Some people are just a little off color, sometimes.

Others are a lot off color—all the time.

“Corporal Punishment”

By Joseph Manno

Molly had known she would regret her decision eventually… but hadn’t expected it to begin so soon.

Brett looked like a cat sated on cream. For some reason, that both pleased and annoyed her.

“All right… get it over with.”

His guileless grin didn’t exactly… mollify.

“What?”

“You know perfectly well, ‘what’—the sophomoric humor at my expense. Stuff like, ‘I just gave you ‘The Royal Treatment, baby,’ or the inevitable ‘cunning linguist’ jokes.”

Brett’s smile became a smirk. She wanted to hit him… and kiss him.

“Actually, I was hoping for more of your… fella tricks.”

She hit him.