Treasured Submission (16 page)

"Abby? Are you still there? Are you okay? Have I just shocked you speechless?" Sam said into the phone, worried that she'd gone too far.

"Oh, no… I'm fine. Thank you for telling me. I'm so sorry but, Sam, even though I am really shocked and can't quite wrap my head around what you're saying, I admit I am proud of you. I know it's hard to talk about something so private, but knowing that you love Ian so much and still submit to him when he punishes you, well, it lets me know that maybe I can give up some control." Abby admitted, finally accepting her heart's need to admit the truth of what she was discovering she might need in her own life.

"Abs, that's great. I'm happy to hear that your feelings for Dean have grown so much," Sam said, as her own heart swelled with pleasure at Abby's admission.

"You don't think we are going too fast? It has been sort of a whirlwind," Abby asked, concerned that she might be rushing into something that could quickly spin out of control. She was actually thinking about giving up control to a man she hadn't even known existed a few days ago.

"I don't think there has to be a timeline. I knew I was going to love Ian forever after just a few dates. If your heart is telling you to go with this, to trust Dean, then I say to trust yourself first. Let go of some of that control and allow yourself happiness. Don't sabotage something that could be exactly what God intends for you. I think you and Dean met for a reason and seeing how happy he has made you, I just feel confident that everything will work out," Samantha assured her, smiling as she pictured them together.

Abby smiled herself and said, "Thanks, Sam. I haven't felt this way before, even with Nick. Dean is so totally different than Nick. He's exceptionally patient, has a great sense of humor, and an unwavering confidence in himself and his beliefs that I admire. I do trust him. I guess I just needed to be reassured. We're going fishing tomorrow and I can't wait to see him."

Samantha giggled and shook her head. "Well, there's the proof you are meant to be together. It must be true love, as I've never heard you even talk about going fishing before! I can't picture you baiting your hook with a squirmy worm. Have a great time and just allow whatever is meant to happen to happen. I don't think you'll be sorry that you are taking this chance to discover if Dean is the man for you. Geeze, fishing—really?"

Abby laughed easily at the humorous disbelief in Sam's voice. "Yes, fishing. I've already arranged for the yucky part to be covered. Dean promised to take care of that gross baiting with the worm business. Thanks again for talking with me, Sam. I will let you know how it goes. I'd better let you go now so you can, well, you know." Abby blushed hotly, imagining again her friend submitting to Ian.

Sam thought about how their friendship had grown even deeper with her admittance of practicing domestic discipline. "It's okay, Ian will give me the paddling I deserve and then give me some really good loving. My bottom will hurt, but one of the best kept secrets of this lifestyle is how wonderful the aftercare can be. And, remember, Abby, if you don't want to have your butt spanked, you just have to be a good girl."

"Funny girl, that's what Dean has been telling me! I'll be the best girl on the planet, I promise. Good night, I love you," Abby said softly, knowing that despite their banter, Sam was still going to be in pain before the evening was done.

Knowing exactly what Abby was thinking, Samantha spoke softly, "I love you too, Abs. Please don't worry about me, I'll be just fine." When Abby didn't speak, Sam ended the conversation on a lighter note. "Oh, and by the way, I can practically guarantee that your panties would come down. Men who practice DD are firm believers in bare-assed spankings." She paused and grinned at hearing Abby's quick gasp. "And, girlfriend, don't worry about Dean seeing your ass if you can't keep your promise. You have a very cute butt and are in fantastic shape. Love you, good night."

Sam was smiling as she heard Abby giggle. Standing to hang up the phone, she saw Ian leaning in the doorway, and wondered how long he had stood by listening to her end of the call. Her face flushed as she reached to turn off the ringer on the phone.

He stepped aside as she passed him to enter their bedroom. Ian watched as she prepared herself for her paddling. He knew she hated the extended punishment, and that her anus was sore and angry looking.

Samantha brushed her teeth and took off her clothes, pulling her nightgown over her nude body. She shivered a bit, acknowledging how hard this was, even though she had reassured Abby that she willingly submitted to discipline. However, this extended punishment was her first time having to consciously prepare herself night after night for a paddling that caused her pain that wasn't allowed to truly dissipate, as it was reignited nightly with a fresh dose of that awful little paddle. Sighing, she folded her clothes neatly and took a deep breath. She left the bathroom and headed for the bed, grateful that this was going to be it. After tonight, she'd just make sure she was the good girl she had spoken to her friend about.

Ian was standing by the bed, the dreaded paddle in his hand. He held out his arms and drew her into him, holding her close for several long minutes. Within his hold, Sam relaxed, the tension of expectation releasing with the silent acknowledgement that her husband wasn't enjoying this nightly ritual either. He bent and kissed the top of her head before releasing her. Samantha walked to the bed and arranged herself over the corner, lifting her gown off her bottom before closing her eyes and reaching back to once again spread her cheeks apart.

Ian stepped up to his wife, very grateful that she had obeyed his order and had never once fought or forgotten her nightly appointment. He was just as glad as she was that this was the last night of her extended punishment. While he wished he could just toss the paddle aside, he knew she expected him to follow through with his word each and every time. However, he decided to reward her for being so willingly obedient. He stroked her bottom and said, "Samantha, I am so proud of you for being so diligent in preparing for your discipline this past week. I know you have been in a lot of pain and I don't feel that you need the final part of the planned punishment."

