Punishing Penelope: West Coast Doms, #1

By Nicolina Martin

As a boy, he was everything I wanted. As a man, he is everything I despise.

 

Once upon a time, Peter Hale was my future. Until an unspeakable tragedy ripped us apart and shoved us down wildly different paths. 

 

Now he has me at his mercy, forced to choose between prison or paying the penance he demands for my supposed sins.

 

Even as he stripes my body with his displeasure, even as he forces me to feel every bit of pain he has carried since we parted, something in me cries out for him. For his punishing touch, and for the brutal passion that still exists between us.

 

But the torment he inflicts only fuels the anger that has burned inside me all these years. And unless he can find a way to rein it in, the inferno of my fury threatens to scorch us both.

 

Along with the last glimmer of hope our love might have had.

 

 

*Intended for an 18+ audience*

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Heart Pen Publications
• Release date: Jan 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201912345

Nicolina Martin

Nicolina Martin is a Swedish author whose passion for the written word began during her teenage years. While she is deeply influenced by Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Jodi Picoult, and many more, she doesn’t limit herself to just one genre, and dabbles in dark, steamy romance, suspense, erotica shorts, and contemporary fiction. Nicolina enjoys singing, practicing martial arts, and gardening. She is also a music enthusiast, movie fanatic, and bibliophile. Above all, she loves spending quality time with her three beautiful daughters and three feline fur-babies. To Nicolina, life is far too short for regrets, and she is a firm believer in looking forward no matter what to avoid repeating past mistakes. She also believes in thoroughly enjoying each and every moment as it comes because tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Book preview

Chapter

One

ELEVEN YEARS AGO

Wrightwood

Peter

Penelope Wilder couldn’t have a more fitting last name.

Time for a dip. Y’all coming? she shouts.

Her messy bun comes loose in the wind. A strand of straw-blond hair whips around her face to stick on her pink, glossy lips. As she tries to push it away with her tongue, our eyes meet. She smiles sweetly, but her gaze flashes wickedly, taunting me to make a fucking move.

And I will.

One day I’ll throw Penny Wilder over my shoulder and make her pay for all those teasing looks, the brutal tickling when I least expect it, and all her clever retorts.

She jumps to her feet and the moment is gone.

Headphones pulled off and dropped next to her, she then yanks off her tank top and shorts, completely unfazed by being surrounded by our whole gang.

Sandra and Cole snuggle in the shade beneath a tree, sharing a diet coke. Next to them Lexi is wedged between Liam’s legs, her back to his chest.

Taylor leans against his bike, smoking. He’s gotta be burning up in his black jeans and T-shirt, but he’s too cool to show it.

And finally, there’s Savannah Wilder, everyone’s younger sister, but blood-wise Penny’s. She sits too close to the cliff—again—and Cole is already on his way to drag her back to safety.

It’s not like she’s a toddler, but it’s a fucking long fall.

I look back at Penny and drink her in. She wiggles her fingers to the others, getting Cole and Liam to start removing clothes too.

Then her eyes land on me again before she backs up several steps, stops by Taylor, takes the joint out of his hand and pulls on it, hands it back, then runs toward the cliff and catapults head-first over the edge.

Everyone I know screams when they jump that cliff.

Except Penny.

There’s nothing but a distant splash.

I pull off jeans and shirt, move up to the edge and take aim next to her. Inhaling, I then jump before I can think. My stomach is sucked right up through my brain, and the fall seems to last forever.

I probably scream. So does both Cole, Liam, and Sandra who all jump right after me.

The water hits hard, so cold it’s like a punch to my gut, and I end up deep below the surface. I open my eyes and swim toward the light and her kicking legs. Every detail is twisted—seaweed below me, rays of sun above me, and a free look at her crotch. I grab her foot to pull her down, let go, then surface with her.

She sputters and splashes water at me.

Peter Hale, you bastard!

I splash back. You had it coming.

Yeah? For what? She splashes at me again.

I grab her hand then spin her around, an arm around her throat, her back tight to my chest.

For smoking a joint. For skipping school. You’re a bad girl.

She scoffs. Oi! Then she twists and throws herself back, pulling us both under. I let her loose, except for her hand.

You’re just as bad, dude, she gasps when we resurface. Are you gonna let me have my hand back anytime soon?

She tries to pull out of my grip, but I hold on.

Maybe.

Oh, really? What’re you gonna do?

Keep it.

You can’t keep my hand, silly. She laughs. I need it.

