Chapter Six

Friday – Southern Maryland

Melody

When I wake up and roll over, Finn is still in bed with me. One arm under his head is on my pillow, the other is across my waist. He is still lying on top of the blankets pinning me under them. He is snoring softly, and I smile, but I stop myself from reaching up to touch his face. I decide not to wake him until after I’ve gotten myself cleaned up. Carefully I slide out from under the covers and tiptoe backward out of the room. I rush to the bathroom and start the water in the shower. While I undress, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, seeing what looks like bits of throw-up in my hair from the humiliating events of the night before.

Groaning internally, I step into the shower before the water has a chance to get hot and inhale sharply when the icy feeling hits my skin. I’m not sure how much time I have before Finn wakes up. But I don’t want him to see me in my current state, so there is no time to waste. After a quick shower, I brush my teeth and turn on the iPod in the charging station on the counter. I dig out my hairdryer from under the sink.

I’m dancing around to music, my head tipped upside down, blow-drying my curls. When I pull too hard, the plug comes out of the wall. The hairdryer shuts off, “Damn it,” I say as I flip my hair back and stand up straight. I’m looking right into Finn’s eyes. He is leaning against the doorframe. He is still shirtless, and his arms are crossed over his chest. He has the sexiest case of bed head I’ve ever seen. The shadow beard on his face adds to the tall, dark, and handsome look he has going on, and he is clearly trying not to laugh.

I’m frozen to the spot, hairdryer in one hand, eyes wide. I'm trying to figure out how long he has been watching me dance and sing around the bathroom while I blow-dry my hair.

“Morning, Red,” he says in a sultry voice. As he steps towards me, I step backward.

“Red?” I ask, setting the hairdryer on the counter.

“The new do,” he reaches out and twists one of my curls with his finger.

“Oh.” Smooth, Mel. Duh. He takes another slow step in my direction like a predator stalking his prey, and again I instinctively step back. I’m not sure what I’m feeling, but my fight or flight instinct tells me I need to run because trouble is coming.

"Do you remember what you did last night, lass?” I panic and am running the night over in my head, the wine, the texts, the broken wine bottle, our phone call, the time spent with my head in the toilet. It’s all very clear in my memory. Shit, he’s going to punish me.

“Yes, sir,” I say, my eyes widening with the realization of what he is saying.

“We’re going to go downstairs and talk about a few things first. Then you have to be held responsible for your recklessness, lass.”

“Coffee sounds great! I’ll get it started.” As I walk past him in the doorway, he puts his arm out and catches me around the waist. It only takes an instant, and my back is against the wall. He has my arms pinned above my head with his hands around my wrists. Finn leans down and puts his forehead against mine.

“You will not be acting recklessly like that again. Do you understand?” He is reticent, and I get the feeling that he is as caught off guard by his reaction to my trying to slip past him as I am.

He seems to be barely controlling his anger, and I see a flash of something I can’t explain in his eyes, wantonly I rub myself against the bulge in his jeans.

“Mmm, little red. You don’t want to do that.”

His mouth is on mine then, and he is taking me. Shifting both of my wrists into one of his hands and using the other to grab my hair, pulling my head back. Pinned like I am, he is giving himself better access to my mouth, devouring me. My jaw is stretched wide as he deepens the kiss, and I moan, rubbing myself against him more. Suddenly, he steps back, and my body is left cold where I could feel the heat of his a moment ago. I reach a hand up and touch my lips. They're plump and swollen from our kiss.

“Now, you can go make the coffee, lass.”

***

I set two mugs, a plate of toast, and a fruit bowl down on the kitchen island. Finn is standing on one side, I decide to stand on the other side. I pretend that the distance between us will protect me from this man if he decides to come for me. We both know it won’t, but he lets me have the illusion of it anyway. While I was brewing coffee and getting breakfast together for us, Finn rummaged through the drawer on the other side of the kitchen, looking for a pen and pad of paper. He takes a sip of his coffee and picks up the pen now.

