderson’s photo albums before Zak came home. She would have made a beeline for the garage the minute her sister left, but then remembered she still had to make dinner. So, it wasn’t until she had a casserole in the oven that she could finally go into the garage and take a look.

  Daphne was just reaching for the first photo album when a noise distracted her. Kneeling beside the box, she listened for a moment, but didn’t hear anything else. With a shrug, she picked up the album, only to pause when she heard the sound again. High-pitched and loud, it sounded like a woman crying out.

  Setting the album down, Daphne got to her feet and walked across the garage and out onto the driveway. She heard the woman’s cry again, a little louder this time. As she followed the sound around to the side yard, she was horrified to realize it was coming from next door.

  Frowning, Daphne edged closer to the neighbors’ house. Maybe Claire just had the television turned up loud and that’s what she was hearing. But when she heard the cry again, even more distinct this time, she knew it wasn’t the television. It was Claire and she sounded like she was in pain. Oh God, what if John was beating her? It certainly seemed to fit with Claire’s tear-streaked face.

  Daphne halted in mid-step, her pulse racing as she thought back to the first time she’d met the other couple. She remembered how angry John had gotten when Claire had accepted Daphne’s dinner invitation and how he had stormed into the house after his wife. Then she remembered the tears she’d seen in Claire’s eyes that morning. Now that Daphne thought about it, the other girl had the same look on her face that Zak said battered women get. John Anderson must have beaten his poor wife before he’d left for work. As difficult as that was to believe, Daphne knew that was the only logical explanation.

  Knowing she needed to get Claire help, Daphne turned to hurry back to her own house when she saw Zak coming toward her. She hadn’t even heard him come home. But now that he was, Claire would be safe.

  Ignoring her husband’s long, determined strides, as well as the dark look on his handsome f
ace, Daphne ran across the lawn toward him. “Zak, thank God you’re home. John is beating Claire!”

  Taken aback by her words, Zak halted in mid-stride, his brow furrowing. “What?”

  Daphne nodded. “Can’t you hear that? He’s still doing it.” She gestured toward the neighbors’ house. “I was out in the garage when I heard Claire start screaming.”

  Zak’s dark eyes went to the neighbors’ house, his mouth tight as he listened. “I don’t know hear anything. His gaze swung back to her. “Are you sure about this?”

  Daphne nodded. “Of course, I’m sure. Please, Zak, you need to hurry and do something.”

  Zak hesitated again, but then walked across the yard toward the neighbors’ house. Daphne followed at his heels, expecting him to walk around to the front door, but he surprised her by heading for the big window on the side of the house.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  He gave her a sidelong glance. “I’m going to take a look in the window.”

  “Take a...?” She frowned. “Shouldn’t you be busting down the door?”

  He gave her an impatient look. “Not until I know for sure that you’re right.”

  Daphne stopped in her tracks to stare at him in disbelief. “I know what I heard, Zak.”

  He lifted a brow, but said nothing.

  Annoyed that her husband didn’t believe her, Daphne folded her arms and watched as Zak walked over to the neighbors’ house, confident he would be running for the door with his gun drawn when he saw that she was right.

  But Zak didn’t turn and run for the front door. Instead, he turned to scowl at her. Lifting his hand, he crooked his finger at her, indicating she should join him. Brow furrowing, she did as he asked, slowly walking over to stand beside him. At his clipped command for her to look inside, she obediently did.