As they made their way into the classroom to prepare for the lesson, Joshua, Savi's father, joined them. "Hey, sorry to bother you two. I know you're busy getting ready for service and all, but there is a little change to today's schedule."
Savi leaned in and kissed her father on the cheek "Good morning Daddy, what's the change? Is it going to be fun or exciting?" Savi questioned her father.
"Well, I just need to borrow Eric today. I already talked to Steph and she is going to help you with your lesson today. I hope that's not too much of a hassle."
With a glance to Eric she replied quickly, "Not a hassle at all, he's all yours."
"One more thing, the service is going to run a little differently today. I know I normally dismiss the elementary kids after worship service, but today I am going to make an announcement after and then dismiss. I just wanted to give you a heads up."
"Sounds good to me." Turning away from her husband and her father, Savi went right back to setting up her lesson for the children.
Eric followed his father-in-law out of the classroom. "Behave yourself Savannah," he whispered in ear as he passed by her.
*****
"Good morning, everyone! What a beautiful fall day God has blessed us with. Wasn't the worship team just wonderful! God is good!" Joshua announced to the congregation
"All the time," the congregation recited back.
"We have a little bit of a change today, a little announcement before we dismiss the little ones to their classrooms. As you all know, our youth pastor for the middle school will be leaving us because he has been called to serve the Lord in another way, in a different location. So, for approximately the last four weeks the deacons, elders and I have been trying to find the best God-fearing man for the job. About two weeks ago, a name came to us and we have been praying about it ever since. Well, yesterday we decided that today would be the day that I would announce the name to you all. We are all pretty excited about this, and I hope you will be too," he said to the parishioners.
Walking away from the podium, Pastor Joshua began to pace back and forth in front of the churchgoers. "Now to this man, you do not have to accept the position. Just know we think you are the right man for the job." Clearing his throat "Eric Matthews, would you please join me up at the pulpit?"
Unsure of exactly what his role would be in announcing the new youth pastor, Eric made his way up to Pastor Joshua. Would he help to pray over the chosen man? Would he read the name from a piece of paper? What was his purpose in all of this?
Pastor Joshua wrapped his arm around Eric shoulders and continued to address the parishioners. "Now, the young man that God has chosen for the job has been attending here for a few short years. But we have never seen someone grow in the Lord so vast and so faithfully. This man has not only learned the way of the Lord, but he has also taken to the church's belief in domestic discipline. He is a great man, a great friend and a great husband, but he is also a one of a kind son-in-law, and he will make a great youth pastor."
Shocked, Eric just stood there in disbelief, "You mean me?"
"Yes, Eric, we mean you." Joshua answered back. "We have prayed about this and you are the answer we received."
Stammering over his words, Eric questioned his father-in-law. "Are you sure I'm the right person for the job? I haven't been trained in the ministry. Are you sure?" Eric was taken aback that they would choose someone like him to lead the youth.
"Don't worry son, we didn't choose you. God did, and he doesn't make mistakes."
"I'm not sure what to say."
"Then why not just say yes? Look at those people, Eric. You have been helping Savi teach some of their children for months now and not one person has ever said a bad thing about you. God chose you to lead the youth and me to lead the congregation. I had no idea what I was doing when I started— I still don't," he said with a wink. "But God gives me my lessons as he will you and don't worry, we won't just throw you to the wolves, there will be some training first."
"Wow, talk about answering prayers. Of course I'll do it!" He loved to help people, and what better way than to help them, then to teach them about the love of God.
The rest of the church service was uneventful. The elementary children were dismissed to Sunday school while the middle and high school children sat through the service. Eric sat in the first row next to Sarah while he listened to his father-in-law preach. The last part of his service ran thru Eric's mind the rest of the day 'and the wife must respect her husband'.
As the service came to an end, the parishioners came up to congratulate Eric on his new position at the church. They all told him how great of a job he would do and how they couldn't have picked a better person for the position. This opportunity had truly been a Godsend. With a permanent position at the church, Eric would now have a steady income. He would be able to work normal hours and know that there would be a roof over his and Savi's heads and food in their bellies.
The excitement was short lived, that verse was still permeating his brain, and he knew God had put it on his heart for a reason. The way Savi had acted last night showed him no respect at all, God demanded it of her and so should he.
He knew that he should not have let her speak to him that way, but he felt defeated. The love of his life had spoken down to him as she stood there lying to his face. She then attacked his character, and made him feel less than a man. He could not let the facade of him not knowing about her lies go on any longer.
*****
Their typical car rides were full of laughter and singing to the radio, but the car ride home was once again uneventful and eerily quiet. After the way the discussion went last night, she knew that she would be in trouble for sassing him. She couldn't put her finger on it, but Savi knew that something else was about to happen. Eric had never given her the cold shoulder before.
As Eric pulled up into the driveway, the first words of the car ride were spoken, "March your behind upstairs and sit at the dining room table, I will join you in a few moments. This is not an option, now go." Knowing a punishment was in her future, she did as she was told, not wanting to get into even more trouble than she knew she already had waiting for her.