“All right, Melody. I want you to write down your hard limits. Things you are not willing to try, no matter what. Then, we'll talk about ground rules and go over my limits.” He hands me the pen and slides the pad across the counter. I take the pen and pop a blueberry in my mouth. I think about it then start writing.

1. Urine 2. Scat 3. Violet wands/electricity 4. Cutting/knife play 5. Blood play 6. Branding 7. Latex 8. Age play 9. Heavy bondage I finish and reread my list a few times, ensuring I didn’t leave anything out. Then deciding I’m happy with it, I quickly jot one more word on the bottom of the page. I slide the pad of paper back across the island to Finn. He takes it and reads it as he eats one piece of toast and then another. Nervously I tap my foot on the floor, waiting for him to finish with my list.

“Please say something. You’re making me nervous.”

“Walnut?” he asks, smiling at me. I can’t help myself and start laughing. It’s the word I wrote on the bottom of the page.

“Yep!” I pop another blueberry in my mouth. “It’s my safe word,” I say with a grin.

“And why is it so funny?” Finn asks.

“It’s not. It was your face that was funny,” I say through my giggle.

“That’s just because I think it’s funny. Walnut, huh? How did you manage to come up with that?” I hesitate a minute but then realize I need to stop being afraid of embarrassing myself in front of Finn. We are literally discussing the limits of a D/s relationship, and so far, everything I know about him tells me I can trust him. If last night didn’t prove he won’t run screaming from me, I don’t know what will.

“I saw it in a movie once, or maybe it was on a TV show. But ever since, it has always stuck out in my mind.” Finn is smiling now, and I raise my eyebrow. “What’s the issue? You don’t like it?”

“Nope, that's not it at all. But I know the exact scene you’re talking about, and as soon as I read it, I had to stop myself from laughing. I think it’s perfect, and we can have it be your safe word.” He picks up the notepad and examines it again. “As far as the rest of this list, we have all of the same limits.” I feel so calm having this conversation with Finn. I'm oddly relaxed, and I realize again it is because I trust him. We eat quietly for a few minutes.

When Finn speaks again, he says, “Finish up your breakfast. Now that we have established your limits, I’m very clear on what your punishment is going to be for the foolishness you pulled last night, Melody.”

Oh no. I don’t make eye contact as I poke around in the bowl of fruit, looking for more blueberries.

“Hey, penny for your thoughts?” Finn asks, squeezing my hand in his. “What's going on in that pretty little head of yours? I’m not going to hurt you. There is no reason to be scared, you know that, right?”

“No. I’m not scared, I mean. Not that I won't tell you what I was thinking.” I take the last sip of coffee from my mug and set it in the sink, then turn back around to face Finn. But he’d stepped around the island and is leaning against it now, waiting for me to go on talking, mere inches between us, there is electricity crackling in the air, and my eyes widen.

“I’m really sorry about last night.”

“I know you are, but I still have to—” Finn tells me.

“I know you do.” I cut him off, then quickly realizing what I’ve done, I say, “I’m sorry, sir. Yes, I know you do, and I want to be punished. Because of what I did.” I let out a long sigh. “Drinking an entire bottle of wine, acting out that way. It was wrong. I was looking for attention like a little kid, and you don’t deserve that from me. I’m not afraid of you, Finn. I’m angry at myself, and I need you to help me feel better about it. I need you to punish me so I can let it go, and we can move forward.”

“Come here.” Finn reaches out for my hand and pulls me to him. Hugging me, he plants a quick kiss on my forehead. “Go over to the table, pull your pants down and bend over. Palms flat on the table above your head.” When he is done giving me instructions, he lets me go. I walk towards the kitchen table with my heart racing. I’m feeling a mix of dread and excitement at what’s about to happen. I do as I’m instructed, and once I’m bent over the table with my ass exposed to him, I turn my head and look back over my shoulder to see what he will do next.

