Jeoff pulled his truck next to hers in the driveway, exited, and walked with determination in her direction. Wordlessly, he opened the car door, unbuckled her seatbelt, and held out his hand for her to take. Rolling her eyes, Piper slid from her seat, ignoring the offered hand.
"An attitude is not going to be of benefit to you right now, Pips. Let's take a little walk."
"I don't want to walk anywhere. Especially with you." Piper crossed her arms stubbornly.
"I don't recall giving you an option. Stay right here while I get a pruner."
Pruner? Piper's mouth silently repeated the word. She felt a layer of sweat form on her forehead, despite the crisp, cold air. Was he serious about this birch thing? No! He couldn't be! Piper's doubts were quickly erased as Jeoff placed the tool in her hand and took hold of her wrist in a gentle grip. He led her down the path towards the small frozen lake and pointed out several bare, red-barked trees.
"Those are water birches. They are very effective, since they tend to hold a lot of moisture in their branches. This copse is well protected from the elements, so we should find some nice switches to use."
"I am not amused, Jeoff."
"Do you see me laughing? We are looking for some fairly straight, thin branches like this one. Start gathering and then I will show you how to clean it. And Piper?"
"Whut?"
"If I see you messing around, I will pull those jeans down to your ankles and use a switch on you from where you stand. It is very cold out, so I assure you that feeling anything upon your bare bottom will be most unpleasant."
Piper glared at him, wisely held back her retort, and stomped her foot. Her stomach rolled as Jeoff reached easily about his head to slice the switches from the higher branches, and then whipped the slender twigs in the air to determine if the swish sound was sufficient to add to her torment. Jeoff snapped his fingers and pointed to a tree, sending her to cut the birch switches herself.
"This is like tying your own noose. There has got to be a law against cruel and unusual punishment of prisoners." Piper grumbled loudly.
"There is, but that law does not apply to naughty subbies who get into fist fights and then disobey their Doms about going home."
"It's a full moon. I am not responsible for my actions."
"Good try. Keep cutting."
"I don't like you very much right now," Piper stated. "In fact, I think you are getting nothing but a lump of coal for Christmas."
"I'll survive."
"This isn't fair. You don't have to be such an ass about this."
"You do realize that the more you talk, the closer you are to getting into more trouble, right?" Jeoff shook his head. "Hand me that switch."
"What? Why?" Piper's voice rose in panic.
"Mind me. I think you need a few reminders about watching your tongue," he said, quickly stripping the buds from the single length of wood and then bending it to check the flexibility. "Drop your jeans, Piper, and put your hands on that log."
"No! Please!" Piper begged.
"If I have to repeat myself, I will add four more to this switch. I don't think you really want to risk feeling even a small bundle against your flesh in this cold."
Piper whimpered fearfully as she lowered her pants to her thighs and reluctantly placed her palms on a fallen log. She held her breath, feeling the wood touch her backside as Jeoff aimed for his target. The loud swish, followed by an agonizing bite, made her bellow in protest. Piper grabbed her lower cheeks and began to jump up and down as though she were standing in a pile of ants.
"Oh my God! That hurts! No! No more!"
"You will receive six stripes. That should give you something to think about while we are waiting for the bundle to brine."
"Brine? What's that? No … OW! Fuck! Ow!!!!" Piper shouted as the switch fell rapidly against her ice-cold posterior.
"Stings a bit, doesn't it? Get back in position, and no rubbing. The longer you take to get this over with, the colder your bottom will get and the more it will hurt."
Piper looked at him pleadingly. "I can't take four more. I'm sorry. No!" she yelped as he stretched his hand for another twig. "I'm moving. See?"
Jeoff shook his head again and pointed to the log. Piper's teeth chattered with cold as she bent her body in half and prepared for the waspish bite of the thin switch.
"OOOWWWWW!" she wailed as he swiftly laid the switch four more times across her shivering buttocks. The second he tossed the switch to the ground, Piper popped to a standing position and yanked up her jeans while managing to simultaneously clutch her bottom and dance around as though on hot coals.
