by Hart, Allysa
* * *
I slept curled in a chair next to Mary’s bed. It felt like hours before the doctor came out and updated me. From what they could gather, Mary had passed out and banged her head on the way down. When the oncologist scanned her, they learned her prognosis was worse than they had thought. The cancer had spread like wildfire, devouring her brain. The doctors called it a miracle my mother was even still alive.
They kept Mary heavily sedated, but, after hearing my sad story, the nurses allowed me to stay by her side. I wanted to scream and cry and throw things as I dealt with my uncontrollable emotions, but I could not risk being kicked out. Callum popped in and out, but it was difficult with people checking on my mother every fifteen minutes. Falling asleep from sheer exhaustion had been my only saving grace.
“Fi?” My mother’s weak voice came from the bed.
Jumping up, I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Mom, I’m here.”
Mary’s glassy eyes met mine, and I couldn’t help but let the tears fall. “Where am I? What happened?”
“We are at Riverside Medical. You passed out in the kitchen and hit your head.” I tried to keep my voice calm and level, but I was so scared.
“It’s the end, isn’t it?” Mary asked.
“Please don’t ask me questions like that, Mom. I can’t…”
“The doctors are not hopeful, Mar.” Callum materialized on the other side of the bed.
I scowled at him. I wanted her to rest. Stress wasn’t going to help.
Mary nodded in resignation. “I knew it was coming, I just hoped I had a little longer.” she squeezed my hand. “Thank you, dear.”
I was taken aback. “For what? I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve accepted me. It’s all I ever wanted.” She smiled weakly, her eyes closing.
“I love you, Mom. Close your eyes and rest. I will be here when you wake up,” I coaxed, running the back of my hand down my mother’s pale face.
Mary nodded and dozed off.
“Why would you tell her that?” I growled at Callum.
“She has the right to know, little sprite. This is not a surprise to her. Something tells me she guessed how bad it was and downplayed it for your sake.”
Ignoring his reasoning, I charged forward with my anger. “She didn’t need to know right this minute. You could have waited.”
“Sprite, listen to me. You are the one who is not ready to accept it. I understand. Saying good-bye to my mother and father was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. For a long time, I held onto hope I would cross their paths again, but that hope was dashed when I learned of their deaths. They lived, long happy lives, my ’brothers and sister gave them many grandkids and years of happiness, and I missed all of it. I understand what you are feeling, and I am sorry, but we all have to accept what fate has in store for us. We cannot control it.”
I dialed in closely to what he said. He didn’t talk a lot about his family, and now I knew why. It still hurt him to be away from them. Rounding the bed, I scooted as close as I could to him, forcing him to put his arm around me. I rested my head on his chest and looked into his glowing eyes. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I know it was hard.”
“I want to share everything with you, little sprite.”
I sighed and took my mother’s hand. “I just need a little more time…” That statement held so much weight. I needed time with my mother, and I needed time to decide what to do about my third wish. At the moment, all I could focus on was my mother’s cold fingers laced in my hand and my man’s warm bare chest pressed to my back. All of us attempting to transfer love and strength to one another.
* * *
“Do you need anything else?” I asked before leaving Mary’s room.
“I’m fine, dear. You’re smothering me!” Her chuckle was weak, but her spirits had stayed high. After two weeks in the hospital, she was just glad to be in her own room. Before they’d allowed her to go home, I had gotten a hospital bed and set up hospice care. She was visited often by a nurse, but I made it my job to keep her comfortable.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay. Sheesh,” I tossed out before heading out to the kitchen where Callum waited. He opened his arms, inviting me into my favorite place. Accepting his support, I collapsed in his strong embrace. “I’m tired.”
“I know you are, little sprite. Why don’t you take a nap?”
“I can’t! What if she needs me?”
“The nurse won’t be back for hours, but I will stay and make sure she is well taken care of.”
