From the Top Shelf - Sebastian's Verdict

We have now come to the final chapter of A Degree of Discipline, and are about to find out whether all of Lucy's painful research paid off. The long-anticipated birching bench finally makes an appearance, but I won't spoil the ending for you by saying any more.

Lucy eased her position in the seat for the third or fourth time in as many minutes and tried to make herself comfortable. As the train slowly built up speed she sighed and tried to take stock of herself. Her final few days at Carstairs had passed with incredible swiftness and the strangest chapter in her life had ended when she waved goodbye to Juliette.

Her last sight of the girl with whom she had shared so much was of Juliette walking stiffly through the barrier to where Wendy Williams was waiting to take her back to Carstairs in the establishment's mini-bus. Lucy understood the reason for Juliette's stiffness all too well. Even though the carriage she was in was reasonably new and well-upholstered, the tramlines across her bottom could still be individually felt, as could various other aches. However, as she wryly admitted to herself, even aches could be pleasurable. She wondered if Juliette felt the same way.

She knew, because Juliette had told her the following morning, that Juliette's demerit points had earned her a public birching. The two girls had ruefully compared notes; Lucy had conceded that although her own bottom bore a fearsome row of weals, now turning blue as the bruises came out, Juliette's raw cheeks, angry pink with flecks of red from her spine almost down to her knees, were more impressive.

Sebastian had maintained his facade of uncaring heartlessness right to the end. He had come to her room in the early evening, straight from the assembly hall. Meekly, she had presented him with her thesis and remained quiet while he had read it. When he put the papers down, she had desperately looked for some sign of approval, but none was forthcoming. Instead, he had taken her by the hand to lead her to the now deserted assembly hall.

Lucy's heart was in her boots. She was ready to break down and cry. After a month at Carstairs, enduring the most bizarre situation of her life and ending in the most painful caning imaginable, she had failed. It was all for nothing. She had done her best, but all she could look forward to was more punishment and she knew that, without Sebastian's approval, she would not gain her degree either.

In utter despair, she did not resist as he ushered her up onto the stage and obediently pulled her dress over her head when he brusquely ordered her to strip. She was not wearing her panties anyway, because the chafing after her caning was too painful, so she was virtually naked before him. Taking her by the shoulders, he turned her to face the bench and unhooked her bra before ordering her to 'assume the position'. Although she had never seen the birching bench in use, Lucy had no problem in guessing what 'the position' was and knelt on the shelf, bending over the padded centre rail.

Sebastian silently fastened her wrists to the frame, buckling the leather straps tight. Already, Lucy was finding it almost impossible to move because her arms were splayed out at full stretch and she could only look at the floor or crane her neck uncomfortably to try to see behind her. The last thing in her sight before Sebastian pulled a black silk blindfold from his pocket and bound it over her eyes, was a bucket of freshly prepared birch twigs, placed conveniently alongside the frame.

She was so utterly dejected at the thought of her failure that even when her legs were pulled firmly apart, and her ankles strapped tightly to the frame, she did not react. The blindfold served to make her more conscious of her other senses and she guessed that the rustling she could hear was Sebastian preparing the bundle of birch twigs. She wondered how many strokes he would give her. She steeled herself for the agony which must come. Her poor bruised bottom was thrust out and totally vulnerable. With her legs forced wide apart like this, Sebastian must have a clear view of her most private parts. She shivered in anticipation of those dreadful sharp twiglets lashing into her.

What was he waiting for? She answered her own question; he was just prolonging the agony. The bastard! She hated him, yet she could no more resist him than fly to the moon.

The warm hand which suddenly cupped her right breast made her start with surprise and she jerked painfully against her restraints. His other hand softly caressed her bottom, increasing the warmth she already felt there, and she sensed her nipple harden as he gently teased it between thumb and finger.

"You write like an angel." The words took a moment to sink into her confused brain. "So it's time for your prize."

He was behind her now, cupping her breasts in both hands. She could feel his warm body covering hers and she realised he was also naked.

"Face down, I think you said?" he murmured, as she felt his cock probing her rapidly moistening entrance.

The woodwork of the frame creaked beneath them, the sounds blending with her cries and the imperceptible hum of the video camera.

