Fire Princess

by Rachel Blake

  "Your plea tells me I have made the correct implement choice." The brush rose, and Autumn had just enough time to anticipate the attack before it returned to her flexed posterior. "If you clench, you will bruise easier. Relax your ass and take the punishment like you know how!"

  "Are you kidding? How am I supposed to relax with you smacking my ass with that evil piece of wood?"

  "You are right, princess," Leland agreed as he brought the brush down hard on her butt. "I have obviously been slacking in my 'Domly' ways because you know better than to talk to me that way." The brush connected three more times, drawing a cry from her throat before he spoke again. "But here you are, bare assed across my lap, and you are still lipping off. I have a remedy for that." As soon as he finished talking, the brush started its relentless assault, jumping from one cheek to the next.

  When Autumn started kicking, Leland merely paused in his assault on her butt, put his leg over hers, and continued with the task at hand like he didn't have a fully grown adult woman struggling with all her might across his lap. A few seconds later, without thought or how foolish and ill-advised the act was, she reached her hands back to protect herself. He paused again, gathered her wrists in his hand and held them in a secure grip at the small of her back before he proceeded with the task at hand. The realization that she was well and truly trapped gave her pause for a second before her mouth got the best of her.

  "Fuck!" As soon as the word toppled out of her mouth, she scrambled to take it back. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that! I'm sorry! I'm so—"

  She didn't get to finish her plea for forgiveness before her breath was stolen by the first unrelenting smack of the innocent looking instrument to her delicate sit spot. He applied nine more strikes to the vulnerable crease before he switched to the other side and gave it the same treatment then returned to her butt as if he had never deviated.

  It was a struggle to drag air into her lungs once the tears started. They ran down her face as the hiccupping sobs that accompanied them shook her whole body. Leland placed a few more swats before he dropped the brush and gathered her in his arms, smoothly rocking her from side to side.

  "Easy, girl. Just let me hold you. Deep breaths, princess. There you go. Do it again."

  As the tears slowed, Autumn felt the need to apologize return. "I don't hate you. I promise I don't. I just—"

  "I know. You just were mad at me for slacking off, and your mouth got away from you. Your poor sit spots paid profoundly for your lip, didn't they?" When he pushed her from his chest in an attempt to catch her eyes, she instinctively looked to the side. "Eyes."

  The growled command and her reddened bottom were enough to get her eyes to snap to his. "I don't think I will sit comfortably for a while."

  "You won't, but it will be a good reminder for you when you go see Liv."

  Panic settled in Autumn's gut as she felt the blood drain from her face and her breathing speed up. "I can't... I... She... I can't."

  "There are two reasons you will do as I tell you." He held up two fingers and ticked them off as he talked. "First, I am in charge, and you don't want to disobey me so soon after a meeting with the brush. Second, you two need each other."

  Autumn's head fell to his chest, and she forced herself to copy his breathing pattern. The slow, steady movement helped ease the panic. "I have been a horrible friend."

  Leland squeezed her within the circle of his arms. "No, you have been healing just like the rest of us. You need your friend, and I know she needs the uncensored Autumn."

  "Uncensored?"

  "You have been tiptoeing around her since shortly after the funeral. That ends today, princess."

  Chapter 17

  Leland leaned against the side of his truck and held Autumn against his chest with his chin resting on her head. "I have to go. I will be gone a couple of hours. When I pull out of this driveway, I want to see your sore, cute little butt walking to Liv's house. I will pick you up when I come home."

  Autumn looked up at the man she loved, even if he was a literal pain in her ass at times. "If I am capable of walking to her house, I am sure I can find my way back. She only lives across the street, Lee. I can manage."

  She jumped when he gave her ass a hard pinch. "I will pick you up. Not because I wanted a smart aleck remark, but because I don't want you using me as an excuse to leave."

  "Yes, Sir," she replied, watching his brow return to its natural position.

  He assaulted her lips with his own unrelenting mouth then stepped away and climbed into his truck. "Get moving, princess."

