Raven: As it should. And if your conversations with me have been accurate, pretty soon you and I will be having a discussion you’ll dislike.
A1star: That makes it sound as if you want me to mess up.
A1star: Not trying to be rude.
Raven: Want, no. I’d rather keep spoiling you.
A1star: That would be fine with me!
Raven: Would it?
A1star: Yes!
Raven: Would you still respect me?
A1star: Getting spoiled is better than respect. :P
Raven: Such a bad little girl!
A1star: Hehe. And what do you like to do to your bad little girl?
Raven: You’re the one who said you don’t want sex, my dear.
A1star: I reserve the right to change my mind.
Raven: Okay, we’ve gotten a bit off-track. You’re worried about your first punishment, and I’m telling you not to be afraid.
A1star: Because you’ll go easy on your sweet sub?
Raven: No, because you like to test boundaries and it’s my job to enforce them.
A1star: Oh.
Raven: Not feeling quite so playful now, are you?
A1star: Not really.
Raven: Have you worked on the list I gave you for this week?
A1star: I just got home yesterday.
Raven: Alena!
A1star: You asked me to list things you should hold me accountable for, and I don’t want to tell them to you.
Raven: You’re so lucky you’re not at my house right now.
A1star: Come on, it’s Monday. I have four days left.
Raven: It won’t get any easier. Shall I name them for you?
A1star: No, thank you.
Raven: What time did you get to bed last night?
A1star: I don’t remember.
Raven: Are you telling me the truth, young lady?
A1star: You said I can do what I like with my own time.
Raven: Did I say it was all right to lie?
A1star: *sigh* No, ma’am.
Raven: Remind me of this conversation when you arrive on Friday.
A1star: Yes, ma’am.
Raven: Now, when did you get to bed last night?
A1star: But you can’t punish me for that.
Raven: *sigh* Will you please be so good as to answer the question?
A1star: Around 4:30, I think. I was busy. Authors keep odd hours. I write best late at night.
Raven: Were you writing until 4:30 in the morning?
A1star: Um. Maybe not.
Raven: Yes or no, dear.
A1star: No.
A1star: Ma’am.
Raven: Has your friend Lorelei noticed the “odd hours” you keep?
A1star: Sigh.
Raven: Yes or no, please. In the future, I suggest you don’t make it necessary for me to repeat myself.
A1star: We had the most wonderful weekend ever, and now you’re turning it into something else.
Raven: Alena, you may count yourself lucky once more that it’s Monday and you’re on your own time. This Friday, it will be a different story.
A1star: I’ll get some sleep before I go to your house. And yes, Lorelei’s always nagging me about going to bed. It’s her fetish.
Raven: That sounded extraordinarily petulant for someone who calls herself an adult woman.
A1star: Sorry.
Raven: Would you like to learn something about how I work?
A1star: Okay.
Raven: The more you resist me on something, the more important I realize the issue is for you.
A1star: Oh.
Raven: So we’ll make sleep a top priority for you.
A1star: *lets out a big sigh*
Raven: How are you feeling right now?
A1star: Honestly?
Raven: Always.
A1star: Annoyed.
Raven: Tell me more.
A1star: I understand I have to do what you say for the day and night I’m at your house, but you said the rest of the days of the week are my time. You didn’t say I had to agree to let you decide about stuff like this.
Raven: So you feel that you should get to set limits.
A1star: No! I mean, this is what you said. Not me.
Raven: First of all, when did I say I’ll set a bedtime for you?
A1star: Isn’t that what you’re getting at?
Raven: Please don’t make assumptions about my intentions.
A1star: Okay, I’ll stay up whenever I want with your blessing.
Raven: Yes.
A1star: What, really?
Raven: As long as you arrive on Friday well-rested and able to participate in the tasks I’ve planned for you, you can make your own decisions.
A1star: Oh!
Raven: Yes, oh.
A1star: Sorry. I guess I sort of jumped to conclusions.
Raven: Yes, you did.
A1star: It’s just that…Lorelei was so sure you’d make me go to bed.
