“But you didn’t trust me, Riley. You’d rather put your life on the line, instead of telling me what was going on!”
“No, Jo, it wasn’t like that, I… I… shit, I don’t know, but I do trust you. Please don’t blame yourself for this, I couldn’t bear that.”
Joanna wiped her eyes and looked upon her concerned partner. She knew what she had to do to get them both through this.
* * *
“I love you, Riley.”
“I love you too, Jo, but I screwed up, didn’t I?”
“You made a mistake, but we’re going to deal with it and get past it together. Let’s get these off; you’re not going to be needing them for a while,” Joanna said, pulling Riley’s pajama bottoms and panties the rest of the way down, allowing Riley to step out of them.
Riley felt exposed with nothing but her tank top on, as Joanna led her over to the bed. She was expecting her chastisement from Joanna and she didn’t fight when Joanna sat down on the end of the bed and pulled Riley down over her lap.
Joanna began to rub Riley’s already pink cheeks.
“Riley, you can’t hold on to this guilt you’re feeling about Alex. She has a dangerous job and whether it’s you, or someone else, it’s her job to protect you. But you did put yourself and other people in harm’s way by your actions and we’re going to deal with that now.”
Riley felt Joanna’s hand leave her bottom and she winced as it connected smartly on her backside. Joanna began the spanking, slow and steady, the sting building a little more each time Joanna’s palm connected with her upturned bottom. Riley could hear Joanna’s soft voice lecture her, as the spanking continued. When Joanna started to spank the underside of her bottom and tops of her thighs, Riley began to groan a little as she clutched at the comforter.
Riley always seemed to forget just how hard Joanna’s palm was, when she was dealing with her, but she also knew this was just the warm-up for whatever Joanna had in store. Either way, it would not change the fact that Alex was lying in the hospital because of her, so she was resigned to whatever Joanna wanted to dish out.
Much to Riley’s relief, Joanna stopped the spanking after a few minutes and rubbed her heated seat.
“How are you doing, hon, do you understand that it’s part of Alex’s job?”
“But Jo, I did that to her, she wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for me. Don’t you see that?” Riley said, turning her head to look up at Joanna.
“No, you didn’t do this, the killer did this and now he’s off the streets, Riley.”
“Whatever, it’s still my fault,” Riley replied miserably.
“I think you need a little more time to reflect on this, up you get,” Joanna directed, as she helped Riley up off her lap.
Riley rubbed her flaming bottom, as she was led back to the corner, the scowl on her face clearly demonstrating her displeasure.
“Wait right here, young lady, and you think about what I said.”
Riley rolled her eyes and folded her arms stubbornly, as she faced the walls. Her backside was already stinging but she knew Joanna hadn’t really started. Riley was still thinking about Joanna’s earlier statement and she hated to see her usually resilient girlfriend so upset. She turned her head, hearing Joanna behind her, in time to see her emerge from the closet with a hairbrush in one hand and the Purpleheart paddle she had bought her in the other.
“Shit,” Riley said under her breath.
“Riley, come here, please,” Joanna directed from behind her.
Riley turned around and saw Joanna sitting on the bed again, leaning against the headboard, the hairbrush and the paddle lying on the bed next to her. She slowly walked over to the bed and stood beside Joanna.
Joanna held out her hand. “Come on, hon, over you go.”
Riley complied and climbed up onto the bed, draping herself over Joanna’s lap.
The air felt cool on her warm, bare behind, as she awaited Joanna’s correction. She rested her head on her arms as she stared at the paddle and the hairbrush to the left of her. Riley saw Joanna’s hand reach over and pick up the hairbrush, right before she felt the coolness of the wood rest on her bottom.
“Riley, what you did was incredibly reckless, but Alex is going to be okay.”
“How do you know that, Jo? She was fucking shot because of me!”
