had felt when he kissed her after she had made her choice. Lucy hesitated for another moment, knowing that what happened in the next, defined every future moment. She closed her eyes briefly and gave a soft sob as she accepted both her decision and her need to submit to this man. His eyes remained on hers as she slowly walked across the room. She placed her hand in his, and he closed his fingers around hers.
Lucas surprised her again when he didn’t immediately pull her down and across his knees. He kept his eyes locked on hers as though they were the only two people in the room. He guided her to sit on his knee and put his free arm around her waist. Lucy sat ramrod straight, her senses on full alert as she attempted to understand what this man would require of her. She felt both extremely nervous and guilty for her behavior.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and saw him nod his understanding. He released her hand only to raise it to stroke a fingertip down her cheek. The gesture softened her heart, her body relaxing and leaning against his chest.
“I know you are sorry, kitten,” Lucas said. His voice was calm and soothing, as he continued to stroke down her arm, slowing easing the tension in her muscles. “I also know that you are aware that being sorry is not enough to pay for such naughtiness.”
Lucy didn’t stiffen or protest, instead dipped her head in acknowledgement. She had been under Edward’s rule long enough to know exactly how tantrums and disrespect were treated. Lucy felt Lucas move and reached out to grab his forearm.
“Please, Lucas,” she said, “please, I won’t-won’t do it again.” Lucas lifted his hand and cupped her face in his palm. Lucy pressed her cheek against his warmth and again closed her eyes. Her voice was barely audible, as she tried to escape the inevitable. “Please don’t spank me.”
His answer was to bend and press his lips against her forehead and then guide her up and off his lap. Lucy felt her eyes well with tears as shame for her behavior flooded through her.
“I am not going to spank you,” Lucas said, and her eyes flew open.
“Oh—thank—”
He shook his head, cutting her off as he again stroked her cheek. “There is not enough time to properly discipline you, Lucille,” he said, and her eyes began to shimmer with unshed tears as her hope faded. “You will have the opportunity to give serious thought to why you felt you needed to test me, kitten. You will listen closely to the sermon today and let its lesson fill your heart. Upon our return home, you will make a proper confession.” He paused, as if waiting for his words to fill her mind. “For now, you will come with me so that I might demonstrate that just as attempting manipulation is not in your best interest, neither is spewing vulgarity.”
Lucy didn’t speak, as her head whirled. Somehow he had known what she had unconsciously done, and that fact frightened her. She hadn’t been able to imagine attending church dressed as she was, but now she couldn’t imagine being able to sit still throughout the long service while worrying about what would happen afterwards. She was terrified at what he could have meant when he said there wasn’t time to give her a spanking. Spankings were usually quickly done once the confession had been made. Tears began to slip down her cheeks as she realized exactly how childish she had been. Though her bottom was already clenching in anticipation of what she feared would be a painful lesson, she lifted her eyes once more.
“Please, please just spank me now,” she whispered. “I-I don’t want to wait.”
“Anticipation is also a lesson, Lucy. Come, let’s get this finished,” Lucas said, as he walked her out of the dining room and into the kitchen.
Her uneasiness grew as she saw the curious looks being exchanged among the kitchen staff, and it took her a moment to be aware of what was happening when she saw a cloth in Lucas’ hand and realized it was soapy.
“No, please,” she cried, attempting to pull away. Lucas quickly pinned her at the counter, his body blocking any escape, as he took her chin in one hand, the soapy cloth held in the other.
“Open your mouth, Lucille,” he instructed but Lucy clamped her lips closed and shook her head violently as she remembered the awful taste of