Chapter 5
Five
Laci wasn’t sure why hearing the words “good girl” from Eric’s mouth meant something to her, but they did. Lately she couldn’t seem to handle much in her life, but at least she’d gotten through the punishment without using her safeword.
And afterward, it had been nice of Eric to protect her from Stu’s roving hands.
She’d been hyped up emotionally and ready to panic.
How had Eric guessed? She glanced at him, but nothing had changed outwardly.
He was as calm and cool as ever. He didn’t even seem to have broken a sweat from giving her butt a real pounding.
Did anything ever get to him? What made someone like Eric Renard lose control, she wondered as he put a hand between her shoulder blades to guide her to a corner.
She stayed still as he restrained her wrists in cuffs over her head. He checked the bindings and her hands to make sure the restraints weren’t too tight. She should have minded being cuffed, but the chain actually helped hold her up. Her legs felt watery.
It took several moments for Laci to feel steady enough to look over her shoulder. The last of Melody’s clothes had been removed, and she was over the desk. She, unlike Laci, had been restrained there. Wrists and ankles cuffed. There was no escape.
John slapped her buttocks a few times with his hand to warm her up, then he went directly to the paddle.
She cried right away and alternated between saying Thank you, Sir and begging him to stop.
She was very noisy during her punishment, which surprised Laci because Mel was so restrained and ladylike normally.
John was obviously enjoying himself, taking time to chastise her when she tried to move her hips to escape the blows. John also stopped to touch and caress her ass and pussy, noting for everyone how much his wife needed a firm hand and how much her body appreciated being corrected.
When Melody started to wail and shriek, John stopped and tossed the paddle on the desk.
“My little drama queen,” John said with a hint of amusement in his voice. “If you can’t take the paddle anymore, I guess we’ll have to move on to something else.”
Melody sobbed openly, and Laci’s body tensed. Couldn’t he see that she couldn’t possibly take anymore? Why didn’t Melody use her safeword? Could Laci call it out for her? The way Eric had done on her behalf? She wished Eric was nearby so she could ask him.
“I think you need another reminder of how things are between husbands and wives in this community,” John said and lowered his zipper.
Laci froze. Surely he wouldn’t…not in front of a room full of people.
She craned her neck to try to see the others.
The only lit track lights were pointed at her in the corner and at the desk, so most of the others in the room were in the shadows.
The only people she could see well were Stuart and Allison.
Allison’s blouse was untucked and Stuart’s hand was under it, obviously fondling her breast. His other hand was on her hip, holding her steady while he rubbed against her.
Jesus, Laci thought. Was Stu going to screw Allison, too?
The thought made her mouth go dry. She knew she should feel sorry for Melody, but a part of her was pretty turned on.
“Mmmm,” John said as he pushed into his wife. “That’s what a humbled and dutiful wife should feel like. Scalding bottom and everything below.”
“Here here!” a man said. Maybe Dr. Glaser.
John fucked Melody, whose sobs alternated with moans and mewling sounds.
After awhile she gasped out a, “Sir?”
“Yes, you may come. Mmm, yes,” John said, increasing his strokes, the wet rhythmic sounds of their sex filling the room.
How did he not drive Melody and the desk across the room? Looking down, Laci realized the desk was bolted to the floor. Of course it was.
Laci twisted on her chain, wanting to watch the crescendo.
John threw his head back, growling out his release.
He stood there panting, sweat dotting his forehead, a smile edging up the corners of his mouth.
Melody lay limp from the punishment and hard use.
Laci couldn’t see Mel’s face and wondered how she looked.
Was she still crying? Or was she too drained to do even that?
John pulled out and bent to kiss his wife’s ass. “My love,” he said. “I wish you could stand where I’m standing and see how beautiful you look. I’m going to leave you there for a few minutes so our friends can enjoy the sight of you.”
Eric stepped in front of Laci, which blocked her view of the desk.
He reached up and released her. She hadn’t realized that the blood had drained from her arms until they flopped to her sides like dead weight.
Eric rubbed them from shoulder to wrist, and the pins and needles sensation intensified.
She hissed, trying to shake them out. Eventually normal feeling was restored.
Eric retrieved her dress and slid it over her head. She was grateful for anything because she felt cold despite the fact that the room was hot and stuffy now. Someone had obviously turned up the heat, and there were plenty of people adding to the warmth.
Stuart was fucking Allison against the bookcase, her skirt hitched up to reveal that she wore no panties.
Her legs were wrapped around her husband’s waist, her hands gripping his shoulders.
Laci sort of wanted to watch, but looked away quickly when she realized that, rather than watching them, Eric was watching her.
Other people stood around the desk, rubbing Melody’s back and whispering to her. Pepper and Dr. Glaser were chatting with John and all of them glanced frequently at Melody’s exposed ass and genitals. John periodically reached down and stroked her.
“She’s probably freezing,” Laci whispered.
“John will see to it,” Eric said in a reassuring tone. “Elena?”
