By the time Nathan had administered fifteen heavy strokes, Rose had tears running down her face and juices glistening on her thighs. Nathan had one hand firmly holding her back in place and his leg thrown over hers to keep her from kicking free.
“Only ten more. Need a break?”
“No, Sir,” she sobbed. “Please continue.”
“That’s my good girl,” he praised.
Her ass was on fire. Her face and her pussy were both dripping wet and she couldn’t decide if she were more remorseful or turned on.
“Count,” he ordered.
“Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four,” she counted.
Damn him.
Focusing on counting forced her to feel each hard blow instead of fantasise about him.
“Last one,” he said, landing a fierce blow to her right cheek.
“Twenty-five!” she cried.
She lay across his lap, his hand soothing her back as she brought her sobs under control.
“That’s it,” Nathan said softly. “Remember, from now on you’ll rise at six-thirty in the morning so that you can do your yoga. You’ll start you day right and you’ll be happier because of it.”
Sniffing, Rose answered, “Yes, Sir, I will. Thank you.”
Gently, Nathan turned her over and held her close. She nuzzled against his neck.
“You’re forgiven, girl,” he whispered.
She kissed his neck. Warmth and love and peace spilled over her.
“Thank you, Nathan,” she said.
He held her, ran his fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head.
Once her tears had subsided, he shifted and looked down at her.
“You ready for the last offence or want to wait?” he asked.
Rose sniffed and considered. She had no doubt that Nathan would wait on the final and worst punishment if she wanted him to. She also knew that she had broken one of the few expectations that he had insisted be met. He would offer no mercy with the next administration of discipline but, now understanding more fully his fear for her safety, she wanted none. Instead, she looked forward to proving her worthiness to him.
“I’m ready, Sir,” she acknowledged.
“Stand up then, and hold onto the closet pole,” he instructed.
Slowly but obediently, Rose obeyed. Nathan whistled softly and Rose knew he was peeling the ginger root, carving it into a plug that would stay in place until he removed it. He was taking his time preparing the herb so that her bottom could recover from its recent assault and she could meditate on her misdeed. And she was. Finally, she was beginning to understand why Nathan insisted on locked doors.
A few minutes later, she winced, feeling the cold wetness of the ginger as Nathan inserted it into her anus. She bit her lip and moaned when the stinging singed her delicate tissue. Gripping the pole a bit tighter, she prepared for her whipping.
She heard him unhook his belt and slide it from his blue jeans. Despite knowing that it would add to the sting, she clenched her ass cheeks in anticipation of the first blow. Twenty minutes. Pain radiated down her legs as the first blow landed. She hung her head but did not cry out, not that her crying would matter. Nathan had deemed twenty minutes for her punishment and she had agreed, so she neither expected nor wanted mercy. However, when no further blows followed the first, she became uneasy.
“I said twenty minutes, little Rose,” Nathan whispered into her ear, “but I didn’t say how many strikes I’d land, did I?”
“No, Sir, you did not,” she answered.
“No one expects a robbery or a rape, do they?” he asked.
Confused, Rose shook her head.
”And in imitation of that unknown, I plan on whipping you erratically until your time is up. Sometimes you’ll feel the bite once every few minutes, sometimes five or six strikes in a row,” he explained quietly. “In that way, you won’t be able to prepare yourself. You need to learn how to protect yourself in the ways that you can. Maybe this will help you remember to take reasonable precautions, babe.”
Rose jumped and squealed as Nathan laid the belt across her upper thighs. Involuntarily, she tightened her ass cheeks and the stinging juices of the ginger burned into her tissues. She bit her lip but did not cry. Nathan was right. She had behaved rashly and felt nothing but remorse for her actions. How could she have been so negligent? Considering the dangers she’d witnessed and endured during her childhood and teenage years, she should be more cautious. Perhaps that was the problem. Perhaps she was denying the existence of danger now that she felt safe and secure rather than admitting to the possibility of additional hardships in her life. By ignoring basic safety precautions, however, she was setting herself up for more victimisation. Nathan was right. She needed to be proactive rather than reactive.
“Babe? You okay?” Nathan asked, stroking her hair.
Focusing on her thoughts, Rose had completely lost track of time. Her time for discipline was over.
“Oh, Nathan. I’m so sorry,” she answered, letting go of the pole and turning to face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. “I didn’t realise what I was doing by being so careless. I promise I’ll do better. I’ll keep my door locked just as you want me to. Not just because you want me to, though, but because I didn’t realise how careless I was being. I don’t want to be hurt again and I don’t want to take unnecessary risks.”
“That’s my girl. I only want you safe and happy, Rose. You mean too much to me to risk you being hurt,” he responded. “Now, why don’t you lay on the bed so I can remove that plug? I know after a discipline session you usually have corner time before we make love, but I think you’ve contemplated enough. Besides, looking at your nakedness for the last hour has given me one raging hard-on.”
Giggling, Rose stood on her toes, kissed his cheek and hopped into bed. She propped herself up on her elbows and knees, wiggling her ass.
“You’re killin’ me, girl.” Nathan moaned.
Laughing, Rose looked behind her so she could watch Nathan strip. Blessed goddess but the man was pretty. Sometime through her contemplation, her juices had stopped flowing, but now, with the sight of his strong, hairy chest before her, she felt herself grow wet again.
Gently, Nathan grasped the end of the ginger and slowly removed it. Rose bit her lip, knowing she had several more minutes to endure the natural sting before it faded harmlessly away.
“That’s it. Keep your ass up for me,” Nathan murmured.
Rose put her forehead on the bed, raising her bottom a bit higher. She expected him to enter her, but when she felt his lips on her hot skin instead, she sighed. Slowly, methodically, Nathan kissed and licked every inch of skin he had just punished. He took the phrase ‘kiss away the pain’ to a whole new level. Rose squirmed with anticipation and need.
