"In This Together" (free story!)

Good morning, readers! As I mentioned in a recent post, I've decided I'm going to post a series of short stories while I wait (with baited breath!) for my debut novel to come out with Blushing next month. I hope you enjoy this story! I wrote it originally as a story challenge online a while ago, and starting next week I'll be posting new stories featuring some of my favorite characters.

I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to share. Thanks for visiting!

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“In This Together”

Anthony sat in the recliner, a bag of popcorn in hand, eyes glued to the screen. Darkness had settled. The kids were asleep, and the only noise in the house was the buzz of the television, the only light the flickering blues and whites reflecting on the family room wall. Sonya stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, frowning.

She didn't want to go talk to him.

She had to tell him she'd broken a rule, and she didn't want to. She knew that look he would get – that stern look. He would be angry. He'd lecture her. He would frown, and she hated when she made him frown.

He would put her over his lap and give her a spanking.

She didn't want a spanking, and she didn't want to deal with the frown, and she began to question herself.

Why have I agreed to this lifestyle?

She could spout off the reasons why. One day, in an effort to “motivate her to do what she needed to,” Anthony had taken her over his lap and spanked her. He'd spanked her before for fun, and she loved it. It was pretty much her favorite foreplay. But that day, something had changed. He'd spanked her for real – an honest-to-God, “you've been a naughty girl and I'm going to teach you a lesson” spanking. He'd simply said, “Don't do it again. Do that again, and I'll make that look like a love pat,” and she'd nodded soberly. They hadn't made love afterward. She was too sore, a bit indignant, and...something else.

Drawn to his dominance.

Humbled by the fact she'd been spanked soundly like a naughty child.

Repentant for having done wrong.

And irrevocably drawn to real discipline at the hands of her husband.

“What's up, babe?” Anthony asked casually, as he tossed a handful of popcorn in his mouth. She shuffled over, and sat on the ottoman in front of him. He took his eyes off the screen, and smiled at her, his blue eyes crinkling around the edges a bit.

“Well, I need to talk to you,” she began, butterflies churning in her stomach, her mouth a bit dry. He reached his hand out to her and took it gently. His teasing look had fled, and he looked concerned.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded, and bit her lip

He frowned. “Did I do something to upset you?”

She shook her head, and gulped. His immediate assumption that he'd been in the wrong intensified her guilt.

“Did I--”

“Oh would you just stop and let me talk already?” she interrupted.

Immediately his eyes narrowed, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. She wasn't allowed to speak rudely to him, and she knew she was on thin ice.

“Excuse me?” he asked sternly, and she dropped her head.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “I'm just nervous.”

He looked at her quietly for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was low and stern.

“You broke a rule, didn't you?” he said in a deadly-calm voice that made her heart stutter.

She swallowed, hard. She nodded.

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

There was no turning back now. She felt a bit defensive. She'd been so tempted to hide the truth, giving herself excuse after excuse, trying to justify what she'd done. She was not allowed to talk on the phone in her car. It was against the state law, and she could be fined. But the fine was not the real problem. Anthony had told her, over and over and over again, that she wasn't allowed to drive without her headset on. She'd been spanked so many times for it, she lost count. It had been a long time since she'd been spanked for disobeying that rule, including the spanking of her life the day she'd done it and gotten ticketed, but still. It happened.

Sonya knew she'd have to tell him. She couldn't stand the guilt, harboring the knowledge that she'd disobeyed one of their rules. She'd be sick to her stomach, torn up inside, knowing she needed to confess. She'd barely been able to eat all day. It was time to get it over with.

It was one of the reasons she knew agreeing to her husband's discipline was the right decision for her. Getting a spanking – although difficult to take – helped her let go of that feeling of guilt and disappointment. It cleared the air between them. It gave her closure beyond what a simple talk would do.

And frankly, it helped her behave better. When tempted to shoot a quick text, or mouth off to her husband, or ignore the rules they had in place for her safety and well-being, she'd find herself stopping in her tracks. She knew her husband would spank her, and spank her hard, if she needed it.

“Sonya...” he began, in the warning tone.

She gulped.

“I was on the phone in the car without my headset,” she blurted out, a stream of words flying out of her mouth like leaves whipped about in a gust of wind.

His eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms, as she continued.

“But it wasn't for long! And...and I hung up after like two minutes, because I felt guilty,” she confessed.

“Were you parked?” he asked sternly.

She swallowed hard.

“No, but I --”

“Were your keys out of the ignition?” he questioned.

She sighed, and shook her head, biting her lip, the prickle of fear beginning to creep into her belly.

“No, sir,” she admitted.

“Then you broke a rule,” he stated plainly.

She nodded.

He reached for her hands and held them. “And what happens when you break a rule?”

She looked down at her hands, engulfed in his. She couldn't speak.

“Look in my eyes,” he directed.

She obeyed, though reluctantly. “I get a spanking,” she whispered.

“What was that?” he asked, with a raise of the eyebrow.

“I get a spanking!” she snapped, with a flash of temper.

He reached out and put a finger under her chin. “I'd be careful if I were you, young lady,” he scolded. “You're already getting a spanking. Start mouthing off to me, and your ass will pay.”

Her heart leapt and she nodded quickly, trying to save herself before she dug the hole any deeper.

“Yes, sir. But Anthony,” she began.

He nodded quietly. “Yes?”

“I...I'm beginning to think....I don't know if I want to do this anymore.”

He looked taken aback, but then he began to chuckle. “You don't want me to spank you anymore?”

She nodded. “I just...well I like the sexy spankings, and I like the stress relief spankings. They help...keep me in check, keep me calm. But I don't know how I feel about discipline anymore.”

He smirked, and let go of her hand, nestling back in the chair, and resumed watching the game.

“Sure, you don't want me to spank you when you're getting a spanking. Makes sense to me,” he said, as he tossed another handful of popcorn in his mouth.

“Hey, I need you to take me seriously,” she began defensively, feeling her anger rise at his seeming nonchalance, but fighting to keep her temper in check.

His eyes cut to hers and all playfulness fled.

“Oh, I'm taking you seriously,” he said. “And tonight, when the game is over, you'll be taking me seriously when you're over my lap being paddled.”

Her stomach twisted. This wasn't going as well as she'd hoped.

“But I just said I don't know if I want to do this anymore.”

He shook his head. “Right before a punishment is hardly the time to begin questioning whether or not this works for us,” he said. “And if you think I'm beginning the weekend with you all upset and irritable because you broke a rule and didn't get a spanking, think again. You wanna discuss this later, after I've whipped your ass and you've paid the price for your disobedience? Fine. We'll talk about it then. Tonight, you're getting a spanking. Period.” He turned back to the television, dismissing her.

She felt her temper rising and knew she shouldn't push it, but she couldn't contain herself.

“You're not even listening to me,” she protested, controlling her volume with considerable difficulty.

He tossed the bag of popcorn down, sat straight up in his chair, and took her by the arm.

“No, Sonya. You're the one not listening to me.”

She could tell by the flash of his eyes that she'd pushed her luck.

“Did we agree that I would spank you if you disobeyed me?”

“Yes, we did, but I --”

His eyes narrowed and the grip on her arm tightened.

“Did you tell me you trusted me?”

Her mounting frustration was building, but she knew that look on his face, and knew she had to rein it in now. “Yes. I did, but when I --”

“Then it's settled,” he bit out. He looked at her steadily. “Tonight you're getting a spanking. And unless you want a reckoning with my belt, right here, right now, before I even punish you, I'd strongly suggest you get yourself ready for bed and wait for me up there.”

She had defied him once when it came to submitting for a spanking. That had been a mistake.

She was still angry, her heart pounding, and heat rising in her cheeks. But she knew better than to push further.

“Okay,” she mumbled. His eyes narrowed and he leaned closer to her.

“Try that again,” he said evenly.

“Yes, sir,” she whispered. He nodded, then sat back in his chair.

“I'll be up in thirty minutes.”

She stood, and shuffled out of the room. She dragged her feet up the stairs. She knew she deserved a spanking. She knew she wanted her husband to spank her when she needed it. But when the rubber hit the road, it was easier said than done. He didn't play around with punishment spankings. When he decided she needed to be disciplined, he would firmly and decidedly administer a spanking. She could beg and plead, and try to get away, but he would hold her firmly until he thought she'd paid sufficiently for what she'd done.

