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."Mind me like a good girl," he said quietly, kissing her forehead."Please, don't make this worse on yourself."Blair lowered her eyes, nodded, and turned to obey.Chapter 14Blair felt the trembling in her knees as she ascended the staircase and entered the bathing area.Quickly, she pumped water into the copper tub, stripped off her clothing, and stepped in to wash away the dirt and grime that had attached itself to her during the ride.She wrapped a towel around her body, grateful that the house was empty but for old Carlos snoozing in a chair in the study.She opened the door to her bedroom and gulped audibly.A water barrel, laid upon its side, was propped with one end against the foot of the bed and anchored in place with iron wedges.Hanging over the top was a wide razor strop.She picked it up and turned it over in her quaking hands.The well-oiled, thick, heavy leather was smooth after years of sharpening straight razors, and the length was at least the stretch of a man's arm.She had no doubt this 'gift' was from her grandfather, heightening her embarrassment and humiliation.She timidly laid it back in place, draped her towel over the edge of the bed, and proceeded to the only bare corner of the room.Despite the late summer warmth, she shivered as she waited for the telltale sound of Sloan's boots.Minutes ticked by before the heavy stomp of his heels against the wood steps caught her attention.He entered the room and tossed her purchases upon the bed."I am going to wash off.Put your belly across this barrel and make certain your bare backside is poking high in the air.I want your hands holding the boot scraper." He placed his pocket watch on the floor next to the barrel."You have until ten minutes after nine to get yourself comfortable.We are going to be here for a while." He pulled off his soiled shirt, turned on his heels, and left the room.Blair felt weak as she obeyed.She removed the strap from the barrel and folded it over the back of a chair.She then placed her damp towel over the rough wood to protect her delicate skin and bent over the severe arc.Wiggling to find a comfortable position for her pelvis, Blair was chagrined to find that she had thrust her bottom higher into the air than she had planned.She then wrapped her fingers around the horns of the cast iron boot scraper to steady herself and keep the blood from rushing to her head.The pocket watch ticking before her eyes was torment.She watched the second hand move slowly into position and held her breath, dreading Sloan's promptness.She looked up as he reentered the room, cleanly bathed and shaved smooth.He had simply wrapped a towel around his waist and remained stockingless."Where is your nightshirt?" Blair asked nervously."I do not wish to wear one right now.I need to be able to move freely if I am to punish you adequately.""Sloan, I beg your forgiveness and your mercy.Please, do not beat me," Blair pleaded.Sloan ran his hand over her silky flesh and smacked one cheek sharply."I do not beat you, I discipline you.This bottom," he landed a smart smack upon her, bringing up color from pale white to a flushed pink, "will pay the price of your disobedience."He lifted the razor strop from the chair and balanced it in his hands."Your grandfather commented that my beard gave me an unkempt appearance and felt it was due to having a dull razor.He donated this strop after making a statement that ladies did not enjoy having their fragile skin scratched by prickly facial hair.As I was sharpening my razor, I realized what a wonderful device this would be if I needed to punish you.I did not expect it to be used so quickly.""I feel you are unfair and cruel, Sloan Adkins.I will not give you the satisfaction of seeing my tears, no matter how hard you beat me.""You stubborn, stubborn girl.I am not going to beat you.That would require I not care for you or the lesson that needs to be taught.I wish you would try to understand that.No matter …." Sloan moved to the end of the barrel and to Blair's left side.He raised the strop over his shoulder, and without warning, sent it snapping against her snowy mounds.Blair struggled to detach herself and not show any reaction but knew it was only a matter of time, and a few more licks, before she broke.He swung the strap again, leaving a road of red welts upon her quivering bottom.Her knuckles whitened as she clutched the unyielding metal scraper in an effort to maintain her composure.A muffled sob, buried in the flesh of her right arm, crept into his hearing.He aimed the strap for the undercurve of her bottom—the delicate creases that were guaranteed to touch the hard leather of a saddle.Blair yelped, lifting her head and arching her back in protest.Sloan waited until she returned to her position, tapping his foot impatiently as she lowered her chest to rest against the curve of the barrel.Once she grabbed the boot scraper, he cracked the strap against the same tender spot twice more, paused, and struck again.A deep red stripe blazed angrily.Sloan rested his hand upon it and bent over her back to whisper in her ear."Do you still refuse to give me the satisfaction of seeing your tears?" Blair did not answer, turning her head so that he could not witness the wetness upon her face.He sighed sadly."Stubborn.Very well, have it your way."Blair's eyes flew open as the leather smacked soundly across her upper thighs."Enough! You win!" she relented in a flood of tears."I'm sorry.I didn't hear you." When she did not reply, Sloan released an audible sigh and landed the strap once again across her sit spots."No more!" Blair released her right hand from the scraper and attempted to protect her throbbing bottom."Remove your hand, Blair.We are not done here.""I'm begging you," Blair wept, slowly bringing her hand back to grab the cold, iron handle.Her crying grew louder as she twisted and rocked, desperately trying to force him to miss the spots that had already tasted the bite of the strap.Sloan paused after three more lashes and walked in front of her.He squatted and placed his finger upon her chin to raise it.She blinked at him through wet, red-rimmed eyes, trying frantically to catch her breath."I love you.Because I love you, I will do whatever is needed to keep you from harm.Since I cannot lock you in a cage and protect you, I have to trust you to make wise decisions when you are out of my sight.This is a punishment, Blair.I am the one who decides when you have had enough.Is that clear?""Yes, Sloan," Blair sniveled."I'm sorry.""Good," he kissed the space between her eyes."You may come off the barrel, but we are not finished.I want you to place your hands on the chair and bring your bottom up again, please.""I'm begging you, no more!""You wanted to make your point.Now I am making mine.You will obey me for your own good."Instead of the razor strop, Sloan used his hand to even out the color of her bottom, turning it to a shiny, cherry red.Blair's fingers gripped the edges of the chair as her tears pooled in the center of the wood under her face.The spanks slowed and lessened in intensity, yet Blair's howling grew."The corner, Blair.No rubbing," Sloan said softly, helping her to stand.He brushed his lips across hers and led her to the spot."Stay here until I release you.""I never want to speak to you again," she whimpered."Yes, I know.Every time you do something that warrants punishment, you get angry with me.I am becoming used to it," he said, his hand running over her shoulder."One day, you will understand, and this anger will disappear.""I doubt it [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]