  Autumn kicked a pebble across the street as she stepped away from the truck. She was headed up Liv's driveway before Leland stopped at the bottom of the drive and spoke in a soothing voice through the open window. "You are dragging your feet as if you are walking to your execution rather than your friend's house. Autumn, you are going to comfort and be comforted by a woman who loves you with all her heart. Relax, baby."

  Autumn stared back at him. "What if she can't forgive me?"

  "Then you give her no choice. I love you."

  Autumn watched as the truck turned down a side road and drove away, only looking away when a cloud of gravel dust was all she could see. She continued her journey up the long driveway, and before it seemed possible, she was in front of Liv's door.

  She just stood there, staring at the door, trying to get the words tumbling around in her head to line up and make sense. She gave up her attempt to organize her scrambled brain and raised her hand to knock but froze just as her knuckles were about to make contact with the door.

  Have things changed this much? Liv is one of my best friends, and I am going to knock on the door? I never knock.

  Her arm dropped to her side as her knees buckled. The pain of the solid, unrelenting concrete tearing open the skin on her knees crumbled the feeble wall that held her emotions in check. Her head collided with the bottom of the door as she folded her chest over her knees and allowed the tears to flow, her forehead resting on the cement in front of her.

  The impact of her head against the door must have announced her presence as the door was abruptly swung open, and Autumn watched as Liv collapsed to the floor in front of her.

  Liv took her hand and pulled her into the house and her arms. They sat in the open doorway wrapped in each other's arms and cried. They cried for the lost life, the lost love and the loss of the future Liv would never get to have with Kevin.

  Autumn shifted again, trying to get comfortable, but every move she made reminded her of Lee's displeasure. It wasn't a horrible pain, but the ache was persistent, and after sitting on the kitchen floor for over an hour, she needed to move.

  "Why haven't I seen you since the funeral?" Guilt rolled through Autumn's stomach. Liv must have seen the emotion on her face because before she could open her mouth and let the lie so effortlessly fall from her lips, Liv cautioned, "Don't lie to me."

  "I couldn't face you. I couldn't let you see my emotions." When Liv sat there, waiting for her to continue, she took a deep breath and went on, "I felt guilty."

  "Why would you feel guilty?"

  "Leland survived because Kevin chose Lee over himself." The sharp pain had registered on her cheek before Autumn realized Liv had moved. "I..." She couldn't tell who was more shocked by the assault—her, as she put her hand over the offended side of her face or Liv, who had covered her mouth in shock.

  "I'm sorry! Oh, my God, Autumn, I am so sorry!"

  "It's okay."

  "No! No, it's not! I hit you!"

  Autumn leaned forward to pry Liv's hands from in front of her face and forcibly hold them in her own. "Why did you hit me?"

  "I don't know."

  "Why did you hit me, Liv?" Autumn asked again. Her voice held a little more force.

  "I don't know. It… it just happened, and I am so sorry."

  "Stop apologizing and tell me why did you hit me, Olivia!"

  The use of her full name caused something to snap into place, and the t
ruth fell from her mouth as she pounded her fists against Autumn's thighs to emphasize her anger. "Because that was a stupid reason to avoid me for over a month! I just lost my husband! My rock! I needed you, Autumn, and you selfishly avoided me because… because you felt guilty? What did you have to feel guilty about?" Liv's torso crumpled, her head landing in the other woman's lap.

  Autumn ran her fingers through Liv's tangled, neglected hair. "I'm sorry. You're right. You needed me, and I intentionally avoided you. I was selfish and a horrible friend, and for that, I am sorry. I am so sorry, but I am here now."

  The sound of muffled sniffles filled the room for a few minutes before Liv stood, pulled her friend to her feet and hauled her into the master bedroom. "We need to clean the dirt and pebbles from your scraped knees before they scab anymore." Liv disappeared into the bathroom and took some of Autumn's guilt with her.

