His Firm Hand by Shelly Douglas

Michele to sit next to him on the couch.
    “Are you sure I shouldn’t lie down for this session?” she teased.
    “You’ve had almost two weeks to digest our new arrangement. So, what do you think?”
    “Well, I’m sure this has something to do with me needing more attention, right?”
    “Like I said, it was my fault for dropping the ball with respect to our DD relationship we agreed to early on. I’m supposed to be the head of this household, and there’s no excuse for my failure in that regard. I feel like I let you down, sweetie.”
    “Look, I could have said something, but was too busy getting away with… well, everything I could literally get away with in the last year.” She stopped to take another swallow of wine. “I understand ratcheting up the discipline, but why the age-play? More specifically, teenage role play?”
    “I know you’re much more intuitive than you like to admit. But I’m happy to confirm what you probably already know.”
    She nodded. “It would be good to validate my suspicions. Of course, our friend Marsha thinks teenagers are just plain annoying and can’t understand—”
    “I hate to interrupt your thought, but when you were a teenager, were you stressed?”
    “All teenagers are emotional walking time bombs, aren’t they? What a cruel joke on God’s part to hand out those raging hormones and then expect rules to be obeyed. All teens need love and protection while still wanting to spread their wings to test their independence and maturity at the same time. They want their voice to be heard as if they were an adult, even though they aren’t. I think it’s a very stressful time, and puberty can be an ugly stage. Both literally and figuratively.”
    “Exactly. But I have a feeling that the woman sitting beside me didn’t speak out as much as she wanted to during those emotional years.”
    Michele swung her body to face him. “How would you know that?”
    “Just a guess. I think she balled a lot of that frustration up inside her. Am I right?”
    “You’re talking in third person again, and it’s making me extremely nervous.”
    “Answer my question, please.”
    “Okay, my father wasn’t around much. Denise stood up to him, but I didn’t have the nerve. I was afraid he wouldn’t love me if I disobeyed him.”
    “You never learned how to let go of your stress, Michele. I just want to help you find an outlet because keeping it inside isn’t healthy. There have been studies done on that.”
    “I know.” She dropped her head and thought for a minute. “I just can’t believe you would go this far to create a situation—”
    “To let you blow off some steam in a loving environment?” he asked, finishing her sentence.
    “Not to mention your undivided attention at the same time.”
    “The first time I saw your obstinate personality surface, it rang a bell, and I thought you were probably keeping too many feelings inside. How is it working for you so far?”
    “Which part? The spankings, the embarrassing corner time, or the anal invasions?” Michele joked good-naturedly. “I can’t believe how much you’re enjoying this. Your eyes sparkle like diamonds every time you mention that damn paddle.”
    “Who knows why your red bottom excites me. I must have missed that class in college.”
    “Which brings me to my next question, and forgive me because I know I’ve asked this before.”
    “Shoot.” Paul crossed his legs, took another sip of wine, and placed his glass on the table.
    “Since when do teenagers get spanked or have to stand in a corner?”
    “As the head of this house, I make up the rules. And right now, I like surprising you with a mixed bag of punishments. All you have to do is enjoy being a teenager for five days each week.”
    She thought for a minute. “Except this time, I can act out and not be afraid that my daddy will stop loving me.”
    “And if you suddenly decide you don’t like our new arrangement, all you have to do is tell me and