The Prodigal Bride

by Rayanna Jamison

  She wasn't enjoying this at all, and couldn't see how Beth Anne found it to be anything but awkward and humiliating. Tears filled her eyes, more from the mental anguish she was feeling than from the pain. She had always had a high pain tolerance, but Hiram had almost managed to break through it.

  The next swats caught her lower, on the tender skin where her bottom met her thighs, and she screamed, caught off guard. That broke through her pain barrier! Hiram wasn't spanking as hard, but the swats were rapid and stinging, and had her gasping for air through her tears.

  He paused, and she relaxed thinking he was through, but he held her firmly in place and began to speak. "Sophia, why do you want this job so badly that you were willing to risk a spanking for it?"

  "Oh gee, start with the hard questions," she snapped and was rewarded with a hard swat to her sit spot. "Ouch," she yelled, glaring at him.

  "When you're over my knee is not a good time to have an attitude," he informed her dryly. "I ask you again, why do you want this job so badly?"

  "I don't know, okay? I just need a job and this one seemed perfect. It's something I know how to do, and the hours are perfect, and I really do love Lucy."

  "Well, that's a fair enough reason. I suppose I can understand why you ladies went about it the way you did—not that it makes it okay," he added sharply delivering more stinging slaps to emphasize his point.

  "It's just an awkward situation all around," she agreed through gritted teeth as he continued to spank vigorously over her clothing. "I'll let you out of the contract, Hiram, if you really want me to. It was a dumb idea in the first place."

  "It was," he agreed, stopping abruptly, and helping her into a sitting position. "But I think it was for the best. I know you will do a good job, Sophia. And if you don't, I can always just turn you over my knee and show you the error of your ways. A contract is a contract after all." He joked, feeling bad when she frowned. "Too soon?" he apologized. "Sorry I tend to use humor in uncomfortable situations. It's ironic, given my reputation for a dry and humorless personality, I know."

  Sophia laughed. He actually was quite funny. She remembered again, what she had liked about him. Her bottom was burning and it was making her feel vulnerable. It was funny, just a few minutes ago, she had been angry, and almost convinced he was a monster, but now that it was over, she didn't feel that way at all. She touched his cheek tenderly, then drew her hand back, placing it in her lap, awkwardly.

  "I still owe you an explanation," she reminded him.

  "Yes, well, about that, I was thinking, that maybe the past is better left in the past. I wouldn't want us to say anything today that would make it awkward between us when you came to work tomorrow."

  She traced her finger around a button on his shirt pocket as she considered. She really didn't want to keep it in anymore. This whole day had released a dam of emotions she had kept bottled up far too long, and little by little as the day had worn on she had begun to feel truly free from the burdens of her past.

  "I want to tell you," she said quietly, fingering the button. "It's time, and considering everything, it's almost kind of funny."

  "It's funny?" Hiram was doubtful, but that was understandable.

  "I promise you'll see the humor in it now, even if you didn't back then."

  * * * * *

  "You thought I was abusive?" Hiram's voice was raised, and Sophia shuddered.

  "No, I mean, yes, but… Hiram please calm down and listen." Sophia still sat on his lap, her hand pressed flat against his chest, as if that would stop him from being angry.

  Hiram took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down and listen to Sophia's story without interrupting. He was caught off guard by the emotion he felt as she rehashed their last fateful evening together, and he was forced to look at his actions through new eyes. He must have seemed like a complete ogre to her.

  "Sophia, I… I'm so sorry," he stammered.

  "It's okay Hiram. I'm sure looking back, we both can see things we wish we had done differently."

  He let out a low whistle. "You can say that again! We were both young, and so sure of ourselves. I took it for granted that you took discipline between a husband and wife as a given, just as I had, and just as Lucy had."

  "Yes, well, you know the saying, if I had known then what I know now."

  "You just let me spank you… what's changed? Did you and your husband have a spanking relationship?"