  She stared at herself in the mirror on the back of Liv's closet door. Her eyes were puffy from all the crying, and she had a Liv sized handprint on her left cheek, but with the guilt beginning to dissipate, she could see some of the light coming back into her eyes.

  "Sit down, so I can take care of your scraped knees," Liv commanded as she strolled from the bathroom with an enormous first-aid kit clutched in her hands.

  One glance at the perfectly made up bed had a blush spreading across Autumn's face and a small smile turning up the corner of her lips. "I can't. Lee took the brush to me before I came over. It still hurts to sit."

  "We just sat on the hard kitchen floor for at least an hour."

  "I know, but that was an emotional hour. I didn't notice how much my sit spots hurt until I started to move again."

  "Oh, the sit spots are the worse! I hate when Kevin spanks..." Liv abruptly stopped speaking, and her eyes went from joyful to tear filled in a matter of seconds.

  "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm sorry." Autumn gathered her friend in her arms and let her cry.

  After a few minutes, Liv pushed away from Autumn's chest, sniffled and wiped her nose on the sleeve of the button-down flannel shirt that was noticeably three sizes too big. Kevin's. "Don't be sorry. We have both said that way too many times today. I forget he isn't coming back sometimes, but when I suddenly remember, it hits me like a ton of bricks." The strong woman stepped out of Autumn's arms and gave herself a visible shake before she headed back to the bathroom, tossing another command over her shoulder. "Bend over the bed. I will put some cream on your butt, and then I will clean the dirt out of your scrapes."

  Autumn snorted as she did as she was told. She knew better than to think she could argue with Liv while she was in nurse mode.

  A laugh bounced off the walls. "I don't think the lotion will do any good if I put it on the back of your shorts. They need to come down."

  "Sorry," Autumn said as she stood and wiggled her shorts just low enough that Liv would be able to get lotion on the tender crease below her cheeks. She jumped a bit when Liv started to rub the cream in, but she settled as soon as it started to soothe.

  The laughter that echoed through the room a few minutes later was much deeper than Liv's, and both women jumped just as a hand was placed on Autumn's back to keep her in position. "What do we have here? I go to the doctor to get cleared to go back work, and this is what I walk in on?" Leland teased as he ran his fingers up and down Autumn's still bare ass.

  Autumn struggled for only a second before she was let up and quickly righted her clothes. "Lee! You scared the crap out of us!" With her shorts where they were supposed to be, Autumn looked at Leland for the first time and saw his eyes immediately darken.

  "What happened to your face?" he demanded.

  "Umm." Autumn saw her friend take a step back, unintentionally drawing the unhappy man's attention.

  "Olivia?"

  "I slapped her." Her voice broke, and she took one more step back before she straightened her spine and continued. "She selfishly avoided me when I needed her. When she told me why, I was so mad that I slapped her before I could talk myself out of it." Leland gathered Liv in his arms and held her. "What am I going to do? I can sense myself starting to spin out of control. I have no one to pull me back in."

  "Where is the letter you were given with his flag?"

  Liv looked at Lee in confusion. "You mean the letter from the department? It's in the display case behind the flag. I couldn't bring myself to open it and read all the ways you guys were sorry for my loss."

  "Liv, honey, that letter was not from the department. All the guys at the station have written a letter to our spouse, just in case the worse ever happened. That is the letter Kevin wrote you." When Olivia ran from the room, Leland turned to Autumn. "She cannot be alone when she reads the letter, but I want you to go home. I'm going to call Jensen to stay with her. I will be home after he gets here. We'll work on appeasing the rest of your guilt when I get there."

  "I want to stay. She might need me."

  "No," Leland commanded as he grabbed her arm to prevent her from following the sounds of her friend's cries. "It is only going to create more guilt for you. You are going home."

  As soon as she opened her mouth to argue, his hand came down on her rear. "Ow!"