Riley winced, realizing her statement wasn’t going to help her case. Joanna apparently was going to let her hairbrush do the talking, because before she said anything else the brush left Riley’s behind and came down with a crack on her bottom. Riley screwed up her face, as the sting from the oval surface registered. Joanna brought the brush down over and over on Riley’s backside in a slow steady fashion, making Riley flinch each time the brush connected.
As Joanna continued, Riley started to squirm as she tried to fight the pain that was becoming more and more intense. She squeezed her eyes shut and had a death grip on the comforter in each fist. Joanna started to pay attention to Riley’s sit spots and top of her thighs and after several blows had connected with the tender area, Riley reached back to try to block the blows, only to have her arm pinned to the small of her back by Joanna.
“Riley, keep still, you know better than that,” Joanna scolded.
Riley was fighting back tears, as the spanks continued to rain down on her throbbing behind. Her whole body began to ache from fighting and she began to give into the pain. Alex was going to be okay, and after Joanna was done turning her backside into an inferno she began to realize that she would be okay too.
“Good girl, try not to fight it, Riley. Let it go, honey, everything is going to be okay, you are safe. Alex is safe and the killer is no longer on the street terrorizing women.”
The sting wasn’t letting up, but Riley felt her body relax. Somehow the pain washed her guilt away, as Joanna continued with steady swats until Riley was gently sobbing into the comforter.
“Good girl, I’m proud of you, Riley, I’m going to be proud to call you my wife.”
Despite Riley’s sobbing and the fire in her backside, she couldn’t help a little smile at Joanna’s words and a sense of relief and hope washed over her.
Riley was openly crying when Joanna finally stopped.
“Honey, we’re not quite done, okay? Look at me, Riley.”
Riley looked up at her lover with tears streaming down her face and gave her a weak smile, then a small nod. She didn’t know how much more she could take, but she knew she was going to feel the paddle before Joanna had finished with her.
“Let it all go, Riley, ten with the paddle, then we are all done.”
Riley saw Joanna put the brush down next to the paddle, then pick it up. She squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation and didn’t have to wait long until it cracked down on her bottom, leaving a deep pain a second or two behind it. The paddle was thicker and heavier than the brush and covered her whole backside with every blow. The pain was intense but Riley was determined to take all ten. After the fifth one landed, the rest just seemed to meld into the white-hot heat that was her behind.
“That’s my good girl, we’re finished, Riley,” Joanna announced, gently rubbing Riley’s flaming backside.
Riley just wanted to be in Joanna’s arms and despite her burning rear, she eased herself up from Joanna’s lap and flung herself into her arms.
“Jo, I’m so sorry, I’ll do better, I promise.”
“Shh, it’s okay, Riley. Everything is okay, you’re forgiven, honey, all is forgiven, my love,” Joanna replied, holding Riley tightly and rubbing her back soothingly while she gently sobbed into Joanna’s chest.
“Honey, you need to forgive yourself about Alex, she is going to be okay, do you believe that now?”
Riley lifted her head from Joanna’s chest and gave a small nod then looked searchingly up into Joanna’s eyes. “Do you forgive me, Jo?”
“Yes, honey, I forgive you for putting your life and Alex’s life in danger. But Riley, I don’t know what I would have done if I w
ould have lost you. We heard the gunshots as we drove into the park, and the police officer at the gate said a female and an officer were shot. I thought it was you,” Joanna said softly, as Riley saw her trying to hold back another wave of tears.
“Oh, God, I didn’t know that, but Jo, none of this was your fault.”
“Riley, what I know for sure is we’re both going to get through this, and we’ll both be okay. Especially now that you are going to be my wife.”
Riley felt her cheeks strain with the smile that found itself on her face. “So, clean slate, we move on?”
“Well, not exactly, Riley. Today was so you can forgive yourself about Alex getting hurt and putting yourself in danger. I think we still need to deal with your sneaking around and lying to me, don’t you?”
The smile disappeared from Riley’s face with those words. “But Jo, I can’t, not now.”
“Riley, it will be a week or more, okay? In fact, I’ve been thinking about something that might be good for both of us.”
