Authors: Kathryn R. Blake
When the knock sounded, Kelly almost jumped out of her shoes. She started toward the door, but Jim shook his head and mouthed ‘ask.’
“Who is it?” she asked, her nerves giving her voice the right amount of quaver for a frightened woman. Hey, who was acting?
“Zippy’s pizza, ma’am.” Came the prompt reply.
She shook her head to indicate she didn’t recognize the voice. Didn’t mean anything. It could still be him.
“I’m here with your pizza order, ma’am.” The man announced, probably because she took too long to answer.
“Coming,” she replied, wiping her sweaty palms on her slacks. Though she had less than three feet to walk, it felt like a mile. She stood on tiptoe to gaze out the peephole. She couldn’t see his face. Jim was right, he’d pulled his hat low over his eyes and was looking down at the floor. Realizing if she’d been alone she never would have simply opened the door after the scare she’d had, she said, “I’m sorry. Could you look up, please? I can’t see your face.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jim give her an okay sign, so she waited, but the figure didn’t move.
“Ma’am, I’m on a bit of a time crunch here. Please open up so I can give you your pizza and be on my way.”
Biting her lower lip, she gazed helplessly at Jim. She didn’t want to let this man in. Jim gave her a “go ahead” nod. So, she took a deep breath, stepped forward, undid the chain and opened her door.
The figure raised his head then, and she recognized those hot, brilliant green eyes right away. She didn’t even say, ‘Mike.’ She didn’t have to. Mike did it all by himself when he said, “Hello, Kelly.”
“Freeze!” Kelly heard someone in the hall shout.
Officer Riley stood up. “You’re under arrest! Get down on the floor. Now!”
Mike threw the pizza box at Kelly snarling, “Bitch!”
That’s when she saw the long knife he’d been hiding under the box. She’d quickly jumped back when he tossed the fragrant, but noisy, pizza box at her, so the lethal swipe he took missed her by an inch. With a growl of frustration, he took off running down the hall. Jim carefully moved her aside then both he and Officer Riley rushed out in pursuit.
Kelly heard gunshots and a cry of pain. Covering her ears, she screamed and felt herself slowly unraveling at the seams. She never realized how loud guns sounded when they went off. Her ears were ringing and she hadn’t even been near Mike at the time.
The officers were shouting, but Kelly couldn’t make out what they said due to the constant buzzing in her ears. Then Jim charged back through the door, took one look at her, holstered his gun and drew her into his arms.
“We got him, darlin’,” he said, holding her.
“Is he dead?” Kelly asked, her knees weak and wobbly. She hated herself for being so pathetic, but she couldn’t stop shaking.
Jim lifted her into his arms and she clung to him, seeking his strength at the same time she felt cowardly for needing it. “Wounded,” he answered, carrying her back to the couch. “Shot in the leg. I wanted it to be in the head so bad for what he did to you, but Riley actually pulled me back. He knew what I’d try to do, because he’d do the same thing if you’d been his girl.”
Sitting down, Jim cradled her. “I am so proud of you, darlin’. I realize how difficult this was, but you were so brave standin’ there and facin’ him down.”
“No. I wasn’t brave at all,” she said on a whimper. “As a matter of fact, I think I’ve peed in my pants.”
He chuckled, kissed her, then said, “Well, I guess we’d best get you changed then, hadn’t we?”
Once Kelly was calm enough to stand on her own, Jim had her officially identify Mike, then said, “Gentlemen, I’m sure you can understand how tryin’ this was for Miss Franklin. I’ll be with her and we’ll talk tonight, then I’ll bring her down to the station with me tomorrow so she can answer any other questions you might have. However, for now, not to be rude, but I’d like you all to leave.”
The officers understood, even Jim’s Captain had nothing but good words to say to both of them.
When they were alone, Kelly excused herself to go to the bathroom. Working fast, Jim put on a pair of latex gloves and picked up the forgotten pizza box. Inside the box, still littered with tomato and cheese stains, was a lengthy rope, a pair of pliers, vicious looking nipple rings along with several double-edged razor blades and a ball gag. The pervert planned to party hearty with his former girlfriend way beyond his twenty minute limit. The thought of Kelly being tortured made Jim’s fingers tighten with fury, but he swallowed his rage, hid the box of evidence he’d take to the station tomorrow, ripped off his gloves, and turned to face Kelly with a smile as he slipped the thin latex back into his pocket.
