by Jane Henry
He'd wondered. What would it feel like if it wasn't just a joke? What would it really feel like to haul her over his lap and spank her?
It wasn't just the raw beauty of their nudity that caused him to get hard. There was more to it.
Power. Implicit trust. An earthy sort of eroticism. Vulnerability.
He wanted that from Meredith.
As time went on, and they'd continued their facade, they'd chat online late into the night, and she'd opened up to him. She started dropping hints that she wanted to try out this submission thing. Finally, he took the bait. He was ready. He'd read about being a Dom. He'd spent hours going through it all with Winston, who'd made him realize all he had to do was tap into his natural ability to lead. He'd always been a dominant sort of guy. He just had to hone those traits.
The night she told him she was available—without knowing she was actually communicating with her husband—he'd been furious. It was all he could do to keep himself from storming into the room and confronting her. But he'd made himself stop. He knew to fully embrace his role as Dom, self mastery was the rule. No blustering and losing his temper. If Paolo were to exercise his authority over Meredith, he had to exercise self control over himself first.
So he'd waited. When the time came, he found, to his surprise, pulling her over his lap to spank her felt almost natural. He'd gone over it in his head so many times, he was ready and hell, but she'd earned it. He'd signed on as her Dom, and part of the job of a Dom was administering punishment when necessary. He knew he needed to punish her.
He'd thought about using something. Could he take his belt to her? Did she want him to? Other Doms used paddles, and straps, and other shit he didn't even recognize or want to. He wanted her to know he meant business, but they were new to this. He knew he could spank her ass thoroughly without using anything. Not yet, anyway.
Still, he had to push aside the doubt that threatened to make him lose his shit. When she cried out, he was tempted to stop, to let her off after just a few sharp swats, but something inside him told him no, she needed this from him, and part of him wasn't anywhere near ready to stop. She needed to be punished, and he meant to follow through until he'd done his job. He'd battled the arousal that pulsed through him as her ass grew red under his hand. He'd battled the desire to flip her over and take her as he wielded his power over her.
He knew when he'd done his job. He hadn't decided on how hard or how long he'd spank her. He just knew, she'd been punished thoroughly. She'd had enough. He'd made his point. And he knew his own anger toward her was gone.
He realized Meredith had asked him a question.
"I'm sorry, baby, what was that?"
"Can I get you more coffee?" she asked, in a meek, subdued voice. He hadn't really wanted more coffee, but there was something about the way she asked that made him nod his head. She wanted to do something for him. Hell, what was one more cup of coffee? She leapt up from the table to fill his empty cup. When she brought it back to him, he took the steaming mug from her hand, placed it on the table, and as she turned to the dishes, he hooked a finger through the belt loop on her jeans, stopping her short.
She turned to him in surprise, giggling, and with another sharp yank, he pulled her onto his lap.
"Ohhh, Paolo, your legs, honey, I'll squash you! Let me go, I'll…"
He pulled her closer to him, rolled her over, and landed a sharp swat to her ass.
"I'll decide what will squash me and what won't," he said.
He watched her reaction. A soft flush crept on her cheek, and she nodded. He held her tight, pulled up against him, and as he nuzzled her soft silvery hair, he felt himself grow hard again. His mouth traveled to her neck, and she moaned softly as he kissed her right above her collarbone. He had power over her, and he fully intended on wielding that power. He lifted his mouth to her ear and whispered in a low, stern voice. No suggesting, or gentle asking. All command. "You go put those dishes away now. When you're done, come to the bedroom."
She swallowed, the flush creeping to her neck, as she squirmed in his lap. Hell, but she was hot when she flushed like that.
He moved his hand to the nape of her neck and fisted her hair in his hand. He loved the feel of the soft curls in his hand, and how her breath came in labored gasps as he gave a slow, steady tug. He kept his mouth next to her ear, speaking in a low rumble. He watched with pleasure as he saw her nipples harden beneath the thin blouse she wore. It was all he could do to keep from smiling. She was responding to his every move exactly the way he intended. But no, he needed to maintain the stern command of the situation. "Don't be late," he insisted. "It's time to discuss your rules. Do you understand?"
