by Maren Smith
“Sit down, please, and don’t touch anything,” Grant ordered, pointing to her bed as they entered the room. He didn’t seem to need any help as he began pulling out her things and going through them. One by one, piece by piece, he unfolded and refolded her clothes neatly and methodically. Molly wondered idly if he’d done this kind of thing before. What kind of training does one get before they become the Resident Spanker at a BDSM University?
Even though she had left everything incriminating in her car, she couldn’t help but be worried he would find something he didn’t like. Then what would happen?
“Master Derek has informed me that you will not be able to pass a drug screening because of frequent use so I will skip that step for a little while, but be advised, you will be tested randomly in the future and you will be subject to random searches until you are able to prove yourself. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.” She squirmed under his disapproving gaze. He must have thought horrible things about her. She didn’t blame him. She hadn’t been the most stand up student, but she was a good person and she was trying to change.
The pressure of her anxiety built in her chest and she had to remind herself to keep breathing as Grant went back to his ridiculously slow inspection of her belongings.
By the time he was finished, she thought she would explode. She didn’t even hear the last thing he said before finally leaving her alone. All she could think about was getting to her car and getting a hit to take the edge off.
She waited a few minutes to make sure he really had left before sneaking out of her room and running to her car. Just a little bit, she promised herself as she got in and locked the doors.
Reaching under her seat, she grabbed a small pink pencil case and withdrew one of the four thinly rolled joints she had brought with her and a miniature lime green lighter. Glancing around the small parking lot to make sure there was no one milling around, she leaned back in the seat and lit the tip of the joint, feeling a small surge of satisfaction as the thin paper ignited. She brought it to her lips and drew deeply, holding her breath as her lungs filled with the pungent smoke, and when she could hold it no longer, she exhaled, filling her small car with a cloud of smoke. Shit. She was going to hot box this bitch in no time, but she couldn’t risk rolling down a window and having someone come outside and smell it. She took one more hit, the same as the first, and felt her tension and anxiety begin to fade away as the drugs worked their magic. She sat in her smoke cloud with a silly grin on her face for a few more minutes before putting out the joint, and dropping it and the lighter back into her stash bag, slipping the whole thing back under the seat. There really was no harm in a hit or two every so often to manage her nerves, she told herself. And there were ways to pass a drug test.
Finally feeling relaxed, Molly decided to take a walk around the Ranch. The sun was high in the sky and the warm breeze blew her hair. She knew there were stables and a lake on the property, among other things. There was plenty to look at to keep her busy until dinner. Then she could eat and sleep. Sleep sounded like the best plan. Her body felt floaty and her eyelids felt heavy as she strolled around the property.
She managed to find the lake without too much trouble, but she was exhausted. Deciding to rest, she laid down under a huge tree near the water and promptly fell asleep.
Chapter Three
“Molly! Molly!” A distant, sexy voice invaded her dreams. She turned toward the sound, but her eyes wouldn’t open. She didn’t need them to; visions of Grant coming to meet her by the lake filled her thoughts. Maybe they could go skinny-dipping.
“Molly!” Grant’s voice was closer and sounded a little panicked and then the ground started to shake under her.
“Whoa, what’s happening?” She threw her arms out to the side to brace herself as she forced her eyes open and looked around. “Is it an earthquake?” she asked when her eyes settled on Grant, who was kneeling next to her.
“There’s no earthquake, that was me.” He didn’t look or sound very happy. Fine, she would let him be grumpy, but she was going back to her nap.
“That was you? You walk like an elephant.” She fell back down and threw her arm over her eyes. “Five more minutes.”
“Get up right now, young lady. You’re in more trouble than you can even imagine.”
“Oooo, you’re so serious with your big scary Daddy voice. It's kind of a turn on.” She giggled.
“I’m going to give you until the count of three to stand your naughty little butt up and walk back to the dorms with me. If you don’t, I will haul you over my knee and spank your ass right here. One.”
Molly’s cloudy brain didn’t even have time to process what he said before he was already at three.
“Wait, wait.” Molly put up her hands in a placating manner trying to plead for more time to explain as he sat down next to her and began to pull her onto his lap. “You talked so fast and three wasn’t enough! I needed more time,” she explained. Her voice and explanation sounded funny even to her.
“I’m not talking fast,” he assured her, pulling her down over his knee and smacking her butt. “I told you exactly what was going to happen and I gave you plenty of time. Maybe if you weren’t higher than a kite, you would have been able to follow directions.”
He laid down a volley of six swats to each cheek. “Now are you ready to listen?”
“I’m not sure, that feels kind of good.” Molly wiggled her butt trying to get him to continue.
Grant did not seem amused. “That’s quite enough. We’re going to see Derek, now.” Sliding her off his lap, he stood up and scooped her into his arms.
“This is nice.” Molly sighed, laying her head on his chest as he stalked across the field. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been carried. She really needed to do this more often. It was a good way to travel. “Is Derek going to spank me like that too?” she asked, not bothering to keep the hopeful tone out of her voice.