Her blank expression worried him. “You like Chinese food?” he asked. “I’ve been told of a cozy little restaurant not far from here, which does take out. I could order us up some.” When Kelly shrugged, Jim clucked his tongue at her. “You need to eat somethin’, darlin’. Low blood sugar probably has a lot to do with why you fainted.”
Kelly nodded. “Okay. Chinese sounds good.” Although her tone told him he’d need to convince her to eat, so something still bothered her deeply.
Jim called and ordered, then turned and gazed at her. She looked frail, scared and pale, a mere shadow of her former self. “You cold, darlin’? How ‘bout I run a bath to warm you up?”
She shook her head, but kept her arms wrapped about herself.
“What’s wrong, Kelly?” he asked, stepping over to enfold her in his embrace. At this point he would have preferred her swearing and calling him names. This stake out had spooked her bad.
“Nothing. I’m fine,” she whispered against his chest, then she started to sob. He quickly picked her up again and sat back down on the couch with her on his lap. She clutched at his shirt and cried harder than he’d ever seen her cry before. And that was saying something.
“Shh, darlin’. You’re gonna make yourself sick if you continue carryin’ on this way. What is it sweetheart?”
“Are you still going to punish me?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“What?” He didn’t immediately understand, then he recalled her escape attempt. Yeah, he planned to wallop her good for that foolishness, but not tonight when she was already so broken up. The threat of a spanking couldn’t be what was ripping her apart inside. Not like this. He’d never seriously hurt her again. Not like he did last Friday. And at this point he was willing to say or do almost anything to get a smile out of her.
He hugged her close. “Not until I’m sure you’re okay. I mean, that would be takin’ unfair advantage to give you a spankin’ when you’re already cryin’. Don’t you think?” She shook her head. “No? What? You want your spankin’ now?”
She stared at him and nodded.
“You do?” he asked, not even trying to mask the note of surprise in his voice. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “How come?”
“Because I want you to make love to me, and you won’t do that if you’re still thinking of punishing me. At least not until after it’s over.”
“Well, I suppose I could make an exception, if you’re that horny for some lovin’. You certainly seemed ready to go again last night.”
She shook her head again.
Another surprise. “No?”
“No. I just want to get it over with, please. Otherwise I won’t be able to think of anything else.”
“You won’t?”
She fell back against his chest and sobbed. “No. I’m sorry.”
Jim tightened his arms about her and kissed her hair. She was truly miserable at the thought of him punishing her, so he decided to let her determine their course for the moment. “You were scared, darlin’. I realize that. I’m not angry, but it worried the piss out of me when I envisioned what might have happened if you’d succeeded in getting away. And I couldn’t bear the thought of that.” He started to rock her in his arms until her breathing slowed to normal.
* * * *
Kelly closed her eyes, grateful for his understanding and desperate for his comfort and praise. Finally she sighed. “Thank you, Sir.”
“You’re more than welcome, darlin’. You do realize the only reason I’d spank you for attempting to run away, was so you’d never do anythin’ so foolish ever again?”
“Yes, Sir,” she answered, her head tucked under his chin as he rocked her back and forth.
“So you agree runnin’ away was an exceptionally stupid thing for you to try to do?”
She gazed up at him and nodded. “Yes, Sir.”
He picked up her hands, examined them for a moment, then kissed her knuckles. “So, how many swats you think a Dom should give his sub for almost givin’ him a heart attack?”
She met his playful grin without a smile. “At least one hundred, Sir.”
He laughed and hugged her. “Oh, Kelly girl, I’ve a feelin’ you’re gonna be the death of me, yet.” He sighed, then thought for a moment. “One hundred, eh? Well, we should discount at least eighty of those because you were frightened for your life. That’s got to count for somethin’. Next, I think we need to discount at least ten more, because you’re showin’ true regret, and promise you’ll never do anythin’ so foolhardy again. Right?”
Kelly nodded. Ten wouldn’t be
too
bad, especially if he agreed to take care of her afterwards.
“Hmm. So we’re at ten now. Think you’re up to acceptin’ ten swats on your bare behind from your adorin’ Dom for terrifyin’ him half to death?”
