by Laetitia
"Well, I would suggest you use a little more finesse than that, but you must emphasize that you are determined to make these changes so that she can always feel secure in your love for her, and that she can always trust you to be there to guide her. Remind her of the times when her anger or bad behavior caused a rift between the two of you. Emphasize that her love and your marriage are of primary importance to you. Ask if she doesn’t agree that some changes need to occur. There isn’t a woman alive, if she loves her husband, who wouldn’t agree to at least try something new. Especially if she thought it would make her marriage stronger."
"How does he bring up ‘The Plan’?" Jeffery asked.
"After Amanda agrees to try a new system, Darren can explain to her that they both need to break old habits and replace them with new ones."
"What old habits do I have to break?" Darren bristled.
"You need to become more aware of you wife’s temperament. She didn’t learn how to behave this way without your help. Had you made your expectations clear early on, neither of you would be in this predicament." Justin reached for the brandy decanter and passed it around.
"That’s probably true, but I’m not sure I know how to go about it."
"First, set aside a block of time that you can focus just on her. Three days should be enough to get started. Then either go somewhere where you can spend those days in complete privacy, or give your servants a brief holiday. It is essential that you be able to train Amanda spontaneously without worrying about interruption or public embarrassment. Make a short list of behaviors that you will both focus on correcting for the three days. Explain to her that she will begin the training with a thoroughly spanked bottom, partly for past deeds, but also as a demonstration of what will happen if her behavior doesn’t change."
"What if she refuses?" Darren asked.
"Spank her for refusing. Man, you need to regain control! If she is to look to you for guidance, you must be clear, confident, and consistent. You should spend the next three days turning her over your knee every time she misbehaves...every time she is even a little surly...don’t wait for her to get all-out angry...cut it off before it begins. You must also include a great deal of holding and talking. By the end of the three days you will have begun the process, and Amanda will be clear in your new expectations for her. You can amend, add or delete in the future as the need arises, as long as she is aware of the consequences. "
"Here’s to Amanda’s education!" Christopher raised his glass.
"And to Darren’s," Ben added.
"And to ‘The Plan’!" Jeffery said.
"Here! Here!" they exclaimed in unison. The men drained their brandies and went to join their ladies.
* * * * *
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly with the ladies playing the pianoforte and singing. When it was time for all the guests to leave, Amanda was sorry to see them go. They were such good friends.
She and Darren climbed the stairs together, his arm about her waist. "It was a wonderful dinner, my dear," Darren remarked as he guided Amanda into his rooms.
"Thank you. I think it went well." Amanda rolled her head trying to loosen her tight neck muscles. Darren began to nibble at the hollow between her neck and shoulder.
"Will you require me any further tonight, sir?" Dalton had been standing by the door.
Amanda and Darren split apart quickly. Amanda blushed like a new bride.
Darren found it oddly appealing.
No, nothing further tonight Dalton, but could I speak to you in the hall for a moment? Will you excuse me?" Darren asked Amanda who looked a little confused, but nodded.
When he reached the hall, he asked Dalton to pass on a message to Sims and the rest of the household staff. He said that in honor of the Stone’s fifth wedding anniversary, the staff was going to be given three days paid holiday...starting tomorrow. All that he asked was that the remains of this evening’s party be cleaned up and that there be provisions for the next three days laid out. He and Amanda would fend for themselves...a small trysting time, he assured him.
Without so much as a lifting of an eyebrow, Dalton bowed slightly, said "Very good, sir", and padded down the carpeted hallway to the back stairs. Moments later Tillie, Amanda’s maid, exited softly from Amanda’s rooms, and scooted past Darren trying to stifle her giggles as she went. Obviously eavesdropping again, Darren thought. And so we begin. He took a deep breath, opened the door and entered.
Amanda was already ensconced atop his bed looking very appealing in a frothy white night rail with ruffles around the neck and wrists. Keep focused on ‘The Plan’! Darren told himself sternly.
"While I get ready for bed, could you pour us both a glass of wine, love?"
"Of course," she answered and slipped off the bed. She glided over to the small table by an overstuffed armchair and opened the decanter. She poured the ruby-colored wine into the crystal glasses. She closed the decanter, picked up the two glasses and returned to her place in his bed. She took a small sip from her glass.
"Mmmm. This is very good wine!" She raised her voice slightly so he could hear her in his dressing room. "What is it?"
"A French Merlot of an impeccable vintage...or so I was assured by the wine steward from whom I purchased it." Darren walked into the room dressed in a maroon stripped silk robe. He casually picked up his glass and tasted the wine, savoring the full-bodied tang. "That was the reason I was a bit late this evening. I wanted to have this ready to share with you after the party."
