Guardian Domination (18 page)

I rubbed her back gently, “It’s over and forgotten. Did he hold you?”

“Yeah, and it made me cry all over again. I-I can’t remember the last time Daddy even held me like that…”

“Felt good, didn’t it? Safe?”

“Like nothing in the world could ever hurt me. You’re so lucky, Celeste. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but, well… You know.”

“It’s worth the pain to have the forgiveness. I do know. Are you ready to come downstairs? Jace’s probably scarfing down all the ice cream.”

“I don’t want to face him. I’m so embarrassed.”

“It’s hard the first time, but trust me, he’ll make you comfortable about it. Come on, wash your face and fix your hair. You look like you’ve been hanging upside down.”

She started laughing, shuddering as she picked up Jace’s hairbrush and placed it
far
away from her on the bed. She pulled her blond hair into a ponytail and was in a sundress by the time I returned from putting the brush away. I couldn’t resist as I lifted up the back and saw she had no panties on. She slapped my hand and blushed. I laughed, assuring her I had done the same on many, many occasions.

Jace was his charming self when we came down, presenting us with loaded bowls of ice cream and inviting us outside to watch the sunset. He gently offered Cara the soft-cushioned lounger and kissed her forehead as she gingerly settled onto it. When it was time for bed, I heard them down the hall.

“Good night, Jace. And thank you. I know it was hard for you to spank me. I deserved it.”

“You’re welcome. How’s your bottom?”

“Sore, but happy. I just hope Daddy doesn’t get any ideas. I’d rather be grounded.”

“Just remember that, okay?”

When my turn came, his embrace was warm and his scent flooded my nostrils. Jace laid down next to me on the bed, propping his head on his left hand while stroking my long hair with his right. “Am I doing okay, Kid?” he asked.

I grabbed his hand and kissed his palm, “More than okay. I’m so proud of you.”

His eyes gleamed with pleasure from my praise.

“I wish there were more men like you out there. I think there would be less kids like me.”

“There is nothing wrong with kids like you. I love you, trouble and all. Look how much you’ve grown, my darling girl. I have some major plans for you in the future if you and I chose to continue this path.”

“I want nothing more. Jace… you know I love you,” I admitted with unashamed boldness. He pulled my lips gently to his, not answering with words. But I knew that he loved me in return.

Chapter Fourteen

Sister-Sister

“You had
no
business touching my stuff!” Gayle yelled at me after I had borrowed a pair of her earrings to match the blouse I was wearing. I just forgot to put them back. Gayle was funny about things like that, and made it clear that she never liked anyone, not even Mark, messing with her things.

Usually she and I got along real well, but lately, we had been frequently fighting and, admittedly, it was my fault for instigating. Mark had a strict no-snitch policy, so Gayle couldn’t even go and tell either him or Jace what I’d been up to.

This time, however, I made a big mistake and got into the shouting match with her when Jace and Mark were home to hear it. We were hollering back and forth when the two of them came in from different rooms.

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!” both demanded at once.

Gayle and I froze as Mark pointed to the Royal Lounge and Jace just stood there, his eyes boring into me. He heard some of the colorful phrases I had used regarding my opinion of Gayle’s attitude.

“I am waiting for an explanation,” Mark growled.

“It’s nothing, Darling. I’m sorry we bothered you,” Gayle said quietly.

Mark put his hands on his hips, glasses in hand. “The racket I heard was not ‘nothing’, so if you want to add lying to this, feel free.”

Gayle inhaled and reluctantly explained to him what we were fighting about and how things had been very strained between us lately due to my attitude with her.

I sunk into the couch, feeling both Jace and Mark glare at me.

“Is this true, Celeste?” Jace asked, very quietly.

I nodded, arms still crossed, and not about to add lying to my list of infractions, either. Jace called Mark into a corner to talk while Gayle and I faced the floor.

“Gayle, I’m sorry. I’ve been a brat and really disrespectful. I forget sometimes that you’re not really a sister.”

“I’m sorry, too. I’m really controlling and freak out on stupid things. And you
are
my sister. Hugs.”