  Sophia tossed her head back and laughed heartily. "God no, Robert would never—I can't even imagine. He was just not a dominant guy. He was a good guy, and we had a good life together, but I can't imagine him spanking anyone." She shook her head emphatically at the thought. "Honestly, that was the first spanking I have had since the last one you gave me."

  Hiram just looked at her blankly, clearly puzzled. "I don't understand then. Why did you agree to that?"

  She smirked. "I knew you were testing me and I have never been one to back down from a challenge. And honestly, after listening to Beth Anne say it helped her, and Lucy say she missed it, and Phoebe act like it was no big deal, I wanted to see what the fuss was about, from a more, shall we say, objective view point this time."

  Hiram frowned at the mention of his wives blasé take on his punishments, and wondered if he should be stricter in the future, then decided against it. "I see. So, how do you feel now, having survived your second spanking as a grown woman?"

  She leaned her head into his chest, seemingly embarrassed at his directness. "I feel okay." She spoke slowly as if she was weighing every word she spoke. "When it was happening, I was angry, and in pain, and I thought maybe I was right before. But when it was over, and you helped me up and pulled me onto your lap, and we started talking, I felt better. In fact, I feel better than I have in a very long time."

  "That's good. It was hard to spank you, it's a fine line to walk even normally, but with our past, and with us not having any relationship beyond a professional one, it was difficult for me too. I didn't much like it, and I don't want to do it again without us having an intimate relationship. I'm not comfortable spanking someone I'm not at least dating, Sophia, it doesn't feel right."

  She was silent for a moment, and he feared he had said too much.

  "Mphhm I wwwhnn yosh tospnnnme" She mumbled incoherently into his shirt, refusing to look at him. Her face was bright red, and… were those tears in her eyes?

  Grabbing her face with his hands, he slowly tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "What was that, hun?" He spoke gently, the term of endearment just slipping out before he could stop himself. She was so sweet and adorable looking the more vulnerable she became.

  "Maybe I want you to spank me!" The words came out in a single breath. Though her face was now level with his, Sophia kept her eyes downcast refusing to look at him.

  Her unexpected outburst sent a sudden wave of emotion through him. The Bishop's words came flooding back, as well as his own heartfelt prayer. Had he not prayed for God to make it irrefutable? And now, here they were, both together, and she had just revealed she wanted more. She was turning his world upside down yet again, and yet this time he didn't mind. He realized with a start, that despite how hard he had tried to bury his feelings over the years, he had never truly stopped loving this woman.

  Suddenly, he wanted more than anything to make Sophia his. Hiram smiled indulgently. "I didn't say I wasn't going to spank you, I said I wasn't going to do it as your employer—but I would love to turn you over my knee and bare your pretty bottom as my wife. If you'll still have me?"

  Sophia gasped, finally looking at him. "Really? You still want to be with me, after everything I put you through? I'm kind of a handful, you know."

  Hiram took that opportunity to squeeze her bottom cheeks cupping them perfectly in his large hands. "Yes, I can see that." He winked at her. "I do love a good handful." He joked, watching her squeal and blush as she wriggled against his hands.

  "Hiram, be serious for a moment!" She playfully swatted at hi
s chest.

  "Okay, my dear. I can be serious. In fact, I'm quite good at it, I'm told," he was still teasing but he released her tender cheeks and took his hands in hers, looking into her eyes. "Sophia, it's true that we've been through a lot, and it's true that this probably wasn't what either of us was expecting when we saw each other on the side of the road only a few weeks ago, but it's clear to me that you are meant for me. Bishop Miller says we are each other's destiny. No matter what happened in the past, we are meant to be together. I was skeptical at first, but I prayed just this morning for God to make the answer clear to me, and then I got home and there you were. And I gave you so many outs, and yet here you still are. Here we still are. We made some mistakes in our past, but it's just made us better and wiser people. All this time, God was preparing us for this day. I know you've been outside the community for a long time, Sophia, and I don't want to rush you into something you're not ready for… but what do you say? Do you think you could see yourself as my wife and your children as a part of our family?"

