His by Carolyn Faulkner (best historical fiction books of all time .txt) 📗

He could see how hard it was for her not to struggle against the liberties he was taking, but she knew better - especially now, when she knew a punishment was in the offing in her near future.

"Do I need to bind your hands?" he asked, almost off hand, as if he was thinking out loud as he continued to massage those firm, round globes just short of painfully while his eyes swept over her face, looking for any sign of rebellion or anything else he might need to punish her for.

Raina wasn't sure whether she should answer him or not, but she knew she was going to do her best to avoid being tied up, or getting herself into any more hot water. But it made her nervous to be practically in the foyer, near the front door, where anyone who decided to come in might catch them in this intimate tableau. But she didn't say anything, not wanting to get herself into any more trouble.

He moved behind her, his hands never leaving her body, trailing down the delicate slope of her back to cup her bottom and squeeze it tightly, then hunkering down to run his hands down her legs, as if checking to see that she was a sound filly.

Then he issued an order that she wanted to pause at, but even then she knew she had better not. "Spread your legs wide, and bend over."

There was no emotion in his voice. He could have been asking her to pass the salt. He just said it, completely expecting that she would obey him.

And she did, as slowly as she dared, spreading her feet first, which was the hardest, she'd thought, until she bent over and knew exactly what sight was greeting him. He could probably see how her privates were glistening with liquid encouragement, just for him and because of what he'd already done to her. She knew that just the idea of him staring at her like this, of being told to bed over and expose herself to him like this, and then obeying, nearly made her orgasm right then and there, although she knew that climaxing without permission was strictly prohibited.

What was worse was that he didn't say a thing - not a compliment or a complaint. Nothing. He didn't even touch her, although she could feel his hot breath on her bare flesh.

Instead, he rose, saying almost gruffly, "Well, we might as well get your punishment over with."

Before she knew it, she was bent over again, but this time it was over the back of his overstuffed leather sofa. She was so short and small, and the couch was so big, that her feet didn't touch the ground.

"There are two straps in front of you. I suggest you hold onto them for dear life. You've already got one spanking coming - I can assure you that you won't want another."

Raina had done as she was told, gripping the leathers as if they would save her from what was to come.

"You won't always have that courtesy. Eventually you'll learn that regardless of what I'm doing back here, or anywhere else on your body, that you are never to interfere with what I choose to do with you."

He came around to the front of her as she dangled there and deliberately leaned down to meet her eyes. He didn't say anything further, just watched her carefully, then returned to his previous spot, claiming a vulnerable cheek with one big hand. "This is your first punishment from me. I want to see how you take it, how you react. You can feel free to do anything you like - except get out of position - there are no restrictions on your reactions at this time, although I can assure you that they will appear in future."

And with that, his palm cracked down onto her flesh for the very first time.

Presently, Raina was waiting for him to begin. As usual, nothing could rush him. He was a master of timing and often made her wait as long as a day or two for a punishment after telling her she was due one for something or other. Or even just because he simply wanted to spank her, and wanted her to spend that time dreading it, which she most certainly did.

His spankings were truly something to dread - she'd learned that right from the beginning. He'd never once gone easy on her. If she had any sort of asthma problems - which he'd forcibly required her to keep pretty much under control by making sure she took all of her meds, all of the time - within a week of a spanking, he'd wait until her lungs were completely clear. When he punished her, he always had a rescue inhaler in his pocket, just in case.

And he always had a rescue inhaler in his pocket, in case the whim overtook him.

He adored looking at her, especially when she was in a submissive position of his own device, but also just across the room at one of the few cocktail parties they deigned to attend, or across the breakfast table when she was being a bit pouty at having to eat three nutritious meals a day, as he required.

She heard him rustling behind her and desperately wanted to turn her head to see what he was doing. That was one of the worst things - not knowing what he was going to do to her next, and knowing that if she took it into her head to try to find out by moving even just a bit, she'd be bent over and paddled mercilessly until he thought she'd learned her lesson.

Raina knew better than to do that, so, despite her itching curiosity, she stood stock still.

"Bend over," he commanded, and it was just like that first time she'd just been recalling. Only now she had long months of being under his thumb to think back on, all that pain and