“What do you mean?” Riley asked with a confused scowl.
“Well, the last few times we’ve had to deal with something like this, it’s always been pretty major and this last episode pretty much topped them all. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I suppose so,” Riley answered, not really sure where Jo was going with this conversation.
“I think we both need to focus on our relationship and I know I need to do a better job of keeping you focused and grounded. What I’m saying, Riley, is I think we need to have a meeting every week and discuss what things went right and what things we need to work on. During this meeting you’ll receive a spanking from me. What kind of spanking it is will depend on you, and what we agree you need.”
“Really, a spanking every week, and what makes you think I would agree to such a thing, Jo?”
“Because you trust me and because you know it’s what you need. Tell me how you’re feeling right now.”
“Well, other than my throbbing ass, I feel better, lighter, I guess,” Riley shrugged.
She thought about how she had felt that morning when she had woken up and now how things looked so different. The spanking was just part of it, but Jo was right, she did trust her and her actions and words gave her a sense of renewal. They always did, maybe this was a good thing?
“Okay, we can try it. I do trust you, Jo, every week.”
“Thank you, Riley. Your trust means everything to me. Oh, and after we dealt with the sneaking around and lying, there is nothing to say that a good girl spanking is not attainable,” Joanna winked.
Riley’s grin returned and she snuggled back into her lover’s chest. Within a couple of minutes, she was sound asleep.
* * *
Riley woke up a couple of hours later and winced as she rolled over. She didn’t remember the last time Joanna had spanked her so hard or so thoroughly. But now she felt a sense of relief. She wanted to see Alex and see how she was doing. She got out of bed, pulled on her sweats, and went to find Joanna.
“There you are, honey, how are feeling? Did you get a good rest?” Joanna said from one of the stools at the kitchen.
“I was out. I’m okay, other than the fact I’ll never sit again,” Riley retorted with a little pout, rubbing her behind.
“Do you think we can go and see Alex? I want to see how she is.”
“Yes, honey, I think that’s a very good idea. How about I fix you some breakfast, while you take a shower?”
“Umm, well, only if you’re not planning on cooking anything.”
“Hmmm, pretty brave for someone who just got their behind thrashed, maybe you and I need to go back to the bedroom?” Joanna grinned.
“Nope, I’m all good, I don’t think I need any more tenderizing today, thank you!”
“I’ll make you some eggs, now go!”
Riley went back into the bedroom and stripped off her sweats and tank top.
“Damn,” she said to herself, turning and looking at her bottom in the mirror. That was definitely going to leave some bruises.
Riley tested the water; the last thing she wanted was hot water on her throbbing behind. She eased into the shower when the water was to her liking, and gingerly got under the jets of water, grimacing a little as the water ran down over her bottom. She felt a sense of relief, she was at peace with herself and even though Joanna had promised her another reckoning, all the guilt and fear seemed to wash off her, down the drain, with the shower water.
* * *
Joanna smiled to herself, knowing her girlfriend had forgiven herself. She knew she had made a breakthrough with Riley by her agreeing to the weekly maintenance spankings. Now she had to come to terms with forgiving herself.
Joanna was satisfied with her creation, as she spooned the eggs out of the pan onto a plate and buttered the toast.
“Riley, come and eat your breakfast before it gets cold,” Joanna hollered toward the bedroom.
Riley emerged from the bedroom in sweats and a hoodie, still towel drying her wet hair. She looked at the two plates of scrambled eggs on the kitchen counter bar appreciatively.
“Yum, thank you, honey. These look good, I’m starving!” Riley started enthusiastically, before looking at the kitchen stool like it was her worst enemy.
“Can I stand?” Riley asked hopefully, as Joanna took a seat on the stool next to hers.
“No, you may not. Sit down and eat your breakfast. Then when you’ve dried your hair, we can go and see Alex.”
“Okay, ow,” Riley pouted, as she gingerly lowered herself onto the barstool.
