Page 27 of His Loving Guidance
Chapter Five
Stephie flushed from head to toe under Marcus’s stern gaze.
“I’m waiting, little girl. Take the dress off and everything underneath it, too. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
Oh, she knew. Sighing, she reached back to unzip her gown. It fell to her feet in a pool of purple silken fabric, and she stood before her fully clothed husband in nothing but a strapless bra and a skimpy thong. She’d lost her high heels the moment they’d walked in the hotel room.
“I’m still waiting.” His gaze swept over her, and her sense of vulnerably heightened.
Closing her eyes, she unhooked her bra and let it slide away. Still keeping her eyes shut tight, she stepped out of her thong and pushed the pile of clothing to the side with her foot.
“Look at me,” Marcus said, his voice deep and strained.
Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and peered up at him. His sternness remained, and he’d rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt while she’d taken off her undergarments. Butterflies flittered in her stomach, and her breathing became labored. This punishment would be different from the one she’d received days ago in their bedroom. Her transgression was so much worse than resistance and being mouthy. She’d planned her disobedience down to the very last detail. “You were very naughty, Stephie,” he said, beginning her scolding. The butterflies in her stomach flittered faster and seemed to rise to her throat. She felt sick with remorse. He’d obviously been sick with worry. All because of her.
“You left town without telling me where you were going. You left me to assume you’d gone to New York. I had to assume that because in your naughtiness, you didn’t even have the courtesy of leaving me a note. Think about that, Stephie. Think about how worried I was when you didn’t answer your phone. Yes, that’s right. Not only did you not have the courtesy to leave a note, but you didn’t have the courtesy to answer your phone or return a call or text message. You had the ability to contact me and you didn’t. Did you see my calls and texts on your cell phone as they came in?” His voice had risen, but he wasn’t yelling.
“I . . . I turned my phone off.” Oh, she felt miserable. What had she been thinking turning her phone off like that? What if he’d needed to get ahold of her for an emergency? Going off the grid for hours wasn’t acceptable. She was his wife, and while he had never given her rules about staying connected to him via cell phone, the rule was implied. Purposefully keeping herself out of reach was intolerable. Thoughtless and selfish. She cringed inwardly and resisted the urge to cover her nudity.
“But you must have turned it on at some point to send me that text.”
“I decided to send you one text and then turn my phone off again. I’m so sorry. I saw you’d left messages, but I didn’t listen to them. I skimmed the texts, sent you the one text, then turned it off because I couldn’t bear to speak with you. Not right before the exhibit.” She made to lower her head, but he immediately reached out, stilling her movement with a finger under her chin. She had nowhere to hide. Nowhere to look except into his dark, intense eyes.
Tears ran down her cheeks as he scolded her over her irresponsible and careless behavior. By the time he finished, she felt as chastised as she felt after the most severe spanking in the past, but no, she still had a spanking coming. That knowledge brought more tears to her eyes. She couldn’t recall a time she’d been in such deep trouble. Despite how much the spanking would hurt, she longed to be over his lap. She longed for his forgiveness. To feel his arms around her as he stroked her hair and murmured soothing words into her ear.
Marcus grasped her hand and led her across the room. To the bed. Her legs shook with each step. He sat down and guided her over his lap, and she offered no resistance. The comforter soaked up her tears, and she turned her face to the side, drawing in deep breaths as her anticipation grew.
He positioned her bottom high in the air over one knee and brought his other leg down atop her legs. Tremors ran through her, and she gasped when he cupped her cheeks. He didn’t begin immediately, instead massaging her flesh to prepare her for the imminent spanking. After about two minutes, his hand left her bottom and his other hand pressed down on her lower back.
She pressed her eyes shut, holding her breath. Thwack! The first slap caught her lower right cheek, and the next slap caught her opposite cheek. His hand came down, again and again, the sting building up with each slap until her bottom felt like an inferno. Maintaining silence through the pain became difficult, and her cries soon tore through the air.
“You will never, ever run off without telling me where you are going, young lady. Am I making myself clear?” As he scolded, he maintained a swift pace of spanks, centering most of his attention on the lower curve of her bottom.
“Yes!” She wiggled and reached back to cover her scorched backside. She couldn’t possibly take one more slap. Her flesh blazed and throbbed. Sobs shook her shoulders and tears soaked her face. Shame welled up deep in her chest, her remorse warring with her desire for the spanking to end. She trusted Marcus and knew he wouldn’t harm her, but oh how her bottom hurt. Misery swallowed her whole.
“You know better,” he said, growling as he pinned her hands at the small of her back.
Of course she knew better. She’d known better than to run off to New York against Marcus’s wishes, but she’d done so anyway. All to get his attention. Well, she’d succeeded. But as the spanking continued, she decided her naughtiness hadn’t been worth it. Running off to New York had been the equivalent of a temper tantrum.
Just when she didn’t think it could sting any worse, his hand stilled on her bottom, and he cupped her tender, well-punished flesh. He released her wrists, and she brought her hands to cover her face as the rest of her emotion came pouring out.
* * *
Warmth and tenderness overcame Marcus as he gazed down at Stephie. Relief filled him, too, because he’d punished her and brought her to tears for a second time, and neither of them was broken. Even though her sobs pulled at his heartstrings, he knew the pain of her spanking and the cathartic release of tears was necessary for them both. For her because she desired to be under his authority and would’ve experienced soul-crushing guilt had he not punished her. For him because he loved her and wanted to ensure her protection, to make sure she never disobeyed in such a manner again.
Red handprints marred her bottom, and he rubbed her scorching hot cheeks as her crying slowed. She sniffled and took a few deep breaths, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand. Marcus turned her around and sat her on his lap, cradling her in a strong embrace. No words passed between them, the only sound being the faint ticking of his watch and her sniffles.
“Shh,” he said, stroking her hair. She nestled against his chest, as if trying to hide from the world. He tightened his arms around her body, never wishing to release her. His wife. His beautiful, sweet wife. Alive. Healthy. He vowed to treasure every day they had together for the rest of their lives, and he vowed to stop living in the past. No more fear.
“Do . . . do you forgive me?”
“Of course I do, sweetheart. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She sighed and relaxed in his hold, her breath warming his chest through his shirt.
Minutes passed, and every time Stephie shifted in his lap, his cock swelled harder and his balls felt heavy and tense. Desire combined with his need to comfort her, and when she withdrew from his arms to gaze up at him with her pretty blue eyes, he grasped her face between his hands and kissed her with a longing that left them both breathless.
Marcus shifted her off his lap and onto the bed. She winced as her bottom came into contact with the comforter, and he smirked playfully down at her, crawling atop her to trail kisses down her neck, until his lips reached a nipple. He swirled his tongue around the bud until it hardened in his mouth, and he nipped it with his teeth before pulling away to give her other nipple the same rough attention. Moaning beneath him, she arched her center to meet his groin.