Elena stepped away from where she’d been rubbing Melody’s shoulders and joined them.
“I’m going to take Laci home. What time tomorrow?” Eric asked.
“I’ll text. Around five thirty I expect, so it doesn’t interfere with most people’s dinner hour.
” Elena turned her attention to Laci. Her smile was like sunshine, warm and comforting.
“You were so lovely and strong, Laci. Really, really well done,” she said, tucking Laci’s hair behind her ears.
“Be good and go right to bed. You need your rest,” she said, brushing a thumb under Laci’s lower lashes.
“We’ve seen enough of these dark circles, sweetheart. ”
“I’ll take care of her,” Eric said.
Elena smiled. “Even better. See you tomorrow.”
Eric led Laci out of the clubhouse. There was only a sliver of moon overhead, and the night was cool. Eric put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him as they walked. His body was so warm. She was too cold to even think of pulling away.
They didn’t talk about anything, though Laci sort of wanted to.
After a night like this, Colin would have chatted with her non-stop all the way home and into their bed, until she fell asleep in the middle of the conversation.
She missed his enthusiasm. He’d been half English, complete with British accent, but his lively style of conversation, as he’d noted himself, was purely gushing American.
Eric escorted her inside. She turned to say goodbye, but he shook his head.
“I’m putting you to bed.”
She looked up at him through her lashes.
What exactly did he mean by that? She should order him out of her house, but she was too curious.
The wild need she’d felt right after her punishment was gone, as was that unique and acute connection she’d felt to him.
Now she was sleepy and sore and wanted some time to think about everything, but she didn’t argue.
“Suit yourself,” she said, turning and heading up the stairs.
He followed her all the way into the bedroom. It was really odd having him there. She supposed the maid cleaned it, but she was only person other than Laci who ever set foot inside after Colin had gone.
Laci glanced at the couch and indicated with a finger that Eric could sit if he wanted to.
She went into the bathroom and washed her face and brushed and flossed her teeth.
It was funny. So many nights she just fell asleep on a downstairs couch without taking off her makeup or changing clothes.
Tonight, it felt good to act normal. Colin had been all about having a routine, right down to a dozen kinky daily and weekly rituals.
She guessed she hadn’t seen the point in keeping to any kind of schedule once he was gone.
They’d been in place for his happiness, not hers.
Except that now it was familiar and reassuring to smooth on some face lotion with its recognizable light scent.
She padded across the large room to the walk-in closet.
She removed the dress and dropped it in the hamper.
She glanced down, realizing with a start that she hadn’t retrieved her panties from the library floor.
Good grief. She hoped someone would grab them and tuck them away before a cleaning woman showed up.
She dropped her strapless bra into the hamper and then opened a drawer of her chest. She had many nightgowns and pieces of lingerie, from girlish to Victoria’s Secret sexy.
She normally put on whatever was on top or even more often she grabbed yoga pants and a tank so she could wander the house without worrying about walking past a window and putting on a show.
With Eric in the bedroom though she was at a loss.
She didn’t want to wear anything childish, which too many things were, but super sexy wasn’t appropriate either.
“Need an opinion?”
She jumped, completely startled. It took her a moment to grab a dress to hold in front of herself. “Jesus!” she snapped. “What are you doing?”
He leaned against the doorway. “Waiting.”
“Well, wait out there. Or better yet, go home. I’ve got the whole ‘turn off the light and climb into bed’ thing down. Mastered it around the time I learned to tie my shoes.”
He smirked. “Then prove it. Put something on or don’t, but come out of the closet.”
“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath. She grabbed a sleeveless fuzzy nightgown with yellow lace trim and a giant sunflower on it. She pulled it over her head.
“Interesting choice,” he said.
Fuck off, she wanted to say. She actually hated anything with cotton lace trim. It itched. When he was gone, she’d change.
She stalked past him to the bed and climbed in on her side. Her sore butt ached when she laid on it. She forced herself to lie still. She’d roll onto her side when he left. No need for him to know the effects of his handiwork.
It was super weird for him to be there. Colin had tucked her in for naps when they were playing, but no one else ever had.
“Do you need anything? Water? Some ibuprofen?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, turning off the light. “Laci, why are there four night lights on the floor under the outlets? Shouldn’t they be either plugged in or tossed if they’re burned out?”
“Leave them alone,” she said when he walked over to examine one.
“Ah. A Disney princess nightlight. Got it.”
She couldn’t see his face well because the only light in the room was coming from the hall, but his voice got gentler when he spoke. “Look at each one tomorrow and then put them away in a drawer or a box. It’s time, Lace.”
She glared at him, which she knew he couldn’t see. It was probably better that he couldn’t.
“You did really well tonight.”
“I know,” she said defiantly. What she’d really wanted to say was thank you, but for some reason she couldn’t.
“Good night,” he said.
“Hey,” she added when he was just outside the door. “So did you.”
“I know,” he said in a tone that mimicked hers.
She chuckled. “All right. Good night.”