Maybe I need it, too?

Don’t you have your own right hand?

Ouch.

I don’t have a comeback. Her eyes glitter, as blue as the water around us, then she winks. I look from her eyes to her full, very kissable lips, wanting to taste them so bad. Her pink tongue slips out, and she licks them.

Something happens between us at that moment. Something more than the light tease. A spark passes back and forth, and it’s as if the air thickens.

This summer will change everything. I feel it.

Fucking A! We did it!

I take one huge leap down the stone stairs. School’s out. Summer is here and we’re free! There’s the sun, the blue sky, and then… Penny.

She takes the steps two at a time and joins us, a big shit-eating grin on her face as she throws one arm around Cole and one around me. So what do you guys wanna do? She weighs on her heels, as if she’s about to dash off. Wanna hang? Go swim? I heard of this beach down at—

Beach? You? What with the tourists and all? Liam, his arm around Lexi’s shoulders, has joined us on the other side of Cole.

"Who’d ya take me for, dude? This is like no man’s land. Uncharted."

I bark out a laugh. So, it’s someone’s private beach? Why am I not surprised?

Maybe… Her look of mischief as she glances my way makes my balls ache.

I grin. Okay, I’m down.

Can I come? Savannah Wilder shows up out of nowhere, sprinting up to us. Pleeeeaaase.

We’re on our way to regroup at our usual hangout, a café where they’re cool about us sitting for hours, buying next to nothing.

Penny pinches Savannah’s chin. Hey, young copy of me, they let you out, too? Did you ask the parents?

"Don’t make me, Pen. They’ll say no, and you know it. I’ll be fifteen in two weeks. Like, look at what you did when you were fifteen. And anyway, they’re at work. Let me?"

Me? says Penny and puts a hand over her heart. I did my homework and helped Mom with chores. Like the good girl I am.

Bullshit, I say on a cough.

Penelope grimaces at me and puts a finger over her lips.

Don’t you have your own little friends, Savannah? Cole ruffles her blonde pixie do, and she jerks her head away with an adorable scowl.

Let her come, I say. She wants to hang with her sis. It’s sweet.

Penelope turns to me, an identical scowl on her face. Who’re you calling sweet?

"I said it’s sweet. Comprehension is key, girl."

Liam looks between us. Are you two fucking, or what?

"Ew. Dude. No." A slight blush creeps up Pen’s cheeks.

Liam raises his eyebrows. Sure.

A quick glance my way, she then spins around Whose car can we use? She nudges my side with her elbow. Ain’t your dad, like away?

Mm, I say noncommittally. My dad would go bananas if he knew we took his car. Like Cole, I’m working the whole summer, saving up for my own ride. M and C of the Donalds, here I come.

Ride! she squeals. It’s set. Let’s get some beer and get go-

Taylor comes up to us on his bike, the loud roar of the engine drowning out Pen’s last word.

What’s up, guys? I’m gonna enjoy my first day of forever with nothing on the horizon. It’ll be me, my ride, and no one ever telling me what to fucking do again!

You lucky bastard, I say.

It is what it is. Time has come. Luck has been earned and received. I will use it well.

Penelope gestures at him, herself, then the bike. He shrugs and she jumps up, sticks her tongue out at us—me specifically—and off they go, her blonde hair whipping around her head, no helmet.

Tease.

I make a promise to myself then and there. I’ll explore this thing between us if it’s the last thing I do. I know she feels it, and I’m not letting this slip.

She’s mine. It’s as simple as that.

We each buy something small at the café, as a curtesy to the owner. Perched between Taylor and me, Penelope straddles a chair she’s turned backward, and man, I want to be that seat so badly.

I tap my shoulder against hers. What’re you doing this summer?

She throws out her hands. Ain’t got nothin’. Heard you’re gonna be a hardworking man.

Hard work. Minimum income. But hey… car!

Equals freedom, she says.

One more year, we say as one, then we both burst out laughing. One more year of school, then we’ll be free as birds. Finally.

Dude.

Dudette.

Sandra pulls Penny to her and whispers in her ear, breaking the moment.

I look around us. Everyone’s talking. I listen with half an ear to Taylor who brags to Savannah about his upcoming road trip.

Suddenly, there’s a warm hand on my thigh. The warmth travels upward and turns to instant heat when I realize whose touch it is.

You got something I want, she says.

Time stops, as does my brain. Only the Neanderthal remains, and I forget all the words.

What?

I have?

Me?