We were hugging when the boys returned. Clearing his throat, Mark began to lecture. “First, I’m glad to see you girls have decided to make up. Gayle, you are a mature adult and my wife. I expect you to act as such and that does not include getting into a screaming match with someone seven years your junior. I will deal with your behavior privately.”

“Yes, Sir,” Gayle said bravely. “I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

“You will be, I’ll promise you that. Celeste, after conferring with Jace, he suggested that a large part of your transgressions were against Gayle, not us. She will be disciplining you for your behavior.”

“What?!” both Gayle and I exclaimed.

Jace spoke. “I am seriously considering administering an additional session with me for, once again, disobeying my orders regarding stealing, respecting adults and your language. Push me, Young Lady, and it will happen. Am I understood?”

“Jace, please…” Gayle elbowed me. “Yes, Sir.”

“Gayle, you are to go up to my room and retrieve whatever implement you would like to apply. I’m warning you, if you do not please us regarding the effectiveness of the punishment you deliver, you will start over until we are satisfied. Even if it takes all night.”

I looked at Jace in horror. What does this man do? Spend all his free times thinking of new methods of torture? He was stone-faced with no expression other than the fire in his eyes.

My terror increased as Gayle returned, carrying a cane. She knelt before Mark and asked his permission to speak. If I wasn’t so petrified, I’d be fascinated. She asked if she was allowed their opinion regarding the number of strokes to administer, and was quickly told no and that part of the punishment was being responsible for thoroughly teaching the lesson.

I looked for a ways of escape as she sadly ordered me over the arm of the couch with my panties down, legs straight behind me, and my elbows on the cushions. I remembered when she had once told me that hurtful words can never be taken back and would always be a permanent part of your memory. Remorse for the way I had treated her, and the terrible things I called her, gave me the strength to position myself as instructed. I felt her adjust me and saw Jace walk over to make additional modifications. He then further instructed her how to properly apply the cane and what to look for, treating my punishment as a training exercise.

OW! The first stroke landed squarely across the middle of my bottom. I hopped up, only to be pushed back down. Jace warned me that if I moved, I could be injured. I burst into tears, disbelieving of how he could allow this. I felt so betrayed as Mark praised the stroke. A second came down, a little lower, and I yelled again, my hands flying back to protect myself. With a sigh, Jace sat in front of me and held my wrists tightly so I couldn’t reach back or jump away.

I lost count after ten strokes, sobbing and screaming with my wrists gripped tightly in Jace’s hand and my body racked with pain. The strokes continued even after I stopped fighting, and I just wept and lay limply over the couch. When she finally stopped, Gayle threw herself across my back, crying out apologies for her harshness and begging my forgiveness.

Oddly, enough, I wasn’t angry… at her or the boys. Jace released my wrists, his fingers imprinted in my skin, and kissed my nose before joining Mark to inspect Gayle’s handiwork.

“Got a little break here. That’s comes from striking the same area. Angle more,” Jace instructed her indifferently.

“This is a good pattern,” Mark added, tracing the welts with his finger, “You did well.”

“Thank you sir,” Gayle sniffed. “Was it adequate?”

“How many strokes did you give?” Jace asked, resting his hand on my quivering bottom. The warmth and familiarity felt soothing and protective.

“25, sir. Even I can’t take much more than that yet.”

“I think that will suffice, if Mark agrees.” Mark nodded. “Very well, I expect no repeats of this behavior from either of you. Agreed?”

“Yes, Jace.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Come with me, Gayle. May I borrow this?” Mark asked Jace, holding the cane. Gayle paled as Jace nodded. “25? Let’s see if we can double that.”

“No, Mark, please…” Gayle begged as Mark led her out. Jace gently helped me up and wiped my face. Without hesitating, he lifted me into his arms and carried me upstairs to his room to place me face-down on his bed. I gasped as I felt something cold against my bottom. Ever so gently, Jace rubbed a numbing cream over my throbbing bottom and thighs.

“My poor bottom,” he said compassionately. “Why can’t you learn? Don’t worry. I won’t be punishing you after this, it is more than sufficient.”