"You are jumping around like a little blonde monkey," he observed. "Gather your bundle so we can get back."
"You can't really use all these at the same time. That is abuse!"
Stillness filled the air as he looked at her with an expression that made her want to hide under a rock. It was 'The Face' that Bruce had warned her about. Piper backed against a rock, her hands frozen in place over her bottom.
"Do you honestly think I abuse you? Answer me," he demanded, with his voice slightly raised above a whisper.
"No, of course not," Piper answered timidly, wrinkling her brow as she rubbed her tender backside. "I'm afraid of what you can do to my ass, but not of you. I know you would never harm me in any way. I just don't like it hurting so much. Why are you so angry? That look in your eyes is scaring me."
The expression melted from his face. "I'm not angry, baby. You just struck one of my chords, and I'm sorry for raising my voice."
"You call that raising your voice? Geesh," Piper bit her lip. "What chord did I strike? I don't want to do it again."
"Come here." He forced her to press snugly against his chest and rested his chin on top of her head. "There are two things that will trigger a reaction from me. The first is an accusation of abuse. The second happens if I am accused of forcing a woman to be dependent on me. Both those things are cultish and neither are part of who I am."
Piper bit her lip and traced the frozen ground with her foot. "I'm sorry. I was just throwing a tantrum. That switching really hurt bad."
"I wish I could say it was the worse you will feel on that bottom today. Pick up those branches and carry them to the house."
"I really don't like this side of you," Piper complained as she followed him up the wooded path and through the pines, their limbs heavy with frozen snow. "I like the cuddly, daddy side that likes ice cream and playing Leggos."
"I enjoy that side of me as well, but I have a very naughty little girl who has earned herself a severe punishment for her behavior. Take those into the woodshed," he directed, pointing towards the small building separate from the garage. "I will be right back."
Piper placed the bundle of branches on a wide wooden bench and glanced around the room. It was immaculate for a woodworking area, with not one speck of sawdust to be seen. Several templates hung on the wall, including hockey sticks and paddles. There were also numerous canes and a leather prison strap. Piper gulped. She did not like this place.
"I see you noticed some of my work. Don't worry; I won't be using any of those on you today. They are too cold and stiff, and I won't risk breaking the skin when I have to discipline you." He handed her a cup of steaming hot tea. "Warm yourself and then we will get started."
Piper could only procrastinate for so long before Jeoff had her smoothing the sharper buds from the branches and trimming away the lower twigs. He gathered the bundle together, turning and twisting the branches so that they all turned inward and provided a crisscrossed network of slender sticks. Piper frowned as he bound the bundle tightly using wire, making a solid handle that held the structure in place. After wrapping the lower portion with electrical tape, he swished it through the air. Piper shivered. This was not going to be good …
"Do you see that tall, narrow barrel in the corner? That is my briner. I have a heavy solution of salt water in there that I use to soak and disinfect my implements. It is very effective
in adding some weight and durability to these branches. I have a heating element that speeds up the process quite nicely."
"Why would you want to do that?" Piper asked, as he inserted the bundle into the unit and tightened the lid.
"Brining makes the branches as hard as whalebone and keeps them flexible, preventing splintering. Generally, I try to stay with fresh branches, but that is not always possible. We must be careful not to let them rot, either. Preparing a good birch bundle is an art that I will be certain to teach you."
"Oh, goody."
Jeoff ignored her response. "Okay, we will resume this visit before you go to bed. I want you over the edge of the bed, bare bottom up and waiting for me, at precisely 9:00."
"I am not going to bed at 9:00. I am not a child with a bedtime."
"You still don't get the idea that arguing with me is not the wisest move, kiddo."
"Jeoff, this is not necessary. I mean …"
"Into the house with you, young lady. This topic is not up for discussion. Abstain from the lip," he said, pressing Piper's lower lip with his finger. "You are absolutely adorable, but it is not going to sway me."
"You are so mean," Piper pouted, walking in front of him and covering her bottom with both hands to prevent an unwanted swat. She heard his chuckle and looked over her shoulder to offer a single, pleading look. His response was his index finger pointing to the main house.
