by Ashe Barker
“The duchess was furious. She was quite beside herself with anger and disappointment at my transgression. She raged at me, then ordered me to pack my belongings as she was sending me back to Haveringham in order for my mother to deal with the matter as she saw fit.” Jane quaked even now as she remembered how Lady Margaret Acton would have greeted such disgrace. “She would have whipped me. I expected her to flay the skin from my back, before handing me over to you to do the same.”
“I see.”
“But, Richard was kind, and understanding. He overruled his wife. He rarely interfered in such domestic matters but on this occasion he did. He banished Arthur, I have no notion what happened to him, and I was confined to my chamber for a week to contemplate the profound wickedness of my behavior. Then I had to spend the following month in the chapel praying for divine guidance and begging the Almighty to bestow upon me a more suitable wifely demeanor.”
“I would suggest your prayers were answered, as I never had occasion to doubt your loyalty. Apart from that one time you disregarded my instructions in the matter of bathing guests, but we dealt with that.”
“But, I was disloyal. It was just that you did not know it. I was your wife, and I should not have behaved so. Richard insisted that the matter was but a youthful folly, that I had been led astray by an older man, and the whole unpleasant incident was not to be mentioned again. He saw no cause to trouble either you or my mother with it.”
“I see.”
“I should have told you. I know it was wrong, but—“ She started to sob again as the fears and anguish, so much a feature of that time in her life, rushed back to overwhelm her.
“Hush, sweetheart. Don’t distress yourself now over something that really is ancient history.” He shook his head, his expression one of sadness rather than anger. “Were you really too frightened to tell me about it?”
Jane nodded. “You were my husband, and … I do not know how I might have coped if you had set me aside. I believed you would beat me, then send me back to Haveringham. Or to a convent.”
“Christ, what a waste that would have been. I was never so much of a fool, surely?”
“What I did was unforgivable. I am so sorry.”
Ged bent his head to brush his lips across hers. “It wasn’t unforgivable, Janey. It was exactly what Richard said it was—a youthful folly. I’m just grateful he had a sense of perspective and was willing to intervene. As for beating you or sending you away, I don’t believe even back then I would have taken an especially dim view of a silly mistake made by an impressionable child. How old were you when this all happened, Janey?”
“Fourteen, Sir.”
“Fourteen. I rest my case. And I understand better your attachment to Richard now. You loved him, and with good reason.”
“I still do, but as my friend and my King. It was never anything more. And I soon forgot about Arthur. You must believe that."
He smiled, but his expression remained sad. It spoke to her of regret, of disappointment, and perhaps just a little of hope.
"I do believe it, Janey. I never thought otherwise. I don’t blame you for any of this, though I’d have probably killed this Arthur of yours if I’d known about him. I confess I resented Richard and Anne, for the protection they offered you when you'd no need of it. I would never have hurt you, though I suppose you couldn't be blamed for not knowing that. Even so, I wish you might have trusted me."
"So do I. I was just—"
"You were very young and very afraid, but we've moved on now, I hope. It's not only Richard we need to leave in the past."
She gazed up at him, her eyes still moist but perhaps her tears were now not only for her king. "My lord, I do believe I like you much more as a vampire than I ever did as a man."
He grinned back at her. "I should hope so, though the contest is somewhat unequal. We’ve already established that I was a crap husband."
"You were kind enough, though I could have wished you had enjoyed my company more."
"I did enjoy your company."
"No, my lord, you did not. You could never leave my bed quickly enough."
"Those were duty fucks, and you always regarded me with such pained reproach that I felt compelled to complete the unpleasant business with all speed and leave you in peace. You will have noticed I no longer find it necessary to rush off."
Despite their newfound intimacy, Jane could not help the heat which spread from her neck upwards.
Ged grinned. "You know, I did love you, Janey."
She had not expected that. "Did you? I never realised... I believed you to be exasperated by me, that I was a nuisance to you. And a disappointment."
