Page 33 of Tristan
“Because I disobeyed you,” I say, my cheeks as flushed as they can be, hot tears of frustration leak from my eyes.
“Correct. I can afford to be more lenient when you disobey me in private, but in public, you cannot be seen defying me.”
I nod instead of arguing like I want to since that will be seen as more defiance. I’m thrust over his lap, and he slips his fingers under the waistband of my undergarments to take the last of my dignity, making my arse bare and ready for his hand. Corrik is strong—I already knew that—but it’s impressed upon me again when his hand hits my arse. Ithurts.
“Fuck. Corrik. Not sobloodyhard!”
“I dare say it’s imprudent to curse when one is being punished,” he says as he continues.
Corrik uses a maddening pattern of three whacks to one side and three to the other, over and over, and over. I work at holding still, thinking if I do this it somehow saves my dignity, but it gets harder toremain still as the spanking progresses. The burning is unpleasant. It stings, and I want to be let up.
“Corrik, I’m sorry.Please.”
“I won’t allow disobedience,” he says, continuing to spank me. “You will obey me.”
It gets harder to remain still and without wanting to, I attempt to move out of target range. He tightens his grip, and all I can do is kick my legs. I’m not quick to tears, but they start falling, and I cry over my helplessness. There’s nothing I can do. I’m getting this spanking for however long he decides I’m getting it.
It’s a long time before he’s decided I’ve had enough. He helps me stand up, returns my clothes to rights and then pulls me in between his knees so that I have to look him in the eyes.
“You have two minutes to wash your face and return downstairs. You will apologize to everyone, specifically to our hosts, which includes Alvin. You will sit beside me and not utter another word for the rest of breakfast.”
“Yes, Corrik.”
When he’s gone, I run to the little washing-up room, and pull down my trousers and pants to see what it looks like after a spanking like that. My arse is pretty red, but it’s not bruised like it feels. I rub it to try and remove some of the sting, but it still throbs—Corrik has proven himself at yet another talent. I’m still miffed about Alvin, but I don’t plan on disobeying Corrik anytime soon.
And I… I dunno. I’m mollified. Things have been stressful. Getting to kick and cry and push against Corrik has relieved me in some way—I feel like a mountain of gold. Plus, I might have been dramatic. Still, don’t I get some after-spanking comfort? Even my father, strict as he was, handed out some kind of balm afterward.
Two minutes isn’t near enough to wash myself up properly, and when I return downstairs, I’m sure everyone can see evidence on my face that I’ve just been disciplined.
I make my apologies to the crowd, our hosts, and Alvin—who smirks at me like the prick he is—and then take my place besideCorrik. I’m sure it’s transparent how uncomfortable I am. I want to crawl under a rock. I’ll be glad when we leave Umbria, never to return. I eat in silence, not in the mood to talk with anyone. Alvin comes 'round a lot. He fills Corrik’s water, flirts with him, but at least he never touches him. Corrik does not respond to his advances, using a kind of indifferent voice I hope he never uses with me.
“Are you all right?” Corrik asks on our way out to the stables. “Do you need to ride with me again?”
It’ll be any wonder if I can ride at all. My arse still throbs. “I’ll be okay, Corrik,” I say, careful to keep my voice even.
Corrik nods to one of his men, and I’m given my horse.
“Hello, Waii,” I greet her. She seems to remember me and gives a small whinny, scuffing her hooved foot—I didn’t realize I made such an impression. I smile. Corrik watches the interaction between Waii and me.
“I wish I had your talent for making creatures fall in love with you,” he says. “I’m trying to tame this dragon you see.”
He’s flirting, and I think about ignoring him, but decide that’s probably not the best plan after just having been spanked. I don’t have to be flirtatious, but there’s nothing stopping him tossing me over a bale of hay in here if I’m rude. I can’t hold back my retort. “It’s easy. It’s called kindness.”
“There you are—my dragon warrior—I thought I lost you.”
“You ordered me not to speak.”
“For the duration of the meal. You may speak again,” he teases.
“Yes, your liege.”
“Oh, come now, will you pout about that punishment all day? It should be forgotten—that’s how it works.”
I’m not mad at him, not really. I actually feelrelaxed—but he doesn’t have to know that. “I wouldn’t know how it works—apparently I’m to learn by experience,” I say, and mount my horse. It’s more uncomfortable than the bench was at breakfast. I instantly hop off and look to Corrik as a form of complaint. I can see the regret inhis eyes—that he didn’t spank me harder—but he does take some pity on me.
“Let’s walk together awhile. I didn’t spank youthathard—you’ll be fine to ride again in a few hours—we’ll take a smaller guard so we can make better time when we want to catch up to the others.”
I’m surprised he’d make such a concession. “Thanks.”
