“Yes, my lord. A little.”
Despite my reply he stands and comes toward me. At his advance my courage fails me and I step back with a small, frightened squeak. I turn to face the wall, cowering, ready to plead for whatever mercy he might see fit to grant me.
He does not speak to me. Instead he places his hands on my shoulders and turns me to face him, then gathers my shivering form against his chest. He enfolds me in his arms, murmuring into my hair.
“Be still, little one, calm down. I mean you no harm.” His hand works large, soothing circles across my back, between my shoulder blades, then reaching lower, to my waist, my soon-to-be spanked bottom.
“My lord, please, I am sorry. Truly.” I am sobbing now, my tears moistening his chest.
He tightens his arms around me, pressing me against him. “Trust me, Natalia. I will take care of you. I would never injure you. This will soon beover.”
“But, I am so scared.”
“I know that, and I know you regret what you did.” He pauses, but continues the calming massage. After a few moments he continues. “I promise you I will be a firm husband to you, but a fair and loving one also. If you cannot bring yourself to accept your punishment now then we will leave it. I will not drag you, weeping and screaming across my knee. But I do want you to accept the discipline you have earned, and to learn from it. If not now, then soon. Can you do that, my lady?”
He does not press for my answer. He just holds me, and he waits.
At last, gulping, I succeed in mustering some semblance of control. And courage. And, incredibly, trust. His words have affected me, in particular his promise not to force his discipline upon me. He is asking me to willingly accept my fault and the consequences of it. I think, now, that I can.
“Very well, my lord. I am ready.”
He uses one hand to tip my chin up, meeting my gaze. He smiles at me, then dips his head to lay a soft kiss across my lips. He releases me from his solid embrace, then turns. He wraps his arm around me, taking my weight.
“I can see that your ankle pains you. Let me help.”
With his aid I make my way to the chair, where he retakes his seat.
“You will lay yourself across my lap, with your hands and feet on the floor.”
I gulp, brush the remaining tears from my face, and chew on my lip for a moment. Then I shuffle to his side. I adopt the position he has instructed, determined to quash my sense of humiliation that he has placed me in such an undignified posture.Sweet Jesu’, let this soon be done.
“That’s good, but could you lift your bottom up a little higher for me please?”
So polite.I have no option but to shift around until I am poised just as he wishes, my bottom raised for him to spank.
“That is fine. I will spank you until I feel you have had enough and I will decide when your punishment is complete. You can make as much noise as you like. I fully expect you to be somewhat vocal. But you are not to move until I tell you to. You will not lift your hands to try to protect your bottom, nor will you kick. You will remain in this position, quite still, until I am finished. Is that clear?”
“Yes, my lord.” I clench my buttocks, anticipating the first spank.
“Do you have any questions about why I am punishing you?”
He seems to be in no hurry to start. I whisper my response, desperate for this to be over. “No, my lord. I know it is because I disobeyed you.”
“Yes, that. And also because of the danger you put yourself in. I left you here to ensure you were safe. By leaving the security of my tent you placed yourself in peril. As your husband it is my responsibility to protect you, toensure your safety. I will not permit you to compromise that, now or in the future. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. I think so.”
“We will see. But for now…”
I scream as the first spank lands on my right cheek, but manage not to move. The second swat sears my left cheek, and I cry out again. The spanks continue to rain down on my upturned bottom, and I swear that despite his promise to take care of me he is hitting me as hard as he can. The punishing blows all blend into each other as he delivers the spanking, hard and fast, until my bottom feels to be on fire. Yet still he continues, setting a truly blistering pace. I lose count at twelve strokes as he shifts slightly to better reach my upper thighs. I am sobbing, and can no longer hold the position. I lift my right leg, and he pauses.
“Do you want me to start all over again, Natalia?”
“No, my lord. But my ankle hurts.”
“I see. Then I will overlook your disobedience on this occasion. But be assured, Natalia, that while in the course of a punishment I expect absolute compliance from you. I will make allowances on this occasion only.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