He shook his head, the gesture emphatic. "I'd no idea how to show it back then, but be under no illusion, Janey. I fucking adored you." He paused to take her face within his hands. "I love you still."
"I... I do not know how to best describe my feelings for you, my lord. I know that in the past you made me very nervous. My hands would shake at the evening meal in case your food was not to your liking."
"I never complained. Did I?"
"No, you did not, but I feared that one day you would. I was desperate to please you."
"You did please me."
"In the kitchen, perhaps. Not in the bedchamber."
"My fault, not yours. We’ve talked about this. You please me now, in every way."
"I am glad. And, I want you to know that whatever my foolish terrors were when I was a child, when I became a woman, had I been offered a choice of who I might wed, I would have chosen you. You were very handsome."
"I think you'll find I still am."
"And vain, Sir."
"A common failing. We vampires are known for it." He gave her a brief hug. "So, you want to see Richard then?"
"If I may. Will it be possible, do you think?"
"Oh yes, I reckon we can manage that. History wasn't kind to Richard, but for all that he was still a king so there'll probably be some sort of lying-in-state event for the public to pay their respects. I'm guessing you'd prefer something a little more private, though. You'll be wanting to say your goodbyes, I imagine."
"I will."
"So, a private visit then. Leave it with me."
"How will you persuade the people who now hold his body to allow this?"
"Ah Janey, have you forgotten so soon about my powers of persuasion? I can make people do all sorts of things they may not have thought of for themselves. And I owe you one, after Mr. Baring-Jones."
"Oh, yes." Jane had forgotten how compelling he could be, but no longer. She harboured no doubt at all that he could achieve this thing for her. He was a vampire, after all. Her vampire husband.
"Now we have that settled, there is another matter we need to address. I counted no less than four my lords from you since you came upstairs. You seem to be struggling to obey my very specific instructions in this regard, Janey."
"Oh. Yes. I am sorry. I forgot. It was the shock of seeing Richard..."
"Do I look to you as though I want to hear excuses?"
Jane hung her head. "No, Sir."
"A spanking is in order."
"I understand. Should I remove my clothes?" Ged always required her to be naked when he disciplined her. Jane had no real objection to that part of the proceedings, though a punishment spanking was not an experience she would relish. Ged had a heavy hand, and it would be even worse if he opted to use a paddle or crop.
"Yes, if you would." He leaned back in his seat as she slithered from his lap. Familiar now with the modern fastenings, it didn't take Jane long to remove her clothing and fold it all neatly. She stood in front of him and eyed his lap anxiously.
Ged cocked his head to one side as he perused her. He took his time, trailing his gaze the length of her body before twirling his finger, a signal that she should turn around.
"So lovely. I particularly love your bottom, my little Janey. So round and so fucking spankable." He leaned forward to caress the lower curve. "I
can hear your heart pounding, Jane. Are you afraid?"
"Yes Sir. A little. It will hurt."
"It will, but that's not what worries me. A punishment spanking is supposed to hurt, after all. I'm concerned that I may do the baby harm, though, if I spank you as you deserve."
Jane whirled to face him, her expression a mask of distress and fear. "Please, Sir, do not do anything to hurt my baby."
"Our baby. And no, Jane, you can be assured I will never do anything to injure either one of you. I'll need to come up with a different punishment for you, and you'll be relieved to learn that I have a solution in mind."
"Sir?"
"Do you like ginger, Janey?"
"Not especially, Sir. I find it somewhat bitter."
"I see. I doubt your opinion will improve anytime soon. I'd like you to go back down to the kitchen if you would. You'll find several fingers of ginger in the fridge, in a small plastic bowl. Would you go and fetch them for me please? Oh, and I'll be needing a sharp knife too."
Jane was nonplussed, but his instructions were clear enough. "Of course, Sir." She knew better than to try to put any of her clothing back on. She scurried downstairs and soon found the bowl in the fridge. It contained four lengths of ginger, in varying sizes and thicknesses. Surely he did not intend to make her eat it raw?
