Across my Knee: The Delights of Spanking. Various

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      An Occasion

      Sommer Marsden

      ‘I was looking for you!’ I said.

      My husband Chuck cocked an eyebrow at me and smiled. ‘Figured I’d headed for the hills, Alice? Run off into the wild blue yonder?’

      ‘The mall is not that bad,’ I said, dropping to a stone bench by the fountain. Or, as Chuck called it, the give-us-free-money water exhibit. The bottom was studded with silver and copper. I watched a row of toddlers guided by their harried mother walk along the edges to spy the coins.

      ‘The mall is the ninth circle of hell,’ he said, dropping down next to me. ‘But we might as well do a check to make sure we got everything on the list so we don’t have to come back. Ever.’

      I snorted, rolling my eyes. ‘You first.’

      Chuck rifled in the bag and then pulled it wide. ‘Three pairs of dress socks, a package of running socks, new stone-coloured chinos, a button-down blue shirt to replace the one you stole from me.’

      ‘Borrowed,’ I interjected.

      ‘Stole. Oh, and a new shaving kit for that trip in January.’

      ‘Good job!’ I said it in my best kindergarten-teacher voice and he nudged me with his leg. ‘My turn.’

      Various bags sat stacked around my feet. ‘New pyjamas for the pair you shrank.’

      ‘Machine malfunction.’

      ‘You shrank them.’

      Chuck shook his head and peered into my next bag.

      ‘New panties, new hose, a black sweater for next week when the board of education does its tour.’

      ‘Are you in mourning?’

      ‘No, I feel stronger in black,’ I said.

      ‘Makes sense. And …’

      ‘And what?’

      ‘And you bought something you weren’t supposed to. I can see it on your face,’ he said.

      I fingered the small sterling silver lightning bolt at my throat. ‘It was on my birthday list. But I couldn’t wait,’ I said and showed him.

      Chuck’s nice kissable mouth narrowed down to a harsh line and he said, ‘I guess I can call and tell them to put the one they’re holding for me back on the shelf.’

      Damn.

      * * *

      ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.’ I had to run to keep up with him, almost.

      Chuck walked at his normal fast clip but with a bit of anger behind it, and it was damn near impossible to keep up with him.

      ‘You wrote it on your list, Alice. I’ve asked you so many times to not –’

      ‘I know! To not buy something I’ve put on my list and you’re right and I’m sorry but I was in the store and it was there and I’m about to turn forty and I thought I’d treat myself and … I just … forgot.’

      Chuck turned to me, our bags rustling together as we stood almost eye to eye thanks to my three-inch boot heels. November wind whipped a piece of my hair around his face as if I were stroking him.

      ‘You forgot?’ he said, his voice so low it was snatched away by another gust.

      My stomach twisted with nerves and I shifted my body from a surge of guilt. ‘Yes,’ I whispered.

      ‘Really?’

      I eyed the toes of my black suede boots and clenched my fists against that free-fall feeling in my gut. ‘No. I knew it was on the list and I bought it because I have no patience.’

      ‘Thank you,’ he said, walking again. We were almost at the car and I felt terrible – therefore I scampered to keep up with him, though that wasn’t usually my nature.

      ‘For what?’ I asked, exasperated.

      ‘For at least being honest.’

      He popped our trunk and dropped his bags inside. Then, ever the gentleman, he took my bags one by one and tucked them in the dark depths.

      ‘We met during a lightning storm. And it’s one of my fondest memories,’ I babbled, trying to make amends.

      What an idiot I was. Of course one of the things he’d be sure to get me was the lightning bolt. For the very same reasons I’d been impatient.

      ‘Which is why I wanted to get it for you.’

      ‘I’m sorry,’ I said finally.

      ‘Get in the car.’ He walked me around and opened the door.

      The wind scattered and tossed my hair again and as I moved past him I kissed him gently, mumbling against his firm mouth, ‘I’m sorry.’

      ‘I know you are, babe. But you still have to pay.’

      * * *

      All the way home I shifted. I smoothed my skirt, crossed my legs and tightened the belt of my big warm coat. I twirled my hair and watched Chuck out of my peripheral vision, but I could not bring myself to ask him what he meant.

      I thought I knew. And I was both horrified and excited. Once upon a time after a party, I’d spilled a whole bottle of good wine. One thing had led to another and there had been a spanking. For me. Followed quickly by a fuck like no other we’d ever had.