A Short Leash by Loki Renard

brown in color and placed that back in her hand.
    “Taste it,” he said as she gave him a doubtful look. “It’s good.”
    It didn’t look good, but she liked Dr. Charles and she wanted to try it for him. He looked so hopeful. Lifting the little dark button to her lips, she gave it a tentative nibble. A new taste broke over her tongue and a second later, a rushing swell of well-being rushed through her body.
    She stared at Kade and Dr. Charles with wide eyes as they both beamed at her. “What is this?”
    “It’s called chocolate,” Dr. Charles said. “One of those treats I was talking about.”
    The chocolate was like heaven in food form. She put the whole thing in her mouth and chewed, making a moaning sound as the taste washed across her tongue and yet more pleasure washed through her body. Sierra had not known such a powerful food existed. This was beyond mere sustenance; this was some sort of advanced marvel.
    “More?”
    Dr. Charles gave her another piece. This time she had no trouble breaking through the foil to get to the sweetness within.
    “Only two though,” he said. “There’s a lot of energy in those little packets.”
    She believed him. It tasted like pure energy and sunshine and everything good in the world. “Is there more of this at your house?”
    “Are you asking me?” Kade chuckled. “Or are you trying to go home with Dr. Charles?”
    Sierra blushed as both men laughed. Dr. Charles and Kade seemed to share an easy camaraderie of the kind that is only formed over many years of association. Unlike the other hunters who showed Kade no end of deference, Charles was much more relaxed, treating Kade as an equal and a friend.
    He turned to Kade. “Keep an eye on her. If she shows any signs of slurring speech or being unnaturally sleepy or any coordination issues, give me a call and I’ll come out and see you both. She’s a good little patient.”
     
    * * *
     
    “I’m a good little patient,” Sierra grinned on the way out. She had a handful of chocolate courtesy of Dr. Charles and had given him her assurance she would not run into any more trees any time soon.
    “You were very good for the doctor,” he said, patting her bottom gently. “Before that you were a complete hellion. Don’t think we won’t be addressing that once I’m certain you’re not concussed. I will not have you running away, and I will certainly not have you ignoring your collar.”
    In spite of her aching head, Sierra grinned. “It wasn’t very effective, was it?”
    “It wasn’t on a terribly high setting,” Kade informed her. “It could have been much more painful. I thought you were more sensible than that. When we get home I’ll take that collar off and you’ll get a real spanking.”
    “I will not,” Sierra said, immediately contrary.
    “You will,” Kade said, putting just enough pressure on the leash to let her feel it. There was no rough tug or sharp yank, just a gentle and insistent weight that made her veer slightly in her steps and reminded her that he was ultimately in control.
    The day’s events had not left her terribly receptive to the idea. Seraphine and Kara might simper at Kade’s feet, but Sierra had greater aspirations.

Chapter Six
     
     
    Three days later, consequences came to Sierra. It was apparent that she had not suffered any long-term effects from her altercation with Seraphine and the tree, and Kade had summoned her for discipline. She had gone obediently, hoping it might lessen the punishment he had been growling on about all that time. He was very much displeased with her having run away and he was not inclined to let her forget about it. Three days of lecturing and confinement to her room culminated over his thighs, where Sierra had surrendered herself in the hopes he would stop going on about her misdeeds. Unfortunately, that was not working. He kept lecturing as he spanked and Sierra only became more defiant as her bottom grew more heated. She had enjoyed her freedom,