“Yeah, and now you may not even have a wedding. Money isn’t worth sacrificing your relationship, and if you can’t have a stretch SUV at your wedding I think you’ll both get over it.” Bobby pointed out. “You need to put Connie first, show her you’re giving one hundred percent to the relationship so she’ll do the same. If you’re not doing your best then you don’t have any right to punish her if she doesn’t. It wouldn’t be fair.”
Nate hadn’t thought of it that way. He’d been hardly home for months, hardly paying attention to Connie at all. Sure he’d been working extra, not out partying with his friends, but Bobby was right. What good was having all that extra money in the bank if the time it took to earn it was ruining their relationship?
“That makes sense. I can’t just demand she pay more attention to my wants and needs if I’m not willing to do the same for her.” Nate said.
“That’s right.” Bobby continued. “And providing loving discipline will show her just how much you love her. That you’re the strong man she needs and you’re focused on your home and your life together. That you’re willing to take the time to try to correct her behavior instead of just giving up on the relationship.”
“So, what do I do to correct her behavior?” Nate asked. He didn’t want to abuse her, that’s for sure, but Darcy definitely didn’t look or act abused. Far from it actually. So he was sure Bobby wasn’t talking about that.
“Well,” Bobby hesitated, looking a little nervous again, “There are several methods people use, but the most obvious and common one is spanking.”
“Like you put her over your knee and pull down her pants?” Nate asked. It got him hard just imagining it.
“You can do it like that. Or you can make her lie across the bed on some pillows if you’re using a belt or paddle. Or you can make her bend over a table or the arm of the couch. There are a bunch of different positions.” Bobby replied calmly.
“A belt or paddle?” Doesn’t that hurt?” Nate was again shocked at his big brother and that he was discussing this like it was no big deal, but then again, to him it was just part of his marriage.
“It’s supposed to hurt Nate.” Bobby said, sounding slightly exasperated now. “You can do play spankings for foreplay, but if it’s a punishment spanking she should know it. I’m not saying go full force whaling on her, you can never do that, but she should definitely be uncomfortable by the end of the punishment.” He continued, “Then comes the best part…you get to comfort her and reassure her that you love her. And the best way to do that is to make love to her.”
“Really?” Nate wasn’t sure Connie would want him anywhere near her after he paddled her butt, but he could definitely see himself wanting to.
“Oh yeah, it usually makes them as horny as it makes us.” Bobby smiled, then sobered. “But you have to remember during the spanking that there is a purpose and a point you’re making, and not go too easy because you want to get into bed. I usually make her have some corner time afterwards. It gives her time to calm down from the spanking and after ten or fifteen minutes she’s usually ready for some hugs and kisses if you know what I mean.”
“Corner time? That’s a punishment you use? What other options are there?” Nate wondered if there was a manual somewhere for this.
“Some people use writing lines, like ‘I will not speed’ one hundred times if she gets a speeding ticket. That would probably be after a spanking so she has to sit on her sore bottom while she writes. There’s corner time, washing the mouth out with soap and anal discipline. And of course will all of them you can also give her a lecture. Go over what she did wrong, why it’s wrong and why she is being punished. You have to make sure she understands and truly regrets her actions because they were wrong or made you unhappy, not just because she’s being punished.”
Nate tried to absorb all this information, along with the news that his brother lived his life this way, while trying to figure out if Connie would be willing to participate. It made sense to him and seemed like just what they both needed to keep them focused on their relationship. But if he suggested this and she ran screaming for the hills, that would be it. There would be no more relationship.
Bobby seemed to sense Nate's hesitancy. “Listen Nate, I think you should do some more research into this lifestyle and figure out if it’s right for you and on what level. There’s a few websites I can give you that will probably explain it better than me.”
“You did a fine job explaining it, I just don’t know if Connie will go for it. And if she says no, I’ll have to ask her to move out.” Nate admitted, then amended, “Actually she’ll probably be half-way out the door before I even finish asking if I suggest it and she thinks I’m crazy.”
Bobby laughed and shook his head, “I think you need to do your reading and if you still want to try it, you should sit her down, explain domestic discipline and why you want to practice it, and then let her read the websites. Give her time to think it over, a few days probably, but make sure she understands the consequences of either option.”
Nate nodded, “That makes sense,” then met his brother’s eyes and held them. “Thanks bro, I really appreciate this.” He put the depth of emotion he felt into every word. Nate felt hope for him and Connie for the first time in months, though he tried to tamp down his growing excitement, and the spark of lust that flared when he pictured Connie’s reddened ass draped over his lap. She might reject this idea, call him a pervert or wife beater, and leave him forever. But Nate knew Connie. She was smart and had to know that their life couldn’t continue down the same path they’d been on. Maybe she’d embrace the idea and let him be the strong man she needed.
They hung out for a while later, but Nate’s mind swirled with questions and plans, until finally he said good-bye and rushed home to get on the computer and start his homework. He needed to be ready to ask his fiancé to let him spank her in the morning.
