He stomped off, and I heard him on his cell, explaining he was running behind schedule. When he returned to the kitchen, he still looked pissed.
Excellent.
With a snap of his fingers, he ordered me to stand in front of him. “I’ll be back tonight, but even if I’m not, you’re going to behave.”
“Always, sir.” I fluttered my lashes.
“Just to make sure…” He fixed the ball gag around my head. Then he cuffed my hands behind my back.
“Ut uh ‘ell?” I screamed as best I could through the gag.
“This should keep you busy and out of trouble.”
I glowered even as he kissed my head.
“I’ll bring sandwiches for dinner. Oh, and Regina,” he called halfway to the door.
“Oooh?”
“Don’t forget the laundry.”
* * *
After a half hourof handcuff hell, I glanced out the window and realized Cole hadn’t left. He sat in his patrol car, a cell phone at his ear. I stood and made sad puppy eyes at him until he glanced up. He sighed and exited the car. The first thing he did when he returned was undo the gag and the handcuffs. I massaged my jaw as he chafed my wrists.
“Did you learn your lesson?”
“Yes.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. As much as I liked goading Cole, I didn’t want a repeat of the past half hour. “You didn’t leave?” A part of me guessed he wouldn’t leave me so helpless.
“I’m going to go now. I wanted you to know that tomorrow you start volunteering.”
“You chose a place?”
“Nope. Mr. Roberts did.”
My gut clenched like I’d been kicked. “Is he…is he very angry with me?”
“Not gonna lie, Regina. When he first found out you took the money, he was hurt. Not angry, though. He cares about you, almost like a daughter.”
I knew that. Before I went to college, I’d given him a thank you card with my high school picture in it. He kept the picture on the shelf with framed photos of his whole family.
“If you’d only stolen from him once, and told him right away, he probably wouldn’t have fired you.”
“I really fucked up didn’t I?” Tears filled my eyes. “I’m such a screw up. Total waste of space.” My voice sounded defeated and pathetic, even to my ears. “I wish my mother had just gotten an abortion. Everyone would be better off.”
Cole moved so fast I didn’t see him until I was over his lap receiving the first hard swat. He kept spanking, harsher and harsher until I was wriggling and crying.
Just as quickly, it was over. Cole set me on my feet and fixed me with the sternest stare I’d yet to see. “Regina. If I ever hear you say that again, or talking down, you will think that spanking was a walk in the park. Understand?”
I bobbed my head up and down. Anything to avoid that punishing palm. My hand crept back to rub my bottom, and Cole caught it in his firm grip.
“Answer me.”
“I understand.”
“Good girl.” His tone softened, and he pulled me into his lap. I lay tucked against him on my side and he rubbed my bottom until I relaxed against him. I stayed very quiet. The spanking had undone me, but it had also stemmed the tide of self-disgust. No one had ever cared enough about me to stop me talking down on myself. Cole’s violent reaction both shocked and steadied me.
“Feeling better?”
