Bustling around the huge house, Jessica made sure every decoration and detail was taken care of. Buttercup had made simple but beautiful chains of cut outs of colorful paper. With Ray’s help she had hung them with white lights all through the kitchen and living room. There were fresh cut flowers in every hallway. The caterers had come and set up the food trays with heating gas burners earlier in the day. They would be there any minute in their black and white outfits to start putting out the delicacies Jessica had ordered.

The long island in the kitchen had been transformed into a full bar. Jessica’s high heels click clacked over her polished wooden floors as she made her rounds. Feeling satisfied, she put her hands on the hips of her curve hugging, neck plunging black silk dress and took a deep breath. “Perfect,” she murmured to herself.

Hearing Ray’s footsteps approaching, Jessica looked over her shoulder to see her husband coming around the corner. Wearing a blue, pinstriped, button-down shirt with gray slacks and freshly trimmed hair and beard, he couldn’t look more the part of the handsome husband. She gave him a smile as he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and nibbling little kisses down her neck. She sighed with pleasure as he made his way to her collar bone. Running his hands over the bodice of her dress, he murmured, “Isn’t this neckline a little low?”

“Hmm,” she murmured, her eyes closing as he kissed.

“Just don’t blame me if I can’t keep my hands off you, tonight.”

“Sounds wonderful,” she breathed. The doorbell rang, interrupting her moment of pleasure. Jessica’s eyes snapped open. “Caterers are here!” As she turned to stride to the front door, Ray grabbed her hand, halting her advance.

“Not so fast.”

Whipping around to face him, she asked, “What is it, Ray?”

“I just want to warn you—if I so much as sense a hint of stress coming from you during this party, I will take you back to our bedroom and spank it right out of you.”

Her tummy filled with butterflies as her eyes lowered from her husband’s stern gaze.

“I mean it, Jessica. We have spent an arm and a leg getting everything just right and hiring help, so we can enjoy this night with our friends and family. The kids are settled at Mama’s, the house looks perfect. The food is here. It’s time to relax.”

Jessica loved how her husband always knew exactly what she needed to hear, even if she didn’t want to hear it sometimes.

“I love you, Ray,” she murmured, kissing him deeply.

“I love you too, baby.” He kissed her again then gave her a swat on the rear. “Now, go get the door, beautiful woman.”

Rushing through the halls as best she could in her high heels, Jessica threw open the door. There stood the caterers, dressed impeccably. With them, they had carts of silver trays with lids. Jessica inhaled deeply, excited to catch the aroma of the chic French dishes she had ordered. Feeling her nose wrinkle at the scent of the food, Jessica asked, “Is that cumin I’m smelling?”

The young man closest to the door began hauling the food into the house. “Yep. Everything you ordered from the Ole Mexican Fiesta Package.” He pushed past Jessica, showing himself back into the kitchen he had set the burners up in earlier.

“Excuse me?” Jessica asked, panicked. Looking to the other two employees from the caterer, she asked, “Fiesta? I ordered the Ooh La La Fancy and French Package.”

The girl shrugged her shoulders. Carrying trays, she brushed past Jessica, answering huffily, “This is what they told us to bring.”

Sniffing at the air, Jessica murmured to herself, “I smell chili, too. Unbelievable.”

Ray appeared in front of her, materializing from the shadows of the hallway. His tone a warning, he said, “Jessica.”

“Oh, no, Ray—do not Jessica me right now. If this is not the Fancy and French Ooh La La Package that I ordered and paid for,” Jessica took two long strides over to her husband, finishing her sentence by punctuating each word with a finger poke to his muscled chest. “I. Will. Go. Crazy.”

Eyes locked on hers, Ray reached up slowly. He wrapped his fingers around her hand, slowly moving it from his chest to down by her side. “I would reconsider that if I were you. Crazy puts me in a belt wielding kind of mood.”

She narrowed her eyes at her husband. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Placing his fingers over the buckle of his belt, he growled, “Try me.”

Gulping and eyeing his black leather belt, Jessica felt her resolve melting.

Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, Ray said, his tone gentler, “I know you are disappointed, honey. I need you to make the choice, right now—to throw the best darn Mexican Fiesta the town of Poke has ever seen.”

“But, Ray, I ordered French food. The least they could do is switch it out.”

Looking at his wrist, he said, “Guests will be here in fifteen minutes, there just isn’t time, baby.”

Sighing, she felt tears stinging at her eyes. Her perfect party hadn’t even started, and it was already shaping up to be an absolute disaster. “Who serves tacos in a fifteen-hundred-dollar black silk dress...”

Her husband’s brow raised to the sky. “A fifteen-what dress?”

“Nothing—I meant something else,” she said with a wave of her hand. Kicking herself for having slipped up at mentioning the price tag of the perfectly beautiful, everything that she had been looking for, gown.

“We will be talking about that tomorrow, in my office, Miss Jessica. It looks like we have some bank accounts to reconcile.”

Forgetting the food glitch and trying to wiggle her way out of trouble before the party, Jessica flashed her husband what she hoped was a seductive grin. Raising her arms in the air and cocking her hip out, she snapped her fingers saying, “Ole’, Me Amor?” That got him. Jessica smiled with relief.

Laughing, he said, “I think you meant, Mi Amor.” He leaned in, whispering into her ear, “Want to know a little secret? I hate French food. I find it pretentious. Give me a little Mexican comida any day.”

Despite herself, Jessica gave a little giggle. “It is gross, isn’t it?”

Leaning back and giving her a curious stare, Ray asked, “Then why did you order it?”

“It sounded so fancy,” she admitted with a laugh.

“Well, I for one am very glad about the mix up. Remind me to call the caterers and thank them tomorrow. And if this is truly going to be a fiesta, Bartender Ray is going to need to make an appearance and shake up some of his famous margaritas. Do we have limes in the fridge?”

“You know it.” Wrapping her arm around her man’s shoulders, Jessica walked to the kitchen. There was one thing that would always guarantee an enjoyable time to be had by all. And that was to get the tequila flowing.

* * *

Turning up the mariachi music, Ray poured another margarita into Jessica’s salt rimmed glass. “Having fun, honey?” he asked.

“I am. I actually am. And it turns out the entire town of Poke was dreading the escargot,” she said as she looked around her house. Her friends were all happily chowing down on tacos, taquitos, chips and guacamole, and the ever-flowing margaritas Ray was pouring.

Taking another sip of her drink, Jessica said, “These are delicious, Ray. It’s fun to see you playing bartender again.”

Raising a dark brow to his wife, Ray said, “They are amazing if I do say so myself, but that’s your last one for tonight. Switch to wine after that. I don’t want you feeling sick when the boys come rumbling home tomorrow.”

“I have to have at least one more margarita.”

“Not tonight.”

Her jaw dropped open at the very idea that her husband would deny her a bottomless margarita. “Yes, tonight.”

Leaning in and raising a brow, he asked, “Does someone need a spanking?”

A little tipsy and feeling sassy, Jessica rolled her eyes huffing a sigh and throwing her hand on her hip. “Really, Ray? You are counting my drinks?”

There was a flash in his eyes that Jessica knew well. It was time to drop the sassy or she was going to end up over her man’s knee in her fancy party dress. “What have I told you about using the word, ‘really’, with me?”

“You find it condescending.” She should have stopped there but the margaritas were just so good, and she only wanted one more. “But I find it condescending to have my husband numbering my drinks.”

Ray pointed in the direction of the hallway off the kitchen that led to the master bedroom. “Bedroom, now, Jessica.”

She had a choice to make. She could obey her husband and go quietly into the bedroom hoping no one noticed her departure from the party. Or she could make a scene, testing her husband’s limits and cause a ruckus, demanding more of the delicious silver tequila drink that made her feel so loose in the tongue. Jessica opened her mouth to start her ‘this is my party and you are not the boss of me’ speech. At the parting of her red painted lips, Ray narrowed his eyes and began to unlatch the buckle of his belt.