* * *

As the train rumbled on, Lucy pulled out her briefcase from under the seat. She opened it and took out the photos which Sebastian had taken at the police station, together with some stills from the video tape. He had given them to her as a memento, so he said, of a truly memorable day. She smiled to herself. She would have to be very careful which family photo album she included these snaps in!

Lucy should be proud of her accomplishment, and I wonder what the future holds in store for her. What do you think?

Recap: Spanko Brunch 2.0 for September 13

Do you have any acquaintances who might be spankos? Here's what you said:

Leigh: Two people - both relatives and no I would never bring up the subject.

Anon 1: One rather distant relative, close in age to me, who I suspected and who confirmed she was a spanko for a long period of time. Not by directly asking so much, as by connecting her leading playful comments to what she wanted. Of course, she ended up otk several times. Both of us enjoyed it!

Simon: Whilst I don't wander round with a placard saying I love spanking I don't go out of my way to hide it either. Many of my friends and co-workers are aware that I have an interest in giving and receiving spankings but only once has it led anywhere. A lady I worked with did once ask me to spank her and I of course obliged. It wasn't a very satisfactory experience, she was very nervous and I was unsure of how to proceed. She ended up over my knee with her skirt up and I gave her a few slaps but it was clear that she didn't want to go any further so I stopped. She never mentioned it again but we did remain friends and continued to work together quite happily.

Roz: There are a couple of work colleagues who I wonder about, and the topic has been raised in jest. I wouldn't bring the subject up.

Ronnie: I did wonder about one work colleague (left now) but didn't bring the subject up.

Anon 2: I used to have a friend at work, Jane, a curvy blonde; she usually wore tight skirts, except on Monday mornings. when she wore a full skirt and seemed to sit down rather gingerly. Once she sat, and then jumped up again. I asked her if she had a sitting problem. She blushed red, 'If you were married to Bill, you would too'. We went to the Ladies, where she upped her skirt to show her plump bottom adorned with red stripes on the lower part on which she sat. I laughed, and showed her mine, tomato red from my last night's paddling. From then on we usually had a Monday morning comparison, but it never went further than that.

Baxter: A couple of instances in which the conversation suggested it. One was with a couple we had over for dinner and the guy did something, his wife looked at him and he said 'oh will I be disciplined later'? Another instance with our next door neighbors talking over the fence and the guy said something and his wife said 'wait till later when we talk about that' and he said, 'oh great'. Another instance I was talking to a couple of co-workers and they were talking about kinks, and the woman said to the other guy 'are you into spanking' and the guy said no,but he pointed to me and said I might be. That definitely went nowhere and I did not say a thing. Yeah, I think more people than you would imagine are in to it.

Nina: Hi Hermione, there might be a few, but I'd never ever bring the topic up. I am pretty sure my grandparents were into spanking, but it took me almost twenty years to understand that from a few items that I had seen in their wardrobe.

Dan: Over a post-work happy hour, several of us got to talking about Fifty Shades of Grey and whether any of us had seen the movie yet. One of the women said she had not seen it, had read the book, but in that genre much preferred Anne Rice's "Beauty" series. You have to have a fairly hardcore interest in spanking and BDSM to put those books at the top of your reading list. But, from the blank expressions from others at the table, I may have been the only one who really understood the reference.

Anon 3: One friend confided that another acquaintance and her boyfriend were "into that spanky stuff". My friend indicated that she would never let any man spank her. I did not react much, just saying, "Hmm..." Later, I realized that I just about gave myself away by NOT being shocked!

I've had my suspicions about coworkers, but never asked anyone or said anything.

Hermione: At meetings in the office where I used to work, the men often made jokes about bondage and spanking. It was all light-hearted, so I never knew whether they spoke from experience or not. There was also one woman who managed to find a way to get the word "spank" into every conversation. I had my suspicions about her. I also have a close family member who I strongly suspect, and who probably has some idea about me, but I would never bring up the subject.

Thank you all for participating this weekend, especially our new anonymous visitors!

Spanko Brunch 2.0 #90

Welcome back, everyone, to our weekly spanko brunch. We self-proclaimed spankos are only a small portion of a much larger set of the population interested in spanking.  A recent study found that a significant number of both men and women fantasize about spanking or being spanked. But not everyone is comfortable about sharing that fantasy with others. People all around us could be spankos, and if we look closely at them we might discover a kindred spirit.