  Her voice was soft but sure as she replied. "I could, Hiram, I really think I could. But, would you mind if we took it slow for a bit, slower than a regular engagement. There are the kids to think of, and well…" she trailed off laughing. "I didn't come back here intending to integrate back into the plural lifestyle. Heck, I didn't even start today thinking I would end up back in this lifestyle again. I wanted the job so I could get out of Ben's and move into a town nearby." She paused becoming serious again. "But, I do want to be your wife and be a part of your family—eventually."

  "And you understand now that becoming my wife or even agreeing to become my wife in the future means you will be subject to discipline as I see fit? I won't hesitate to turn you over my knee and warm your bottom whenever necessary. However," he clarified, "punishments will be different if we are together, I will be much harsher at times than I was today, and I will spank you on the bare. It will be worse in some ways, but it will be better in many others, that I can promise."

  He took great pleasure in watching her eyes light up and her cheeks flush as she took in his meaning. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean," she said coyly. "Perhaps you should give me a preview."

  He nodded sagely. "Perhaps I should."

  And in one swift move, he flipped her over, and in moments, she was positioned across his lap just the way he wanted her. He rubbed her bottom vigorously, taking pleasure in her soft moans of anticipation before slapping her bottom playfully.

  "You're a little wanton one, aren't you?" he teased her, bringing his hand down to warm her throbbing bottom once more. He took delight in showing her the difference between the cold awkwardness of a spanking between two people with no emotional connection, and one between a couple engaging in a mild punishment session.

  He played around a little before getting serious. She had asked for a preview of what it would really be like, after all.

  "You. Cannot. Tempt. Me." He punctuated each word with a heavy smack to her sit spots until she was squirming in earnest. "I know you've been married before, Sophia, but I don't believe in having the benefits of marriage without a marriage in place and it sure sounded like that's what you were asking me to do." He scolded her while peppering her jeans with a flurry of sharp and stingy swats.

  "Ow, ow, ow! Hiram, stop! That's not what I was doing." She was wiggling all over the place, barely managing to stay put across his knees, and he smiled. Truthfully, he was going very easy on her, and he suspected she knew that.

  "That's not what you were doing? Then, what were you doing?" He was still spanking, landing hard and random swats whenever and wherever he felt the need. Even through her jeans, he could feel the heat radiating off her swollen cheeks.

  "I was just—I was…." He was spanking with vigor at the moment and she was struggling to catch her breath. "I just wanted to see if it would be different than it was earlier," she wailed.

  "I see," he intoned thoughtfully. "And was it?"

  "Yes, very different," she screeched as he landed one last hard swat right across the tops of her thighs.

  "Good." Smiling like the cat that swallowed the canary, he let her up, and kissed her softly.

  Epilogue

  Sophia was standing in Hiram's kitchen peeling sweet potatoes for potato salad for the big End of School Year Potluck that evening. Lucy was sitting in a chair at the kitchen table, keeping her company while she worked on a project at her sewing machine. Zoe and Silas were sitting nearby scribbling in a coloring book.

  "What are you making, Luce?" Sophia asked, her eyes on the pile of potatoes in the sink.

  "Oh just a dress," Lucy's voice was nonchalant. "I figure Phoebe and I will be needing bridesmaid dresses soon."

  Sophia giggled knowingly. "I don't know, I'm wondering if he's ever going to make it official. I appreciate him agreeing to take it slow, but I've been ready for a while."

  They had agreed that Sophia would keep the job helping Lucy throughout the school year, and it had been wonderful. It had given her extra time with Hiram, Lucy, and Phoebe, and given their children time to integrate and bond with each other. Hiram had insisted on paying her, even though she would have happily done it for free. Now she was completely out of debt after paying off the last of Robert's medical bills, buying a new car, and had even been stashing away money for a family vacation after the honeymoon. The school year would officially end in a few minutes and Lucy was doing much better after months of working with her doctors to find a treatment and medication plan that seemed to be working.