Chapter 3
Connie woke to an empty bed the next morning, Nate’s side clearly not slept in. A ripple of pain made her chest clench. Not that her solitude was unusual. Nate fell asleep on the couch more often than he came to bed, especially after working overtime and not arriving home until after midnight. But after their argument last night she’d hoped he would slide under the covers with her, calm after hanging out with his brother. No such luck.
She never even woke up when he got in last night so she had no idea what time he dragged himself away from the bar, and probably the hockey game. Or how drunk he was. Hopefully he’d forgiven her and they could forget about yesterday. Last night she’d vowed to herself to make more of an effort to make Nate happy and do the things he asked of her, not because she was his maid, but because she loved him. And he did more for her that he expected her to do for him. She’d been seriously slacking for a while and the fact that he’d been working a lot wasn’t an excuse for her childish behavior.
Connie hauled herself up and pulled on the sweats she’d left on the floor beside the bed last night. She hated sleeping with her legs confined but it was too chilly to wander around half naked.
She opened the bedroom door, intending to stop in the bathroom on her way to start coffee and make toast and discovered that Nate had beat her to it. And he’d made bacon. She inhaled the delicious scents wafting down the hall and quickly took care of business in the bathroom so she could see what had prompted him to get up so early and cook. He hadn’t done that in long time, since right after they got engaged probably. Did this mean he wasn’t mad at her anymore? Or was he trying to soften the blow when he ended the relationship? It was all too confusing so when Connie reached the kitchen and found him in the process of scrambling eggs in low riding pajama bottoms and a sleeveless shirt she couldn’t say anything but a stunned “Hi”.
“Good Morning,” he replied, pleasant but no overly cheerful or relaxed. He sounded restrained, like he had something to say but was waiting for the right moment. “There’s coffee on the table for you and the eggs will be ready in a minute.” He glanced
over, saw her standing mutely and motioned to the chair with a spatula. “Sit down.”
His last words had a bite of command that compelled her to comply. Not harsh or mean, but they carried an implicit expectation that she’d do as he said, and for some strange reason it made her toes scrunch and her lower tummy clench.
Connie sat and added the correct amounts of cream and sugar to her coffee, which Nate had thoughtfully set on the table for her. She watched him move at the stove, admiring his ass again, and was suddenly reminded of yesterday’s events in the kitchen. Which made her toes unscrunch and her heart beat rise, but not in a good way. Was this their final meal together? Eggs and bacon in their PJ’s at the breakfast table? Maybe she could fix this, repair the damage her selfishness had caused over the last few months? She suddenly realized that she’d do anything to keep Nate as he silently dished up two plates, complete with hash browns he pulled from the oven. How early had he gotten up? And why?
Nate set her plate in front of her and took the seat opposite. “Eat up while it’s hot.”
The food looked and smelled delicious but Connie’s stomach was so knotted up in a twisted ball of nerves and worry she couldn’t even pick up the fork, let alone put food in her mouth.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, still calm but definitely annoyed. “Don’t you like my cooking?”
Connie’s eyes whipped up from her studious inspection of her plate and met his. “No, it smells delicious, I’m just…not hungry.” She trailed off at the end when her stomach loudly betrayed her by growling loud enough for the neighbors to hear. She looked away from Nate’s penetrating stare. She couldn’t stand seeing his disappointment in her again. Why couldn’t she just tell him the truth? She was nervous and terrified he was about to break up with her, and she needed to know what was going on.
With trembling hands she picked up her fork and took the first bite. It tasted even better than it smelled, and after a few more bites she forgot about nervousness and dug in.
When she came up for air a few minutes later Connie found Nate watching her intently. Had she made a pig of herself, gobbling up her food like she hadn’t eaten in a week? A blush crept up her neck, turning her cheeks scarlet. She quickly lowered her eyes in a useless attempt to hide her embarrassment, but she couldn’t bear to look at Nate. She couldn’t glean any info on his thoughts from the blank look on his face and it scared her.
“Sorry, I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” She said meekly, unnerved by his silent regard, then pushed back her chair to clear the table. But before her butt cleared the seat Nate rose and stopped her.
“I’ll get the dishes. You just sit,” he said, gently pushing her back into the chair and grabbing the plates. “And you don’t have to apologize for enjoying the food I made you. That’s why I cooked it.”He rinsed the plates and loaded the dishwasher. “For you to eat.”
Nate grabbed the coffee pot and filled both their mugs, then returned it to the counter and sat back down. “We need to talk,” he announced matter-of-factly, like his statement was the most obvious thing in the world. Which unfortunately it was. In fact it was a colossal understatement.
Connie’s heart started to pound and her mind raced. She stalled, focusing on adding cream and sugar to the fresh coffee, debating what to say in response. There really wasn’t any point in playing dumb or indignant when she knew very well they did need to talk. They should’ve talked months ago and now, in all likelihood, he would say it was too late to salvage their formerly blissful relationship, that her childishness had pushed him to the breaking point.
But he wasn’t looking at her with pity, like he felt bad for what he was about to say. No. He looked nervous, with a hint of determination. Like he wasn’t sure how she would react to whatever news he planned to deliver but he was damned sure going to say it anyway. So she said the only thing she could.
“Okay. Yeah. We do need to talk.”