He'd never overdone it. She knew she could trust him.

She still didn't want to be punished.

With a resigned sigh, she changed into a loose-fitting pair of pajama bottoms that she knew would be useless in a matter of minutes. Anthony was one of those guys that believed a bare bottom spanking was the only way to spank, but the momentary coverage gave her temporary reprieve. She brushed her teeth, and prepared herself for bed. She picked up her phone and nestled under the covers. She texted her friend Emily, thankfully one of the few people she could trust with their lifestyle. She'd met her on an internet forum the year before. They'd immediately hit it off, and she'd come to rely on her friend's support and encouragement. It wasn't always easy being a spanked wife. It was lonely at times, and she drew strength from the friendship of those who understood her.

Hey, she texted. Guess who broke another stupid rule.

She was relieved the response came back instantly.

Oh nooooo, Sonya. Girl, not again! You just got a spanking Monday!

She sighed, and felt tears prick her eyes. She swallowed.

I know. I'm such a moron!

Everyone makes mistakes. That's why he's there to help you. You are not a moron, and if you say that again I swear I'll email Anthony myself and he'll spank you for it!

She giggled.

I don't know. I just don't know if this is what I want anymore.

There was no response for a minute. She bit her lip. She wasn't sure she was ready to discuss this.

Why do you say that?

She took a deep breath. Why did she say that? It had all begun with that stupid article she read online about women and equality and domineering men. Her feminist hackles had been riled, and she'd begun to question...everything. Why would a grown woman want to be disciplined like a child? Wasn't she capable of modifying her own behavior without childish consequences? What would her friends say if they knew?

I just don't know if it's right.

According to whom?

Sonya sighed. To me. For us. I just don't know if this is right anymore.

Didn't you just say you were in trouble? Now's not the time to be questioning this.

Sonya laughed.

Yeah, you sound like Tony .lol

Not surprised. lol Listen, honey, you trust him. You tell me all the time how much you love him, and how grateful you are that he does this for you. It's not easy sometimes, but I think you won't like it if you go back now. Ask yourself, how would you feel if Tony came upstairs right now and told you he wasn't going to spank you after all?

Sonya didn't reply for a moment. She played out the scenario in her head. He'd come upstairs, shut out the light, and they'd go to bed...her bottom would be spared. But she'd still be riddled with guilt. She wouldn't have that closure. She felt relief at the thought of being spared a spanking. But then, the more she thought about it, she felt...let down.

I think I'd be disappointed. I'd still feel guilty. I'd feel maybe even disconnected from him?

Yep.

She heard the door downstairs lock, and Tony's feet on the stairs.

I have to go He's coming up.

Good luck, honey.

Thanks. Seriously...thanks for helping me feel better.

Any time. Night.

Night.

She dropped her phone on the bedside table as the door opened. Without a word, Anthony entered the room, turned and locked the door. Her heart pounded. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her pants, as Anthony walked to the bedside table, opened the drawer, and removed the paddle.

“Are you still going to argue with me?” he asked, as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Or are you ready to take your spanking?”

She gulped. “I'm ready.”

He nodded. He was in the role of disciplinarian now. No fooling around, no joking, stern and unyielding. She quaked as he beckoned to her.

“Come here.”

She obeyed.

“Take off your pants and lie over my lap.”

With trembling fingers, she pushed her pajama bottoms down and laid herself over his lap. This was the moment of acceptance...the moment of quiet while she braced herself, her emotions churning,spinning together, consuming her. Fear. Dread. Guilt.

Relief.

She felt Anthony's fingers grip the edge of her panties and pull them down. She squeezed her eyes shut and drew the bedspread up in fists. Her cheek lay flat against the bed as she felt the cool, flat surface of the paddle on her bare bottom.

“Why are you getting a spanking, Sonya?” he asked in his stern voice. She swallowed.

“I talked on my phone in the car,” she mumbled.

“Yes. You broke the law, disobeyed a rule, and put your life in danger. Is that right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What happens when you break a rule?”

“I get a spanking,” she whispered. She hated answering that question but he made her do it anyway.

“Is this the first time I've spanked you for this?”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“No, sir,” she muttered.