Snapping her mouth shut, Jessica turned on her pointy heel, making her way to the bedroom as discreetly and quickly as possible. She did so hate that belt. Something about the swishing sound it made as it sailed through the air.

Making her way down the hall, she caught a glimpse of pink and blonde coming out of the living room.

Carrie grabbed her arm. “Jessica, this is just the best party. And the food.” With a roll of her eyes and her hand on her stomach, Carrie moaned. “Oh me, oh my, those tacos. I was nervous when I heard you were serving French food. I even made Wes make me a snack before we came but we were both so pleasantly surprised when we got here and…”

Looking over her shoulder nervously at the stern-faced bartender who was eyeing her, Jessica interrupted Carrie saying, “So glad you enjoyed it but I really gotta dash. Be right back.”

Carrie’s eyes went from Jessica’s worried face, down the hall to the kitchen and rested on Ray’s angry one. Letting go of Jessica’s arm, she mused, “Uh oh, someone’s in trouble. Was it the liquor? That always makes me a little mouthy.”

“Unfortunately, I got a little sassy. Would you cover for me if anyone asks where I went? Just tell them I had a quick phone call I had to attend to.”

Her eyes roving over the room, Carrie said, “I really wouldn’t worry if I were you, Jess. The entire town of Poke is here. No one is going to miss you—or Ray for that matter.”

“What if they want drinks? They will be asking for Ray and wondering where we went.”

“I’ll bartend!” Carrie volunteered brightly. Giving Ray a second glance, she said, “Now, you better git. Or judging by Ray’s face whatever you have coming to you is going to be way worse.”

Not wanting to look behind her and see Ray’s furious look once more, Jessica hurried down the hall, calling over her shoulder, “Thanks, Carrie. You’re the best.”

When she reached her room, sure that only Carrie had noticed her exit, she closed the door quietly behind her. Sitting down on the bed her tummy filled with nerves. What if someone heard her being spanked? Worse yet, what if someone tried to break in and save her? She would be humiliated.

Domestic discipline, though misunderstood by most, was her and Ray’s way of life. It brought peace and harmony to their marriage and though it hurt sometimes, it was what she needed. Having to explain that to someone tonight wasn’t exactly her idea of a great party.

All the ‘what ifs’ left her mind when the door opened. Ray stood, tall and strong filling out the frame of the door. Now, her only concern was the comfort of her silk clad bottom. Walking past her, Ray headed to the large closet in the back of their bedroom. His deep voice called out, “Follow me.”

Nervously, Jessica stood, walking timidly behind Ray to the back of the room. In the closet, Ray was seated on the bench Jessica had used just hours ago to seat herself when pulling on her high strappy heels. In his hand was a brightly colored plastic ruler.

“What’s that?”

Ray smacked his hand with the implement. “Isn’t it obvious? It has a great sting to it without much sound. Discreet but will remind my woman of her place in this household. Now, over you go.”

Slipping out of her high heeled shoes, Jessica knelt at Ray’s side as she had many times before. Making her way over his lap, he adjusted his thighs so that her bottom was in easy striking distance for him.

“I’m leaving the dress on only because I’m a gentleman and this is a party. I wouldn’t want to wrinkle your dress. And in this closet, no one will hear you getting your naughty little bottom spanked in the middle of such a classy, grown up party.”

Jessica thanked her lucky stars Ray felt that way.

“What were you and Carrie talking about,” he asked.

“She is going to bartend for you. Cover for us in case anyone was looking for us.”

“We won’t be long,” he said with a pat of her bottom. “But mark my words, if Carrie is bartending, she will cause some sort of trouble that Wes is going to have to handle. Trouble seems to find her.”

Wanting to snap, “Can we get this over with already?” Jessica lay silently, pressing her hands into the floor.

“Let’s review, shall we? Just to be clear we both know why you are in this position. When I say, no more drinks, how many more drinks are you allowed to have?”

“None?”

“The only acceptable answer right now has a very specific title behind it, Miss Jessica.”

“None, sir.”