No, he would not be so cruel. She took the bowl, and found a small paring knife in the drawer. She returned to her husband's study with the items. By the time she entered the room again he had cleared the papers from his desk and shutdown the computer he had been using. The device was stacked neatly on a shelf beside him, along with the documents. Ged leaned on the windowsill, his back to the glass. He smiled as she stood before him and held out the bowl.
"Is this what you require, Sir?"
"It is. Thank you." He didn't take the bowl, but instead selected the longest, narrowest piece and turned it in his hand. "This should do, I think. What it lacks in thickness I can make up for with a little deft handling. See how it curves, Janey?"
She studied the innocuous vegetable with distaste. Her husband had something in mind and she could not fathom it at all. Even so, she had a bad feeling about this ginger. She observed the gentle bend in the middle of the piece he seemed to favour and she nodded her head. "Yes, Sir. I can see that."
"I need to peel this. You may put the bowl down and take a seat while I do, but you're not to speak from now on unless it's to answer a direct question or use a safe word. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir," she murmured as she settled into the seat he had originally set out for her. She placed the bowl on the desk beside her and folded her hands in her lap.
Her husband sat at the desk and peeled the ginger with an efficiency that Jane found surprising. She did not recall he had ever possessed any culinary skills at all, and of course in this century he had no need of them. Yet he prepared the ginger in just a couple of minutes, even carving a ridge around it at the blunt end. He put the peeled root back in the bowl with the rest and laid the knife down.
"I believe we're ready. I appreciate that your experience of these matters is limited, but I wonder if you've ever heard of figging, Janey?"
"I do not believe I have, Sir."
"I thought not. But you are becoming quite adept at accepting a butt plug in your arse, so that'll come in useful for this. Would you come and stand in front of me then lean over the desk, please?"
"You have a butt plug, Sir?" Jane was relieved. Plugs did not hurt. Indeed, the sensation of having her rear hole stretched and filled was rather pleasant, now she had got past her initial sense of humiliation.
"I said no talking. Do as I ask, please."
His voice was clipped and cool. Jane's heart sank—she had managed to displease him again. Perhaps she could make amends by doing as he asked without complaint, not that it would do her any good to make a fuss. This new vampire husband of hers was still something of an enigma to her, but she had already learned that as a Dominant he did not respond well to weeping and pleading during a punishment. She got to her feet and stood before him , then turned her back on him and bent at the waist.
"You'll lean on your elbows, shoulders down and bottom lifted up. Spread your legs too, please."
Jane was worried. He had said no spanking, but in this position... She gnawed on her lower lip and waited for whatever would come next.
"Reach back with both hands and part the cheeks of your bottom for me. I want you to show me your rear hole."
"Sir?" She started to rise, but a hand between her shoulder blades put a stop to that.
"Your rear hole, Jane. Problem?" Still that icy timbre, so stern, so uncompromising. Jane's stomach gave a little flip as her treacherous pussy dampened. It confused her, this unexpected but uncontrollable response of hers. The more he unnerved her, the more he demanded that she obey, the dirtier and more outrageous his demands, the more aroused she became. She dreaded what might happen to her next, but her body had other ideas. She pressed her lips together, took several deep breaths whilst he waited with a degree of patience she might not have anticipated, then she reached back and did as he commanded.
"Ah, sweet. I do adore your arse, Jane. I shall fuck you here soon. Are you looking forward to that?"
"I… I think I am, Sir."
"Think?"
"I am, Sir."
"Good. Me too." As he spoke he pressed his fingertip against the puckered entrance. "Could you open for me, please. Just relax and allow me to do this."
Do what? Jane longed to ask, but had no desire to incur further reproach. She did her best to slacken her entrance and permit him entry. It worked. He slid his finger right inside and treated her to several swift thrusts. Jane allowed herself a soft moan and pressed her naked breasts against the hard desk top.