Amanda blushed and gazed into the depths of her wine glass. "I’m sorry I lost my temper with you earlier...I don’t know what gets into to me sometimes. I think I was just nervous about the party going well. Anyway, I’m sorry I snapped at you...especially in front of Dalton." She looked into his eyes.
"That really wasn’t well done of you, I agree," Dalton said sternly.
Amanda dropped her eyes again. She had the grace to look embarrassed.
"It is about this evening, and similar incidents that I wish to speak to you about tonight, Amanda."
"Oh now don’t be cross!" Amanda raised her eyes to his face and traced a tantalizing trail up his silk-clad thigh with her finger. "I said I was sorry. Can’t we just go on?"
Darren took her wandering hand and replaced it in her lap. It required all of his control. "No. We can not just go on. I am concerned that your frequent bursts of temper, your rude behavior and your total disrespect for me is beginning to harm our marriage."
Amanda felt sick to her stomach. What did he mean? Didn’t he love her anymore? Had she crossed some invisible line she was unaware of? Her hand tightened around the stem of her glass. She wanted to say something to make it alright again, but she couldn’t think what to say. She felt hot tears begin to pool in her eyes, her shoulders sagged and she dropped her head.
Darren placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to him. "It’s not as bad as all that," he said, feeling a knot of sympathy in his own stomach. "We just need to do some work together before we destroy a wonderful relationship. Are you willing to try something new?" he asked her gently.
"Uh huh," she said.
"Was that a yes or just a swallowed sob?" he teased.
"Yes. It was a yes. I’ll try to be better. I love you," she said unable to keep the quiver from her voice. She leaned toward him and tried to snuggle into his shoulder, but he took her upper arms and firmly held her upright. She looked up at him, plainly confused.
"There will be time to hold each other later," he tried to sound slightly stern.
"Right now, I need you to listen to me very carefully. First, we are going to finish our wine, and then we will begin that work I mentioned..."
"What? Tonight?" she began.
"Yes, tonight. Do not interrupt me again!" Amanda’s eyes widened, but she nodded. Encouraged, Darren continued. "When we have finished our wine, I am going to turn you over my knee and spank your bare bottom."
Amanda bounced off the bed. "You’re going
to what?"
Darren didn’t move. "Spank you."
The silence between them was charged. It seemed to stretch on interminably.
Darren casually sipped his wine while his wife stared at him like he was a stranger.
"And what if I don’t let you?" she asked softly.
"I don’t need you to let me. Rest assured, you are going to go to sleep tonight with a very sore bottom. All that remains to be seen is whether you will get one spanking ... or two."
"Darren! You can’t be serious! I’m not a child; I’m your wife. Whatever faults I have I will try to work on, but..."
"And I will be here to help you. I take full responsibility for allowing you to become a shrew. But it ends tonight! Finish your wine so we can get this over with."
"Oh! Just like that! Finish your wine, dear so the beatings can commence?"
"You know I would never beat you. I love you too much to watch you become a mean- spirited harridan. I value you and our marriage so much, that if necessary I will spank you three ways to Sunday to help you learn to moderate your behavior." Darren drank the last swallow of his wine. He got up and walked toward her. Taking her half-filled glass from her numb fingers he said,
"You’re done." Then he placed both glasses back on the small table. Returning to his seat on the edge of the bed, he reached behind him and retrieved one of the pillows and placed it on the bed to his left.
"Come here!" he ordered softly. Amanda hadn’t moved from her spot in the middle of the room. She felt as if her feet were frozen to the floor. She didn’t think she could comply, even if she had wanted to...and she most assuredly didn’t want to!
"Amanda, come here! I won’t tell you again."
"I can’t!" Dear heavens! Was that her voice she heard whining? "I won’t!" she said with determination born from desperation. She spun around and ran for the door connecting her rooms with his, but Darren caught her before she could safely pass through.
He hoisted her on his hip and returned to the bed in three strides. He sat down and flipped her across his knee. Her legs began to kick and flail. "Let go of me this instant! You...you...Owwwch!" she screamed as a solid swat connected.
She waited for another, but it didn’t come.
"Unless you would like all of the servants to hear you get your first spanking, I would suggest that you scream into this pillow that I provided for you,"
Darren said calmly.
"How can you be such a brute?" Amanda whispered as loudly as she dared.
She tried to wiggle off his lap, but his arm held her immobile. She felt him lift the hem of her night rail, then felt the cool air of the room on her bottom.
"Please! Please, Darren! Don’t humiliate me like this!"
Darren rested his hand on his wife’s delectable bottom. He rather liked the way it twitched. He waited for Amanda to recover from the shock of finding herself over her husband’s knee. When she finally stopped wiggling, he continued. "You are going to be spanked tonight partly as punishment for behavior in the past, and partly as a prelude to three days of training, beginning tomorrow."