“Yes, Sir. If Sir would promise to make love to me afterwards.”
“You think you deserve a reward?”
“No, Sir. But I really need my Dom to take care of me tonight in all the ways he knows how.”
“Wow! That’s a tall order, ma’am, but you’ve hit upon the true Dom’s dilemma. When to love, when to comfort and when to punish. But this Dom thinks he’s finally got it figured out. It’s pretty simple, really. All he has to do is give the love of his life what she needs, when she needs it, and everything else falls into place. You agree?”
“Yes, Sir,” Kelly answered softly.
“Do you also agree this spankin’ is somethin’ you need right now?”
Kelly nodded, but when Jim gave her a frown to indicate her response wasn’t appropriate, she whispered, “Yes, Sir.”
“Very well. Stand up and remove those pants and panties.”
Kelly stood up, but merely gazed back at him. He gripped her hips, pulled her a little closer, and slowly bared her lower half. Then with a grin, he bent forward to place a loud, smacking kiss on her plucked pubic hair, and she laughed. He held her for a moment before gazing up at her with a frown.
“Now, this is a serious punishment, sub. I expect you to be terribly worried right now, because your Dom intends to be very strict with you. Perhaps he should use a wooden spoon as a paddle…?”
Uneasy with the thought, Kelly put a hand on his arm. She knew the decision was ultimately his, but the idea of him using anything other than his hand unsettled her for some reason, so she pleaded with him. “No, Sir. Please. Not this time. I need to feel your palm on me right now. Flesh to flesh.”
He regarded her intently for a moment, then nodded. “As my lady wishes,” he conceded, carefully laying her across his thighs. “So, should I make you count out each stroke as I deliver it?”
Hesitating for a second, she shook her head, hoping he wouldn’t think she was attempting to top from the bottom again.
“No? Why not?” he asked, his voice sounding genuinely curious as he stroked her.
Unsure how to explain what she was feeling, when she was more than a little uncertain about it herself, she said, “I want to lie here and totally submit myself to you, so you’ll know I accept and understand you are doing this because you love me, and want to take care of me.”
“Well, you’ve got that right, darlin’. Okay, I’ll count for you this time,” he agreed, his caresses building another need inside her. “And I really do love you, Kelly Franklin.”
Tears started to flow down her cheeks again. “I believe you, Sir.”
He ran his fingers along the length of her, no doubt testing to see if she had tensed anywhere, but she closed her eyes and concentrated on relaxing and submitting her body and heart to the man who held her safe and secure on his lap.
“We begin at one,” he said, firmly bringing his hand down. It hurt and she gave a little moan, but remained perfectly still.
“Good. Two.” That one seemed even harder yet, and she couldn’t hold back a small whimper. If he continued on in this manner, she was going to be bawling soon. She was already crying, so it wouldn’t take much. But she would try to be brave for as long as she could.
“Relax your shoulders, Kelly. Three.”
“Ow,” she yelped this time. This wasn’t getting any easier. If anything it was getting harder and harder to submit.
“Four.” Her back arched up. “Aiiiieee!” God that stung. She looked over her shoulder to make sure all he was using was his hand.
“Down,” he ordered, gently pushing her back to the couch. “Are you feeling well-chastised, sub?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir. Your hand seems to strike harder than the paddle did.”
“A bit sharper, perhaps, since it has less padding, but no harder. Now quiet. You have six more to go.”
“Um, Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Perhaps we could take a short break? I don’t seem to be handling this punishment quite as well as I thought I would.”
“That’s because you’re still sore from Friday night. This is only Tuesday, Kelly, and even at four, your bottom is exhibiting the warm, red glow of my hand prints.”
“I thought I–”
“Let’s finish this tonight. You can do this, my brave girl. Now, deep breath.”
She obeyed, wanting to give him the submission he deserved.
“Good. Again,” he instructed, his hand lazily rubbing her lower back.
She took another deep breath.
“Good. You’re relaxed again. Five.”
That was it. The swat that put her over, and she started to sob. “I’m sorry, Sir. I won’t run away again. Please, Sir.” She’d never begged him before, but her bottom burned like it was on fire.
“You bet you won’t. That’s exactly what I’m here to ensure. Six.”
She bucked and tried to get free, but he restrained her by tucking her legs under his thigh. “Nooo! Please. Melon. Please.”