Hell yes, I have. I look from her face to her boobs down to her naked thighs. And what’s that? My voice is lower, huskier. For her ears alone.

Daddy’s auto.

Oh, fuck. Sure, let’s do it!

She stands up and slams her palms against the table. Everybody! Skinny dipping! Beach. Now.

Savannah twitches, apprehension clear on her face.

"Not you, Penelope adds and pins her sister with her gaze. No skinny for minors. But you can come."

We cram the eight of us into my folks’ old Volvo station wagon. I don’t care that Dad will have a fit.

He does–it’s not pretty– and as the weeks pass by, he has plenty more. I’ve never been grounded so many times. Still I keep borrowing our car. Life is here and now. The nights are long, the days are warm, and summer seems eternal.

You know how we’re all gonna die.

Penelope and I are perched on the backrest of a park bench in Lincoln in downtown LA. I got off work a little while ago, getting the surprise of my life when she impatiently paced the sidewalk outside the back door to the restaurant, waiting for me.

Die? Death isn’t even close to where I had my mind. I’ve tried hard not to think about putting my hand on her thigh and stroking up the inside to where her legs meet.

Don’t you ever think about how it’s all not worth it?

All?

What’s with the monosyllabic answers? She nudges my shoulder with hers.

I force my mind out of the gutter to focus on her question instead What’s with the deep thoughts?

I can think.

I nudge her back. I know you can think. What about death?

Or life. And death.

The inevitable end to all our misery.

But that’s it! The misery. What do you work for? Like, you spend your whole summer working for entitled asshole customers who literally look for crap to complain about. And for what?

I’m saving up for a car.

She throws out her arms, gesturing to the never-ending stream of sweaty joggers. "And them. Like… why? Live a little. Be free, ye all miserable dorks!" She shouts the last words so loud several people jerk and look in our direction.

Ye all? She’s so cute, I have no urge to correct her.

What would you do if you knew you’d die tomorrow?

I swallow hard. I know exactly what I’d do. And then I do it. I put my hand on her thigh. She’s as warm and smooth as I imagined.

She doesn’t pull away, doesn’t even flinch. I shuffle closer until our hips touch, then move my hand to the inside of her thigh instead. An ache spreads in my lower gut, my cock straining against my jeans.

I know what I’d do, she whispers and leans in, spreading her thighs slightly.

I caress upward until my thumb rests against her pussy, cursing the fabric of her jean shorts that’s in my way. I stroke back and forth until her breathing changes and she begins to squirm. And what’s that? I whisper back.

Kiss Peter Hale, she says on a shaky exhalation.

With my hand still between her legs, I wrap my other arm around her and pull her close, then I crash my mouth against hers.

Her throaty moan seals my fate.

And hers.

I will never look at another woman for as long as I live.

Penelope Wilder, I mumble against her lips as I keep stroking her. If I only had one more day to live, I’d spend it with only you.

God, Peter, she moans.

I jump off the bench and carry her all the way to my car.

Mine. Forever.

I live for fucking that tease out of Penny, and we’re inseparable.

The gang thinks we’re insufferable.

Whatever.

I hold her, and something grows inside me. A sense of… belonging, a feeling that all I need—all I will ever need—is to lazily stroke her warm, sun-kissed skin, her fingers intertwined with mine, and that look in her eyes when she has something she immediately needs to tell me.

Which she does like… all the time.

We talk. And talk.

She says she’s mine. She tells me every morning when she wakes and stretches, then rolls over on my side and kisses me until I take her, hard and fast. She tells me again every night, when I kiss away the day, put my mouth between her legs and make her come apart as she screams my name. And still it’s like I can’t catch her.

She’s like smoke.

Ungraspable.

She has so many plans and passions. She wants to travel, talks about van life, about taking a job on a cruise ship, because she can’t imagine she’ll ever have enough money to go as a guest. She writes little stories and poetry that she then reads to me before she laughs them off and tosses them in the bin.

I’m a big old sap, because I collect them all when she doesn’t watch.

As for the future… I don’t even know what I want to do tomorrow. Except for holding Penelope tighter and tighter until she stops running.

They say if something seems too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.

Hey, guys! The big bad is back. What’ve I missed? Who’s doing who?

Cole and Liam dart up and slap Taylor’s back and hand, respectively. Sandra pulls an extra chair to the table and pats it. The sweet smell of pot surrounds him, becoming stronger the closer he gets.

"Dude! Thought you were gonna be