Beautifying Bernadette: A BBW Romantic Comedy (The Jackson Tribe Book 1) Read online

  Bernie thought she was going to pass out from the pain and screaming all of her air out. It hurt worse than the rest of it combined. But then… it was over. Before she even had finished counting the last contact of the dowel rod, Levi had tossed it, went around to her front, and pulled her into his arms. He supported her weight almost completely. They were still standing, but she was being held up by him as he rubbed her back and she sobbed into his shoulder. For several moments they didn’t speak. He just held her, making shushing sounds and rubbing her back and kissing her head, and she sobbed and received his affection. At one point, she looked up at his face and thought she saw tears, but figured it must just be her own tears on his face. The arm of his shirt was soaked through with her tears and snot. She was glad she knew he always had spare clothes because today he was going to need them. She was also glad that he had told her not to do her make up yet, because it would be beyond useless at this point.

  After she had calmed down enough to breathe normally and speak in a somewhat coherent tone, she whispered, “I’m so so sorry, Levi. I am so sorry I gave Ginny booze. I am so sorry that I got drunk with her here. I am so sorry I lied to you. I am s-s-so sorry!” She started crying again.

  “Hey, hey, we’re all done, baby. We’re all done. Look at me—” He grabbed her chin and gazed piercingly into her eyes. “You are fully forgiven. I completely forgive you. There is no record. There is no grudge. There is no account. You’ll need a reminder before we go to lunch tomorrow, but you are fully forgiven. Understood?”

  Bernie couldn’t speak and just nodded earnestly and buried her face in his chest. Normally when someone said she was forgiven, she had this lingering feeling of shame and guilt, but not today. She felt lighter freer, and oh my God so much more tender. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get through the drive to the courthouse and the hours in court on those hard benches. She felt sick just trying to imagine it.

  Levi gently patted her back. “All right, I need you to bend back over for a minute—Shhhh.” He grabbed her shoulders as she looked at him terror. “No more spanks today, I promise. I just need to put some cream on your welts, okay? None of them look like they will bruise too badly or broke the skin, but I want to be safe.”

  She warily leaned back over against the chair, and he pulled out a white tube of clear gel and gently spread it over her ass and thighs. She hissed loudly, it stung like crazy when he first applied it, but then the coolness of the air meeting the gel felt good.

  “Go wash your face, Bernadette, and then we need to hit the road. We will hit up a drive thru and that should get us to the courthouse right on time.” He untucked her skirt and Bernie tried so stand so none of the fabric would rub her raw ass.

  She waddled to the bathroom trying to find a comfortable way to move, but no matter how she did it, her body pulled and stretched the welts. This was going to be a long and painful day.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Coming out of the courthouse hand in hand with Levi, Bernie felt ten-feet tall. “I am so excited that the judge gave the ranch custody of Saul! I think he will love it there and I really think your parents and the counselors can do so much good for him.”

  It had really warmed her heart when she had walked into the room and Saul had practically raced to her, throwing his arms around her. He hadn’t been under arrest, so he had not been under guard or shackles. But there were still some stern looks from those in the courtroom.

  “I think your dad will really help Saul to learn how to be a good man, you know? He has what it takes he just needs someone to show him.” She started giggling. “Your mom had to leave the courtroom she started laughing so hard when I sat in the witness chair to speak, though. I hope no one else knew why I squeaked and flew up, but I guess you were right about your parents ‘cause your mom ran out laughing and your dad gave me a nod like ‘Yup. That’s right.’ Meanies.”

  She rolled her eyes,

  Levi barely squeezed her butt and she squeaked. “Those ‘meanies’ are my parents so speak respectfully, and they said they would be happy to get a few moments tomorrow so the four of us can talk privately.”

  Bernie blushed and looked at her toes. “Are—are you sure we need to do that?”

  Levi nodded but grabbed her hand and spoke gently, “Honey, are you scared to admit to them what happened? Or is it asking forgiveness? Or is it knowing they know you got disciplined? It’s important to me that you apologize, but I never want to shame or embarrass you unduly.”