Her eyes wide, she nodded. "Yes, sir."
Yes, sir. He wasn't too crazy about the 'sir' thing at first, and the first few times she'd texted or messaged it to him, he felt odd about it. But as he grew accustomed to it, he felt the same way about her 'Yes, sir' as he did about the idea of her kneeling, or stretched out over his lap. It made him fucking hard.
He left her cleaning up the kitchen, as he made his way to their bedroom. He wasn't exactly sure what they'd do next. Hell, he was flying by the seat of his pants here. But he knew if wielding his dominance over her made her melt like that, he'd do everything in his power to keep her there.
Chapter Ten
Meredith cleaned the kitchen rapidly as her mind plagued her with questions. Did he already know what he was going to ask of her? Had he thought this through? Would he want to write it all down and have... what did some people do... a contract? She frowned.
What if she didn't like the rules? What if she didn't agree?
She opened the dishwasher and stacked the dishes in haphazardly, focused on the discussion they'd just had. She stood, staring at the dishtowel in her hands as she asked herself one more time, Why do I want this?
She remembered what it felt like to be forgiven, dommed into obedience, laying flush against his side with his forgiveness and protection over her like a blanket. She kept thinking of the night before. How he'd told her she'd be punished. How he'd told her forgiveness lay over his knee. The way it felt when her belly hit his knee and his hand came down in punishment on her naked skin. She realized her breath was coming in labored gasps, and she realized she was working herself into a frenzy again.
Shit, this was hot.
But was hot enough? What would happen once the novelty wore off? She stood, twisting the dish towel in her hand, worrying her lip as she contemplated what would happen next. With a start, she remembered what he'd said before he left the kitchen.
Don't be late.
Shoving all doubt behind her, she trotted down the hall toward him, reassuring herself. This wasn't a stranger. This wasn't some man she didn't know.
This was Paolo.
This was the man she'd pledged her life to. This was the man she'd raised a child with. If there was anyone she could trust, it was him.
When she pushed the door to the bedroom open, Paolo sat on the edge of the bed. His hands lay folded in his lap, his knees spread apart. Her pulse spiked as she drew closer, remembering how those hands had draped her over his lap the night before. He raised his eyebrows with a slight frown. She felt a small shiver course through her.
"I wondered if I'd have to come and get you," he said. She looked down.
"Sorry," she mumbled, as she came to his side. "I just... was going through things in my mind, and I got a little distracted," she admitted. He nodded as she stood in front of him, unsure of what to do with herself.
"Kneel down, Meredith," he murmured. She knelt quickly, her knees hitting the hardwood floor with a crack. She winced, and he frowned.
"Today we go get some throw rugs for this room," he said. She nodded. She saw a twinkle in his eyes as he leaned closer to her. "From here on in, you'll be spending a lot of time on your knees."
She gave a nervous giggle. What did that mean? Kneeling in obedience? No, there was more to it than that. Her eyes fell on the b
ulge between his legs and she squirmed. She never had enjoyed doing... that to him. She couldn't even think the words. It was too weird and uncomfortable, and made her feel like awkward. Would he make her? But as her eyes went back to his, again she felt the urge to please him. She wanted to hear him praise her. She yearned for the warmth of good girl to spread over her like sunlight, warming her to the tips of her fingers. She swallowed, and her eyes went down to his lap again.
"Meredith." She jumped, as his voice had grown stern again. She looked back up. He was frowning again. What had she done? His eyes narrowed, he reached for her chin and tipped her face up to his. She swallowed. There was something so commanding about the way he took her chin in his hands. She felt as if she could quiet the churning of her mind, at the gentle but decided focus of her gaze on him. It was just them, just the two of them, and nothing else mattered. She felt tears prick the back of her eyes as his chocolate-brown eyes stared into hers.