Nate gazed at her for a full thirty seconds, as if he was trying to choose his words carefully before speaking. Then he dove in.
“I think we both can admit things aren’t great between us right now.” He paused, waiting for her to respond to that statement. Again, she couldn’t honestly argue with him.
“Yes,” she replied, hesitant to say more without knowing where he was going with this discussion. A feeling of foreboding twisted her gut and threatened to force her breakfast back up.
He looked relieved at her admission, then took a deep breath and spoke again. “I love you Connie, with all my heart but I don’t think things can continue on the way they are now.” He sucked in breath. “I can’t continue on this way anymore.”
Oh god, he was going to break up with her! He’d had enough of her slacking and forgetting to do the simplest things he asked of her. He was sick of her refusal to confront their issues or set a date for their wedding. What would she do if he kicked her out right now? Where would she go? And how could she live her life without him?
“I have a suggestion to make.’ He continued, “A way to try to fix our relationship. It might seem weird, or offensive, at first but I really want you to hear me out before you react. Can you do that?”
What could he possibly suggest that would freak her out enough to make him warn her before he presented his idea? Counseling? Kinky sex? She had no clue where he was going with this but she could listen. Anything to save their relationship. So she nodded mutely giving him permission to continue.
“You have to promise you won’t repeat anything I tell you. If you don’t agree that’s fine, we’ll go our separate ways, but I’m going to tell you secrets that aren’t mine to share so I need to know that whatever happens between us you won’t betray those confidences.”
She nodded again, hurt that he would worry she’d break his trust, and scared to death that whatever his proposal it obviously was their last chance. An ultimatum that would force her to change her ways or lose him.
“I went out with my brother last night and he told me that he and Darcy practice something called domestic discipline, and he suggested that it might work for us.” He rushed the words out in one breath, then sat back and waited for her reaction.
Connie didn’t know what to say. He’d struck her speechless. She’d heard of domestic discipline before; it was covered in one of her social work classes so they know how to identify abuse. Domestic discipline was not abuse, she knew. It was a relationship where one partner was in charge of the household and reprimanded the other partner if they failed to live up to whatever expectations they’d agreed upon. And it was a complete and utter surprise that Nate had suggested it as a solution to their problems. Even more shocking was the news that his brother and sister-in-law had a domestic discipline marriage. The fun loving, easy going lawyer spanked his perfect school teacher wife? Connie had always thought they were the most loving couple. Bobby was attentive and respectful to her, she was caring and thoughtful. Both exuded happiness and contentment. Maybe this was their secret to a blissful marriage. And apparently Nate wanted it to be part of theirs.
Nate interrupted her thoughts when he broke the long silence she hadn’t realized had fallen. “I know it’s out of left field but after I talked to him I did some research.” He paused to take a deep breath then grabbed her limp hand from the table. “You have to believe I’d never hurt you, that I love you very much, but it’s because I love you that I want to try this. I think if we were open and honest, and actually talked to each other, we would be so much happier.”
Connie still didn’t know what to say. She knew he’d never abuse her, and she agreed that they did need to communicate better, but was discipline really necessary? And why wasn’t her brain screaming at her to run away in an angry fury at the suggestion?
As she turned it over and reflected on her behavior she realized she’d been acting like a bratty little girl for months. She’d been using passive aggressive manipulations to show her unhappiness instead of talking to him, refusing to open up even when h
e tried to initiate a discussion. Maybe she did need to be held accountable. She knew from her class that the head of the household had to be just as accountable in a domestic discipline relationship. Nate would have to have clear expectations, he would have to be consistent and he would have to love her enough to be willing to take control of the relationship.
“Connie?” Nate watched her, waiting for a response. How could she articulate her thoughts, put into words the jumble of emotions she felt? But he looked so expectant and nervous she knew she had to say something. She copied his deep breath and tried to put together some words.
“Well. You definitely surprised me. I’m just trying to put my thoughts together.”
“Do you have any questions about DD? There’s a bunch of websites you can read.” He seemed a little shocked, probably because she hadn’t stomped away in horror and disgust. He must have been prepared for a much worse reaction.
“So you’re not expecting an answer right away?”
“No. This isn’t something we can rush into. We need to both be on board and discuss it, a lot, before we start.” He shook his head and gripped her hand harder. “If try this I want to give it a fair shot, not have you balking in two weeks because we jumped in too quickly.”
Meaning, she thought, after the first time he disciplined her, whatever that entailed. Nate really wanted to try this if the eager look was any indication. He really thought this might save their floundering relationship. Something he’d read, or maybe finding out that his brother’s marriage incorporated it, convinced him that this would work. Connie owed it to him to at least seriously consider it. Hell, she already was.
For some reason the idea of being disciplined by Nate wasn’t abhorrent. In fact, if she was honest with herself, it made her excited and gave her warm tingles in her nether regions. She probably wouldn’t think that in the middle of a punishment, but for now she did.
“Okay Nate, I’ll look into it.” She said before she could change her mind. “I’m sorry for the way things have been between us and if you believe this could be a way to solve our problems than I’m willing to get more information and talk about it.”
Last Chance Page 3