Raven: Was she? Or did you assume that, too?
A1star: Argh. Maybe I assumed a little.
Raven: Do you feel that you get an adequate amount of rest, and does your sleep allow you to maintain health and concentration?
A1star: Um…
Raven: So you were feeling defensive.
A1star: About?
Raven: Not getting enough sleep.
A1star: No.
Raven: Really?
A1star: Maybe.
Raven: I’ll take that as a yes.
A1star: Can we please talk about something else?
Raven: Today, yes. Friday, no.
A1star: Okay. Sorry.
Raven: Alena, will you relax? I want what’s best for you. You might not always like it, but that’s the point. If discipline were easy, you wouldn’t need me. You could do everything on your own.
A1star: Well. That *is* sort of like having a parent, isn’t it? Having one mom was enough for me.
Raven: I promise not to nag you to write your grandmother or call me more often.
A1star: Lol, thanks.
Raven: Don’t worry about things. When you come on Friday, let’s have a quiet evening. We’ll stay in this time.
A1star: That sounds nice.
Raven: I’ve got some new spanking videos you’ll enjoy.
A1star: Ooh, that does sound great!
Raven: Susan loves cooking for you, too.
A1star: Sigh. It sounds wonderful. But…
Raven: Yes, dear?
A1star: I suppose you’ll tell me off about sleep and stuff like that?
Raven: Do you think I need to?
A1star: No.
Raven: Then come well-rested, and I won’t. Let’s have a good weekend.
A1star: Oh, yes please.
Raven: Get back to work, dear. I can’t wait to see you soon.
A1star: Raven?
Raven: Yes?
A1star: Thank you so much. For everything.
Raven. Work hard. You’ll have your reward on Friday.
Chapter Fourteen
Lorelei: Aren’t you supposed to get to bed early on Thursday nights?
A1star: Oh, don’t you fuss, too! I’m almost thirty. I hardly think someone needs to tell me when to go to bed. Besides, I’ve had a stressful week. I deserve some time to relax.
Lorelei: Sounds like a lot of excuses. Your arrangement with Raven goes both ways.
A1star: My internet went out, my printer cartridge jammed, and I got stuck behind a traffic accident on my way to the store. A stupid driver got out of his car and came over, shouting insults at me for not going even though everyone ahead of me was stopped in the road, too.
Lorelei: That’s too bad. What time did Raven say you should be in bed?
A1star: I never agreed she could tell me when to go to bed, for pity’s sake!
Lorelei: Because she’s never discussed it with you?
A1star: Well, I don’t know.
Lorelei: You’re playing with fire, little girl. If you were my bab
ygirl, I’d spank you for defiance.
Alena rolled her eyes. Ever since she and Raven had become close, her relationship with Lorelei had changed. Instead of the normal chatting, Lorelei’s formerly good-natured teasing had turned into something more serious.
A1star: I’m not, am I? And Raven doesn’t mind.
At least, Alena hoped not.
Bedtime. Alena snorted. What was she, five? She scoured the eBar pages for a Margaret Bloom wooden duck. She had the car and truck, but the duck was the most elusive toy from the Springtime series. There! No, it wasn’t a genuine Margaret Bloom, but two pages in there was a wooden teddy bear. Mr. Teddy from the Bedtime series of poetry was Alena’s favorite.
She had to have it! Ignoring her usual tactic of waiting until the last minute, she placed a bid. Then she cursed as she checked the remaining auction time, too late. Well over three hours until the close. She’d tipped her hand, and now the other bidders would increase the price.
Lorelei: Raven can choose her own way to handle you, but you’re asking for her to crack down.
A1star: Just a sec.
No! A bid topped hers by more than thirty dollars. Alena gulped. She’d spent a little more on the pull-along truck than she’d intended, and she hadn’t counted on Raven asking about her purchases with the stipend. Use your judgment, Raven had said, so Alena did. She had to have that bear!
A1star: Sorry, but I have to run. Don’t worry, Lorelei. Raven and I are getting along just fine.
