"I stole the memory card out of your camera and destroyed it!" I said turning back to the window, feeling completely shamed by my actions.
"I see. Well, all in all, I'd say we're about even then."
My head whipped back around. "What?"
"Well, I did, after all, destroy a caravan stop belonging to you. I'll call us square if you'll agree to an equal trade off, one caravan stop equals one memory card."
I couldn't believe his reaction. "You're not mad at me?" I asked incredulously.
He kissed the knuckles of my hand again before releasing it. "No, but I'm glad you told me what you did. Now I do have to say that if you try to steal this memory card," he removed a memory card from his front shirt pocket and held it up with a grin, "I'll have to bend you over my knee and spank you."
As it dawned on me that I hadn't destroyed the memory card with the pictures on it something else also occurred to me. I was relieved. Why? If I was relieved that Flint still had the ability to find the treasure, then it must mean that I wanted him to find it, but why?
The answer seemed simple enough. I wanted him to destroy it so we could be together. The truth was startling, but none the less true. I still couldn't believe it that he wasn't more affected by my betrayal of him than he appeared to be.
"You're really not angry with me?" I asked as I met his gaze.
"You're sorry aren't you?"
I nodded yes and he shrugged as if to say, "Well there you go."
"Would you really spank me?"I asked curiously.
He gave me an eyebrow raise that said he most certainly would. My eyes drifted to his hand and my face flushed at the idea of it. Spanking, however unpleasant, wasn't really the answer to a serious breach of trust in a relationship.
I knew Flint enough to know that he would never hurt me. His threat was more of an erotic tease to be carried out in the bedroom than anything disciplinary.
The question remained what would he do if I really messed up again?
"Would you do anything else besides spanking me if I tried to steal that card again?"
He burst out laughing, "What's this? You got off the hook easy enough with your first crime that you're back and willing to tempt the punishment of another offense?"
"I, no…"
I'd botched the question and was starting to turn away in embarrassment, when his fingers caught my chin and stopped me. His gaze was direct and kind, "I think what you were trying to ask was, 'If you mess up again, how long will I stay with you before calling it quits?' That sound about right?"