Joanna smiled. “That’s all part of it, darling, helps you to remember the consequences of your actions.”
Riley rolled her eyes, as she tucked into her breakfast.
“That was good, thank you, honey,” Riley said, getting up and taking her empty plate to the sink.
“I’ve got these, now go and dry your hair,” Joanna directed, taking the plate from Riley. “I’m going to ask Helen if she’s using the car. I suppose I really should think about getting one here, since we seem to be here a lot more.”
* * *
“It’s me,” Joanna said, letting herself into Helen and Kate’s apartment.
“Morning, Kate, what’s with the face?” Joanna said, seeing Kate standing at the kitchen counter with a scowl on her face.
“Well, I sort of let time get away from me when I was running last evening, I got home a little after dark,” Kate replied with a grimace and a sympathetic rub to her bottom.
“Oh, Kate, why on earth would you be out after dark? And why were you running on your own in the first place? I thought we all talked about that,” Joanna replied with a sternness in her voice.
“We did talk about it, and that is why, my darling, you won’t be sitting comfortably for the rest of the day, will you?” Helen announced, coming out of the bedroom.
“No, ma’am,” Kate replied remorsefully.
“Well, you can commiserate with Riley later, because she and I just had our first discussion too,” Joanna replied.
“Good, I’m glad you didn’t let it wait too long, Jo. How is Riley doing?”
“She’s going to be okay, I think. We had a long talk and I think we’ve made a lot of progress.”
“Good, and how are you doing?” Helen said, raising an eyebrow, as she sized up her friend.
Joanna had a hard time looking Helen in the eye. She was doing better but she wasn’t where she needed to be. She was still disappointed in herself for not being there for Riley.
“I’ll be okay. I came to ask if I can use your car, we’re going to see Alex.”
“Of course, I have no plans and Kate isn’t going anywhere. Jo, this should be a happy time for both of you, now that this is behind you, and you have a wedding to plan. How about you come and talk to me when you get back and you and I will work through it.”
Joanna smiled at her friend; they had known each other too long for Helen not to see that she had still not come
to terms with what was bothering her.
“Okay, I will, thanks, Helen.”
“You’re welcome.” Helen gave her friend a hug. “Give Alex our regards. I’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”
* * *
Riley had seen her fair share of hospitals during the last twelve months but for once it wasn’t her in the hospital bed. The smell of bleach and the shiny, sterile linoleum floors that led to the double doors of the ICU made Riley’s stomach churn.
“You okay?” Joanna asked. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine, just not my favorite place in the world, that’s all,” Riley replied, wrinkling her nose.
“That’s understandable, honey,” Joanna said, reaching up and giving Riley’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“Joanna Armstrong and Riley Carrington for Alex Denton,” Joanna said, checking in with the receptionist at the front desk.
“Oh, good news, Ms. Denton is recovering well and was released from ICU this morning. She’s been moved to room four two seven, fourth floor, the elevators are around the corner to the left.”
“Thank you,” Joanna replied, looking at Riley with a smile as they made their way to the elevator.
Riley was elated at the news about Alex and her mood was improving by the minute. She thought about yesterday on the plane and Joanna getting down on one knee and proposing to her. This was really going to happen; Joanna had asked her to marry her!
“Ah, here we are, this is her room,” Joanna said, gently knocking on the door of room four two seven.
“Hey,” Alex said, greeting them as they entered the room.
“Oh, god, Alex, I’m so sorry, I didn’t think you would be there and I sure didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Riley, I’m gonna be just fine, but you risked your life, what were you thinking, calling Carl like that and putting yourself in harm’s way?”
Riley looked down at her hands, a slight flush to her face.
“Well, it seems she wasn’t the only one putting herself in harm’s way, was she, Detective? I understand you were not wearing your vest? I can tell you this, young lady, if you were mine, sitting down would be a painful distant memory after I got through with you! How are you feeling, Alex?” Joanna asked, reaching out and squeezing Alex’s hand. “You gave us quite a scare, you know!”
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