Page 108 of Leather and Longing
Paul wasn’tsure he could face breakfast. There was no room in his stomach anyway—the butterflies had already taken up residence. He couldn’t even face the thought of coffee. He showered and dressed before Adam got up, but couldn’t focus enough to begin his morning routine.
Seth would be there after midday, Adam had said. Paul had spent a fitful night, dreaming of a huge man dressed from head to toe in leather, brandishing a whip with a long studded tail. He knew it wasn’t an accurate picture—he’d seen Adam’s floggers, for one thing—but that hadn’t stopped the dreams from creeping into his subconscious and disturbing his sleep. He’d slept alone, vaguely aware that a restless night was on the cards, and he didn’t see any reason why Adam should go without his sleep, too.
Adam said if I wanted it to stop, it would.
He clung to those words like a lifeline.
Paul crossed the landing to descend the staircase. He needed to push aside his fears and apprehension, and get on with his day.
“Paul, come in here, please.”
Paul pushed open Adam’s door and entered. Adam was sitting in the centre of the bed, fully dressed, his back resting against a pile of pillows.
“Good morning,” Paul said quietly.
Adam smiled. “Your mind is all over the place this morning, isn’t it?”
“How did you—?” Paul broke off, shaking his head. Of course Adam knew. It was his job to know such things. “Yes,” he admitted. “I was on my way downstairs to make breakfast, not that I’m in the slightest bit hungry.”
“Come here.” Adam patted his lap. “Let me help you.”
Paul frowned. “Help me? How?” He remained where he was.
Adam raised his chin to gaze at him, those milky-blue eyes fixed on his face. “Remember that spanking I’m always promising to deliver? Well, now’s the time. I want you lying over me, your hips across my lap, naked. Now,” he added when Paul didn’t move.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Paul protested.
Adam became still for a moment, before opening his arms wide. “Come here. Let me explain.”
Paul climbed onto the bed and crawled across the aged peach bedspread to where Adam awaited him. Adam pulled him to sit on his lap and put his arms around him, holding him close. Before Paul could get another word out, Adam reached for Paul’s face, cupping his cheek as he leaned in to kiss him.
Paul all but melted into Adam’s arms.
When they parted, Adam sighed. “Let’s start again. Good morning. I missed you last night.”
Paul’s chest tightened. “I wanted to stay, but?—”
“It’s okay, I understand.” He stroked Paul’s jaw. “Spanking you isn’t meant to be a punishment. It’s intended to be therapeutic.”
In spite of his nervous state, Paul couldn’t hold back his chuckle. “Spanking my bare arse is therapeutic?”
Adam nodded. “I’m not going to smack you any old how. I’m going to deliver spanks rhythmically and consistently, to allow your mind to focus. I’m not going to use a paddle, just my hand. It’s not meant to be painful.” Adam smirked. “Unless, of course, you want it to be. And if it gets too much, you tell me to stop, and I stop. Simple as that.”
“It allows me to focus?” Paul was still trying to get his head around that.
Adam nodded. “You’ve got a big day coming up. You need to get into the right mind-set for it. This is meant to help you. This is whatever you make of it. If you want to cry, go ahead and cry. If you want to turn inward and think, then do that. Okay?”
Paul breathed deeply. “Okay.” He knelt up on the bed and stripped off his clothing, before stretching out over Adam’s lap as instructed. He shivered when Adam stroked over his arse, the movement gentle.
“Usually when I deliver a spanking, I cup the genitals in my left hand, but not this time. When I’m spanking you, think about where my hand is going, because that’s where Seth’s flogger will be going, too. That should help focus you.” He rubbed and squeezed both cheeks. “You have a gorgeous arse, you know. It feels bloody good when I touch it.”
Paul’s face heated up. This was so surreal.
“Ready?”
Paul inhaled. “Ready.”
Adam stroked across his shoulders and down his back to the swell of Paul’s arse. He gave a couple more squeezes before delivering the first spank. It wasn’t that hard and made little noise, and after a few similar blows, Adam stopped and gently rubbed the skin.