Alena hovered over the trackpad on her computer, watching the clock. Would someone else come along? It was a long wait until three-thirty AM, but she couldn’t let this bear go. She might be able to score her favorite piece, one that had never come up on the listings before.
And when Alena pressed the final bidding click exactly one second before the auction ended, she whooped with victory. The bear was hers! She’d outsmarted the other would-be buyers. So she paid a good deal more than she’d intended. So what? She’d won!
Too giddy to sleep, Alena flipped through Wakipedia. She re-read the listing on Margaret Bloom’s line of toys inspired by her poetry, and she hugged the description of the bear.
Mr. Teddy is the most sought-after item, as Margaret Bloom had a falling out with the artist and discontinued the line after one run. Fewer than three hundred were made. They originally sold for five pounds, a fortune at the time. Now, a Mr. Teddy in mint condition can sell for upwards of nine hundred dollars.
It made the price Alena paid seem like a pittance. She’d saved money, really. She read well into the night, finally falling asleep with one arm flung underneath her cheek as she dozed at her desk.
* * *
Raven’s smile grew strained. “I said you look tired, Alena. Are you coming down with a cold?
Alena sneezed, yawned, and struggled to pay attention. Her head swam from the scant hour of sleep before Peter’s pickup that afternoon. “No, I’ve just had some busy days. I’m fine.” She yawned, picking at her dinner. Fish again. Alena had never disliked fish until it was served at nearly every Friday evening meal. Raven wasn’t even Catholic, at least not as far as Alena could tell.
“I picked out a movie for us to watch tonight. You’ll like the story.” Raven gave a smile, as if amused with herself. “A naughty brat gets spanked for disobeying.”
Alena should have squirmed in her chair at the implication, but her head ached. She wanted nothing more than to lay her head on the table and close her eyes. “That sounds nice.” Seeing Raven’s disappointment, she tried to muster some enthusiasm. “I’m not hungry. Why don’t we watch it now?”
Sighing, Raven set down her fork and nodded to Clara, who began clearing their plates. Raven stood up, held out her hand to Alena, and led the way to the miniature movie theater. She settled herself into one of the few rows of seats, and she pulled Alena to sit down next to her. The room dimmed, and Alena curled up with her head on Raven’s shoulder. Raven’s arm came around her, and she began a commentary as a pajama-clad grown woman clutched her ear while another stern woman dragged her across her lap. The spanking began without ceremony, and the “brat” wailed her promises to be good.
Alena answered Raven’s questions at first, but the sleepless night got the better of her. She drifted off, only to wake with a start when the lights came up. She jumped, massaged her sore neck, and stammered.
Raven frowned at her. “It wasn’t the best, admittedly, but it wasn’t a snooze fest, either. I thought you wanted to watch some spanking videos.”
Alena did, but she couldn’t focus. Her head still hurt, and a crick in her neck made the headache worse. “I’m sorry.” Raven had gone to a lot of work to plan their evening, after all. “We could watch it again, and I won’t fall asleep this time.”
Raven sighed. “Never mind. If you’re this tired, you should go to bed.” She looked about to say something else, but she got up.
“No!” Guilt pricked Alena’s conscience. “I’m awake now.”
Raven gave her a hard stare, and Alena swallowed. Every once in a while, Raven’s gentleness gave way to something more intimidating. It was like having a friend but not a friend at the same time. “Did you just tell me no?”
Alena shivered, drawing her arms to her chest. “You wanted to watch the movie, and we didn’t get to. Let’s watch it now. C’mon.” She hated the look of disapproval and disappointment on Raven’s face. They hadn’t had a fight yet, and she didn’t want to start one.
“No,” came the answer. “I said it’s time for bed.”
Alena shrugged. “Don’t be mad. It’s barely nine o’clock. You said we’d get to play tonight.” She sneezed, then coughed.
“To bed, Alena.” Raven nodded toward Clara, who escorted the protesting Alena to the guest room. “I’ll come in to say good night.”
Alena pulled away from Clara. “It’s all a misunderstanding. Why’s Raven got her nose out of joint?”