“I’m going to give you six good smacks on each side of this gorgeous ass.” He is rubbing small circles on my right cheek. “I want you to count out loud with me. Do you understand, Melody?”

“Yes, sir.” Having his hands on me makes the muscles deep inside me tense, and I want him to touch me there. I shift from foot to foot.

“Repeat it back to me.” He plants one hand on my lower back and pins me to the table, so I stop moving.

“You’re going to spank me, twelve times, six on each side, sir.” I squirm one more time as he switches from my right cheek to my left and squeezes tightly. I rest my face on the cool table and focus on the sensations spreading through me.

“Be still, lass. This is punishment. You’re not here to play.” He slides a finger down my wet folds, and I moan. Then, suddenly, he smacks my right ass cheek hard. I yelp, caught off guard.

“Count, Melody.” His deep voice fills the room.

“One, sir.” He hits the same spot again, and then again. Pausing after the third, he steps back.

“Your ass pinks up so pretty, lass. I could stand here and look at it all day. Remember why you’re being punished?” Now that he has taken his hands off me, I squeeze my thighs together, squirming again. “I think you’re enjoying this too much. You need to stay still. Stop that!” Finn puts his hands on my thighs, pulling them apart. “Spread your legs, plant your feet. This isn’t supposed to be fun, Mel. You’re not getting spanked so you can come like a good girl. You’re being punished, and it’s time you learn the difference. Are you ready?”

I take a deep breath and answer him. “Yes, sir. Ready.”

“Good. Remember to count. We are going to start over. I think you enjoyed those three too much. Didn’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.

“I thought so. Do not roll your eyes at me again, lass, or you’ll get an extra five smacks.” Shit. Does he see everything?

“Yes, I do see everything. Remember that the next time you think it will be a good idea to get drunk and put yourself in harm's way.” He bends down and has his face inches from mine and kisses my cheek. “Maybe that time I did read your mind.” He winks, then quickly stands and smacks my ass hard, harder this time than any of the times before. I cry out.

“Count.”

“One, sir.” Smack! My ass jiggles, and my hips dig forward onto the table. The edge of it bites into my skin.

“Two, sir.” The stinging burn spreads over my cheek, and I feel the force of his hand reverberate through my body.

“Three, sir.” I close my eyes as they start to sting. Tears build up behind my eyelids, then slowly drip down my cheeks. Smack! Smack! Smack!

“Four, five, six, sir.” The intensity I feel building inside me is pushing me towards my limit.

“Good girl, halfway there. One side is done.” He spreads his hand across my ass to the left cheek now.

“Seven, sir.” Suddenly my entire body relaxes, and I realize what proper subspace is. My feet start tingling, and it moves up through my body slowly to my fingertips. I hear myself say the words as Finn finishes with my punishment, eight, nine, ten, eleven, then finally twelve. All of the tension in my body is gone, and I’m completely relaxed. I lie limp on the kitchen table. I’m crying with the release. When Finn rubs small soft circles on my burning skin, I inhale deeply and take a few slow breaths.

“Melody?” Finn bends down and pulls my jeans back up, then helps me to stand and holds me in his arms. My head is resting on his chest as I slowly start to come back to the moment. I’m relieved, but not because it’s over. I exhale deeply one last time.

“Thank you, sir. Thank you for showing me I was right and this is what I want, what I need.” I look up into Finn’s eyes. When I do, they’re deep amber, and I know in an instant that I’m in deep trouble with this man. I stiffen in his arms. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"Are you okay?"

"What are you?" I'm still wrapped in Finn's arms, looking back and forth between his now chocolate brown eyes, confusion filling my own.

"I'm yours, lass. Can that be enough? For now. Please? Can we leave it at that? I'm yours. Please, Melody. Let that be enough. Nothing else matters. Tell me nothing else matters." He is tense under my arms, and I get the feeling he is scared.

But then I make the connection. Quickly, quietly, without breaking eye contact, I say out loud what I think I've known for a few days, "The wolves."