The old German cuckoo clock ticked loudly, its annoying occupant squawking as each hour passed. Piper glared at it. "I hate that thing. It makes me want to get your twelve-gauge out and blow it to pieces."
"You are not blowing up that clock, no matter how obnoxious the damn thing is. It was my mom's."
"I need cuddles," Piper said miserably. It was 8:30, and she felt her trepidation growing by the minute. Jeoff pulled her into his arms and kissed her warmly. "I'm scared," she admitted, with her face buried in his warm chest.
"I know you are. Let's just get this over with. Go to the bedroom."
"It's not 9:00 yet."
"Go. I will be back with the birch in a few minutes. That will give you plenty of time to get into position. Remember what happened the last time you didn't mind me about that. You got a taste of the hairbrush."
Piper trembled as she lowered her jeans to her ankles and bent over the edge of the bed, a pillow under her hips. Her heart pounded at the sound of Jeoff's footsteps nearing the room.
"This brined nicely. I wrapped it in a towel to keep it warm for you. I did not think you would appreciate cold switches across your bottom."
"I won't appreciate any switches, cold or hot, on my bottom," Piper responded snidely, looking over her shoulder.
"You are not making this any easier for either of us, Piper. You need to have your bottom higher in the air."
Piper mumbled a snarky comment as Jeoff tucked a second pillow under her hips, raising her bottom and giving him full view of her pink sweetness. He ran his hand along her flesh, sighing sadly.
"I would much rather make love to you than punish you, baby, but this is a serious issue. Ten."
"Ten! No! You said six earlier."
"You were given six of the switch to jar you out of that attitude you were showing me. This is for fighting and disobeying me. Had you listened, you would have only received three for the fight."
"That's not fair! Jeoff, please …"
"Start counting, honey. I want you to raise your bottom after each stroke and ask for the next one."
"No!"
"Do you want to double this? Answer me." His voice continued to stay patient and low, making Piper tremble again. He was dead serious about this punishment, and nothing would sway him.
"No, Sir," she mumbled, defeated. "Please don't cut me."
"That is never my intent, sweetheart. I will be watching. Ready yourself."
The sound of the bundle cutting through the air did not prepare her for the biting sting that followed as the twigs landed across the span of her raised bottom. She immediately screamed and attempted to slide off the bed.
"Where are you going? We are not done."
"That fucking hurts! No more!"
"Yes, more. This could have been avoided if you had minded me. Back in place with you. Count."
Piper burst into tears as she found herself repositioned over the pillows. The second lash descended and she erupted with a wailing 'two!'. Her hands immediately went to protect her soft flesh.
"Put your hands down, or I will have to bind them. Bottom up," he instructed, tapping her hands with the birch bundle.
"Ow! No more…" she begged. "I can't take it."
"You can take it; you just don't wish to." Jeoff ran his hand across her bottom, looking at it carefully. "You are showing some nice little red welts, but no skin is damaged. Put your hands down."
Piper sobbed as the birch swiftly landed a third and fourth time, the splayed twigs catching her on the backs of the thighs and wrapping around her right hip. Again her hand reached back to stop him. Tsking, Jeoff placed the bundle on the bed, went to the dresser, and removed a soft hemp rope. Soundlessly, he bound her wrists together and tied them to the frame on the opposite edge of the bed. The restraints forced her to balance on her tiptoes, preventing her from lifting her legs, while keeping her bottom stretched nicely before him.
"Since you cannot control yourself, I restrained you. I am not going to risk your hands being injured," he said firmly, ignoring her protests.
"I'll be good! I swear."
"I'm sure you will, but that does not negate what you already did. Six more, Piper. Count them out."
Piper's young, lithe body was stretched across the pillow, and her shapely legs, with her jeans crumpled just below the tender creases of her thighs, presented a delectable site for any man, Dom and vanilla alike. Jeoff's fingers traced the curve that divided her curvaceous posterior, drawing them down to that secret place. Rows of red stripes and speckles crossed her creamy white cheeks, and she quivered under his touch, awaiting further discipline.
