Faithfully (Club Decadence) (5 page)

Chapter Four

Washington, DC 
1999

The front door squeaked loudly as Joanna pushed it open.  Struggling to keep the pile of binders, papers and promotional material from landing on the floor, she kicked the door closed behind her with her heel.  Crossing to the entry table, she dropped her burden, putting her purse on the floor and her keys in the bowl.  It was then she saw Peter’s truck keys and excitedly call for her husband. 

“Honey, are you here already?”

“I'm in the living room, babe.”

Kicking off her shoes she ran eagerly down the hall, sliding on the slick
hardwood floor in her stocking feet.  As she turned in the archway, she saw him in jeans and a tight tee seated on the couch going through his mail.  His feet were bare and propped up on the coffee table beside a half-empty bottle of Budweiser.   Squealing excitedly, she crossed the room and launched herself into his arms.  “I wasn’t expecting you until Friday.  You should have called.  I would have made dinner and had the kids stay in.”

Dropping the mail on the end table, he hauled her into his arms for a full body hug. 
He inhaled expecting to find the light citrus smell of her shampoo, but then wrinkled his nose in distaste.  “You smell like smoke...Where have you been?”

“There was a
Safe House planning meeting at Richard’s.  He’s frantic about opening another shelter at the end of the month.  This one is going to serve teens between eighteen and twenty-one.”    Sniffing her sleeve she complained, “P.U., I stink.  It’s on my clothes.  You know, for well-educated philanthropists most of the other board members smoke like chimneys.” 

“And in
your hair.”

“Want to shower with me?”

“Absolutely, I’ve missed you and don’t want you out of my sight.”

“Me too, honey.  It seemed like a month but was only
eight days.”

“Where are the kids?”

“Jace is at basketball until 9.  Callie is sleeping over at Amanda’s.” She grinned at him and fluttered her eyelashes teasingly.  “We’ve got the place to ourselves for a few hours.”

“
Forget the shower, I want you here first… Strip.”  After issuing that order, he set her from him and stood to remove his clothes as well.  Making short work of his jeans, he grabbed the back of his tee and pulled it over his head.  Joanna, who was struggling with the back hook of her bra, stopped and stared.  At 48, her husband looked more like 35.  Except for the touch of silver at his temples, he was as lean and muscular as when they’d met.  She couldn’t resist reaching out to touch his rock hard chest that had just the perfect amount of dark curls before gliding over his washboard abs. 

Strong fingers wrapped around her wrist.  “Play later, Joanna.  Strip
now, because I want to fuck.”

Startled by his tone, she looked into his face and saw the pent up desire that flashed in his eyes.  “Yes, Sir.”  He released her then and as she finished with her bra
.  His hands went to waist as he hooked both her panties and panty hose and whisked them down her legs. 

“Hold on to me and step out.”
She could hear the barely leashed passion in his voice and did as told.  Holding onto his broad shoulders, she lifted one foot at a time as she stepped out, leaving her naked.

Sitting back down he patted his thighs.  “I want you
right here, baby.”

Excitedly s
traddling his thighs, she slid her arms around his neck and felt his warm hands sweep up her back and into her hair.  Using her hair as an anchor, he pulled her head in close.  “Damn I missed you.” He then took her mouth and devoured it; involving lips, tongue and teeth.   After just a few seconds, she felt him stiffen under her and pull her head away.

“You’ve been drinking.”  It was a statement
, not a question.

“
Yeah, I had some wine with dinner.”

“Did you drive home?”

“Yes, but I was perfectly fine to drive honey.”

“How much wine did you have?”  His hands tightened in her hair as he looked intently into her eyes.  He was seriously pissed.

“One or two glasses.”

“Was it
one or two?”

“
Two I guess, but I was fine to drive.”

“
Isn’t that what drunk drivers say right before they plow into a minivan loaded full of a family with kids?”  Lifting her off his lap, he stood and retrieved his jeans.  As he slid them on he began to lecture.  “What’s the rule, Joanna?”

“No drinking and driving.”

“Is a little wine acceptable?”

“No.”

“No what?”

“No, Sir.”

“Christ, Joanna what were you thinking?  You've even worked at a M.A.D.D fundraiser.  Don’t you think that’s a bit hypocritical?”

“I guess, but tonight was unusual.  I usually ride with Bridgett but she was sick and
Melissa was…” She trailed off when she saw the stern expression on his face.  She immediately stopped her excuses.  He was right.  It was their rule, not to mention the law.

“Did the D.C. cab service suddenly go out of business while I was away?”

“No, Sir.”

“So you have no excuse.  Are you going to argue with me further that you are in the wrong here?”

“No, Sir.  I was stupid and careless and I know better.”

“Don’t call yourself stupid.”  He paced the room for a minute before asking, “
What is the punishment for a level two rule violation?”  Level two involved personal safety.  They had agreed long ago when they established their household rules that any infraction involving personal safety would be dealt with harshly.   That meant she would feel his strap across her bare bottom.

“Ten with the strap, Sir.”

“You can take them with my belt here over the back of the couch, or go to the spanking bench in our room with the tawse.  Your choice.”

Joanna weighed her options carefully.  His belt would hurt less but she always had a hard time maintaining position over the couch and usually ended up with penalty strokes for breaking position or trying to block
it with her hand.  If she chose the bench, he would restrain her hands and she would just have the ten to withstand.

“Your answer?”

“In our room, Sir.”