“I can’t. What if…”
“ Listen to me. little girl. You are running yourself ragged, and you need to rest. I understand you want to care for your mother, and I understand your fears, but you cannot take proper care of her without allowing me to take proper care of you.”
A tiny whine emerged from my lips, but he was right
“I will take you to my chamber where you will lie down and get some much-needed rest. You can sleep for hours and barely miss any time here. I promise to retrieve you should anything change with your mother.”
“But...” I protested halfheartedly.
“The only butt you need to be concerned about is your own, and if you would like to take a nap with a stinging red bottom, I can make that happen.”
Burying my face in his chest, I attempted to hide my blush, but Callum knew what words like that did to me. Even though I was beyond exhausted, his dominance still flipped my switch.
“I don’t want a nap, but I will take you up on the other part,” I boldly requested. I had never asked him for a spanking, but I needed one. It had been a long time since the two of us had any time alone together. He had tried to pull me away, but, even knowing the time separation between the two realms, it scared me to leave my mother. Mary was her same feisty self, but her health had declined quickly, and she wasn’t even able to walk to the bathroom anymore. Her meds made her sleep a lot, and she had a hard time with most foods. Soon, her body would shut down completely and I wanted to be there in the last hours, the last minutes. Mary had spent so much time fighting for her life all alone. It made me sick to think I could have been here if my father hadn’t been such a selfish prick.
Callum shook his head. “You are something else, you know that? Go nap.” He lifted his hand and snapped me into his room. I stood pouting in the middle of the space.
“Fine, you big jerk!” I yelled, not caring if he could hear me or not. Flouncing over to the bed, I threw myself onto the soft pillows. They cradled my entire body, giving me the feeling of floating in the clouds. I closed my eyes and gave in to sleep.
“There’s my good girl,” Callum whispered in my ear.
Smiling, I nuzzled the pillow beneath my head. “I know you’re awake, you little faker.” He nipped my ear, and I giggled.
“Go ’way I’m sleepin’,” I mumbled.
“Not anymore you’re not. You’re on my time, now. You know what that means?”
Flipping onto my back, I stretched out the last vestiges of sleep and nodded excitedly. “Yes, Sir.” I knew exactly what it meant. Pleasure.
“I will give you control over one thing. You may orgasm whenever you are ready. You deserve it. My girl has worked way too hard lately. I’m so proud of you.”
He snapped his fingers, and I was instantly naked and bound to the corners of his bed. My pussy gushed as I gave cursory tugs on the straps. Being bound for him was my second favorite position, my first being securely held over his knee.
A snap in the air broke the silence, right before the falls of my favorite flogger trailed up my body. The tickling sensation brought goose bumps to my skin, and my nipples puckered, reaching for the unique sting I knew would follow. Callum started slowly, raising and lowering the strands in a manner that made them thud against my skin.
An especially hard stroke landed on my thigh, taking me out of my mellow trance and making me squeak in surprise.
Callum’s deep chu
ckle almost earned him a glare, but I was in no position to challenge him in any way. “You want more, sweet girl?”
“Oh yes, please, Sir. Lots more.”
“Your wish is my command.”
I sat up in a panic. Sweat covered me from head to toe, and my breathing was erratic. A panic attack. Looking around, I hoped to see I was still in Callum’s room. Hearing him say that phrase had frightened me into thinking I had accidentally spoken the forbidden words. Callum materialized beside me.
“What happened, little sprite? I could feel your angst.”
I jumped into his arms, needing to feel he was really still there. “I had a nightmare. Well, it didn’t start as one. It was a nice dream but then you said, ‘Your wish is my command,’ and it woke me up. I was scared I’d screwed up. I was scared you would be gone.” I choked out the last words, and tears followed. I hadn’t cried since the first day at the hospital, and I was so tired of being strong.
He held me in his arms, rocking back and forth. The motion and the steady beat of his heart had a calming affect unrivaled by anything or anyone. “I’m here, little sprite. It was only a dream. I’m not going anywhere. Even if you did make the third wish, I would still be here. You know what my wish is?” he asked. I did know, but I stayed silent. “I wish you would trust me.”
