Her Lord's Claim (The Forbidden Saga #4) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,75
to pound as she saw another tucked beneath his arm and watched him fold his knife and slip it into his pocket. Running her eyes up the length of the switches, she shuddered, knowing exactly where they would be applied. Memories of a thick bundle of such branches ran through her head. The birching Edward had given her had been horrid and yet she’d forgotten about it until this moment. Taking a deep breath and remembering that she loved Lucas very much and that she trusted him with her life, she slowly parted the branches further and stepped forward, not pausing until she stood before him.
“I’m sorry, Papa,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I yelled at you and threw my apron.” The words reminded her of how silly she must have looked, screaming and tearing at her clothing, throwing yet another tantrum in front of the man she loved.
Lucas looked down at her and she saw the disappointment in his eyes. “I'm sorry as well,” he said. For a brief moment, Lucy found herself hoping he would toss aside the switches and take her in his arms, assuring her that she was forgiven. Instead, he reached down and took her hand and led her back to the path and to a small bench. He turned her to face it. She felt his fingers on the buttons down the back of her dress. She barely breathed as each was undone, until her dress was open. He turned her back to face him and then lifted its hem.
“Arms up,” he said, and when she obeyed, he drew the dress over her head. She blushed as he laid it aside, her breasts now covered only by a thin chemise. She felt him untie and then lower her petticoats. “Step out,” he ordered and they were soon on the bench as well. Standing outside, dressed only in her thin chemise, drawers, stockings and shoes, she felt horribly exposed.
“Please, Papa,” Lucy begged, looking around her. “Please, not here… not out-outside.”
“Bare your bottom,” he said, ignoring her pleas.
Lucy began to cry even as her fingers fumbled at the tie to her drawers. She felt them slip down and forced herself to release them to puddle at her feet. Lucas bent and helped her step from them where they joined the rest of her clothing. Her tears flowed faster as he made a point of raking his eyes up and down her almost nude form.
“Tell me, Lucille,” he ordered as his eyes captured hers, “why are you standing basically naked outside, where anyone might come along to see you?” Her face flooded with color as she again looked around as if expecting to see people gawking at her body. Lucas reached around to give her a quick swat, which quickly returned her attention to him. “Answer me.”
“Be… because you are going to spank me,” she said, trembling under his unwavering gaze. She saw him shake his head as if her answer were incorrect.
“No, Lucille,” he said. “You are not going to be spanked, young lady, you are going to be quite thoroughly switched.” She gasped, her eyes dropping to the switches he held in his hand. He cupped her chin, raising her face back to his. “All I’d need do is lift your skirts and petticoats, and lower your drawers to have access to your bottom. Tell me why I had to remove most of your clothing to prepare you for the switching you have coming.”
Lucy’s confusion vanished as she thought of how he had prepared her in the study the first time he had taken a paddle to her bottom. “I tore my pinafore,” she admitted. “You can’t tuck my clothing up because… because I ripped it off and threw it at you.”
“That’s correct,” he said and then released her chin and stepped back. “Turn around and face the bench.”
Though her heart was galloping in her chest, Lucy obediently did as she was told. She shut her eyes, praying that no one would come along and witness her humiliation. As she heard his next words, she no longer worried about her shame, she worried if she would survive it.
“Bend over, spread your legs wide, put your elbows down and lift your bottom,” Lucas ordered, stepping to her side.
Lucy sobbed as she did as she was told, her legs spreading, her bottom lifting as if asking to be thrashed. She flinched as she felt him tap a switch against her bottom.