  Bernie shook her head and blushed redder. “Uh uh.”

  Levi stopped their ascent to the car and stood on the step below her. “Miss Douglas… what are you not telling me?”

  Bernie swallowed and her shook her head. “I dunno…” Her tummy was flipping from his voice and her panties were, well, if she were wearing any they would be soaking wet.

  Levi stared at her. “Last chance or you can go have a time out on that bench over there—sitting down.”

  Bernie’s eyes widened. “No need! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you! I… I… I’mKindaTurnedOnByTheThought!” The words poured out and she looked at the ground ashamed.

  Levi looked at her in shock for a second and then his face broke into a huge grin. “Bernadette Douglas, do you mean to tell me that I am marrying a little exhibitionist?”

  Bernie covered her face with her hands, but Levi pulled them down gently. “Bernie, that is nothing to be ashamed of in the slightest. It turns me on to think of scolding you or correcting you in front of others as well. I mean in appropriate venues, of course, but I am all about that. I just would never force you into a situation like that where you felt exposed unless you were into it too. Apologizing to people is always going to happen, but I would be careful to take you somewhere private. But knowing you like it, well, that changes everything.” He winked at her and gave her a big sloppy kiss.

  She melted into his arms and kissed him back deeply.

  When they parted, she felt a little dizzy and very giddy, then she remembered with a lurch. “My parents! I need to turn my phone on and see if they got to the apartment!”

  ***

  Levi parked the truck and they ran inside, waved to Pete, and hurried up the elevator. Bernie’s stomach hurt. What if they didn’t like Levi or what if he didn’t like them? Stepping off of the elevator she could smell her mom’s pot roast and her stomach growled.

  Levi looked at her with a grin. “If that smell is coming from your place, then I already love your mother.”

  Bernie tried to laugh, but the lump in her throat was too thick. She quickly unlocked the door and both her parents rushed to greet them. Her mom, Gladys, was seventy-two, several years older than Maggie, with a stylish short pure silver haircut. She’d been about Bernie’s height in the past, but osteoporosis and life had shrunk her down to about five foot three and she had always been slender, but Bernie felt like she could pick her mother up in one arm and carry her away she was so petite now. Bill, her dad, was seventy-four, had a full head of salt and pepper hair, and still had all of his height and bulk. He was six foot one and about two hundred pounds even. He had been high up in the military before his retirement a few years back and he still carried himself very assuredly. Except when it came to Bernie herself, he was a very hard man.

  “Oh, honey, we were starting to worry! I guess you can’t predict legal stuff can you—I never did ask who it was you were seeing in court. I hope you’re not befriending criminals now. Unless it was one of your students, oh dear, do they put elementary students in jail now? I guess with all of the drugs and guns these days you can’t be too careful.” Her mom jabbered as she hugged Bernie with flour covered hands.

  Her dad patiently waited for his turn and then picked up his baby girl, which would normally be fine except that he grabbed her around her legs to hoist her up and Bernie squeaked, and he set her down immediately with a stern look. “What’s wrong, Bumblebee? Did you hurt your legs?”

  Bernie swallowed and thought fast. �
�We had to do a lot of walking at the courthouse today and I just pulled a little muscle. I’m okay, come here, Dad.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight squeeze. He had been absent a lot, but he had always been her favorite. Once they separated, she grinned and gestured to Levi. “And here is the man of the hour, this is my fiancé, Office Levi Jackson. Levi, Bill and Gladys Douglas, my parents.”

  Levi stuck his hand out. “Sir, ma’am, very pleased to meet you. I am sorry we didn’t get a chance before I asked Bernadette to be mine, it all just happened rather quickly. Oh! My parents are thrilled you two are in town and are looking forward to meeting you at the picnic tomorrow.”

  Gladys gave Levi a warm hug when he introduced himself, but Bill grasped his hand and stared him down. Levi returned the stare, respectfully but unyielding. Bernie giggled a little in discomfort. Finally, Bill gave a curt nod. “Pleased to meet you, Officer Jackson.”

