“Because this is different than a punishment, Elias. When you need an adjustment spanking, Daddy will bring you here to where we like to snuggle and remind you why you give control to Daddy.”
Understanding washed over Eli. “So, there will be snuggles afterward, Daddy?”
“Always.” Willem assured him. “Now, I believe I asked you to do something.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Eli closed the distance between them and gingerly draped himself over his Daddy’s thighs. His eyes squeezed shut as he braced himself with his palms flat on the floor. “I’m ready.” He finally whispered bravely when the first blow didn’t fall. His Daddy was always sure and confident in his punishments. This whole maintenance thing had him totally off kilter.
“Relax.” Willem placed a hand at the small of his back. “My boy knows tensing up will only make this hurt worse.”
“Sorry, Daddy.” He relaxed his bottom, just seconds before the first smack landed. While not as harsh as his punishment spanking, the heat and pain quickly grew as Willem steadily spanked him.Eight, nine, ten…he mentally counted. …eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen…
“You don’t need to count, boy.” Willem broke through his mental counting, as he continued to spank Eli.
“I don’t…” he whispered.
“No, you don’t.” Willem assured him, pausing his spanking. “This isn’t something to count so you can know when it’s over. This spanking has no defined number of swats. This will continue until I send my boy flying.”
“Flying?” He knew he sounded like a parrot, but he wasn’t sure what Willem was talking about.
“You’ll understand when you get there, boy.” Willem promised. “All you have to do is relax and use the pain to set you free of everything. There will be no more stress, no more bitchy mothers, no more insecurities, just the place where Daddy took you.”
“Place?” He lifted up a bit to look over his shoulder at Willem.
“A special place, boy, where the only thing that will matter is Daddy’s acceptance and his boy’s release. Do you trust me to take you there?”
“I trust you, Daddy.” He relaxed back into position. Daddy knew best. He’d just have to trust that Willem knew what he was doing this time.
* * *
Willem stared down at the rapidly pinkening flesh of his boy’s bottom. He knew from the get-go that Eli might not understand exactly what subspace was, or how closely related their power exchange was to that of a Dom and sub, but at this point Willem didn’t care. His boy was hurting and needed the release that subspace would give him. His boy needed to let go of everything and just be. And the only way that Willem knew to do that was to spank all the stress out of his boy. Give him a physical reminder that his Daddy cared enough to make the tough decisions. Even ones that might push his boy out of his comfort zone.
“I want my boy to forget about everything but this…” he landed another swat on the swell of Eli’s bottom. “…this is Daddy not only caring - but taking care of his boy. Let it go, boy. All that pain, frustration, and anger isn’t good for you. Give it to Daddy.” He kept the words soft and coaxing, even as he continued to lay one spank after another across his boy’s ass.
“I’m trying…” The plaintive words struck a chord inside of Willem. He knew that Eli would try, but this time trying wouldn’t be enough.
“No, I don’t want to hear ‘try.’ I want you to do.” He barked out the words, firming up his swats. He wouldn’t be denied. It was time to lance the wound and for Eli to process the pain of his brother’s passing. He wanted his boy back. “Your brother wouldn’t want you to grieve forever. He loved how spontaneous you are, he loved the bond you had with the kids, and he’s trusting you to do what’s best for them. Enough wallowing in self-pity. I want to see the strong man that took on his mother’s disapproval to start Little Delights, who pulled off the best damned Easter Jamboree I’ve ever been to…” he kept up the words of praise, hoping – no, praying that the combination of pain and praise would get through to his boy.
Finally, it happened, the dam holding back Eli’s emotions broke and harsh wracking sobs shook the form draped over Willem’s legs, but Willem didn’t let up. Now wasn’t the time to stop. Eli needed more from his Daddy. He needed to fly. So as his boy cried out his pain, he kept a steady pace of smacks, refusing to ease up even though his hand was beginning to ache. His boy needed this.And Daddy will provide.
Closely monitoring his boy, he waited for that last wall of resistance that he was sure loomed ahead of them.
“No more, Daddy!” Eli struggled, trying to crawl off his lap. Hooking a leg over the back of Eli’s, he refused to stop.
“Are you safe wording?” He didn’t pause but he knew that his boy heard him.
“No!” Eli snarled, his torso lifting off Willem’s legs as he tried to cover his ass with his hands. A quick shackling of Eli’s wrists against his lower back kept his hands out of the danger zone.
“We don’t interfere with Daddy’s spanking, boy.” He didn’t increase the strength but kept a steady rhythm going.
“I know!” Eli shook, his voice broken as his body went limp. “It hurts…”
“I know. Use the pain, sweetheart. Use it to fly for me.” At first he didn’t think that his boy would understand or even get what he was talking about. But suddenly instead of shying away from the smacks, Eli began to lift into them, availing his ass more and more. “That’s it…” he crooned.
“Daddy…” the word came out as whisper almost, as Eli was floating far away.
Thank God.Relief flowed through Willem as Eli gave in and floated away into the welcoming arms of subspace. Every muscle of Eli’s body became plaint and limp as he surrendered. Willem slowed the smacks, until he finally stopped. When Eli remained limp over his legs, he began to lightly rub Eli’s back with his hands, soothing his boy the best he could in such a position. He’d let his boy fly for a little longer before moving him into a position to snuggle.
Tears of relief wet Willem’s cheeks, as he urged his boy up off his stomach to curl up on Daddy’s lap. A gentle push of his foot set the glider into motion. He wrapped his arms around his boy, idly thinking he should grab the afghan off Eli’s daybed but was too unwilling to disturb his boy. He wasn’t sure how long they’d rocked when Eli finally stirred in his arms.
