She glares at me. “You’ve never told me I’m not your prisoner. You told me I had no choice but to marry you.”
“Watch that smart mouth,” I snap. “I’ll not tolerate a wife who raises her voice to me. You know what I expect, Caitlin, and I won’t warn you again.”
But I don’t think she’s heard a word I’ve said. “All this time,” she says, wagging her finger at me. “When did you know I wasn’t a spy? I was there when you found out who my father was. I knew that much. But you haven’t told me. How long have you known, Keenan? Hmm?”
“’Tis of no consequence,” I say, shaking my head at her. “I kept you here for your own good, and I—”
“For my own good!” She throws my words back at me.
“That’s twice now you’ve interrupted me. Do not interrupt me again.” The girl’s going the right way for a good spanking. “Even if you have a point, even if you’ve a right to be upset, you may not interrupt me or speak rudely.”
I can tell she’s warring within herself, her eyes still dancing with fury, when she gets to her feet and tries to stomp off. I reach for her arm to stop her. I won’t allow this. We’ll talk this through, but when I take hold of her arm, she spins around, rears back, and slaps me across the cheek.
“Don’t. Touch. Me.”
Oh, hell no. As she spins to turn around to get away from me, I reach for her again, this time to take hold of her arm and yank her to me. She squeals and fights me, but I’ll have none of it. In one swift motion, I swing her up and over my shoulder, and when she kicks her feet in protest and pounds my back, I lace my arms around her scissoring legs and smack my palm against her arse. Hard.
“Let me go!” she fumes. “Let me go!”
I’ll let her go, after I’ve taken the fight right out of her with a sound spanking. I don’t bother taking her out of the room, but hook a chair with my foot, drag it over, and sit heavily. She squeals when she’s sprawled over my knee, fighting as hard as she can, but I won’t allow it. The girl’s got a good, hard spanking coming whether I have to hold her down every step of the way or not.
And fight me she does. She’s smacking at my legs, clearly overpowered but not willing to give in. I hold her in an iron-like grip, one arm anchored around her upper body, while with my other hand, I lift her skirts and yank down her knickers.
“Don’t you ever raise a hand to me.” I slam my palm on her arse, and the breath whooshes straight out of her. She gasps for breath, squealing and howling like I’ve just branded her. “You will not storm away from me. You will not defy me.” I spank her thoroughly, slamming my palm down again and again, when I feel a sharp pain in my leg.
The lass bit me. With a growl, I tip her up just long enough to unclasp my belt. I don’t let her get away, holding her with one hand while I yank my belt from the loops with my other. I form a loop, hold her down, and whip her with the folded leather. It has the desired effect. Within three sound smacks of my belt, she screams in protest.
“Okay, okay!” she says, and I can tell by the sound of her voice she’s crying. “Let me go, you beast!”
But I’m not done. I won’t let her go until I’ve administered a proper belting she’ll feel well into tomorrow. She’ll learn her place and calling me a beast certainly isn’t helping her arse. Still, she’s a little one, and I have to exercise caution, so I keep my head about me while I punish her. I could easily hurt her, and I don’t wish to do that. I wish to punish her, and there’s a difference.
I wait between strokes of my belt, letting my words sink in. “I’ll not have a wife that talks back to me. I’ll have obedience from you.” I pause, before I lift my belt again. “I’ll listen to you. I’ll admit when I’m wrong. Any good leader learns meekness and patience, and I won’t fail you in that. But it’s too dangerous for you to defy me, young lady. You’re safer under my protection, and the sooner you learn that the better.”
I spank her until she finally slumps over my lap, swiping at her eyes and sniffling, and her voice has softened. “I’m sorry.”
I drop my belt and lift her into my arms, cradling her. Though a part of me loves administering pain, and a part of me longs to wield my power, I have to admit I dislike proper punishment.