As grateful for those words as I could be, I could only think about how he failed to protect me. I could tell by the sound of Mark’s voice that she had gone overboard, intentionally or not, and this was confirmed by Jace’s actions.

How could I trust him if he wouldn’t intervene in something like this? Mark, too? I didn’t blame Gayle. She had to protect her own skin and was just trying to obey them. To be a good subby. Fuck that! I was becoming angry.

“Get your damn hands off me. I don’t want you to ever touch me again,” I snarled, pulling away as much as my screaming body would let me.

Jace didn’t look surprised. “I’m not going anywhere. I am going to take care of you and that’s that. I know you’re angry. You should be. But not at me, Mark or Gayle. I just hope the things you said to Gayle haven’t seriously hurt your relationship with her or Mark.”

I honestly didn’t exactly remember everything I had screamed at her, but none of the insults had been true and were simply mean nasty things to win an argument.

“How many strokes would
you
have given me?” I asked, realizing I could not summon up the energy to be angry with him as much as I wanted to be.

Despite wanting to believe that I had been abandoned and unprotected, Jace was with me the entire time. He had felt everything as he held my wrists, and the bruises from his fingers were not all from my struggling to escape.

“Not this many,” Jace said, applying another layer of lotion to me. “But close. And never in anger. Is it feeling any better?”

“It’s getting numb,” I said, my face in his pillow. He pulled the sheet over me and continued to rub my back. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Yes. You might need me if you have to get up. Please promise me this will never happen again.”

“I promise.” And I meant it.

He held me against his chest, singing softly and continued to stroke my hair and back as he planted tender kisses over my eyelids and face. He was warm and smelled so good. I don’t know how, but I managed to fall asleep. I woke during the night, still wrapped tightly in his arms. Before I could say anything, he was awake and tenderly applying more lotion. I excused myself to the bathroom, assuring him I did not require his assistance, and took a peek.

Trembling, I touched my backend, understanding his concern. My skin looked close to splitting in some areas and the stripes went clear around my hips. My face was puffy and my eyes swollen from crying, and I had a couple of visible bruises on my wrists.

If I felt this terrible, I could only imagine how Gayle felt after receiving double… and from an experienced disciplinarian. I returned to the bed and shook Jace gently.

“Are you okay?” he asked, cupping my face and looking at me with tired eyes.

I shook my head. “I need to check on Gayle. May I?”

“Wait until morning. I’m sure Mark is taking good care of her. Now come back here and let me hold you,” he said as he pulled me close with both arms securely encircling me.

Like always, he fell asleep within seconds of closing his eyes and I laid there listening to his even breathing and felt his warm breath against my neck. I pulled his hands tightly against my chest, resting his open palm to cup my breast. I never wanted to be let go.

Jace excused me from school the next day and, for once, Mark didn’t argue. He wanted to spend the day with Gayle. I was given no details, but he had been severely harsh with her after what she had done to me, and would require a couple of days to recuperate.

He specifically requested that I leave her alone for a day or so. I reluctantly obeyed, but was plagued by questions. Was this bordering abuse? How far would a sub allow things to go before the line was drawn? It was time for answers.

I approached Jace while he was watching TV and stood in front of him, blocking his view. “I’d ask you to sit down and join me, but I know you can’t.” He smiled lovingly, kissing my hand as he moved me out of the way.

“We need to talk. I have questions and I want answers,” I said firmly.

Jace raised his eyebrow. “Oh? Well, since it’s that important, by all means. Wanna go upstairs?”

“That would be good,” I answered, following him out to the deck. He sat down after preparing the bench for me to lie down on my side. I propped my head on my hand and began to bombard him with inquiries. Jace tried to describe the involvement of consensual adults and the types of agreements and conditions involved in the lifestyle, and that Mark and Gayle had drawn up a special type of contract that they signed privately after they were married.

It was obvious that he was uncomfortable discussing this with me, so I asked him bluntly, “Is it a Master/Slave contract?”

“How did you know about that?” he tried not to look surprised. I had researched it on the internet, and wanted to know how far something like that would be allowed. I listened to his explanations carefully, and the nonnegotiable requirement for absolute trust in order to pursue this type of relationship.