Do you have a friend, co-worker or relative whom you suspect is a spanko? What makes you think that this is true? Would you ever pursue the topic in order to find out if your suspicions are correct?

Leave your reply as a comment and I will publish a summary of our discussion once everyone has had a chance to speak.

You Completed the Caption

This image of a frolic in the snow brought out the creativity in my readers:

Baxter: Hey girl, I am starting to think this idea of leaving the orgy early and hitchhiking home wasn't quite the best idea as I am getting cold, but oh are my nipples hard. What does that mean? A ride is coming soon?
Hey yourself, take your bikini top off and lets get the first car that passes.

Katie: "Those spankings hurt, and I was seeing stars!!! I'm glad that we came outside to cool off. Perhaps (pointing to a bright star above) there is a place where only good girl spankings exist. Let's brush up on our astronomy!"

Simon: Having gone through the wardrobe to Narnia, Lucy and Susan decided to go back for some warmer clothes before exploring further.

Liza: Laura and Sandy are not convinced that global warming exists.

Mitch: Samantha, it's July, we're in the Southern Hemisphere, how can it be so cold down here? I've had it with you and your low budget vacations.

Sir Wendel: A spanking will warm the body - er – um - well at least the booty.

Ronnie: You sit down first and tell me if it does ease the sting.

Kingspan: A good time was had by all. Still, Fairbanks never really caught on as a spring break destination.

Anon: Girl on the left: So what do we do now? We came out here dressed like this because you said it was the best way to get our boyfriends to pay some attention to us instead of those damned football games. Well, it looks like they noticed because now they’re standing in the doorway staring at our barely covered bottoms ... and they’re holding hairbrushes in their hands … and I’m getting really, really cold.

Girl on the right: Look at it this way. We’re certainly going to have their undivided attention while we’re over their knees and they’re applying those hairbrushes to our bottoms. And all the wiggling and squirming we’ll be doing should certainly put them in the mood for even more attention afterward. Besides, I’m so cold now that I’m kind of looking forward to the warmth a good spanking will provide.

Six of the best: The two naughty ladies were singing, "Oh baby it's cold outside". But their boyfriends were thinking and singing, "But it will be hot hot hot inside, when you both will be spanked forthright".

Hermione: They never told us Canada would be so cold. Let's find someone to warm our bottoms.

Stay tuned for our weekly spanko brunch, coming up next.

Friday FAIL

It's time for another grammar lesson, but first, a little something to help you as you write those blog posts.

 For the grammatically challenged, these sturdy mugs provide a handy reference to some common written stumbling blocks. Available here.

Gotcha!

So very true

So much for the inspiration to hit the gym

For more literary fun, you're all invited to leave your caption on this week's Complete the Caption.

Complete the Caption

We are having exceptionally hot weather for September, but I am thankful for it when I think of the snow that's just around the corner. These two women are enjoying a snowfall, but why are they dressed for the beach?

Complete the caption by leaving a comment and I will publish your conjectures in a future post.
 

From the Top Shelf - Six More for Lucy

Lucy has had six strokes of the cane for being inebriated in public, and has been allowed a brief break to compose herself. She still has six more to endure for knocking down a police officer. How will she take them? Will Sebastian enjoy watching her punishment?

Lucy emerged from the Ladies to be met by the waiting WPC Sims. The brief interlude and application of the cold sponge had certainly taken away the fierce initial stinging, but when she had gingerly eased her panties back on, the touch of the thin material had been enough to bring a prickle of tears back to her eyes. Stiffly, Lucy fell into step with her escort as they marched back towards the punishment chamber.

"I had a quick word with the sergeant while you were in the toilet," Constable Sims smiled sympathetically, trying to make Lucy feel more at ease. "One of your governors from Carstairs has arrived and will be ready to take you back when this is over. I expect they'll be able to look after you and make you more comfortable, won't they?"

Lucy was not sure that being 'looked after' at Carstairs was at all likely to make her feel more comfortable, but she kept silent and just nodded glumly.

"The other thing is that the procedure is going to change a little bit this time. " She looked at Lucy apologetically. "George Biggs has asked the sergeant if he can take the cane to you this time, and the sergeant has agreed. I'm afraid you rather bruised George when you knocked him over with your bike, and he fully intends to return the compliment."