“If you’re lucky,” Grant grumbled.
“I’m not a very lucky person by nature,” she informed him as she closed her eyes and let the rocking movement of his steps lull her back to sleep.
A delicious and spicy smell in the air woke Molly.
“What is that?” she asked without opening her eyes.
“Cacio e pepe,” Grant’s sexy voice answered.
“What is casio and peepee?” She giggled as she tried to mimic his words.
“Cacio e pepe,” he repeated, “is a cheese and black pepper pasta. Open your eyes and sit up so you can eat, please.”
“You’re a lot cuter when you use your manners, you know?” Molly slowly worked her eyes open. “I mean, you’re dead sexy with your hardcore bossy Daddy thing, but it's good to know you can actually ask nicely.”
Grant laughed at that last one, and she pushed herself up into a sitting position so she could take in the sound fully.
“Wow. You’re pretty.” She swooned.
“You are something else, I’ll give you that. Here, eat.” He held up a fork wrapped in thin pasta noodles.
“Back to bossy edicts so soon?” she asked as she accepted the bite. “Oh my gawd, that’s good,” she moaned, chewing the food.
“Good, I want you to eat as much as you can and then we’ll get you into the shower.”
“Why?” she asked around another mouthful.
“To help sober you up.”
“Pasta is going to sober me up? That’s a new one.”
“It’s not the pasta, it's the black peppercorns. Just eat.” He continued to feed her until every noodle had disappeared from the plate. “Are you still hungry?”
“I could go for some tropical skittles right about now.”
“That can wait. Shower time.” He stood up and held out his hand to her.
“Why are you doing this? Just leave me in my room and let me sleep. I’ll stop being high someday.”
“Someday, huh?” Grant smiled and shook his head.
“You have a n
ice smile, but seriously, why are you going to all this trouble?”
“It’s my job.”
“Oh.” Whatever answer she had been hoping for, that wasn’t it. “Well, I really don’t need your help,” she said, stubbornly, as he took her hand and led her to a bathroom.
“You need something,” he mumbled, turning on the water. “I’m going to give you some privacy to take care of your shower, but if you need me, I’ll be right outside the door.”
“Don’t you want to get in with me?” she offered, slowly removing her shirt. She’d show him she could be more than just his job.
“Ask me again when you’re not smashed.” He backed out of the bathroom quickly and closed the door behind him.
“Well fuck,” Molly cursed as she finished undressing and got under the warm spray of the water. It felt amazing and between the full stomach and the rhythmic pelting of the water against her skin, her brain began to defog a little. She wished she would have learned these tricks before, then maybe she could have actually made it to some of her classes and she wouldn’t have flunked out.
Unfortunately, with the clear head came the guilt and realization of how badly she’d messed up… again.
She’d just gotten to the Ranch, and she was already ruining her chances of success. It was probably a good thing she hadn’t unpacked because they were bound to kick her ass out.
Molly stood under the water wishing she could just disappear. Maybe she would just leave before they could ask her to. That would be a lot less mortifying and save everyone some time.
After turning off the water, she grabbed a towel she assumed Grant had left for her. As she dried herself, she looked around for the first time since she’d woken up. This was not her bathroom. She hadn’t spent much time there yet, but this definitely was not it. Wrapping the towel around her, she tiptoed to the door that Grant left open a crack, and peeked out.
Her eyes instantly found Grant, sitting in an armchair reading. She didn’t have an armchair in her room. This had to be his room. In a panic, she closed the door the rest of the way and locked it.
She was naked in a strange man’s room. A man who had already threatened to spank her, a man that was so physically perfect he should be a model. Hell, he was already showing up in her dreams, well her drug induced dreams at least. This was not good.
“Molly, are you okay?” Grant's voice was laced with concern.
“No,” she answered, feeling like she was going to be sick.
The door handle jiggled, making her jump away like it was going to come to life and bite her.
“Unlock the door.”
“No.”
“Molly, unlock it now. I’m here to help.”
“No.” She couldn’t say anything else. She just needed him to go away, but where would he go? This was his space. She needed to be the one to leave.
Tightening the towel around her, she flung the door open and tried to race from the room. She definitely underestimated Grant’s size and speed because she didn’t make it two steps before his arm was around her waist and he was pulling her into his chest.
“Whoa, little runaway. Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home. I can’t stay here.” She fought with all her might to get away, but it was no use, she wasn’t getting anywhere. “Let me go!” she screamed.
“Not on your life.” Grant answered calmly. “Now just calm down.”
“I can't. I need to leave. I need to go, now. I need to leave.” She knew she was saying the same things over and over, but she couldn’t help it. She was in full on panic mode.
“Molly, calm down. I need you to listen to me. If you calm down, I will let you go, but you are not leaving until we have talked. I can’t allow it.”
