Her brows raised and she tightened her fingers’ grip to tug his hair. “I dislike that you think of teaching a son and protecting a daughter, but we can address that another time—”
“No, Mistress. I mean, yes, I understand. And truly, I have visions of teaching her Latin or whatever else she wants. But that doesn’t worry me. Besides”—one side of his mouth tipped up—“my visions included you teaching our son or daughter, too. I promise they were not as antiquated as they sounded. I am excited for our future together. ’Tis just that some aspects worry me more than others. For the time being, the only thing I can manage is your health. Please, don’t take that away from me.” His voice was strangled on his last words.
“Well, now I am sorry I waited so long to have this discussion. And you will be sorry you waited as well. You know this is punishable behavior.” Her fingers resumed combing. She should have realized he would have begun to list the duties as earl that would come with fatherhood, on top of the normal nerves about impending parenthood.
“Yes, Mistress. But please, first, I need your reassurance.”
She tilted her head. “William, think about what you have told me about the dynamic of our relationship.”
He tilted his head.
“One of the aspects you enjoy most is letting go of your decisions and responsibilities by deferring to me. You can do the same with your worries. Not because I am older or wiser. Because this is how we are most comfortable. Trust me to give you some release from your concerns and to take good care of myself and our child. Please?”
He considered her statement. “I shall try. I ask for your patience, and I cannot promise not to fetch things for you or the like.”
“Fair enough. I think if we regain balance in the bedroom, some of our anxiety outside it may be reduced.”
He nodded. “Mistress, I beg your forgiveness. How may I serve you?”
With that signal that he had acquiesced and was ready to play, Charlotte nodded, pulling her hand from his hair. “You are forgiven, but I think tomorrow you shall wear the ribbon.”
He moaned. Tying his cock with a ribbon had become a favorite torture of hers, to keep him thinking of her all day. He did anyway, of course, but that tether kept him on edge contemplating what she’d do with him that night. His persistent cockstand distracted him from work, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
She added, “Now, I have something I bought for us that I’d like to try. Please keep an open mind.”
He looked up.
“First, remove your clothes, puppy. I want to see this body that is mine forever.” As he flung clothes aside, she added, “I shall never tire of this view.”
She shrugged her loosened dress off, then stepped out of her stays, leaving her in a chemise and petticoats. Untying the petticoat tapes, she withdrew cuffs and the flogger from a drawer.
“Have you seen one of these?”
He stared at it, then nodded.
“Really? Where?”
“Folly had a copy of the catalogue from the Orfords, as he supplies the fasteners and such.”
“Ah,” she murmured. “We should view it together one of these days.”
“I was interested in a few things in the catalogue but did not dare buy them for you.” He wagged his eyebrows up and down and teased, “Now that I have you at my mercy for the rest of our lives, I shall have to reconsider.”
“Hmm. That sounds promising. Other than the fact thatIhaveyouat my mercy. Now, watch,” she said. She wielded the flogger against the mattress in a figure eight pattern, the smacks getting faster and firmer after every few rounds.
“Does it hurt?” William’s voice was hoarse. His cock bobbed and he grabbed it, squeezing.
That was a hopeful sign. Not everyone would be willing to even explore impact play. She’d had to practice when she first bought it as she had never used one. This would be new for both of them, a concept that added to her excitement.
“It does not. However, if I slapped it harder and faster, it might. This one has strands wide enough and short enough that it should not cause real pain or even leave lasting marks. Others are cut differently. ’Tis also important to aim for well-padded areas, either with muscle or otherwise.” She twisted a hip to portray her bottom as an example.
He chuckled.
“Here. You try it on your leg. Move your wrist with it and work up.”
He took it, testing the motion in the air first, and then against his other hand. When he caught his wrist, he winced.
“Be careful of your wrist and start with a slower motion, less of a snap.”