"You're doing it again," he whispered.
"Doing what?" she whispered back.
"Having a conversation in your mind, without letting me in." She nodded at the stern edge in his voice.
"What's going on in your mind, baby?" he asked. She looked away, but a sharp tug of his hand on her chin brought her eyes back to his. She didn't want to tell him, but she doubted she would get away with hiding her fears.
"I..." she began, shifting as she said the words. "I... was. Well, when you... said I'd be on my knees... I just." She paused. She couldn't say it. But another glance in his eyes reminded her she had to. "I've never been very good at... that... other thing people do on their knees. I really suck at it."
She jumped as he dropped her chin and laughed out loud, a deep, rumbling laugh she hadn't heard in so long, his dark eyes merry and twinkling.
"What?" she said, smiling herself, despite her embarrassment, but then it dawned on her and she covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. "No pun intended," she said, as she giggled to herself. Still laughing, he reached both his hands out and placed them on either side of her face.
"Baby, there are a few things that I think will help keep you in your place," he said. She sobered as her mind balked at the phrase keep you in your place but her body betrayed her, and she felt arousal at the thought of being submitted to him. "And I mean to do everything I can to keep you there."
What were the things he'd do to keep her in her place? She nodded, as her mouth grew dry and she squirmed at the thought of being over his lap for a spanking again. He continued talking. "But we'll take it step by step, and you'll talk to me. Got it? In fact, that's going to be your first rule. If you've got any doubts, you come to me. You don't spin them around in your mind like you do, and make up my mind for me, or decide what I think and feel. You come to me. Am I clear?"
She nodded, but she felt the cold prickle of fear creep up as she thought how often she did this, how often she spun things in the quiet of her mind, without even realizing she was doing it. Since he'd been injured in the accident a few months ago, her tendency to mull things over alone had become habitual. Her eyes dipped down to the scruff of his beard, at the speckling of gray around his mouth and lips, but her eyes widened as he tipped her face to him again.
His dark eyes glittered dangerously. "You're doing it now."
Doing what? This was going to be harder than she thought.
"Tell me," he ordered.
Oh.
Given no choice, she decided to spill everything, with no thought to how it sounded, and let the cards fall where they may. "I... I'm afraid I'll do it without realizing I'm doing it," she said, and as she spoke, she felt it easier to explain her fear. "I'm just afraid I'll do it all the time, twist things in my mind, and end up punished for it." She swallowed. It was the first time she'd said that... punished... in front of Paolo. Somehow, it made it all more real.
He nodded, his eyes softening. "Very good," he said. "See, you did exactly what I wanted you to do."
Her brows furrowed. "I did?"
"Yes," he said. "You told me what you were thinking about when I asked you. Look, baby, I'm not expecting perfection. I know it's hard for you to open up. It always has been, but it's something you need to learn to do." She nodded as he reached for her hands. "How can I help you through things if I don't know what's going on in that mind of yours?"
She nodded as she felt a warmth of appreciation for this new side of her husband. How could he?
Up until recently, she didn't know he even wanted to.
"Meredith, I won't punish you for things you can't help, or things that are a habit." He paused. "Yet."
Her pulse spiked again.
"But I will punish you for deliberately holding back from me. Is that clear?"
She nodded, swallowing against the lump in her throat. She felt the words I will punish you between her legs.
"Say it again," she whispered, then quickly amended her request. "Please. Sir?" He smiled.
"Say what again?" he asked.
Emboldened by the desire to hear him say it again, she leaned closer to him, pleading.
"That you'll... punish me... if I'm bad."
As realization dawned on him, heat flared in his eyes as he reached his hand to the back of her neck and drew her ear close to his mouth. "I will punish you if you disobey me," he whispered in a low, guttural voice. "I will strip your clothes off, pull you over my lap, and spank your ass until you beg me to stop. Do you understand me?"
She nodded, closing her eyes as arousal pulsed through her so sharply, she felt dizzy. "Yes, sir," she whispered.