Lucy began to protest. "That's not fair, it was an accident."

Constable Sims cut her short. "It's no use making a fuss now. You'll just have to face the music. Remember what I said; keep your legs together and relax." She opened the door and gently propelled Lucy back into the punishment room.

It came as no surprise to Lucy to find that Sebastian was in conversation with the sergeant. She had immediately guessed that it would be him when WPC Sims made reference to 'one of the Carstairs governors'.

Smiling, he turned towards her. "You really have got yourself into hot water this time, Lucy."

Before she could answer the sergeant interjected. "I'm sorry, sir, no talking to the prisoner allowed for the moment. If you would just stand over there, sir, we have our duty to do. I'm sure the police benevolent fund will be very grateful for your generous contribution, sir, thank you, and, " he winked at Sebastian, "I'm sure none of us noticed that you brought a camera in with you, did we now?" This was addressed to the two constables who grinned and shook their heads vigorously.

Lucy saw that Sebastian was carrying a small camera. His intention was obvious and the knowledge that her discomfiture was going to be recorded on film somehow made it all the more dreadful. Damn him - damn Sebastian to hell! He always seemed to know how to take maximum advantage of her.

"Now then, young lady, you know the procedure by now and we want to get this over nice and quickly, don't we? No fuss. So step up onto the stool, if you will."

Reluctantly, trying hard not to let her legs shake, Lucy did as she was told. Constable Sims held both her hands as the sergeant applied a new piece of tape to the centre of Lucy's back, lifting her skirt right up to shoulder level before securing it. Lucy heard a click and looked over her shoulder to see Sebastian just lowering the camera. She blushed hotly at the thought of what he might photograph next.

"If you're a good girl, we'll dispense with the cuffs this time." The sergeant was in front of her now, taking her hands from WPC Sims. His grip was firm and Lucy had already noted how strong his hands were.

"Oh, please," she pleaded meekly.

The sergeant turned, twisting his grip and twirling her arms over his shoulders as he did so. "Right then, miss, you have six more to come, as per the lawful sentence of the magistrate, so just lean on me and we'll get it over with."

Lucy did not resist as he pulled her forward on to his broad back, but lowered her head to rest on his shoulder as if to draw some comfort from the personal contact. She flinched, her face burning, as for the second time that day, a policeman lowered her panties in preparation for the administration of a legally authorised caning.

George Biggs was none too gentle and her bottom already felt radiantly warm as the scanty slip of cotton was drawn across the ridges left by the sergeant's beating, and down her thighs to her knees. Behind her, Sebastian's camera clicked twice.

George Biggs took a cane from the rack. "Right you are, Sarge. Up she goes."

The sergeant leaned forward and Lucy felt her feet leave the stool. Remembering what the WPC had said, and also indignantly aware that the camera was clicking busily away, she tried to relax and keep her legs together.

"Right then, young miss, this is what you get for knocking over a police officer." The speed with which PC Biggs applied the first stroke took Lucy completely by surprise. "And this is what you get for covering me in booze and spoiling my uniform."

Looking through the viewfinder of his camera, Sebastian could see that Lucy had received six hard strokes from the sergeant. The red stripes, already blueing slightly, ran in exactly parallel lines, starting just above the centre of Lucy's gorgeous bottom-cheeks and progressing downwards; closely spaced red stripes, covering exactly the area she would normally sit on, but leaving a white and unmarked area perhaps two inches wide at the under curve of her bottom. He had no sooner recorded this fact on film and noted how Lucy was allowing herself to hang limply from the burly sergeant's back when the first of PC Biggs's vicious cuts landed across Lucy's thighs, fully four inches below the last welt from her first session.

Sebastian almost spoiled his photograph by flinching in sympathy as Lucy reacted. Her body stiffened and both legs bent at the knee, kicking upwards in a frantic reflex. The second cut followed the first so rapidly that he missed it landing, but took a shot just as the cane withdrew, leaving to show the two red lines across Lucy's thighs, one above the other, an inch or so apart.

