Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4) (23 page)

"That's my girl," he said. She felt his hand wrapping around her waist to pull her closer to his body. When she felt her skirts being pulled up and heard his request that she lift a bit, she did so as she closed her eyes. Every one of her senses seemed heightened. She could swear she heard the very air in the room shift as the silk of her gown and her petticoats continued to move until she could feel their weight on the small of her back.

"Shh, you are safe here," Samuel said, and she only then realized that she was the one making that soft whining noise. She was extremely grateful that she didn't own a pair of those split drawers she'd seen on the pages of the book. She was so busy thinking about how well they'd framed the girl's bottom, it took her a moment to realize that her drawers were being lowered.

"Oh! Please, Samuel… please don't!"

"When you are over my knee or being punished for being a naughty little girl, you will address me as 'Sir'. Is that clear?"

Her tummy flipped again and she could feel heat flooding into her face. "Yes, sir, but—"

He didn't allow her to argue further. "Frances, you saw the drawings. In fact, you admitted you've seen them several times. Was there a single one that has you believing that naughty bottoms are not bared when being spanked?"

Squeezing her eyes shut didn't keep every single drawing she'd examined time and time again from flashing across her mind. She'd seen drawers parted in the drawings. She'd seen drawers lowered to various positions, and the last drawing had the girl's drawers lying across the back of a chair. What she hadn't seen were any drawers covering the intended target. When his hand slapped down on her still partially covered bottom, she gave a squeal and her answer.

"No… no, sir."

"That's correct. Spankings are given on bare bottoms for several reasons. One is to make sure that the naughty one feels the impact of whatever implement is being used to provide the lesson. Another is that knowing that to accept that lesson, you shall bend over a lap, a chair, a bed or simply be required to bend and and brace your hands on your ankles. And, my naughty girl, once bent, your drawers will be lowered to offer your bare bottom for proper chastisement. Both have a wonderful tendency to bring the fact home that you, my dear, chose to be a naughty girl. Do you understand?"

She wished she could pretend ignorance but couldn't. "Ye-yes, sir."

"Good, now lift up and let's bare your bottom properly."

With her palms braced against the floor in front and her toes braced against the floor behind her, she was able to press up. Here she was, in a beautiful ball gown, and yet was voluntarily making it easier for him to tug her final barrier down to rest beneath the curve of her buttocks.

She would be eternally grateful that he didn't make her wait long. Once she had lowered herself and he had her tucked against him again, she felt the first strokes.

Smack… smack… smack… smack

His hand alternated from one cheek to another. They weren't hard and yet spoke to her heart.

Smack… smack… smack… smack

Each one told her that she had been a naughty girl and deserved to be exactly where she was.

Smack… smack… smack… smack

Let the other young women dance and flirt the night away. She, Lady Frances Margaret Huntington didn't deserve to be doing the same.

Smack… smack… smack… smack

No, she deserved to be over Mr. Benedict's lap, her bottom bared to feel his discipline.

Smack… smack… smack… smack

"What color was the girl's bottom in the first drawing, Franny?"

"P-pink, sir."

"That is the color your little tushie is right now. Do you feel that color is where we need to stop?"

Her mouth opened to say 'yes'! Surely she'd paid enough of a price simply by placing herself across his knees, hadn't she? Then why on earth could she feel her head shaking and hear someone's soft voice answering, "No, sir."

"I'm very proud of you, little one. I know it is hard to be honest with a burning bottom, knowing that honesty is going to have your bum burning even more."

Smack… smack… smack… smack

These were harder!

Smack… smack… smack… smack

When wagging her hips didn't seem to help, she reached forward with her hands and attempted to pull her backside out of range.

Smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack

"Ow! Please!"

Smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack

"It will never be a good idea to attempt to swim off my lap, young lady."

Smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack… smack

The moment she lifted one hand and began to reach back, he gave her a harder swat. "And, you are not to reach back, either."