She waited for what seemed like an eternity for Eric to join her at the table. He finally sat down in front of her, laying down multiple spanking implements.
Confused as to why there were multiple tools laid on the table, Savi questioned him and herself. What in the world is he thinking? I only sassed him last night. I can't believe his audacity. "Why are the paddle and strap out here, I only sassed you last night."
"Well, that there is another lie," he quipped as he stood up and walked around behind her. Do you have anything you would like to confess before your punishment gets worse?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," she stuttered. How did he find out? He can't know; there is no way he knows. Keep calm Savi; he is bluffing you.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" she yelled as her stomach stirred with anxiety.
Eric confronted her, he told her that he knew about everything, every lie she had spun and even her use of the credit card. Savi continued to go with her lies and act oblivious to what Eric was talking about.
"I have no idea where you got your information from Eric, but it's wrong."
"Why must you continue to lie to me Savannah? I cannot deal with this insolent behavior. You are a grown woman. Own up to your actions."
"Oh, stop it Eric, I have nothing to own up to. Yes, I sassed you last night and I was rude, but other than that, you my dear husband, are misinformed." He threatened worse punishment, but Savi didn't care, she wasn't about to back down. There is no way he knows! I didn't leave a paper trail. He's faking it.
Eric began telling Savi about her father's service. He informed her of the readings that took place during this morning's church service. "Those verses have been stuck in my head ever since. Savannah, I would like to read to you what your father shared with the congregation this morning
."
Ugh, I am not a child. And I do not have to sit through a lecture! Savi became rude and started to sass Eric again. "You have no right to talk to me like this! I did nothing wrong, yet you are going to sit there and treat me like a common criminal! You can't treat me like this Eric, it's not proper!"
Eric got angry and started to lecture Savi about her behavior pointing out that the way she treated him last night was not full of love, just full of spite. "I do not enjoy arguing or punishing you, the last thing I want is to cause you pain. But when you lie to me it causes me pain, and your actions can't be ignored." Eric made his way back around the table, tracing his finger across the implements he had laid there in front of his wife. "Every single one of these will be used today," he told her.
Still trying to cover up her lies, Savi continued to lie to Eric, "but I didn't do anything wrong, I will not sit here and let you accuse me of something I didn't do!"
Eric slammed his hand down on to the dining room table. Savi had never seen him so upset; this was new and scary. How did he find out? Did Josalyn tell him? Ugh, I am going to kill her!
"Stop, Savannah! I am sick of the lies! I know what you did. I can't believe you are going to sit there and continue to lie to me. I know you had cleaning ladies here and I know you used your school credit card to pay for it. People saw the cleaning ladies come and go, and I saw the receipt. I know! So stop lying. Own up to what you did!"
People saw? Who would have seen? There is no way anyone saw them come. Thoughts began to fly through her mind, trying to figure out who would out her to her husband. Mrs. Bennett, that snitch!
"Eric, I..."
"Savannah please don't speak, not right now. I want you to go to our room and remove your bottoms, and yes, that includes your panties. I will be in there in a moment to start your punishment. I want your nose in the corner when I enter the bedroom. Go."
Savi made her way to the bedroom, her guilt emerged and she started to cry before she even made it to the bedroom. Doing as she was told, she slid her skirt and panties down her legs and onto the floor, she then stood in the corner for what felt like an eternity. What is he trying to do here, make me freak myself out? How can he leave me just standing here?
Savi could hear Eric enter the room, and goose bumps formed on her arms and legs as she waited in silence for her punishment. She could hear Eric's feet as they shuffled across the carpet, and the implements coming in contact with one another as he set them down on top of something. Since her back was towards Eric she could only imagine what he was doing and what he was about to do to her.
After clearing his throat, Eric began to speak. "Savi over my knees," he commanded of her. The first part of your spanking will be with my hand as a little warm up. Then I will move on to the strap. Can you tell me why I will have to use the strap on your naughty little behind?"
When Savi turned to face her punishment, she noticed Eric sitting on the edge of the bed. While making her way to him she answered him. "Because I bought something I wasn't supposed to." Savi laid herself across his lap as she was told to.
When Eric began with a little caress of her backside, Savi was once again unsure of what he could be thinking. Smack! Smack! Smack! Eric's hand came down hard on Savi's backside. Savi gave a little jump with the first few spankings, but was otherwise still. Eric continued on. Smack! Smack! Smack! There was no definite pattern to this spanking. Eric made contact with every inch of her backside. Her skin burned with each and every swat. Smack! Smack! Smack! The pain was actually getting to Savi, and once again, tears were streaming down her face. Soon Eric gave her a reprieve and gave her raw backside a little rub.
Once she relaxed, he moved her position. "I want you to hold onto the post of the bed. Do not move from that position until I tell you to Savannah."
