Page 58 of Beneath the Surface

Without another word, his hand came down firmly on her backside. The sharp sound of the impact echoed through the room, and Isobel gasped, her body jolting with the sting of it. Brad didn’t stop. He brought his hand down again and again, each strike deliberate, measured, but with enough force to leave her skin burning.

“Do you understand why this is happening?” he asked between spanks.

“Yes,” Isobel whispered, “I understand. I put myself and the police guarding me in danger.”

Brad continued, his hand coming down again, the heat intensifying on her skin. "Good. Because this isn’t just about punishment. This is about trust. You need to trust that I’m doing what’s best for your safety, even when you don’t agree."

Each slap punctuated his words, each one reminding her of the consequences of disobeying him. The stinging pain blended with the overwhelming emotions that were building inside her, her body trembling under his control. “You could have called me. We could have made a safe plan to get the report to the court.”

Pain morphed into a weird type of pleasure. Isobel’s body was shaking from the release of emotions she had kept bottledup. Tears filled her eyes, and before she could stop herself, she began to cry—deep, heaving sobs that came from a place she didn’t even realize existed. The fear, the guilt, the exhaustion of the past days all poured out of her.

Brad’s hand came to rest on her lower back, his touch gentle now. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You’re mine, Belle. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if it means this."

Isobel let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing slightly as the tension began to release. She knew, deep down, he was right. She had defied him, and now she had learned the lesson. But more than that, she felt his control, his protection, and she trusted him completely.

After a few moments, Brad helped her sit up, his expression softening as he pulled her into his arms. “You’re okay,” he murmured, holding her close, his voice tender now. “I’ve got you.”

Isobel buried her face in his chest, still trembling but with a deep sense of relief. But the punishment wasn’t over.

Brad’s hands were firm as he lifted her chin, their eyes locking. She saw the glimmer of need in his eyes, need that mirrored her own. She needed to feel the connection. Without a word, he guided her onto the floor, positioning her on her hands and knees.

Isobel’s breath hitched, her body already sensitive, but she surrendered to him completely. Brad knelt behind her, his hands gripping her hips as he entered her slowly, deliberately, filling her inch by inch. Her moan echoed through the room, her body trembling as he set a slow, torturous rhythm, his control unwavering.

With each thrust, he took her deeper, his hands sliding over her body, possessive and strong. Isobel’s moans grew louder as he pushed her closer and closer to the edge. Brad’s control overher was absolute, and she gave herself fully to him, knowing he would take her exactly where she needed to go.

Finally, as her body trembled beneath him, Brad pushed her over the edge, her climax tearing through her as she screamed his name. He followed moments later, the intensity of his release matching hers as they collapsed together.

For a long time, they stayed like that. Brad’s arms wrapped around her, holding her close as they both caught their breath. He kissed her shoulder softly, his lips lingering on her skin.

"You did well with your first spanking," he whispered.

After they showered, Brad made dinner, and after eating, he asked Isobel to join him in the living room. The space was quiet, dimly lit by a single lamp. He sat in his chair and pulled her into his lap. The atmosphere felt serious, and Isobel could sense the shift in Brad’s bearing.

“Do you have any questions about your spanking?” he asked, a hint of authority still lingering.

She looked down for a moment, biting her lip. “No,” she whispered.

Brad ran his fingers through her hair. “I punished you with a spanking because I needed to get your attention, Belle. It was never meant to hurt you, only to correct and refocus you.” He paused, looking into her eyes. “Do you understand?”

She nodded, feeling the sincerity behind his words. “I do.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“What would hurt me is if I lost you. I’ve waited so long to have you in my life.” He took a long, deep breath and wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Now, tell me what happened with your report. I can tell something’s bothering you.”

“First, can you tell me how the person was killed?”

“I haven’t talked more with Larson, but it was a male in his forties who had just appeared in court. Preliminary cause ofdeath is drowning in the toilet. That’s how he was found; there was water on the floor.”

“The Rueben Hancock case. It was during my post-doctorate course in LA. He had just won custody of his kids, and his ex-wife paid to have him killed.”

“This goes back to while you were in school.” His body stiffened. “Did you write about this case?”

“No. It was easily solved. Our professor showed it to us as a case that didn’t require a psychological analysis.”

“Tell me about your report.”

Belle took a deep breath. “When I pulled it up, it wasn’t the report I dictated. It was changed, Brad. I had to rewrite the whole thing, and it had to be in by four o’clock. My recommendation in the original report was going to alter custody for a very ill child.”

Brad’s brow furrowed. “How was the report altered?”

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