Ace-High Flush by Patricia Green Page A

leather strap hit her ass like a rattler bite, sharp, quick, painful. It was followed quickly by another and another.
    "Money matters, Liv," he told her, smacking her again with the leather. "We don't have to live like paupers, but throwin' it around like it grows on trees isn't right. Too many people have to pinch pennies to feed their families."
    "I'm sorry, Trey." It was lost into the pillow, though, and the strap whistled through the air several more times.
    "These are fine stripes, darling'. You can see the pattern of the stitchin'. I'll say this, you have mighty good taste in leather." He ran a hand over her hot, flesh, and she flinched at the added heat and pressure. Then he went back to spanking her.
    "You know," he said. "I think I can see an imprint from the designer label!"
    "Oh God."
     Soon, she was moaning into the pillow. After twenty, she was screaming. At twenty-five, she was crying hard and begging him to stop. He couldn't hear her pleas, muffled by the down pillow, but that wouldn't matter to him. When Trey spanked, he did it his way and to his satisfaction.
    He moved the strap to the junction of her thighs and rear, and the pain was magnified by a hundred. She'd never be able to sit at the event tonight. Her butt would be sore for at least two days. Oh why had she bought that damn purse! She didn't need a new purse, she had twenty or more. She didn't need new shoes, either. Her friends wanted to shop, so she shopped. They were all still modeling. Their means and hers were drastically different.
    Liv needed to concentrate on home and hearth, not Prada and Gucci. She'd been so foolish. The spanking was deserved, but oh God how it hurt!
    He stopped, but she continued to cry. Her butt was flaming and shooting pains traveled the surface of her angry skin. Trey gathered her up in his arms, and sat them up at the head of the bed, rocking her while she sobbed. Her ass was sore where she sat on his thighs, but the comfort of his bare chest against her cheek, his strong arms around her, was more important at the moment.
    "I guess that purse will come in handy in the future."
    Liv groaned. If she never saw the leather bag again, she'd be thrilled.
    * * *
    Gabby was a little nervous about going to the charity event. It had been a surprise to be invited. Apparently, the evening would be less boring for Trey with his brother there, and, at least while he was in New Jersey, where Ace went, Gabby went. She had a few dress-up outfits from other events she'd gone to over the last few years. Most were outdated castoffs from photo shoots. Her agent had wangled her invitations to a number of parties in order to make Gabby better known to photographers and fashion publishers. It hadn't much worked, but the clothes remained.
    For this evening, she wore a deep mauve, sequined mini-dress, and silver sandals. Ace wore a black suit and a fancy bolo tie. She was proud to be seen on his arm, even if people did smirk with ungracious superiority at his hat. He didn't seem to notice, smiling and being sociable with everyone as they mingled.
    After about twenty minutes of hobnobbing, Trey and Liv showed up. As usual, Liv looked like a Nordic princess. Gabby was once again struck by the resemblance between the brothers. If Ace hadn't been eight years older than Trey, they could have been twins.
    It was uncomfortable being around Liv. Gabby had treated her badly at the Texas photo shoot they'd worked together. She paid the price by accepting a painful spanking, but meeting Ace was like a reward offsetting the punishment. Sometimes, he took her breath away.
    Liv was polite, if a little distant. It was likely her presence that was making the other woman a little stiff, but as they went to sit down to dinner, Gabby noticed that Liv sat gingerly and squirmed in her chair. Eyes wide with something like amazement, Gabby watched Liv and Trey exchange a look that spoke volumes. Trey's little smile had Liv looking down at her plate with a contrite