"Disobedient wives need to be punished. Do you agree, Jane?" He punctuated his questions with several rapid strokes, driving first one finger, then two into her rear hole.
"Yes, Sir, " she managed to gasp.
"Punishment can take many forms. Figging, for example, is quite an ancient method of discipline, but effective. We'll soon find out how well it works for you."
"Yes, Sir." Jane was not sure if that had been a question or not, but it seemed appreciate to respond.
"Ginger oil stings. Have you ever noticed that, Janey?"
That was definitely a question. Jane replied. "Yes, Sir, I have."
Ged withdrew his fingers, but continued to circle the tip of one around her now loosening entrance. Jane curled her own fingers into her buttocks as she strained to maintain her position and keep them parted for him. She was starting to ache.
"Now this, this really stings."
Jane gasped as he replaced his finger with something else, something cool and hard, but smooth too. He pressed, and she pushed back without needing to be asked. Jane had learned that much at least in her recent experiences with a variety of butt plugs. Her arsehole widened to accept this new intrusion, just as Jane finally realised what he was doing to her.
"Sir," she blurted. "Is that—?"
"Hush, Janey. No talking. But yes, it's the ginger. How does it feel?"
"It's fine, I think. It's... oh. Oh!" She hissed as the burn seeped into her tender inner walls, then she whimpered as it grew hotter, more fiery. As the inside of her bottom sizzled she writhed against the desk top. "Sir, please, I do not like this. Please remove it." Desperate, she groped with her hand in an attempt to grasp the vicious root.
Ged held her wrist to prevent her interference, then patted her bottom. "You can let go now, Jane, but stay where you are. No touching."
"I cannot. Sir, that feels horrible. Ow. Ouch."
"It gets worse for a while, but the heat will fade eventually. It usually takes an hour or so, but I gather it's less intense if you can manage not to clench. Do you think you can manage that, Janey?"
She shook her head, grimacing against the cool of the wood beneath her face. But despite her denial she fought to control he
r inner convulsing. Perhaps she might... yes. There. The burning inside her poor, inflamed bottom was not diminished to any real degree, but it got no worse either. If she could just remain still....
Did he really say an hour?
"Sir...?"
"Unless it's a safe word, Jane, I don't want to hear it. Use yellow if you really need to talk about this."
She groaned, but remained silent. And perfectly still.
"Good, I see you're getting the hang of this. Not pleasant, I know, but figging can deliver a memorable lesson. Let's hope so. Now, if you keep still it's more or less bearable, would you agree?"
She managed a brief nod.
"But if you clench... Could you clench your bottom for me please, Jane?"
"Must I?"
"Please indulge me. It's important you fully appreciate the potential of this punishment."
Jane obeyed, squeezing her bottom just slightly. It was enough, the burn level soared. "Aagh. Oh, Sweet Mother of God...."
"Thank you. Now that we're clear you may relax again. Do you recall I mentioned deft handling, Janey? And I commented on the shape of this particular piece of ginger?"
She managed another little nod, dreading what he might intend next.
"I can turn the root inside you, like so. Do you feel that?" He must have grabbed the part of the root protruding from her arse and he started to rotate it within her.
Jane cried out again as the root shifted and rubbed inside her arse, the heat level ratcheting up again. "Do not, Sir, please. I promise never to call you—that—again."
Ged stopped turning the root. "You know, I believe you do mean it. I should have thought of this before, but I confess I do rather enjoy spanking you. The problem is, you're far too fond of a decent spanking, I think, for that to ever really act as a deterrent. I believe I may have to order in plenty of ginger."
He might order all he liked. Jane swore to herself she would never earn herself a punishment like this again. Let his infernal ginger rot in the cellars, she would avoid ever subjecting herself to such torture in the future. She gasped, her body stiff and tense, and she waited for it to be over.