Jeoff drew back and raised the birch, delivering another full stroke across her trembling buttocks. Piper called out as the biting twigs left more stripes upon her protruding mounds. Another lash, number eight, brought about a red flush as the individual twigs formed lattice pattern along her once-white globes and upper thighs. Piper's cries turned to bitter weeping as she desperately tried to kick her legs in to the air to relieve her discomfort. Exhausted from her struggles, Piper slumped hopelessly and finally surrendered to her punishment. The ends of the birch broke into tiny pieces as Jeoff administered the final two strokes. He cast the bundle aside and sat next to her on the bed, his hand on her back as she sobbed.
"I'm sorry," Piper wept uncontrollably into the mattress. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"Shh, it's over, baby. It's all over," Jeoff whispered, gently laying his hand upon the hot, swollen cheeks. "Please, don't put me into a situation that I have to repeat that."
"I swear I won't. Please believe me."
"Of course I believe you. There's my best girl," Jeoff cooed as he folded his arms around her shaking body. He placed his left hand on the back of her head and pulled her snugly to his shoulder, allowing her to cry against him as long as she needed.
Piper struggled to calm herself, but the tears would not stop. "I … I can't stop crying," she stammered. "I'm t … trying …"
"Just cry, then. Let it out. You are in a safe place to release whatever you are holding back," he responded, his own voice choking as the anguished cries became deeper. He grabbed a box of tissues from his nightstand and gently dabbed at the unburied side of her face, kissing her head at the same moment.
"Don't let me go," Piper begged. "Don't throw me away."
"You are mine, sweet P. Forever, if you'll have me, quirks and all. I want you as a permanent part of my life."
"What … is it that … what are you saying?" Piper asked, pulling her red face to look up into his gentle eyes.
He kissed the bridg
e of her nose. "I am saying that I want you to be mine forever. I want to marry you."
"Marry me? But why? I mean …" Piper turned her head away from his face and rested her cheek on his shoulder.
"Look at me. Do it," Jeoff ordered softly, waiting for her to obey. "You are beautiful, intelligent, feisty, and the most natural submissive I have ever met. You make me want to be a better person. You bring out a need to protect you that I have never experienced with anyone else. Piper Rose, you make me happy. Even when you misbehave. I want to fill every hour of every day with you . So I am asking you—will you marry me?"
Piper's eyes widened as she studied him. He wanted her? Yes! He honestly did! She swallowed hard as he wiped her face and held the tissue to her nose to blow.
"Well? We don't have to do anything right away."
"Yes." Her whisper was barely audible. "Yes. I want you to be mine, too."
"Then I am about to break a major post-punishment rule. I am going to make love to you. Right here and right now," he announced, stripping off his shirt. "Unless you have an objection."
Piper smiled through her tears. "As you wish."
Her naked body was pressed to the bed, her bottom both stinging horribly and itching tremendously from the brined twigs that had left long, red welts upon her tender nates. Broken pieces of birch rod stuck to her flesh, reminding her of the recent punishment as Jeoff lodged himself possessively into her warm center.
"Wrap your legs around my waist," he ordered hoarsely, taking her deeply with a single stroke. "Hold me inside of you as tight as you can."
He stood with his cock buried inside of her and grabbed both hot buttocks with his hands. Pressing her against the large picture window, he squeezed her aching flesh tightly while pumping her body up and down against the thick, icy pane of glass. Piper groaned, the chill comforting against her hot, sweaty body. Her head tilted back as Jeoff nipped her throat, his strokes becoming more demanding and virile as he filled her to the hilt with his rigid pole. A groan trickled through the air. Piper did not know if it was Jeoff or she who released it. Harder and deeper he rammed his body into hers, lunging until he stiffened and flooded her with his hot, fragrant juices. The ridge of his pulsing cock touched the soft indentation within her and Piper shuddered with wanton abandon, heedless of the joyous shout that filled the room. Her body spasmed, still suspended in Jeoff's strong arms, and she collapsed back against the frozen windowpane.
Piper's Journey (Into Submission 1) Page 17