“Why? Who cares? I just need to go away from everyone and realize I’m an epic loser who will never amount to anything. Life will be so much better. I’ll just stop trying. I’m not worthy of success.” Her voice cracked and tears burnt the backs of her eyes. It wouldn’t be long before she fell apart completely.
Kicking her legs, she attempted to kick Grant, but he held her in a way that made it impossible, so she went for the next best thing. Leaning her head down, she sank her teeth into his forearm.
“Ouch!” he yelled, letting go long enough for her to get away, but not long enough for her to make it out of the room. “Oh, little girl. You just made a grave mistake,” he informed her as he picked her up and took her into another room. His bedroom, she belatedly realized when he tossed her onto the bed and pinned her with his body. She was suddenly aware that she was naked. Where had her towel gone?
“Calm down or I will tie you to this bed and then you can fight until you tire yourself out.”
Fueled by fear, anxiety, anger, frustration and something she couldn’t identify at the time, she looked him square in the face and spit at him.
“Suit yourself.” Flipping her onto her belly, he wrenched her arms behind her back. He wasn’t rough enough to cause pain, but it definitely was an uncomfortable position. She could hear him unbuckling his belt and the fear was too much to handle. All the fight left her body and she collapsed completely. Pressing her face into the rumpled blanked, she began to cry.
After wrapping her wrists with the belt, Grant removed his body from hers. She felt the bed sag next to her before she was back in his arms again. This time, she turned into his comfort and cried out all of her feelings on his chest.
“I’m s-so s-s-sorry.” She hiccupped as she got some control back.
“Shh, no more talking for now. Just relax. Are you going to try to punch me if I let your hands go?”
“N-no.”
“Okay then. I’m taking off the restraints, but you are not allowed to move. Do you understand me?”
“Y-yes S-sir.”
“Good girl.” He made quick work of removing the belt and then laid back down next to her. “Rest, sweet girl. We will figure everything out tomorrow. I promise.”
For some reason she believed him, or maybe she was just too exhausted to do anything else. Closing her eyes, she breathed in his scent, wishing he was holding her in bed for a whole different reason, but content to just pretend for a little bit.
Chapter Four
Molly woke up in bed by herself. Her head pounded and her entire body ached with physical exertion. She felt like she’d been hit by a bus. Unfortunately, she remembered exactly what had happened. The sun shone through the curtains even though they were drawn shut. She had no idea what time or day it was and short of assuming she was in Grant’s room, she had no freakin’ clue where that room was or how to get back to her own room from here.
“Good morning.” Grant came into the room carrying a glass of water and a bottle of pills. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty crummy and thoroughly mortified.” She tugged the covers all the way up to her chin.
“That’s to be expected. Here. Drink some water and take some ibuprofen.”
“Thank you.” She reached one arm out from under the covers and took the glass from his hands. Putting it to her lips, she downed the whole thing in one gulp. Her mouth felt as if she’d spent the whole night chewing on cotton.
“Stay here. I’ll get more.” He chuckled, handing her a few pills and leaving the room again.
If her mouth wasn’t so dry she could have taken them without a problem, but that was not the case this morning. Thinking back to the day before, she tried to figure out what had gone so terribly wrong. She’d never had this strong of a reaction after getting high before. And she usually smoked way more than she had yesterday. She had been trying to be good. And it couldn’t have been the weed because it was the same stuff she’d had for weeks.
She didn’t know what it was, but in that moment she decided she was done. Completely. No more sneaking hits here or there, no more excuses. This was a problem she needed to fix now or it would continue to get worse.
“Here you go.” Grant returned with a full glass and a bo
ttle this time.
“Thank you.” She popped the pills in her mouth and downed the second glass.
Grant sat down on the side of the bed. “We have some things to discuss. Would you like to do it now or after you’ve eaten?”
“I’m not very hungry,” she lied. She was starving. “But also, I know what you’re going to say and you really don’t need to say it. I know I can’t stay here.”
“What?” Grant asked with genuine confusion.
“I broke the rules. I wasn’t even here a couple hours and I couldn’t manage to keep my habit under control. I know I’m getting kicked out. I really appreciate you taking care of me though.” She tried to get up before she remembered she was still naked. “Where are my clothes?”
“You aren’t going anywhere, little one. I think you have misunderstood how things work around here. When you break rules at Rawhide Ranch, we do not kick you out. We have a different way of handling naughty little girls here.”
She knew exactly what he was referring to but she asked anyway, just to be sure. “You do?”
“No matter what happened in your life to get you to the Ranch, we all have one thing in common, the need for discipline. Whether you're dishing it out or submitting to it, discipline remains that underlying commonality.”
“That makes sense, but I fucked up so bad. I don’t even deserve--”
Grant held up his hand, halting her words. “First, do not cuss in my home or in earshot of any Dominant on this Ranch. It will get you a one-way ticket to a red bottom or a mouth full of soap, depending on who you cross,” he warned.
“What if I cross you?”
“Me? I like a combination of both.”
Molly shrunk down into the bed, holding the covers tight just below her chin.