  "If I had not walked in on Liv putting cream on your ass, I might have actually believed that spank hurt." Autumn's scowl did nothing but earn her another swat as he pushed her out the door. "Go home. I'll be there as soon as Jensen gets here. I expect to find you bent over the arm of the sofa."

  Chapter 18

  "Don't you dare stand," Leland called as he strolled in the front door. Autumn's belly flipped as she settled back over the arm of the couch. He knew her too well. His hand slid across her ass before he took hold of her yoga pants on either side of her hips and roughly pulled them to her ankles, leaving her barely there panties in place. "Did I not make it clear that you were to be bare to me? And you changed?"

  The cool breeze from the air conditioner combined with the recognizable thread of dominance in Leland's voice sent a shiver down her spine. "Yes, Sir, I changed, and you didn't tell me to be naked, Sir. You only said to be over the arm of the sofa when you got home."

  "Have you ever been bent over like this and been allowed the privilege of clothing covering your ass?"

  "No, Sir," Autumn replied as she felt his finger run up the crack of her butt, the thin fabric of her underwear the only thing keeping him from touching her asshole. "But I didn't want to assume that was what you wanted, Sir. I remember the lesson after the last time I assumed."

  "Good girl," Leland praised as he lifted her head and placed a throw pillow beneath it. "I am going to go take a shower. You are to stay here and not move an inch." Autumn watched as he walked away. Stripping as he went, he provided her a quick glimpse of his sculpted glutes.

  She felt herself relax into her submission. He was in charge, and she had no decisions to make. She only had to do as she was told, and that was exactly what she needed.

  The sounds of the water turning on in the other room drew her attention. The need to join him in the shower grew, but thankfully, her need to submit and please her man was much greater than her need to see his wet, naked body. However, that didn't stop her from torturing herself with a combination of memories and fantasies. Leland wet in the shower with soap bubbles running off his body.

  Would he take his cock in hand, working it in his fist? The image of him doing just that sent a shiver down her spine. She almost reached between her legs for relief. While she was able to stop herself from acting on that impulse, she couldn't help but wiggle over the arm of the sofa in an attempt to find just the slightest bit of friction.

  The hand that bounced harshly off her ass had her screeching in pain. "Didn't I tell you to stay still, princess?"

  She struggled to speak without giving away how turned on she was. "Yes, Sir, you did."

  "Then why are you so obviously trying to rub your thighs together to relieve some of the built-up tension in your clit?"

  Is tha
t a teasing tone I hear? "I'm sorry, but I was picturing you touching yourself in the shower, and it was all I could do to stop myself from riding my fingers to oblivion." She heard the tiniest catch in his breath as she quickly added, "Sir."

  "You are mighty brave for a woman who is currently lying half naked over the arm of my couch, aren't you, sub?" He slowly drew his hand across her nates to emphasize his point.

  "Possibly, Sir, but right now it's a risk I'm willing to take if it means I'm getting the attention I desire from the man I love."

  His hand rained down on her bottom repeatedly with wild, solid spanks before he demanded, "Say it again!"

  She panted with the effort it took her to keep still during the brief assault on her bottom. "Sir?"

  He yanked her panties down to join her pants and swiftly pulled them both off her. Roughly, he kicked her feet apart with his foot and gave her pussy a solid spank. A moan fell from her mouth. "Not that. Say it again!"

  That single swat forced more need to pour from her depths and muddle her brain. The combined effects almost kept her from asking her question. "Sir, I don't know what you want me to repeat."

  "Say you love me again."

  She hadn't realized she had said she loved him. "Shit!" She had taken too long to speak, and he was applying smack after smack to her lower lips, her moisture causing the second set of slaps to hurt all the more. After six well-placed swats, she was finally able to find her voice. "I love you!"

  His hand rested on her wet, swollen core. "Again."

  She turned her head to look at him. He was only wearing a pair of athletic shorts, which were straining to hold his erection at bay. She pulled her eyes from the tent in his shorts and found his. If the animated look in his eyes was anything to go by, he was obviously struggling to hold himself at bay. "I love you, Leland."