“I do, Callum. I really do, but I’m scared.”
“There is nothing to be afraid of. You are my future. We are going to spend the rest of our lives together. We will build a home and a family. I will make all of your dreams come true.”
Sighing, I nodded. “Can we get through all of this with my mother, please?”
“The timing is up to you, little sprite. I can’t force you to wish, it’s…”
“Against code. I know I know. Everything helpful is against the damn code.”
“Not everything,” he smirked as he flipped me belly down in the air. “I find this very helpful.” He pulled up my skirt and wedged my panties between my bottom cheeks.
“No no no!” I wiggled back and forth, but he had restricted my movement with his evil sorcery.
“Yes, yes, yes,” he chanted back, punctuating his words with a smack of his hard palm. “Now, let’s talk about how helpful this is. When is the last time you spouted a naughty word?”
“Ugh! Are you kidding right now?”
three more swats. Left, right, middle.
“Ow! Stop!”
Again. Left, right, middle.
“Okay, okay! It’s been a long time!” I cringed, waiting for the next stinging blow.
“Oh, an answer, finally! Let’s try another one. What naughty word did you say?”
“It slipped out,” I whimpered.
He repeated the swats.
“Damn! Damn! I said damn.”
“You did. Do I like that word?”
“No, Sir.”
“Now you’re getting it. Is that word befitting a lady?”
“No, Sir.”
“What happens when my little sprite doesn’t act like the well-behaved young lady I know she can be.”
“I get punished, Sir.”
“Yes, you do. So, here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to spell the word over and over again until I tell you to stop. Understand?”
I wasn’t dumb. I knew this was going to be way more than a spelling quiz, but there wasn’t much I could do, besides obey. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl. Start whenever you’re ready.”
As soon as the first letter was out of my mouth, the spanking began in full force. If I stopped spelling, the spanks fell to the tenderest part of my upper thighs. After spelling the word over and over again, I swore to myself it would never happen again. I had no way to keep track of how many swats or how many times I spelled the wicked word, but by the end the letters forced out through choked sobs.
“Do you think this will help you remember what words should not be allowed to pass your beautiful lips?” His hand made gentle circles over my scorched flesh.
“Y-yes, S-sir.” I hiccupped. “Will you h-hold me, p-please?” I felt rejected being suspended in the air as I was. My request was granted immediately and I was once again cuddled against Callum’s chest. “I’m s-sorry. I was bad.”
“You were not bad, little sprite. You said a naughty word, and you were punished. I would not have been so hard on you if I didn’t think you needed it, but you did.”
I couldn’t argue his point. The pain had allowed me to release a lot of my stress. Now if only I could get him to… I jumped when he pinched the peak of my nipple through my shirt.
“Now, let’s take care of you another way, shall we?”
Gently, he laid my back in the soft pillows and made the remainder of my clothing disappear. Biting my lip, I watched his body move into a horizontal position right above me.
“You relax like a good girl and let Daddy take away all of your stress.”
Lowering his mouth to mine, he brushed my lips before shifting his mouth directly above my weeping sex. His fingers teased my nipples as his tongue did magical things to my pussy. It only took a minute before he brought me to the peak of pleasure. The real thing was always so much better than my dreams.
“We need to get you back to the apartment, sprite,” Callum informed me before putting my clothing back in place.
I shook my head at him. “What about my panties?”
“I don’t think you are permitted to wear those any longer. They get in my way.”
“What?” I laughed. “You’re a freakin genie. How does anything get in your way?”
He didn’t answer.
With a wink and a snap, we were back in the kitchen of the apartment. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I had not eaten since breakfast. It was nearing dinner time so, after checking in on my mother, who slumbered peacefully, I busied myself making dinner for me and Callum.