Clara pointed to the pristine white nightgown, turned-down pink eiderdown on the canopy bed, and the toothbrush and toothpaste set out in the adjoining bathroom. “Everything you need should be here, Miss Alena.” She disappeared and closed the door, leaving Alena to fume.
Alena ignored the unspoken instructions and opened the door. “Raven!” she called. “Don’t be this way!”
Silence greeted her, and she shrugged. While she had struggled with sleepiness a few minutes ago, annoyance jolted her wide awake now. She crossed her arms, waiting. When no one arrived, she glared at the room before picking up a notebook from the dressing table. She might as well work on the opening scene for her next chapter. Engrossed in describing the villain’s first appearance, she didn’t notice the time passing.
When Raven opened the door twenty minutes later, Alena barely looked up. “Shh,” she murmured. Was the sky midnight blue? Darkest blue? Rich indigo?
Raven stared at her with unfriendly eyes. “Alena.” Her tone, quiet but piercing, made Alena jump and put down the notebook. “What were you told?”
Alena fumbled for words. “Just a few more minutes, I—”
“No.” Raven strode toward the bed and picked up the nightgown. “That’s a word you haven’t heard often enough in our time together. No, you will not have a few more minutes. No, you will not defy my order to get ready for bed. No, you will not show up for your day with me too exhausted to fulfill your end of our agreement. I said, to bed. Now!”
Shocked, Alena held out her hand. She slipped her sweatshirt over her head and picked up the nightgown. She pulled the frilly, ribboned affair down. She slid the jeans off underneath the skirt and kicked her shoes off as well. Her stomach twinged, and she couldn’t understand this new Raven. They’d laughed together, had fun together, and been silly. What had gotten into her?
“Teeth brushed and face washed. Now!” Raven added, quite unnecessarily. Alena had already bolted toward the bathroom, where she unscrewed the toothpaste cap and tried to wet the washcloth at the same time.
Alena brushed he
r teeth, rinsed, spat, and set the toothbrush in its white porcelain holder. She squeezed amber liquid soap onto the washcloth and lathered before scrubbing her face. She rinsed and patted dry before skulking back into the bedroom. Her chest heaved with the unfairness of Raven’s new dictatorship, but another part of her thrilled at this show of authority. How could she hate being told what to do, but get excited at the same time? If only it didn’t have to involve bed! She’d have been willing to play along with Raven about anything else. Besides, what if she gave in now? What would Raven make her do next? She was shocked at herself for obeying this far. She should tell Raven the limits of what she could do.
“In bed.” Raven stared her down, as if daring her to protest. “I can make you, but I assure you that you won’t like it. I suggest you do as you’re told.”
Alena crept into bed, shivering despite the warmth of the covers. Why was Raven so angry with her? “Fine.” She turned away, stiff with resentment. She should tell Raven to get lost. She should go home and forget about everything.
Raven switched the light off, raised the covers around Alena’s shoulders, and gave her a pat. “Good night, dear. I’ll see you in the morning. You’re not to get out of bed until then.”
Before Alena could respond, Raven disappeared into the hallway and closed the door. Alena bolted upright, prepared to shout her objections. You’re not to get out of bed. Why should Alena stay like a naughty child? She swung her feet to the side of the bed and slid to the carpet. The overhead light snapped on, and a few seconds later Raven re-entered. Without a word, she grasped Alena above the elbow and steered her back into bed. Down went Alena’s head, and up went her feet. The eiderdown slapped across her shoulders.
“Last chance, Alena. You’re to go to bed and stay there until I give you permission to rise in the morning. It’s time you learned the meaning of obedience.” Raven didn’t bother to see whether Alena obeyed before striding out the door.
How had Raven come back so fast? For that matter, how had she known Alena got up, anyway? Unnerved, Alena pulled the covers around her more tightly. She was beginning to get the uneasy suspicion she’d gotten more than she’d bargained for. Maybe it was better to play it safe. She could lie in bed for a little bit, couldn’t she? Then Raven would surely let her get up.
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