“That’s better. And who counts your drinks for you?”

“You do, Daddy.”

“That’s right, sweetheart. I won’t let my baby drink too much and get sick. Or risk having a dreadful day tomorrow.” Ray began to gently rub her back, giving her hope she would get off easy. Ray gave a sexy spanking that made a girl walk on cloud nine for days.

“One last question before I burn your pretty little bottom. What did I tell you about using that sassy, immature phrase, ‘really’?”

Her hope for sexy spanks dissipating, she answered. “You hate that phrase, Daddy. You think its condescending.”

“I don’t think it is condescending. It is condescending. It tells the other person that you believe what they are telling you to be ridiculous. Do you think it’s ridiculous that a man does not allow his wife to become intoxicated? Making herself silly and sick? Ridiculous that a man would be concerned for the health and wellbeing of his woman?”

“No, sir.”

“Very well then. What have you earned yourself?”

“A spanking.”

“Correct.”

True to Ray’s word, the ruler did not make much noise. But boy, did it deliver a sting that had Jessica holding her breath. He brought it down hard and fast, the thin material of her dress offering her no solace from its bite.

When her bottom felt as if it were literally on fire, Ray helped her up. Standing beside her, he tugged at the hem of her dress, smoothing it down. “There you go, baby. Kiss me and let me see if you are my sweet girl again or if we need to start over.”

Feeling utterly submissive to her core, Jessica leaned into her husband kissing him in a way that she knew usually led to him carrying her off to bed.

“Think anyone would miss us just a few more minutes?” he asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Shaking her head, Jessica said, “Carrie’s got it covered.”

A quarter of an hour later, the couple returned to their anniversary party with a blush in their cheeks and a little more tousle to their hair than they had when the party began.

“Now that is how you do an anniversary party,” Ray murmured, giving her a kiss. He left, relieving Carrie from her bartending duties.

Carrie rushed up by Jessica’s side, tugging on the sleeve of her dress. “Where were you guys? People kept asking me for drinks. I had absolutely no idea what I was making and then Ms. Phillips got real drunk and Wes said, ‘what do you think you are doing young lady’, in that tone. You know the one.”

“Ms. Phillips is ninety-years-old, Carrie, what did you give her?” Jessica looked over to the living room where Ms. Phillips was dancing in the center of a circle of elderly bachelor ranchers.

“I don’t know. She asked for a Shirley Temple and I just started mixing stuff. I think the label said McJaggermister.

“Jägermeister? Say you didn’t!” Jessica hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Oh, Carrie. What have you done? A Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic drink with ginger ale, grenadine and a cherry. You are going to be in so much trouble.”

Carrie looked over her shoulder, Ms. Phillips now had Wes Texas Two stepping beside her. He flashed Carrie ‘the look’, then turned in time to the music with his dance partner.

Laughing as she watched her man dancing, Carrie said, “Oh, man. It’s worth the spanking I might have coming to me. He hates dancing. Just hates it. I guess the Jägermeister gave her a second lease on life.”

Just then, Ms. Phillips held her drink up to Carrie, hollering over her shoulder, “This drink is delicious, Carrie Ann.”

Still stepping in time to the music, not missing a beat and with a handsome smile on his face, Wes took the cup from Ms. Phillips, placing it on the far end of the coffee table.

“Well, at least it looks like she only had half of it,” Jessica said, peering past the dancing guests at the glass.

Carrie’s nose wrinkled up. “I put a lot of that stuff in there. Smelled like licorice. Yuck. I hate when I accidently eat a black jelly bean. Smelled like a whole bottle of black jelly beans.”

“You do seem to get yourself into trouble at every turn, Carrie,” Jessica said, thinking over Ray’s earlier words. Jessica just hoped, for Carrie’s sake, her husband didn’t share his new-found knowledge of the silent but deadly plastic ruler with his good friend, Wes.

Carrie’s brown eyes shone as she looked up to Jessica. “I don’t mind. Wes has reinstated domestic discipline in our lives after a very long absence.”

