Her Lord's Claim (The Forbidden Saga #4) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,77

threatening to collapse under her. She couldn’t imagine being bound. “I-I will… will stay…” she managed.

He nodded again, taking her arm and leading her to the back of the bench. “Bend over and grip the slats of the bench,” he said, guiding her over the bench’s backrest. The edge of the bench pressed against her stomach as she reached for the slats, wrapping her fingers around them.

“You may keep your legs together, Lucille,” he said, and she immediately pressed her thighs together. “This will sting a great deal,” he warned as he tapped the spot he intended to strike first. “Your bottom is well-padded for a switching, but your legs are not. Let this teach you not to run.”

Lucy learned the horrid truth of his words as the switch began its journey down the backs of her legs. She was writhing over the bench, her head thrown back as she screeched out her pain. Lucas continued striping her legs until a ladder of red weals marched down her legs from the tops of her thighs to her slender ankles. Lucy’s dance didn’t stop the switch, only proved to her how determined her husband was to teach her the folly of running away. She knew her legs would burn and itch for days beneath clothing and wished she’d never taken the leap off his lap. When he was satisfied that she had learned a most painful lesson, he helped her to stand.

She kissed the tip of the switch where it had become ragged with use. “Thank… thank you, Papa,” she said, her voice stronger, though her body ached far more. She hadn’t fainted or died. She had been given the worst switching of her life and knew she would never, ever forget it and yet understood she alone had caused her punishment.

Lucas took both switches and snapped them in two, throwing them to the ground. He then took her into his arms and kissed the top of her head as she sobbed against his chest. “Don’t ever run from me again,” he said, his own voice showing his emotion. She nodded, understanding from the ragged edge of his voice that she had caused him to give her pain he had no pleasure in delivering. He kissed her again and then guided her back to the other side of the bench.

Lucy’s face burned as she was pressed to her knees. She had begged not to be switched outside, but this… performing her penance was far more intimate. The thought of anyone walking by witnessing the act filled her with shame.

“What if someone comes?” she whispered, her eyes still swimming with tears as she gazed up at him. Lucas traced her cheek with his finger.

“Be grateful I am allowing you to make this penance, little one. You will soon learn that a different, more intimate penance than having my cock in your mouth is normally required when you give me cause to switch, strap or cane you for naughtiness,” Lucas said, his tone unwavering and stern.

She wanted to ask what he meant but a sense of foreboding flooded through her and she was suddenly terrified of the answer. Instead, she nodded. “May I make my penance, Papa?” she asked softly and when granted permission, she unbuttoned his pants and ignoring the discomfort of the stones of the path against her knees, took his cock between her lips. After she’d obediently accepted his tribute and tucked him back into his pants, she also accepted his forgiveness.

Since there was not a corner available, she spent a half-hour standing on the path, nude from the waist down, hands again cupping her elbows, legs wide, bottom pushed out. The time had been spent in silence, the birds returning to nearby branches, their daily routine no longer interrupted by her shrill cries. Lucy felt a sense of peace fill her as she accepted that, while she would be leaving these gardens, she would soon be arriving at her new home, with the man she loved. Lucas dressed her, her small moans of discomfort ignored as he drew her stockings up over her welted legs, her drawers over her welted little bottom.

“Shall we discuss your leaving Wintercrest?” he asked, drawing her down sit on his lap, her hiss of pain ignored.

“No, sir,” she said. “I understand. I was just… just a little scared.”

“Kitten,” he said, holding her close. “I understand it is frightening. It was frightening when you moved to Wintercrest Manor, but you found a home within these