"But it hurts!"

"Frances, tell me why exactly are you over my lap?" he asked.

"Because I was naughty."

"And why am I sitting in this chair, looking at your very pretty, but very bare bottom?"

Her insides clutched at his words; who asked questions like that!

"I'm waiting, little one." His palm patted against her right cheek.

"Because you are span-spanking me."

"Exactly, and, last question, are you truly under the impression that spankings are not supposed to hurt?"

Suddenly she understood his embarrassing line of questioning. She had chosen to take the book, she had kept that fact to herself for days, she had finally confessed her need to be punished and yet, she had also complained when he was giving her exactly what she needed. "No, sir. Spankings are supposed to hurt."

"Why?"

"To make sure that I will learn my lesson, sir."

"What lesson is this spanking teaching you?"

Remembering her guilt, her shame at being a thief, she spoke quietly but from her heart. "Not to steal. To be honest and confess, even-even when I know you'll be-be ashamed of me."

"Franny, I'm in no way ashamed of you. I will never be ashamed of you, my love. Disappointed in your actions, yes, but shame shall in no way ever be a part of our lives."

"But I'm ashamed of myself," she said, her tone indicating her remorse.

"Then, sweetheart, what lesson do you need this spanking to teach you?" Samuel asked, patting her bottom once more.

"To make better choices, sir. To stop and think about consequences."

"Exactly. Now, put your hand down, please. If you need to, you may hold on to my leg as we continue."

Continue? When he'd stopped smacking and begun speaking, she'd thought that he'd be satisfied when she voiced that she understood the lesson. Of course, she hadn't understood. No, he was in control, and though he'd make sure she remembered exactly why she was draped over his lap, only he would decide when that lesson had been truly imprinted—on both her heart and her bare bum. Closing her eyes for a moment, she opened them again, accepting his dominance, his decision.

"Frances, sweetheart? Your hand. Down now, if you please."

It was if her hand were a separate entity from her body as she saw it flutter before her eyes and then move to grip Samuel's leg. Not only had it betrayed her, her other hand soon had joined its mate, both now clinging to his trousers.

"Good girl."

Why did those words make her feel almost proud? They certainly didn't stop her spanking as crisp smacks again began to crack against her flesh. Tears began to pool in her eyes as the heat in her backside grew.

"Let these last ten remind you that when you choose to be
my
naughty girl, I will always and without fail choose to redden your beautiful little bottom."

The fact that he'd made sure to emphasize the word 'my' wasn't lost on her. Guilt she'd been holding inside finally released as she paid for her choices. She didn't wish to be his naughty girl. She wanted nothing more than to be his good girl.

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir."

She didn't protest as she was tilted a bit forward, and though she gave short, sharp yips each time his hand connected, she didn't attempt to pull away. By the time those ten, harder swats were given onto her very sensitive sit-spots, she felt that she'd paid the proper price. Evidently Samuel thought the same, because the moment the last had sounded, he pulled her up and cradled her on his lap.

"I'm so sorry," she said, burying her face in the lapel of his coat.

"I know, little one. You took your spanking very well." Tears she'd held in began to slide down her cheeks. She'd been spanked before, but this spanking had touched her in a way no previous one had.

"Shh, I've got you, Franny, and I won't ever let you go. Shh." He held her until she calmed, gently rocking her in his arms. Several minutes passed before she lifted her head and met his eyes.

"I-I don't know what to say."

He smiled and bent to kiss each of her tear-stained cheeks. "There is no need to say anything further. You confessed and paid the price. The moment the spanking is done, you are forgiven." Pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped her face and helped her blow her nose. "I love you, Franny."

"I love you, Sam—sir."

He gave her another smile and another kiss on the forehead. "Come, let's get you dressed and then we will—"

"Are you… are you going to tell Lucas that you…"

"Spanked you?"

Franny nodded. "Yes, and that I-I stole the book?"