She did as she was told and moved her way to the corner of the bed and wrapped her arms around the bedpost. She turned her face to the side so her cheek could rest against the post.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Without notice, Eric had switched implements. The sound was worse than the spanking itself. Before the implement even came into contact with her skin, she knew it was the strap. The sound alone was a dead giveaway, and the way it caught the air was enough to make Savi's skin crawl and cause her to regret all her actions from the previous weeks. Each time the strap came into contact with her skin, she would pull herself closer to the bedpost. Eric reprimanded her and continued on with her punishment. Savi wept. This was all too much for her.
Without notice, Eric grabbed the spoon. "Your mouth last night was horrid." Smack! The spoon came down with great force directly on her sit spots, causing Savi to let out a horrendous yelp. Savi had become used to the rhythmic repetition of the strap. When the spoon came into contact with her skin, it was a whole new feeling on her already raw bottom. Focused on her sit spots this round, Eric continued for what seemed like forever, and her thighs felt as though they were sunburned.
"We're almost done. I want you to move to the middle of the room. Bend over and grab your ankles."
"Do what?"
"Grab your ankles. Go on."
"You can't…"
"Now, Savannah! This is not up for discussion."
Tears streamed down Savi's face as she slowly made her way into the new position. Bending over caused her already sore skin to become taut and burn even more ferociously. Holding on to her ankles, she wept loudly.
With her red globes high in the air, the paddle forcefully made contact with her bottom. Savi let out a horrific cry. Knowing she deserved this punishment, she bit her lip and tried not to make a sound, but after about four swats, she let out a loud bellow.
Eric abruptly stopped paddling her. As Savi stayed in the assumed position, she could see Eric place the paddle on the bed and make his way to the bathroom door.
*****
Eric truly wanted to comfort her, but was unsure if it was the correct thing to do in this kind of a situation. He wanted to make sure she knew that she was in the wrong. Would aftercare ruin that? His intentions were not to hurt her emotionally. The last thing he wanted was for there to be any more issues within their marriage.
Eric drew Savi a bath and put her favorite vanilla bath oils in the water. Eric hollered towards the bedroom, "Savannah come in here please." Eric could hear Savi as she made her way into the bathroom, "I've started the bath for you. Hopefully it will help soothe your skin."
Eric watched as Savi finished undressing, he looked at her perfectly red bottom and wanted nothing more than to soothe her, but he felt as though that would give her the wrong idea. He held her hand as he helped her into the bath and carefully sat her down into the hot water. Savi flinched a little as her tender bottom came into contact with the water, but other than that she gave no reaction.
As soon as Savi was settled in the bath, Eric left the room. Watching his wife be in pain was too much for him to handle. He wanted to hold her and kiss her and let her know that all had been forgiven, but he couldn't for fear that she would see it as a weakness, and the last thing he wanted was for his wife to see him as weak.
Chapter Six
There were some small changes in the Matthews household. Eric had started training for his new position as the youth pastor, while Savi really tried hard to learn that she and Eric were one, and her place was beside him, not against him. Savi knew she had crossed lines in the past and knew that her behavior had been ungodly. Not only had she betrayed her husband's trust, she broke the covenant they made before God and their church.
Spending more and more time in the Bible, and learning what God wants for a husband and wife, Savi made every effort to try harder. She knew her attempts in the past were done half-heartedly, if they were really even done at all. Things that had happened in her and Eric's relationship were bothering her, like why didn't his spankings bother her? One moment she's excited and sexually aroused and the next she couldn't care less. There had only been two spankings in their marriage, one was painful and hard
while the other wasn't, was this normal?
Bothered by all the thoughts going through her head, Savi invited Josalyn over for afternoon tea. This was one thing she could pull off. High teas were something she and her mother had done every year for her birthday. Now, they had become such an exciting thing for Savi and Sarah that they put one on every other month for the ladies' fellowship at church.
Making her way through her kitchen, Savi prepared the finger sandwiches and the tea. She baked scones and made lemon custard. The sweet smell of sugar flowed through the air as she floated about in a daze.
*****
Morning training had come and gone, and lunch was on the horizon. Eric was famished and couldn't wait to see what the church had prepared for the men to eat. They were asked not to leave the church so they could proceed with training as soon as possible. They had two weeks of information for the men, but only a week to give it. The man Eric was replacing would be leaving in a week and Eric needed to be trained sooner rather than later.
As the men gathered in the fellowship hall, chatter and laughter filled the room. It was like old buddies sitting down to a meal. Eric sat in the middle of the table with Joshua to his right and Bobby, Savi's brother, to his left. Across from him sat one senior elder and two new elders, who were attending the training for the first time too.
As Eric sat in silence, listening to all the chatter around him, his issues with Savi kept popping into his head. He still wasn't over her lying. The other men at his table spoke of their wives with such fondness, with adoration. Why was it so hard for him to overcome their issues? Without thought, Eric spoke. "Can I ask you guys for some advice?"
The Trouble With Savi Page 4