Lucy howled, wriggling pitifully, but was still firmly held by the sergeant. Her initial intentions of keeping calm and keeping her legs together in some attempt at dignity were driven out of her mind. George Biggs did not have the strength of arm allied to the scientific precision of his sergeant, but he was quite strong enough to make Lucy feel as if she had been stung by a thousand wasps, all attacking her rear simultaneously.

"This will stop you sitting comfortably for a week." George Biggs was enjoying seeing those delightfully plump female curves shudder under his cane strokes and intended to make the most of it. He planted two in quick succession, right on the crease line where Lucy's bottom met her thighs, so close together that only a single stripe showed in Sebastian's viewfinder. Lucy's legs were flailing wildly now and Sebastian's lens caught a tantalising flash of dark curls in the cleft of her thighs. The last red weal came very close to that super-sensitive area.

"I'm sorry!" Lucy twisted and looked over her shoulder at her tormentor. "Please, I'm sorry! No more, please, no more!"

"Steady on, girl, only two more. Steady down now." The sergeant's voice didn't register with Lucy at all.

"Sorry, is it? This is what sorry does."

The crack! made Sebastian wince as the cane left a diagonal stripe from Lucy's upper left buttock to the lower right, crossing most of her earlier stripes, the end of the cane leaving a darker mark where it dug deeply into the flesh at the side of her cheek.

"Now you're sorry!"

Sebastian took one final photo, timing the moment precisely as the cane curved on impact, wrapping itself around Lucy's plump and tender cheeks on the opposite diagonal from its predecessor.


* * *


Half an hour later, the still sniffling but slightly more composed Lucy knelt on the back seat of the Carstairs mini-bus as Sebastian drove slowly back through the village. Her bottom was throbbing in a way that she could never have imagined, and her throat was hoarse from shouting. She gripped the seat back firmly, ignoring the rules about wearing a seat belt, because nothing, absolutely nothing on earth, would have persuaded her to sit down on the lumpy upholstery.

"What I don't understand," Sebastian was saying, "is why? Why on earth did you do it?"

"I did it for you." Lucy sniffed again.

"For me? How? Why?"

"I read my thesis through again last night and I knew it wasn't quite good enough. I knew you wouldn't approve of it as it was; there was something missing. I thought I knew what it was, so I tried to put it right. I knew I needed to put in that extra spark; I needed to experience for myself something that I couldn't get from interviews or observation. I know I've had my bottom smacked a couple of times here at Carstairs but that wasn't the same. I needed the whole judicial ritual from which I couldn't walk away."

Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. "Well you certainly achieved that! Was it worth it?" He deliberately injected a note of scorn in his voice.

"Sebastian, how can you be so cruel? I did it for you. Don't you understand? I wanted to please you! I need you. Please, please say you understand." Lucy looked over her shoulder at him, near to tears.

Keeping up the pretence, Sebastian frowned. "I know one thing; you have really spoiled the plans I had made for you this afternoon. I was going to make you and Juliette the joint centres of attraction and account for your demerit points in front of everyone. Now I don't know what to do with you. I can't parade you on the platform with your arse already striped like a five-barred gate. What would be the point?"

"I'm sorry I've spoiled your fun," Lucy said bitterly, "I suppose you'll have to take a rain check on that then, won't you." She sniffed, then rallied her spirits for one last riposte. "Unless you want a private viewing?"

Sebastian kept silent for a moment, then allowed her one small concession. " I'll make a bargain with you. When I have finished with other matters this afternoon - " he paused to allow the dark significance of this to sink in "- I'll come and read your thesis. If I don't like what I read, then, I promise you, how your bottom feels now will be just a gentle warm-up for what I have in mind for it."

"What if you like my work? What will you do with me then?"

The mini-bus turned into the front drive of Carstairs and his reply was lost to her in the scrunching of gravel under the wheels. The vehicle drew to a halt, as Sebastian held the door open for Lucy to alight rather gingerly from the back seat. She smiled at him, wistfully. "I suppose you wouldn't grant me one little favour?"

"Which is?"

"Whatever you decide to do to me, could it be face down? I don't think I shall be able to sit or lie on my bottom ever again!"

I think Sebastian enjoyed that very much, don't you? What does he have in store for Lucy next?

To re-read the entire story, go to this post - From the Top Shelf - scroll down to A Degree of Discipline, and you will see all the posts for the story.