For the briefest moment, he smiled. Then his expression turned serious again. “Things will happen now. The only way to make them stop before I decide they’re concluded will be to state your intention to leave the center immediately. Do you understand?”
“I won’t—”
“Save your breath. I don’t want a conversation. Yes or no will suffice.”
“Yes, I understand,” she snapped. She regretted it instantly when she saw his eyes narrow. But dead realms, she did want a conversation. She had a thousand questions, and frankly she loved talking to him. She always had.
He reached down and took her leash right at the point where it attached to her collar. He tugged her forward, and she had to scramble awkwardly to follow him to the bench. It left her breathless to be pulled that way by him.
She climbed onto the bench and had to bite her tongue to stop herself from protesting when he hooked a link of the chain to the floor. She clenched her teeth as her arms and calves were tethered to the padded arm and leg rests. At least her ankles were positioned together.
Then he pressed a lever and the table tipped forward, bringing her head closer to the floor. He re-secured the leash so she couldn’t raise her shoulders a bit.
“It’s not necessary—”
A heavy palm cracked down on her buttocks.
She sucked in a breath.
“Being new to this, you have no idea what will be necessary. Do you?”
Her cheeks flamed, but she acknowledged his point by saying, “No, Sir.”
“Have you had enough of this? Would you like to state your intent to go home?”
“No,” she said. “I mean, no, Sir!” she added hastily. “May I please have permission to ask a question?”
“Not before you’re punished. Perhaps after, if you’re still here.”
She bit her lip. He did not think she would endure it. Perhaps he intended to make sure she did not.
I will prove to him that he’s wrong. I can be as strong as any village girl. And he’s not cruel. He will stop if he sees that I am in distress.
He flipped a lever and the bench’s center rose, forcing her bare bottom higher into the air. Well, that was certainly convenient for him, she thought furiously. Already though, excitement was racing through her veins.
His warm palm came down on her defensive backside with a slapping sound. There was no pain at first, only heat. Then he used more force and things became uncomfortable. She shifted her hips slightly. Yes, that was becoming quite warm. And, oh, a bit more than uncomfortable.
“Your ass turns a lovely dusky pink. A master likes to see his marks light up his pet’s flesh.” His hand cupped her buttock roughly.
Her belly clenched, as did things low down. It was incredible to be handled in such a way. Her little nubbin throbbed, wanting attention. If only she could give it a firm rub, things would not be quite so uncomfortable.
“Now that you’re warmed up, I can get on with your punishment.”
“What?” she asked, trying to turn her head. She couldn’t however because the leash held her fast in the position he’d placed her in.
“A hand alone would take too long to teach a girl like you the lesson I want you to learn.”
What did he mean a girl like her? A princess? A defiant girl? A reckless one? She’d been accused of both of the latter by her former nanny who had not been pleased by her independence.
Something snapped down over her buttocks, and pain blossomed in a fierce line.
“What—?” she gasped weakly, but the word was lost under the next snap of something against her skin. She shrieked. It caused a flaming jolt. A belt, she realized. He was whipping her with a belt.
The snaps across her buttocks came in a steady rhythm. She fought against her bonds and clenched against the blows, but nothing helped. Soon, her entire bottom was burning so painfully she could not stop screaming.
He paused and set a cool hand on her roasted globes. She sagged against the bench, wanting to melt off it onto the floor.
“You have more to endure unless you state your intention to leave.”