Without waiting for a response, he began to spank her white little bottom. He was meticulous in laying on five swats right in the middle covering the majority of both cheeks. Amanda screamed into the pillow, scared to death that a servant might discover her being punished like a little girl. As abruptly as it started, the fiery spanking stopped.
"Are you done?" she asked.
"No. That was just to get your attention. This would normally be the time I would ask you if there were any mitigating reasons why the spanking should be stopped, but in your case...SMACK, SMACK,...you little termagant,...SMACK, SMACK,... I know there is no excuse...SMACK, SMACK,...except that I let you get away with it! SMACK, SMACK, SMACK.
"Stop! Oww! Please! I’ll be good! Owwch!"
Amanda couldn’t believe the burning pain he was creating. It seemed to sear her deeply. The pain built to a crescendo and then dropped with stomach churning suddenness. The spanking continued. She didn’t think he would ever tire. If anything the swats felt harder...hotter each time his hand fell. After awhile, the burning was so universal that, except when he spanked the tops of her thighs, they all melted together. Finally he stopped. She was too weak to even comment. Evidently it wasn’t required.
"Now my little hellion...SMACK,...let me explain the rules for the next three days,...SMACK. When you rise tomorrow morning, you will put on a short chemise...no under drawers. Do you understand?" SMACK
"YEOUCH! Yes! Yes!"
"Then you will trundle downstairs and prepare my breakfast. When all is in readiness, you will come up and wake me so the training can begin." Darren paused to wait for her response.
"I can’t parade around the house half naked..."
SMACK! SMACK!
"You will do what I tell you, whenever I tell you! Are you clear?" SMACK, SMACK, SMACK. "But do not worry about your modesty being compromised. All of the servants have been given three days off in celebration of our wedding anniversary. Isn’t that wonderful?"
Amanda swallowed a sob, but didn’t answer. SMACK "Yes! Oh yes! It’s wonderful!" she panted out, crying and beating her fists against the mattress in frustration.
"There’s my good girl!" Darren lifted her gently from his knee and stood her facing him. She crumpled to the floor at his feet. She began to sob uncontrollably, gasping for breath. Darren pulled her into his lap. "Easy now darling. That was the worst of it. All you have to do in the future to avoid a repetition is to watch your mouth." He rubbed her back until her breathing returned to normal. "For the next three days, I will punish you whenever you do anything that I think is disrespectful or rude. Sometimes it might just be a single spank, but at other times, if I think it is warranted, you will be punished more severely. I am not simply training you, but myself as well."
"Yourself ? I don’t understand," Amanda peered up at him.
"Yes. I need to train myself to be consistent. That means I need to become much more sensitive to you, and help you curb your temper before it gets you in trouble. I need to train myself to punish you swiftly and firmly every time you forget yourself. After the three days are done, you will know what kind of behavior I expect from my wife, and you will know what you can expect if I don’t get it. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes. Where ever did you acquire this notion of...of...training?"
"Ah that is too long a story to get into tonight, but I promise you Mandy mine, that I will tell you the whole of it sometime during the next three days.
Alright?"
"If you say so , dear," Amanda snuggled deeper into his arms.
"There! You see how effective it is already?" Darren laughed as he hugged his weary wife closer to his heart.
THE END...OR THE BEGINNING!
Amanda blinked when a bright shaft of sunlight peeped through the dark drapes in her husband’s bedroom. Not yet fully awake, she flipped over onto her back, let out a startled gasp, and shifted quickly to her side. Her bottom was decidedly tender. She reached a cautious hand behind her and gently ran her palm down her bottom, wincing each time her hand encountered a welt.
Now, fully awake, she blushed as she recalled last night and her maiden journey across her husband’s knee.
She remembered that the spanking hurt and that Darren had comforted her and that he’d made love to her sweetly and thoroughly. She blushed even more and tried to peek through her half-closed eyelids to see if Darren was awake.
She wasn’t sure she could face him yet this morning.
"It’s no use to play possum, my love. I knew you were wide awake as soon as I heard you gasp," Darren said. He smiled at her knowingly.
"Don’t you smirk at me, Darren Stone! I don’t think it is at all chivalrous for you to be amused at my discomfort!"
"What amused me my dearest Amanda, was not your discomfort, but your reaction to it. I could read every emotion on your face as if it was the front page of the morning Times."
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"And what pray tell did you ‘read’?"
"Well," Darren sat up in the bed and rested his back against the headboard.
"First, I saw confusion, but that didn’t last very long. Next you blushed. I’m curious, was it remembering your spanking or our lovemaking which turned you such a lovely shade of pink?"
Amanda turned from pink to an even brighter shade of red and Darren laughed. He reached out and pulled her close to him reveling in the softness of her bright red hair and her yielding body as she cuddled beneath his arm. "No matter. You needn’t share all your secrets with me."
"How very gracious of you." Amanda was getting annoyed again.