"Will you do what I tell you?" he asked. His voice dropped an octave as he leaned closer. "Or do I need to give you a spanking?" She swallowed.
"I'll obey you," she whispered.
"Good girl," he whispered, and as she warmed at his praise, her eyes fell on the bulge of his pants again, and she felt, to her surprise, the overwhelming desire to take him into her mouth, to please him, to give him a taste of the same consuming pleasure his dominance gave her. She lifted her eyes to his.
"May I?" she whispered. A slow smile spread over his face. But to her shock, he shook his head.
"Not now," he said. "But you'll get your chance."
She frowned, disappointed, but sat up at the sound of his sharp reprimand.
"No pouting," he said. She nodded. "Before we do anything else, we need to go over your rules, and I want to be on my game when we do this. Got it?"
She looked back up at him. "Yes, sir." He nodded, and his voice softened.
"I don't want to overwhelm you," he said as he sat back and folded his arms. "So we'll start with just some basic expectations. I've already made it clear you're to eat regularly. That's not changing. I understand that occasionally things come up and you need to sometimes eat on the fly, but I want you to take the steps to make sure you're prepared. I don't care if you keep granola bars in the car, whatever you need to do, but you're eating regular meals. Understood?" She nodded.
"Got it." He raised his eyebrows. "Yes, sir," she stammered. Shit, this was going to be tough.
"Second, you'll obey me. No talking back or contradicting me. No disobedience. You do what I say." She felt it again, the stirring of the questions in her mind, the desire to push back against being told what to do, muddled with the attraction to his dominance. She nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"And the last one. You bring your thoughts and worries to me. No harboring things and spinning them in your mind. That's a big one, but I'll help you with it. Am I clear?”
She nodded. "Yep." She yelped as he leaned over, bent her across his leg, and gave her a sharp, stinging swat.
"Try that again.”
"Yes, sir!" she fairly shouted, as both shame and arousal pulsed through her at the same time. He released her, and she gazed back up at him. He narrowed his eyes and nodded thoughtfully.
"Eventually, we'll do some training sessions," he said. Her eyes grew wide.
Shit, he was serious.
But his eyes softened at her look of fear, and he leaned over to her.
"Do you trust me, baby?" he whispered. She nodded.
"I do, Paolo," she responded. "I do, I promise." She couldn't do this with him if she didn't trust him, of that she was absolutely certain, but she couldn't help wondering. What else did he have planned for her? How long had he been thinking this out? Did he have a whole plan in his mind? A strategy?
And what the hell was a training session?
"Meredith," he warned. Her eyes widened.
"I was just... wondering what else you have planned for me," she said. He smiled.
"Good job telling me," he said. "But as for your answer, that's for me to know and you to find out. Now go lock the door."
***
Paolo watched as Meredith locked the door. He knew they were alone in the house, and the door in the front and side were all locked. Although Meredith wasn't always good about making sure they were locked up well, he always did. He'd have to make sure she did as well. Eventually. But he knew that making her get up off her knees, cross the room, and slide the lock in place would cause her to have a bit of trepidation.
Unbeknownst to Meredith, he'd spent hours thinking of how he'd do this. It had all begun on the forum, when his eyes were awakened for the first time to the dynamic that lay before him. He suspected she never would've had the courage to tell him how she felt face to face—at least not when she was still in that place of self-protection after the accident—but a few conversations in the chat room, and he began to see a different side of his wife.
At first, he'd been turned off by the thought of punishing her. They'd raised their child, and he had no interest whatsoever in treating his wife like one. But as he gave it more thought, he wondered. What was it about being punished she really desired? He still hadn't quite figured out why she desired rules and consequences, but as he'd tested it out, he'd found it a natural fit. Hell, the way her eyes went half-lidded and she asked him to tell her again that he'd punish her... as the soft flush of her cheeks and labored breathing gave her away when he whispered spanking… he knew one thing was for sure. It was an absolute turn on to her.