Chapter 1

It had been such a long day for Elizabeth. She stood quietly in the corner contemplating the punishment she had just received from her husband. She knew full well that she deserved it because she was spinning out of control lately. She was snapping at Peter constantly and not that he expected her to be a house maid but she had stopped doing anything for him. She refused to cook or do his laundry for the last month. She was unsure of why she was so angry with him but as she stood contemplating, she realized she was just stressed from her business and was taking it out on him. He was being nothing but kind to her and she was treating him like dirt. It had been a long time since he had taken her in hand but today was the last straw. He came home very pleasantly and asked what was for dinner and she snapped. "Why don't you just go fuck yourself!"

She had such a stressful day and wanted nothing more than to rest when he had asked and it popped out before she even realized it. She regretted it as soon as she said it and even more so when she found herself seconds later face down across his lap with her panties around her ankles but somehow when he finished, she felt like a new woman. She knew that he loved her and they would start fresh. That was always the case and that was why their marriage was so good. Sometimes she just needed to be reined in. She leaned her head against the wall waiting for her husband to tell her to come out and that's when it happened.

"Hello Guys! I hope you don't mind but I let myself in!" As the words left Neal's mouth his eyes practically popped out of his head. "Oh my God, so sorry for barging in, I will talk to you later." He was certainly rambling but the sight of El in the corner with her bright red ass on display was not something he thought he should be seeing.

Suddenly, he heard Peter calling to him. "Neal, come into the kitchen."

To say he was stunned was the understatement of the year. "Peter, I didn't know you had a kinky side!" he said trying to lighten the mood.

Peters face made it clear that he thought that was an inappropriate statement and Neal sunk into his chair. "Neal, whether or not I have a kinky side is really none of your concern but that is not what this is and as you have seen it, I feel that a brief explanation is in order."

Neal looked baffled. If this wasn't kinky, than Peter just beat his wife. Neal wasn't one to fight but he loved Elizabeth and couldn't stand the thought that Peter had hurt her. He stood to his full height and set his jaw. "You beat your wife, I'm calling the police! Elizabeth, are you ok?" He pulled his arm back and was about to try and punch his boss, friend, handler. He was stopped quickly and was put in the arrest hold that he was so familiar with.

El came running in the kitchen, pulling up her pants as she ran. "Neal sweetie, it's ok. Peter, why don't you take Satchmo out for a bit so I can speak to Neal?"

Peter was not thrilled but he let go of Neal and began to do his wife's bidding. "Thanks buddy for trying to protect El. You are a good friend," Peter said as he left with Satch in tow.

"Sit down and let's talk."

Neal was still angry and El could see that. "Elizabeth, are you sure you are ok. Did he hurt you? I don't care if they send me back to prison; I won't let him hurt you!"

She came at him full force and gave him a long tight hug. She got up on her tippy toes and kissed his head. "I promise that he didn't hurt me. He certainly hurt my behind, but I deserved it. We have an agreement!"

Neal looked at her like she was crazy. "Elizabeth, I saw your behind, do you mean to tell me that you allowed him to do that to you? I don't understand, aren't you the one in charge?"

El giggled at his statement because in most things, she probably was. "No one is in charge, honey. We are equal partners in our marriage. Sometimes, I let myself get out of control. I have a hard time controlling my impulses and my mouth. We came to an arrangement early on in our marriage that when I needed reigning in, we would handle it like this. It helped us because if not for this we would have divorced before our first anniversary. It works for us. We both feel better after and I know that he loves me and forgives me and it is better that letting the anger and guilt brew until we can't stand each other anymore. Do you understand?"

Neal was deep in thought and El had an idea of what he was thinking about. "Does this really work? I mean it seems crazy that you could get your behind beat and feel better. I don't really understand but if you say it's ok and he didn't really hurt you I guess I should apologize. And I will never walk in without ringing the bell again."

Elizabeth sighed with relief. "Apologizing to Peter wouldn't hurt but you know that you are welcome here any time. You are part of our family. Thank you so much for sticking up for me."

Neal looked thoughtfully at El again. "Do you think this would work for me? I mean I feel so guilty because of some of the things I have done that Peter didn't like and sometimes I am afraid he will just give up on me. There are really no consequences for all of my misdemeanors. How long can Peter just keep covering for me and forgiving me. I know I am charming but I can't go on that forever."

El looked suspiciously happy as Neal admitted these feelings to her.

"Why are you smiling? I guess it's stupid, I mean I am not Peter's wife. Why would he care to take the time to take me in hand?"

El felt terrible that he misread her face. "Because he loves you like a son. Why else do you think he keeps covering for you? We have discussed this before and I always thought it was just what you needed but Peter thought you would report him."

Neal looked stunned. "You have discussed this before. Wow! So you think I need a spanking? Peter agrees with you?" He could see the answer on her face before she spoke it.

"Yes I do honey. So does Peter. Sometimes you don't think before you do things. You are so smart but sometimes you just don't use your brain. You put yourself in danger, and you put your freedom in danger. You need the kind of guidance that comes from a family because as far as I can see that is not something you have experience with. Other people care about you and what happens to you and if you endanger yourself or your freedom you are hurting us." Neal leapt into her arms and accepted her comfort, even though he thought he should be comforting her. It was this scene that Peter walked into.

"Has everyone calmed down now?" Peter asked as he entered the kitchen.

Neal felt ridiculous that he had thought that Peter would hurt his wife. "I am so sorry, Peter. I should know you better and I should have known that you would never hurt Elizabeth. But you must see how it looked?"

Peter Smirked. "Of course I could buddy, that's why I didn't take you down right here in the kitchen. I want to thank you again for caring so much about Elizabeth. Do you have any thoughts on this, or anything you want to ask?"

Neal figured it was now or never but suddenly he was nervous. He had never noticed before how big Peter actually was and that was not flab under that old suit. He knew he was strong because he has seen him take down criminals. Not that he ever had to take him down because he was always compliant. Plus he got a pretty good glimpse of Elizabeth's behind. Certainly didn't look like he took it easy on her. All she did was mouth off a bit. His indiscretions were on a much larger scale and as much as El seemed to think Peter loved him like a son, he loved El much more. He wasn't quite as sure now.

Elizabeth could sense his nervousness and decided to speak up. "Neal, you can discuss this with Peter, I know that you trust him. He would never hurt you!"