  Gladys led them all into the kitchen where she had laid out a feast. A large medium rare roast was sitting on the counter ready to be sliced, there were yeast rolls, a massive casserole dish of mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, and a modest salad with spinach, cranberries, kale, sliced almonds, and a raspberry vinaigrette.

  Levi gently squeezed Gladys’ shoulder. “This all looks delicious, Mrs. Douglas. Thank you so much for fixing us such a labor intensive meal. I am sure you must be tired from your drive down.”

  Turning to Bill, he asked, “How was traffic by the way, sir? Any issues?” The men picked up bowls and platters and carried their conversation into the dining room.

  Bernie focused on her mom with a grin. “He’s the one, Mom. He really is. He’s so perfect for me in every way.”

  Gladys smiled, but her smile didn’t make it to her eyes. “Are you sure, Bernadette? He does seem very well mannered and isn’t hard on the eyes at all, but there’s something about him. I can’t put my finger on it. He… he seems a bit like your father. Which isn’t a bad thing overall, I mean I’ve been married to the man for fifty-five years, but he can be very demanding at times. He doesn’t want to share his roost, he wants to be in charge all the time. And now I am just used to it, but in my younger years, it was quite the battle. I mean our first couple decades I think I just stayed because there weren’t any other options. I married him the day I graduated high school, and it was the army, there weren’t exactly a lot of people getting divorced. So… I am not saying that Levi isn’t a good man, I am just saying be careful what kind of life you’re setting yourself up for.”

  Bernie had to work hard not to laugh when her mom said Levi seemed like he needed to be in charge—wasn’t that the truth!—but she sobered when her mother spoke of being unhappy for so many years. “What changed, Mom? You had options later…”

  Her mom smiled a little. “We had you. And he changed, softened, seemed more tender and less of a drill sergeant all the time. He stopped yelling so much. And, as we got older, it became a little nicer to have someone take care of the details. I’ve never known any different. But we don’t have one of those storybook marriages or romances, and I want that for you.”

  Bernie nodded and said gently, “Mom, I promise you that Levi is the man from my storybooks.”

  A flicker crossed Gladys’ face, but she replaced it with a larger smile. “Well, good then. Let’s go join the men—everyone must be famished.”

  They sat down. Bernie shot Levi a grateful smile at the thick cushion he had covertly slipped onto her chair. And everyone toasted to the scrumptious meal that Gladys had fixed them and chatted about Levi’s history, his parents’ ranch, Bernie’s students and plans for finishing her master's and counseling at the ranch, and her parents’ hobbies and other sundry topics.

  After the meal, Levi and Bernie did the dishes while her parents unpacked and then they all enjoyed a rousing game of Scrabble, which Gladys won by a landslide.

  ***

  The next morning before her parents got up, Levi woke Bernie with a tender kiss and a low tone. “Bernadette? Love? It’s time to wake up. I need to talk with you before your parents get up.”

  Bernie groaned a little and rolled over onto her back and then let out an audible cry.

  Levi immediately kissed her lips to calm her and then said tenderly, “That is what I wanted to talk with you about… yesterday’s punishment was harder on you than I anticipated and I don’t feel comfortable spanking you any more until the marks are gone. We started fourth of July fireworks early.”

  Bernie tried to scowl at him, but giggled a little instead. “I can definitely feel the fireworks—does it look like them too?”

  Levi nodded a little sheepishly. “Yep. I took pictures for you.”

  Bernie looked at his phone and her eyes widened. “Wowzers… I definitely see the stars and stripes, but that’s a little more than red, white and blue, I think you were going for all the colors of the rainbow.” Levi quirked his head a little quizzically and she wasn’t sure why he seemed apprehensive. “Is something wrong, babe?”

  Levi looked at her intently. “I don’t know. How are you feeling?”

  “Um… confused. You seem almost sorry… did you… Oh!” Understanding hit her. “You’re worried that I’ll be upset or mad? Heck no, babe. That’s what happens when you serve a minor alcohol in a DD relationship. You get your butt busted. I’m not angry.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “I’m kind of turned on. My man did that. I am loved and cared for enough that I am carrying his marks, and knowing that he loved me enough and cared about me enough to hold me accountable and discipline me for my wrong choices. That’s really hot. And not something I take lightly or for granted. I am grateful for you, babe. And so happy to be yours!” She crawled over to him and grabbed his face and planted a deep kiss on his face.

