The worn cushions of Beck's RV conformed perfectly to their shapes as he lay intertwined with Cat. Sunlight streamed through the tinted windows, painting stripes across the cluttered space. Cat's head rested on his chest, her red hair tickling his chin. He watched the dust motes dancing in the light, his mind drifting back to the improbable way they'd found each other.
Six months after he and Jade had parted ways, focusing on their individual creative paths, he'd found himself sketching in the park for the new art class he was taking. He'd been trying to capture the harsh angles of a gnarled oak, frustrated because he couldn't make it look as impressive as it was in person.
Then, a flash of red had obstructed his view. It was Cat, her face inches from his.
"Are you trying to draw the grumpy tree?" she'd asked, her eyes impossibly wide.
He chuckled, a low rumble in his chest.
"I guess I am."
"Trees like being tickled!" she'd declared, and without another word, she began tickling the tree trunk.
He'd watched, utterly bewildered, as she giggled and stroked the rough bark. He'd been drawn in by her unapologetic weirdness, by the vibrant, untamed joy that radiated from her. They'd spent the next hour talking - or rather, Cat had talked, bouncing from one bizarre topic to another, occasionally stopping to ask his opinion on the best flavor of cotton candy (grape, apparently). He'd walked her home, a smile plastered on his face. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so… light.
Over the next few weeks, those chance encounters became intentional. He found himself seeking her out, wanting to bask in her infectious energy. He discovered that beneath the surface of her whimsical exterior, was a deeply caring and surprisingly insightful person.
One rainy afternoon, they were huddled under an awning, sharing a bag of rainbow-colored candy floss. He'd looked at her, her face illuminated by the neon glow, and realized he was completely, hopelessly in love.
The biggest surprise was finding out she loved him back. He'd confessed his feelings, stumbling over his words, expecting to be met with confusion or gentle rejection. Instead, her eyes had widened, she'd squealed, and she'd thrown her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.
"I thought you'd never ask!" she'd mumbled, her voice muffled.
Now, six months later, he was still marveling at the fact that this radiant, unpredictable girl was his, and that Jade was happy for them.
"Beck?"
Cat's voice snapped him out of his reverie. He looked down at her, prepared for anything - a sudden craving for pickled onions, a deeply philosophical question about the nature of squirrels, anything.
"Yeah, Cat?"
She shifted, propping herself up on her elbows.
"What does a spanking feel like?"
He blinked, then burst out laughing. The sound echoed in the small space, and Cat giggled, nudging him in the ribs.
"What?" she demanded, her voice laced with amusement.
He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
"I'm sorry, it's just… where did that come from?"
"I was thinking," she said, as if that explained everything.
"Okay," he managed, still chuckling. This was so...Cat."Well, I don't really know. I've never… recieved one... or given one, for that matter."
Not even to Jade, he thought, though God knows she would have deserved one on more than one occasion.
Cat's eyes lit up.
"Really? You mean, like, you've never even tried it?"
He shook his head, fighting back another wave of laughter.
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed, bouncing excitedly. "Would you… could you… show me?"
He stopped laughing.
"Show you? Cat, I don't want to hurt you."
"But... but I want to know!" she insisted, pouting slightly.
He hesitated. It sounded… ridiculous. And a little… intriguing.
"Cat..." He tried to reason with her, though he knew very well that was futile with Cat Valentine. "I get that you're curious, but like I said, I wouldn't want to hurt you. And spankings, you know..." He paused. "Hurt. That's what they're meant to do."
Cat frowned and seemed to consider this, but then her eyes lit up again.
Oh, God, what now?, thought Beck with growing amusement.
"But... but what if it was playful?" She stared at him, wide-eyed. "Not to hurt me, just to... show me? Just a little stingy?"
Beck couldn't help but chuckled again.
"I don't know, Cat, I-"
"Please?"
"Cat, I-"
"Pretty please?"
"Cat."
"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" She quickly pecked him on the cheek, giggling and watching him blush.
"Okay, okay," he said finally, surrendering to her relentless enthusiasm and sighed. I'm putty in this girl's hands, he thought. "But only on those terms. Playful. And only as stingy as you want it. And," he added. "In return, you let me spoil you afterwards."
Her face broke into a radiant grin.
"Deal!"
He shifted, sitting up.
"Alright, then, uh... I guess you should..." He reached for her hand and helped her across his lap, positioning her face down.
She giggled, her hair spilling over the bed. Her bottom was covered in her favourite rainbow-coloured leggings, but he could feel the softness beneath.
"Okay," he said, still chuckling, "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes!" she squealed, anticipation bubbling in her voice. "What did I do wrong?"
He cleared his throat, trying to sound serious.
"Well, first of all, you tickled a grumpy tree without its permission. That's… arboreal harassment."
He gave her bottom a light swat. A playful thwack echoed in the RV.
"Ooh!" she giggled, squirming slightly. "That tickled!"
"Secondly," he continued, "You ate all the grape cotton candy and didn't save any for me."
Thwack.
"Hey!" she protested, giggling harder. "It's my favorite!"
He added another two, a little firmer this time.
Thwack, thwack.
"Ouch! That was… zingy!" she exclaimed. "Little bit more zingy than the other one."
"Too much?" Asked Beck, worried.
"No, no." Giggled Cat, shaking her head. "Keep going."
"Alright. Thirdly," he said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice, "You asked me what a spanking feels like in the first place!"
Thwack.
She squealed and squirmed, burying her face in the covers.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry! No more questions!"
He paused, considering.
"Hmm, but you're squirming. That's… resisting authority."
Thwack.
"Hey!" she yelped, but she was still giggling. "I didn't know you were an authority!"
He gave her bottom another, playfully firm swat.
Thwack.
"Well, now you do."
The playful spanking continued, Beck varying the strength and number of swats with each invented offense. He spanked her for singing catchy kiddy songs, for wearing mismatched socks, for talking to mannequins, and for generally being too adorable for her own good. He sprinkled a few in for squirming. There was a growing sting with each spank, but there was no real pain, and Cat's instructions guided him, calling for him to go lighter or harder.
"Okay, okay!" she finally gasped, her voice breathless with laughter. "My bottom feels… tingly and warm! Stop, please!"
He stopped immediately, his hand hovering over her bottom. He rubbed the area gently, soothing the faint sting.
"You okay?"
She peeked up at him, her eyes sparkling.
"Yeah! That was… fun!"
He couldn't believe he'd just spanked Cat – and she'd enjoyed it.
Well. Actually, to enjoy a spanking, was very Cat Valentine-y. He just couldn't believe he'd done it.
"Fun, huh?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Well, be careful. If you keep committing these heinous crimes, the spanking stick comes out!"
She giggled again, looking back at him.
He scooped her up, settling her comfortably on his chest. He threaded his fingers through her red hair, stroking it gently. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Time for the spoiling," he murmured, rubbing her back.
"Mmm, that feels good," she whispered, snuggling closer.
Beck knew he'd never understand Cat completely, but he didn't need to. He just needed to hold her close and cherish the unpredictable, wonderful joy she brought into his life.
He just needed all of her.