This was news to Jessica. She had noticed that Carrie had gone back to some of her bossier ways around Wes, but Wes hadn’t seemed to mind. “How long?”

“Ten years,” Carrie murmured.

“No way!”

“Yes way. You know how funny he got after the whole appendicitis thing? It was worse after the birth. He was so scared of something happening to me I think he was afraid to spank me.”

“It makes sense. We all almost lost you—twice.”

“I know. But then we went away this past weekend and it was amazing. I mean just amazing. We found this dirty, dirty little store called, ‘Naughty’. They had stuff in there I never even dreamed existed. I can’t wait to go back but I don’t know when we will get to that town again.”

Feeling a blush rise in her cheeks, Jessica murmured, “There’s one in Clinton.”

Whipping her head away from the dancers, Carrie looked at Jessica, shocked. “Pray tell, Jessica. And you know this from your dominatrix days? I swear there was some stuff I saw in that store that scared the bejesus out of me. All black leather, whips, chains and such. Did you use to use that stuff?”

“Some of it—but that was a long time ago. Another life. My trip there was actually pretty recent,” she admitted.

Carrie let out a low whistle. “You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”

“No way, Carrie. I am not sharing that information. You never can keep a secret, can you?”

Eyes flashing mysteriously, Carrie giggled.

Just then, Wes came over, breaking up their little party.

Grabbing Carrie by the elbow, he excused them, telling Jessica it was a wonderful party and he would just need to borrow his wife for one moment and then return her right back to Jessica. Jessica watched as he escorted Carrie over to a quiet corner of the house.

Ray came up behind her, nibbling her neck and whispering in her ear, “Great party, babe. I have to be honest though. I’m ready to have everyone leave so we can have the house to ourselves. The things I want to do to you in this dress.” His hands discreetly explored her body over the slippery silk.

“It has been a fun night, hasn’t it?”

“Only because of all your hard work—and the fact that I keep such a tight rein on you. Otherwise you’d be dancing on the coffee table right now, embarrassed with a headache in the morning.”

Jessica giggled, “I did manage to get a little tipsy.”

“Good. I’ll take advantage of that fact later. I’m going back to the bar—it’s time to cut off the liquor drinks.”

Watching as Ray returned to the kitchen, Jessica pinched herself for having such a caring man who also looked the way he did in that outfit. My goodness she couldn’t wait to take off…

“I’m definitely in trouble.” A grinning Carrie returned to Jessica’s side, her clear high voice interrupting Jessica’s lewd thoughts.

Watching Wes throw a warning look over his shoulder as he went to gather Ms. Phillips from the couch, Jessica chuckled.

“It wasn’t really your fault. It’s not like you meant to get our ninety-year-old friend drunk as a skunk.” Ms. Phillips was clutching tightly to Wes’ arm, laughing and patting it with her diamond encrusted hand.

As she passed by Jessica and Carrie, she said, “Oh ladies, this has just been the best party. And that licorice drink, Carrie, you must give me the recipe for that one!”

Jessica said her goodbyes to Ms. Phillips with Wes whispering to Carrie, “Time to go, young lady.”

Giving a ‘sorry—not sorry’ look over her shoulder, Carrie waved goodbye to Jessica, practically skipping as she happily made her way out behind Wes.

As Jessica went to the kitchen to see what Ray was up to, the familiar tune of Unchained Melody hit her ears. She couldn’t hold back the girlish smile that spread across her face. She stood right where she was and waited. She knew Ray was coming for her.

Sure enough, moments later her man was approaching her. His button down had been undone at the collar, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He flashed her the most heart melting smile as he grabbed her elbow leading her to the center of the living room floor.

Jessica felt the gazes of her guests melt away as she stared into the eyes of her husband. The man who had not only saved her from a life of being a single mom with no clue of what she was doing, but he had also saved her from herself. Showing her what she needed in a man, in a marriage. And it was him.

As he always did, he softly sang the words of the song into her ear as he held her tightly, swaying back and forth in time to the music. Jessica let herself melt against his chest, etching the precious moment into her memory.