  "Are you sure you want to marry him, anyway?" Lucy teased. "He really can be such an ogre sometimes."

  Sophia's bottom tingled at Lucy's words, evidence of Hiram's ogre-ness was lingering on her backside, which was still sore from last night's spanking. She had been running late picking up kids from soccer and various activities and forgotten to lock up behind her. He had given her a good paddling over it, but she didn't mind. She had found everything Beth Anne had told her to be true and discovered that she rather loved the intimacy and security a spanking relationship provided her.

  Of course, he was still spanking her over her clothing, and though she had taken to wearing skirts more often than jeans, it still provided her with a fair amount of protection. They had been completely traditional in their courting, except for the long duration. Sophia was going to miss the added protection of being clothed during a punishment, but she was looking forward to the making up part afterwards lot more.

  She was just finishing the potatoes and transferring them to a pot on the stove when the door swung open, and all six of their combined remaining children burst into the house, laughing and shouting with last day excitement.

  Sophia smiled as she listened to them, they seemed a little more excited even than summer vacation warranted but she chocked it up to being excited about tonight's party.

  She was cleaning up the kitchen counters and getting ready to chop veggies when Levi came bounding into the kitchen with Bobby at his heels. It warmed her heart to see the two of them together and she thanked God every day for the changes Bobby had made this past school year. Levi and Ethan had taken him under their wing and he had thrived. He loved being part of a big family, and was thrilled to have big brothers.

  Levi stepped forward and pulled her into an unexpected hug, and when he pulled away, Bobby was behind him holding a dozen of her favorite yellow roses. He handed them to her ceremoniously. "These are from Daddy Hiram."

  "They are?" Sophia squealed, breathing in their sweet scent, while looking around for Hiram in the sea of children.

  She felt a tap on her shoulder and twirled around. There was Hiram, still in his work suit. He lowered himself to one knee there in the kitchen.

  "Sophia Randall, I would be the happiest man on the planet, if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife…."

  He hesitated and her heart dropped what was going on?

  Hiram cleared his throat, and continued. "Tonight."


  "Tonight? Hiram, what in the world! Have you lost your mind?"

  "I've waited ten years and nine months for this day, Sophia, and I don't want to wait another minute. It's completely up to you, and it doesn't have to be tonight, but can I just point out that everyone we love will already be here, you've had a dress for months, all the kids have their outfits made already, and Bishop Miller's wife has a cake ready to go. You say yes, it gets some flowers and a cake topper. You say no, it's just a cake. No pressure honey. No matter what you say, tonight is going to be one heck of a party."

  Hiram was trying hard to keep his tone from pleading, but she could tell he wanted this so badly. She did too.

  "What do you say? Will you do me the honor of marrying me, tonight?"

  "I thought you'd never ask."

  Rayanna Jamison

  Don’t miss these exciting titles by Rayanna Jamison and Blushing Books!

  Bride Too Soon

  Ebook Offer

  WOULD YOU LIKE A FREE SPANKING STORY EVERY MONTH?

  At http://www.blushingbooks.com, we provide our visitors with a free eBook every single month! That's right, every month we choose an eBook to give to our customers at no charge, both to show our gratitude for your business and to provide a sample of the content we offer.

  Can you read this free eBook on your Kindle? Yes! Once you’re logged onto our site, it’s easy to send a book right to your Kindle.

  Can you read it on your iPad? Yes! Your Kobo? Yes! Your Nook? YES!

  We provide all of our books on BlushingBooks.com in several formats so that you can read our stories on virtually any reader! Membership at BlushingBooks.com is free, so sign up today and get your free story right now!

  DO YOU NEED A TRIP TO THE WOODSHED?