“Just relax, babe. I plan on taking my time,” Nathan said.
“Oh, God,” Rose whispered.
Nathan’s tongue circled her anus. She felt her juices overflow when he dipped into her rear entry just a bit. To add to her sweet torture, he began to play with her clit, tweaking it until it stood erect and throbbing. He inserted one finger into her channel and Rose exploded. There was no slow build-up of soft sensations. Rose’s world simply and irrevocably burst into a million brilliant stars, each shining a light of pleasure straight through her body.
Then he entered her. Nathan thrust his fullness deep inside and rode her. He held her hips and rocked back and forth. Rose heard herself scream as she tightened the walls of her channel around him, wanting to give him as much pleasure as he gave her.
“Christ, babe,” Nathan ground out. “Wanted to go slow, but that’s not an option. You ready for me?”
“Fuck yes,” she answered, panting.
She felt him grow slightly bigger and squeezed her muscles, milking him to even greater heights. Instantly, his hot seed shot into her, searing her senses while waves of glory washed over her as her second orgasm crashed through her body.
Nathan collapsed on top of her, pushing her body into the bed. He rolled to his side, taking her with him, lovingly kissing her head. She snuggled into him, spooning her back against his stomach and slowly, peacefully, and undoubtedly content, drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
Norton
—
A very dark red wine with a surprisingly fruity lightness while still maintaining the heaviness of a dry red. Excellent with grilled beef or venison.
“Yeah, my father was surprised as well, but all ten cabins are booked and we have reservations for an additional seventy-five people for the opening,” Rose told Joe, wedging the phone between her chin and shoulder. It still felt a bit strange to use the word ‘father’ but over the past months, Rose had begun to grow accustomed to having a family. She’d yet to meet her brother, but they had talked several times on the phone. At first the conversations had been stilted and awkward but now, as they’d got to know each other, they were easing into a more relaxed relationship.
“Nathan and I arrived about an hour ago and Dad’s already put us to work making sure all the glasses are polished and the tasting room is set up,” she continued.
“Sounds great, Rose. I’ll be picking up Alicia and Maverick later this afternoon and then we should be heading down that way first thing tomorrow,” Joe answered.
“I’m glad you talked them into spending the night at your house. I know they said they were fine driving straight down from the airport, but that has to be exhausting.”
“It is. Besides, I have a special surprise planned for Maverick,” Joe continued.
“Oh?”
“The curator of the St. Louis Art Museum is a regular at the bar and I’ve arranged for him to give Maverick a personal tour of the museum,” Joe informed her, sounding terribly proud of herself.
Rose laughed. “He’s going to love it. Are you sure Vincent’s parents don’t mind watching Cain for another weekend? I’d say you could bring him with you, but this really isn’t the place for a child.”
“Are you kidding? Vincent’s mother practically salivated when I asked her. She’s been baking cookies since Tuesday and his father’s already planned a trip to the zoo. Trust me—all three of them will have a fabulous time together.”
“I guess we’re all set then,” Rose answered. She looked up as the bell over the door jingled. “Hey, I need to go. Customers just came in.”
Rose automatically smiled at the two men who entered the tasting room and said, “Welcome to Hidden Blue Winery. Would you like to try a tasting?”
“We certainly would like a taste,” the dark-haired man replied suggestively as the two meandered up to the counter.
Both men wore faded blue jeans and T-shirts depicting what Rose assumed to be heavy metal bands. The one who had spoken had long, black hair that fell to his shoulders in greasy waves. He was a bit on the heavy side and his voice betrayed a slight Southern accent. The other man had blond, neatly trimmed hair with piercing blue eyes. Rose shivered slightly and glanced towards the back room, hoping either Nathan or her father would appear.
Placing two glasses on the oak-topped counter, Rose handed each of the men a wine list.
“Do you prefer sweet or dry wines?” she asked.
“Dry,” the dark-haired man replied.
“In that case, let me start you out with our Norton. It’s made from the Cynthiana grape, which is the state grape of Missouri but also grows well here in Illinois,” she explained, pouring a sample into each of the glasses.
She waited as each man swirled his glass, sniffed the aroma then sipped.
“I understand you have a grand opening this weekend,” Dark Hair said.
“We do,” Rose acknowledged hesitantly.
“And is it open to the public?”
Rose frowned a moment. Her father had been advertising the grand opening in various kink-friendly venues—clearly stating the adult nature of the resort and that advance reservations were necessary in order to assure compliance with local law authorities. Other than that, he had not made any public announcements. If the man had seen the advertisements then surely he must have also seen the requirements.
“Why don’t I see if I can reach my father so he can explain the details?” she offered, reaching for her cell phone, which was lying next to their wine glasses.
Dark Hair quickly captured her wrist in a claw-like grasp and pinned it to the bar.
“I asked you the question, not your father. Now answer me,” he growled.
Blond Hair stood back and grinned.
More angry than frightened, Rose glared at the man and, using her free hand, grabbed a full bottle of wine by the neck. As soon as the man’s skin had made contact with hers, she had seen a vision of a crying woman whose naked body was covered by bruises. The man’s darkness and cruelty infuriated her. She’d seen and endured enough abuse as a child. True, Nathan often spanked her and one of her best friends proudly called herself a slave, but that was by choice. Neither man abused his woman nor ever forced her to do anything she truly didn’t want to do. Once Nathan had accidentally left a bruise on Rose’s wrist, which she had laughed off, pointing out her fair skin easily bruised. Nathan, on the other hand, had almost cried from remorse. Nathan, Maverick and Vincent were gentlemen and placed the happiness and welfare of their women above all else.