“So be it
.  Head on in there and get in position.  I’ll be in soon.”   She nodded and started to leave when he grabbed her hand as she passed.  Looking up at him she saw a sad, disappointed look on his face. 

“This was a level
two rule that we both agreed on.  Do you remember why?”

“Yes
because drinking and driving places me and other innocent people at risk.  It is a safety violation, Sir.”

“That’s right. 
We decided we need these in our marriage fourteen years ago now.  They have served us well, don’t you agree?”

“Yes
Sir, although my butt has been served well-done on occasion.”  From the expression on his face, lightening the mood with a joke was not helping the situation.

“This is no time to be flippant, Joanna.  What category is a level one rule and what is the punishment? 

“
Level one violations are of our basic household rules and are punished with a hand spanking.  The number is whatever you determine as appropriate, Sir.”

“Good, a
nd level three? 

“Level
three are the most serious and are infractions that would potentially devastate our marriage drastically.  

“For example?”

“Unlawful acts, dishonor, and infidelity.”

“And the punishment for those infractions is what
, Joanna?”

“I
’ve never had level three, Sir.”  Tears began to well up in her eyes.  By his tone and questions, she knew she had screwed up, big time.  “Our agreement says you can use multiple implements including the cane on my bare bottom and thighs with as many strokes as you feel is necessary to keep our marriage safe and get it back on track, Sir.”

“Yes.  I’ve been thinking your punishment tonight
needs to be level three.”

Joanna gasped, “But it was a level
two.”

“
It was also blatant disobedience.  You admitted you knew drinking and driving under any circumstance was against our rules.”  He cupped her chin in his hand and held her face angled up to his so he could see her as he spoke.  “It was unlawful and you also put our marriage at risk by being foolish and reckless.  If you had hurt yourself or injured anyone the impact on our marriage and family would have been devastating
. 
I can’t loose you like your father lost your mother, Joanna. I’d ever recover.  Don’t you see that?”

Tears started to trickle down her face as he spoke.  He was exactly right.  She knew she shouldn’t have gotten behind the wheel after
one drink, let alone two.  She had even thought about calling a cab but the restaurant was out of the way and she didn’t want to wait while one was called. She didn’t think about anyone but herself, not her dad, her kids and especially not Peter.  In considering her behavior tonight, Joanna had to agree that harsh punishment was justified.

“I see that,
Sir.  But do you have to use the cane?  The spanking and the tawse will be harsh enough.”

“
No darlin’, tonight the punishment will indeed fit the crime.  I want you to remember this every time you even think about getting behind the wheel, sober or otherwise.”  Leaning in he placed a soft kiss on her lips.  “I love you Joanna, trust me to know what is best.  I will be careful with you as always and will not break the skin.  But baby, you are going to feel every stroke when you sit for the next few days.  Now be a good girl and go wait for me, in position as I asked.”

“Yes
, Sir.”  She looked at him with love shining behind the watery pools that were her eyes.  She started to leave but paused to look back, “Peter?”

“Yes, darlin’?”

“I love you and trust you more than anyone.  You haven’t broken that trust in all the years we’ve been together, so I won’t start doubting you now.  I’m sorry and won’t ever do anything this reckless again, I promise.”

“Thank you for that
promise; you know I’ll hold you to it.”

“As always, Sir.”  With that she gave him on
e last liquid glance and escaped to their bedroom.

When Peter walked in
shortly after, he found his wife in position as ordered.  Not quite a spanking bench, they used a long, wide ottoman instead.  It stood on four legs to which restraints could be easily attached.  He saw that she had already applied two for her wrists.  They were tied to the legs, but she waited for him to secure them to the bench and truly restrain her.  As required, she was naked and bent over the ottoman.  At 39, Joanna was just as beautiful as the day they met.  She still had wicked curves that tempted a man’s hand and although her hips were a bit wider from childbirth, she was toned and still as sexy as the nineteen-year-old he’d married.

He closed and locked their master bedroom door. 
After being promoted to Colonel a few years back, they’d moved to the Washington D.C. and built a new home.  Peter had insisted on sound-proofing in the master bedroom to allow them privacy for romantic moments as well as those times when he found the need to exercise his authority and administer discipline.  Over the years, the true punishments had reduced in frequency.  Proportionately, the erotic punishments and their BDSM play had increased.  They had even found an exclusive BDSM club where they could experiment and play without worries about children and interruptions.  Of course, Joanna had matured from the eighteen year old he had first met and required little correction now.  Tonight’s behavior was a real surprise.  She was usually a level-headed woman who often erred on the side of caution instead of recklessness. 

Stopping by the closet, he retrieved the Scottish
tawse and cane from the locked chest where they kept their punishment implements and toys.  As he approached, he laid the tawse and cane on the floor at her side where she could see them.   Although this might sound cruel and taunting, Peter actually found it helped her better understand the seriousness of the punishment.

“
We’ll start with a hand spanking, Joanna.  This will be for disobedience in spite of knowing the rules full well.  You’ll want your hands restrained for this I assume?”

“Yes Sir.
  I won’t be able to keep my hands still.”

Moving around to
her front, he squatted and secured her wrists in the leather, fleece lined restraints.  She watched silently as he performed the procedure he’d often done before.  As always he slipped a finger inside to restraint to check the fit and waited as she flexed her fingers.  Before rising, he placed a kiss on her forehead then moved into position behind her.  That kiss did her in and the guilt and shame brought on the tears. 

“Hush
, darlin’.  Save the tears for the spanking.”