  Levi seemed surprised by her exuberant affection but returned it quickly and with equal exuberance. He, however, was the one who put an end to it moments later when their passionate lips and roving hands were going full force. He rolled her off of him and stood up with an awkward smile. “Uh-uh, missy. We have things to do today and we both made a commitment to waiting, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

  Bernie crossed her arms with a mock pout. “If I am not getting spanked, there’s no reason to stop. And I want to make out. That’s a good plan for the day.”

  He raised his eyebrows in a not-mock stern look. “Better fix that attitude, Miss Douglas. And quickly because, while I am not adding any stripes to your ass this morning, I am going to make sure that you remember the lesson for the whole party today.”

  Bernie gulped and then gave him a curious look. “How exactly?”

  Levi held out his hands and grabbed hers in his own pulling her to a standing position. “Well, first off, you’re going to take your sweet sassy butt to the corner.”

  “What?” She giggled. “I don’t think we do that here, fiancé o’mine.”

  He lightly smacked her exposed butt hanging out from under her night shirt and walked her over to the corner. “We do whatever I decide, and I decided you’re going to the corner.”

  Bernie’s body flushed and she allowed herself to be led.

  Levi gently placed her hands on the wall on either side of her head and spread her legs about a shoulder’s width apart. “Stand here and don’t move.”

  He grabbed her ponytail lightly and pulled the elastic out of it, then bunched the hem of her nightshirt until it was just below her shoulder blades and wrapped the band around it.

  As he turned to go, she wiggled her ass at him and giggled. He slapped each cheek sharply and leaned down to her ear with an amused growl, “Don’t. Move.”

  Bernie waited, listening to him move around the room. She felt a little silly standing here, ass exposed to the world, essentially in time out, and with her parents sleeping in the next room! But, there was a part of this, even knowing, especially knowing, that her parents were on the other side of the wall, that turned her on immensely. The fire in her groin was almo
st undeniable, but she wanted to obey so badly. She tried rubbing her thighs together to satiate the tingling, but it just made it worse. And, as she continued to wriggle trying to appease the sensations, she heard Levi come up quickly behind her and lay two sharp light strokes of a dowel rod across her thighs.

  She dropped her hands and looked at him. “Shit, Levi! I didn’t even know you brought that back here.”

  He gave her a fierce look and she threw her hands back on the wall and bit her lip. “Sorry! Sorry! No more, please!”

  He tapped the rod on her ass. “Then start obeying. Don’t worry—you’ll be so distracted in a moment you won’t even know the meaning of the word ‘horny.’” He gave her a kiss on her cheek as if to say “Yes I know, I’m not really mad, but obey” and started rubbing her ass. “How does it feel?”

  She moaned a little and then said breathily, “It’s kind of tender, but it doesn't really hurt except for where you hit it a second ago. Except when I sit down, it feels kind of bruisy. Which makes sense since it looks bruisy, but it looks way worse than it feels, honey. I’m fine and not upset at all—I promise.”

  Levi rubbed her shoulder for a moment. “Hold onto that thought for a minute, okay?” It sounded like he was putting on… gloves? He started rubbing her bottom with something cool and creamy. It felt different than the arnica. She heard him drop the gloves on the floor.

  “Does that help with bruises too?” She leaned her head against the wall and just enjoyed him rubbing her posterior. It felt kind of like a massage. A really nice massage. A really… warm… massage. “Holy shit! Levi!”

  She twirled around and he grabbed her shoulders, turned her back, and put her hands back on the wall. Then he just stood behind her rubbing her back.

  Bernie started banging the wall and stamping her feet. “Get it off—get it off—get it off! Levi, please! I’ll do anything!” Tears started streaming down her face and she could feel beads of sweat on her ass. This is not healthy! “Levi! Plea—”