“Please, don’t leave me, Mom. Please!” I begged the sleeping woman. Her health declined quickly. She could barely stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time and was on so many pain meds she no longer thought clearly. There were nurses on duty around the clock, but I had taken to sleeping on a small bed Callum conjured up. The tiny room didn’t leave much space for me, but it was better than sleeping on the floor which is where Callum had found me a couple of nights ago. He got on my case about not asking for help, but asking him for anything was scary. I didn’t want anything to be misconstrued as a wish.
“Fi, dear?” Mary turned her head in my direction.
“I’m here, Mom.” I sniffled.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m fine. Just tired. How are you feeling?”
“Oh, I’m peachy. If I could just keep my eyes open.” She closed her eyes and sighed.
“What can I do, Mom? How can I make all of this worth it? What can I do for you?”
“You are doing everything, dear. I don’t need more. I need to rest, but I can’t do that until I see you are okay…” She fell asleep once again.
I folded my arms on the side of the bed, laid my head down, and sobbed. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t watch you like this anymore, but I don’t know what to do to help you. How do I help you let go? How do I let you go?”
A warm presence pressed to my back, I could tell it was Callum from the way my body instantly reacted to his touch. With a nurse in the apartment twenty-four hours a day, he had to stay scarce, which of course made everything harder on me. He was my strength and my safe place. I needed him more now than I ever thought I would need another human being.
“I don’t even know if she hears me. She can’t stay awake long enough to talk about anything. I need her to tell me what she wants, what to do. I can’t make these decisions on my own.”
“You are not alone, little sprite. I’m right here, and you are strong enough to do anything you set your mind to.”
Closing my eyes, I rested my head against his muscled torso. “If only I could see what you and my mom see in me.”
“You will.” Mary squeezed my hand slightly. “Listen to your man, dear. He’s wise, and he loves you. My single wish is you find your place in the world and live life to the fullest. If only I could be around to see the amazing things the future holds for you. I know you will make me proud because you already have.” Her breathing was labored and shallow. The creases in the corner of her eyes and mouth deepened, a sure sign the pain was bad.
“Do you want me to get the nurse, mom?” I jumped up, ready to act without listening, but something in Mary’s eyes wouldn’t let me go. “Mom?”
“I love you, sweetheart. I have loved and missed you your entire life. Please forgive me for letting him win.” Her eyes clouded with tears.
“I forgave you a long time ago. I love you so much.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. Saying those words aloud brought more calmness to my heart than I had experienced since I learned about the diagnosis. I could see it had the same effect on Mary.
“Thank you, dear. You behave yourself. I’m going to go back to sleep.”
Something inside told me this was my last opportunity to say what I needed to express to my dying mother. “Thank you, for everything.” I laid my head gently on her chest and listened as her heart beat for the very last time.
“She’s gone,” the nurse announced gently.
I sniffled and nodded, but I did not move. The last few weeks had been so physically and emotionally draining I almost felt relieved. The pain lines in my mother’s face softened and, if I didn’t know any better, I would swear she was smiling.
* * *
“What am I gonna do with this place? It doesn’t feel right to sell it. I worked so hard.” I looked around the shop. The transformation was incredible, but it still was far from finished.
“So keep it.” Callum shrugged. We hadn’t really discussed any of the “after” stuff because I had not been able to mentally or emotionally handle anything regarding my mother’s death, but it had been a couple of days since her death, and she had finally been laid to rest. I had come from the lawyer’s office and spreading the ashes. My mother left everything to me, including over twenty-seven million dollars she had saved over the years. Hush money from my father. She had only used enough to get clean and buy the shop then opened an account and saved the rest for me. She lived this life so she could give me everything she had. Amazing how selfless she was. I respected her so much, but I also was upset she had not used the funds to take a little better care of herself. She did not have to break her neck getting the shop ready to sell or stress about it being foreclosed on. None of that mattered any more. She was gone and there was nothing anyone could do about the past.