She heard him breathing quietly. She wanted it over with. She wanted him to start already, and end the lecture, but he wouldn't begin until he was good and ready. He knew how she hated the anticipation, so he used it to amplify the effect of the spanking.

She waited for the rest of the lecture, but gasped in surprise as she felt the first stinging swat of the paddle. It was a light swat, the warm-up, and she braced herself as he swatted her again, and again. Then he began to spank in earnest.

“Do you think I want you to crash the car?”

Swat! Swat! Swat!

“Noooooo,” she moaned, tears clogging her throat, her hands grasping the edge of the bedspread so tightly her knuckles were white.

“I don't like punishing you,” he continued, as he spanked her. She couldn't help it. She writhed and squirmed, trying to get away, her “fight or flight” impulse kicking in. It was unbearable. She couldn't take it anymore. Every crack of the paddle lit her on fire, a burning sensation screaming across her backside.

She tried to propel herself forward, but he held fast. He paused, put the paddle down, and rubbed her aching bottom.

“I'm not done, young lady,” he said, and she groaned. How could she possibly take anymore?

“Anthony, please,” she pleaded.

“No,” he said angrily.“We are done when I say we're done. I want this to be the last time I ever spank your ass for this.”

He returned the paddle to her bottom with renewed vigor. She howled and squirmed, but she couldn't get away. As he spanked her over, and over, and over again she felt herself getting to that place of submission. She knew she deserved a spanking. It hurt so badly, but she knew she couldn't get away.

All she could do was take it.

She sunk into herself, retreating inward. No more fighting. No more trying to get away. No more wishing he'd stop, or yelping as he spanked her. She made quiet little noises as he paddled her soundly.

She was vaguely aware of him stopping. She took a deep breath, not realizing she'd even been holding onto her breath. Her heart was pounding, and she'd broken out in a light sweat.

“We're done,” he said softly, as he began to massage her tender bottom. “Are you going to break the law and talk on the phone in the car again?” He lifted her up and held her, as she began to cry softly.

“No, sir,” she said softly. “No, I won't. I'm sorry.” The tears flowed more freely now, as the comfort of his firm embrace released all the pent-up sadness and remorse she'd been holding onto. “I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me.”

He held her and kissed her forehead.

“Of course I forgive you,” he said softly.

Her weeping slowed and gave way to soft, shuddering breaths.

“Go lay down, Sonya,” he commanded and she instinctively obeyed. She lay her head on the pillow, careful to stretch out slowly, as every move made her aching bottom scream in agony.

“On your belly,” he said softly.

He began to massage the aloe lotion on her. It soothed a bit, every bit as much as the tenderness in his voice.

“I know you said you don't know if you want this anymore,” he began. “I'm not sure if this is the right time to discuss this, but I'd like to.”

After a spanking, she was as meek and docile as a sleeping baby.

“Yes, Anthony.”

“I've seen the changes in you since we've begun..in both of us,” he continued, as she rolled over and put her head on his chest. “But either we're both in this together, or we don't continue.”

Is this what she wanted? Did she want the firm discipline Anthony meted out? Would she continue to undergo the awful, awkward moments of confessing? The horrid dread of the wait? Moreover, could she endure the harsh pain of his discipline?

He was right. She couldn't deny the benefits of the way she felt being taken in hand. She couldn't deny how much closer they'd gotten.

It wasn't easy. It was harder than she ever imagined it would be.

She swallowed. She was subdued, and quiet, but she felt forgiven. She felt submitted to him. She couldn't deny how dearly she craved his leadership, his strength, and his protection.

She felt loved.

But she knew there was no turning back.

She couldn't go back. Not now, not ever.

“No,” she said. “I don't want to go back.”

He nodded, and kissed her forehead.

“We're in this together?” he asked, his voice taking on an edge.

She nodded. “Together.”

“No more flipping out when I tell you you're getting a spanking?”

She shrugged. “Well, I didn't say that.”

His eyes widened, but then he laughed out loud. She laughed herself, basking in the warm glow of his warmth and laughter.

“It's okay, babe,” he replied. “I can take you.”

“That you can,” she muttered wryly. She paused, and took a deep breath before she sobered. One more thing to say. It had to be said. She wrapped her arms around him as she whispered, “Thank you.”

THE END