"No," Samuel said. "You are my fiancée and, as such, the responsibility for you becomes mine. That includes every aspect, including discipline. As I said, you are forgiven the moment the punishment is done. As for the book, I never considered it stolen. I considered it borrowed, and if you wish to borrow another, all I ask is that you ask me first."

She wondered if her facial cheeks matched the color she knew decorated her nether ones. "You-you have more?"

He chuckled and nodded. "How did reading my story and seeing my drawings make you feel inside, Franny?"

His story? His drawings? She was supposed to be a proper lady, a woman who didn't read such naughty things, much less read them over and over again. She couldn't help but squirm as she considered lying, and just that simple movement had her tender tush reminding her of what it felt like to pay for naughtiness.

"I know it was wrong but I-I liked the story and-and the drawings. I-I'm sorry."

"Sweetie, there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the book."

"There's not?"

"No. Does it frighten you to know I am both the author and the illustrator?"

Franny shook her head and gave him a smile. "I'll admit I wondered. I mean, the drawings looked like your work but the name is different."

He chuckled. "Well, while I believe in total honesty, I also believe in the necessity of keeping such works private. I'm not sure my clients, or I should say, their wives, would appreciate knowing their barrister is also the author of erotica. I'd set pen and ink aside if you were disgusted with the subject—"

"No! I mean, I'm not. The-the girl she…" She paused and then smiled. "I think I understand now."

"Understand what, sweetheart?

"I-I just realized why the girl always had a smile on her face even if her… um, behind was red."

"Ah, I was hoping you might. Care to share?" he asked.

"She's happy. Even though her spanking hurt, she knows that her Papa loves her."

Samuel wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. "That's part of the reason, and I'm so pleased you understand that."

"You said part… what's the rest of the reason?"

"That, my love, is something we shall have to leave for another time after you've become Mrs. Samuel Benedict, but I assure you that discovering the answer will make all those strange feelings you've been experiencing make sense."

He kissed her lips softly and then helped her stand. Her blush returned as he adjusted her clothing, tying the ribbon of her drawers himself. Once her skirts were properly arranged, he pulled her to him and kissed her far more passionately. Her breath left her as she felt her heart fill.

When he set her away, his eyes were dark and the look in them had her stomach fluttering again. "I believe we should join the party before I forget myself and begin your lessons. Shall we?" he said.

Though she nodded and took his arm, she wanted to tell him that she had always been a good student, one who actually adored learning. Two individuals had entered the room and yet it was one couple sharing souls who left.

Chapter Fifteen

"There you are," Lucas said, rising when the couple walked into the room where everyone else were finishing their meals. "Are you okay?"

"I'm absolutely perfect," Franny said, with a smile that reached her eyes validating her words.

Samuel was smiling from ear to ear as he looked around the table. "I am very pleased to announce that Franny has accepted my proposal."

Lucy's eyes darted to Franny's hand, which was being held in Samuel's. Her squeal of delight was soon joined by others as they jumped up to surround the couple.

"I'm so happy for you," Lucy said, pulling Franny into a hug. She'd not truly realized how strained Franny had looked until she saw her now. Her cheeks were still rosy but now she was practically glowing, and her eyes were sparkling. It was wonderful to see Lucas pull his sister into his arms and hold her close.

"Congratulations, Franny," he said, kissing her cheek before offering his hand to Samuel. As they shook, he grinned. "Welcome to the pack, Samuel."

"I'm most honored," Samuel said, taking his fiancée's hand again. "I promise I'll spend the rest of my life loving this wonderful woman." After a few minutes, he led Franny towards the buffet table and then returned to join the family. He placed Franny's plate on the table and then pulled out her chair. Lucy had to bite back a gasp when she saw Franny take her seat. While the grimace had been slight, she had no doubt that her sister-in-law was sitting on a tender bottom. Reaching under the table, she found and squeezed Louisa's hand. Her twin smiled and squeezed back as she leaned towards her sister.