Rocky Mountain Romp (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 4) by Lee Savino

wasted trip. A man would be lucky to have her.”
    “You longing for a wife?” Lyle raised an eyebrow at his brother.
    “Not me,” Jesse said hastily. “I prefer my freedom. Besides, I have my own companion,” he said, reaching for his bag and pulling out a silver flask. Lyle cleared his throat, and Jesse paused with the flask halfway to his lips.
    “The Revered might take issue with you drinking here.” Lyle frowned at his younger brother.
    “No, no.” Johnathan waved Jesse on. “Drink all you like. It’s a good night for it.”
    “It is that,” Jesse said, toasting the Reverend before bottoms up.
    “Feel like a drink myself,” Miles muttered, with a dark glance towards his own bedroom door.
    The stout wood was doing a fine job of keeping in any noise of the baby, or anything else inside, Johnathan noted. A husband could take a paddle to his wife’s bottom, and the door would hold back most of her cries.
    In fact, all the husbands were looking at the doors to their rooms, probably thinking the same thing.
    Lyle cleared his throat. “If Mr. Martin and the lady are settled in for the night, I best turn in, too. We’ll have to settle things in the morning.”
    “Very well, gentlemen. I bid you goodnight. My wife and I need to have words,” the Reverend said.
    Both Miles and Lyle nodded, and headed to their own rooms.
    * * *
    As Johnathan entered the bedroom, his wife stood to greet him, the lamplight washing over her lovely features. One look at her husband’s face and Esther hurried to their bed, and leaned over it in her usual spanking position.
    He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her derriere sticking out, ready for discipline. Over the years, he’d had many causes to punish her, and the sight of her submission never failed to send a jolt of pride through him. Whatever trouble she caused, she always allowed him to bring her to heel. It was his pleasure to discipline such a lively and beautiful woman.
    Stepping closer, he admired the golden sheen of her hair. Her body quivered a little in anticipation. He took a deep breath, stepping into the role of disciplinarian, and schooled his expression into one more serious.
    “Esther,” he said as he set down the lamp. “Do you know why you’re being punished?”
    “I meddled in Mr. Martin’s business, and answered Mrs. Lovett’s ad on his behalf.”
    As she spoke, he positioned himself next to her, raising her night rail and exposing her fleshy cheeks. Her curves were all beautiful, but he especially liked the pale orbs that would redden nicely under his punishing hand.
    “Yes. You’ve disturbed two people’s lives, one of them our good friend who is now humiliated. Mrs. Lovett undertook a journey under false pretenses, uprooting her life completely. And all over a misunderstanding.”
    She whimpered, and hung her head lower, so it was almost cradled in her arms. He’d found that Esther dreaded the lecture more than the spanking. The whole time he squeezed her bottom with a firm hand, readying her for a good long session.
    “Not to mention you dragged your friends into this scrape.” Johnathan started the warm up swats, little smacks that had her cheeks quivering slightly. “You are a good friend, and a good wife, but you must learn to stem your meddling ways. If you cannot, it is my job to remind you.” His warming slaps increased in intensity for a moment. “You will not go behind another’s back and post mail impersonating them. You will not play matchmaker at our friend’s expense. And you will quell your naughtiness before you include your friends.”
    He stopped and pulled an implement out of his pocket—a wooden spoon he took from the kitchen. She wouldn’t expect it. Johnathan paused a moment, waiting to see if she would peek at him, but Esther remained in place; she knew better than to move during a punishment session, even if he left the room.
    “Good girl.” He couldn’t help praising her. “Are you ready to take