Sam turned her head to the side and saw the bottle of lube and her anal punishment plug on the nightstand. She gasped, only then remembering she was to be intimately punished on this last evening. Her eyes filled with tears and she said gratefully, "Oh, thank you, Ian. I have to admit I, um forgot about that part." She blushed, but continued, "I guess I wasn't that diligent. I did...didn't remember my enema either, I'm sorry. But, Sir, I will submit if you, if—"

He smiled and interrupted, "That's just it, sweetheart. I know you would, as you've demonstrated every day this past week. However, I think your nightly spankings have taught you the consequences of lying, and that was the purpose of your punishment."

She smiled, remembering how she had just attempted to explain to Abby that while discipline caused pain, the actual pain wasn't the true purpose of any discipline in this lifestyle. "Yes, Sir, I won't lie to you ever, ever again!"

Ian couldn't help but grin, having heard the same promise before. "I'm sure that's your plan, but just know that if you slip up and do lie to me again, this week will seem like a gentle one." He was surprised but pleased to hear her soft giggle.

"Yes, Sir. Maybe we could just, um, forget the paddling as well?"

Ian bent down and kissed her cheek before responding, "Good try, angel, very cute. However, I do believe a final paddling will help drive the point home. I wouldn't want you to start believing I'm too soft on you for naughty behavior." He was glad to see her smile.

Samantha felt her soul lighten even as she accepted his words as truth, knowing she accepted the need for his discipline. "Oh, I don't think you'll ever have to worry about that," she replied, lying her head down on her pillow in acceptance.

Before he began, he reached out and stroked her inflamed pucker. "We'll take care of that enema tomorrow, I know you must need one by now."

Though she flushed hotly and shuddered at his declaration, Samantha knew he was truly concerned about her. She also knew she would submit to him in all things. "Yes, Sir, thank you," she whispered, as she pulled her cheeks further apart and felt him place the tip of the paddle against her anus.

Ian paddled her just as hard and just as long as he had all week, and she begged and pleaded for him to stop, despite her willing submission.

When he laid the paddle down, he helped her to her corner, where she spent a half-hour thinking about the past week's discipline. Once released and cradled in her husband's arms, she felt the last remnants of guilt disappear.

As Ian made love to his wife, he hoped she understood that while he would continue to roast her bottom when deserved, he would never fail to let her know she was treasured. He had heard her speak to Abby about the secret benefits of discipline, and wanted to assure her that, once punished and forgiven, she got the very best, most loving aftercare possible.

"Ready to catch some fish?" Dean asked as he stood on Abigail's porch very early the next morning.

Abby laughed. "I suppose so, but don't you want to come in for some of your delicious coffee first?"

Dean smiled, sniffing at the aroma filling the air. "We really should get going honey, the fish bite much better in the early morning."

"I'll fix some to go and then I'm ready. Um, if that's okay?"

Dean nodded, wondering if she was aware that she was asking for permission, a definite step towards allowing him to take control. "That's fine, Abby. I do enjoy coffee and know that my girl loves her own."

She smiled, ridiculously pleased at his reference to her as 'his girl', and prepared two travel cups as well as a large thermos. Once in the car, he accepted one of the cups from her, taking a sip. "Delicious," he stated, and then put the cup into one of the cup holders. Agreeing, she took several sips of her own.

Abby was dressed in jeans and a tank top, and had her hair pulled up into a ponytail. She looked absolutely beautiful to Dean and he reached over and put his hand on her thigh.

She felt a spark go through her and caught her breath. Dean smiled, lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles. "You are the most beautiful fisherwoman alive, Abs. Thanks for getting up so early to join me in this adventure."

Abby blushed. "It is my pleasure, Sir. You look quite handsome yourself for a fisherman," she replied, taking in his faded jeans and his plaid shirt worn open, a white t-shirt molding to his broad chest. He grinned and then Abigail turned serious. "Dean, can I ask you something?"

He looked over, acknowledging the change in her voice. "Honey, you can ask me anything you want."

She nodded and shifted slightly in her seat to turn towards him. "I spoke with Samantha last night."

When she didn't continue, he glanced over to her. "You talk to her daily, don't you?" Though she nodded, she still didn't speak. "Go ahead, Abby, what's bothering you?"

She blushed and took a deep breath, attempting to garner her courage. "I asked her how she knew she could submit to Ian, I mean, how she could willingly let him, well, you know…"

"Punish her?" Dean provided, secretly glad they were discussing the aspect of discipline. At her nod, he continued, "And what was her answer?"

"She said she just knew she could, that she had known from her first spanking that submitting to Ian was something she knew she would always do. That she knew she loved him from the beginning, and that even though it hurt, she would always submit. It still surprises me. Her parents weren't anywhere near as strict as mine. I mean, she did get spanked some, but she always told me she couldn't wait until she was an adult and never had to answer to anyone again. Yet, now she tells me she willingly submits to Ian's discipline. Do you find that most women feel that way, or are those that do just, well, are wired differently? We've struggled to become strong, independent women, doesn't submitting to a man push us back down the ladder?"

Dean took a while to answer. "Submission doesn't mean giving up who you are, Abby. Submission means expanding your trust in the man you have chosen. It means deeply trusting that man to take care of you in so many ways. It takes love, courage and trust to submit. It takes a great deal of strength as well. Strength in yourself, knowing that you don't have to be in control of everything, knowing that the man you love is the head of your household. If we truly think about it, women have stepped backwards without even being aware of it. Women used to be cherished and almost idolized by the men in their lives. Men were made to protect their mates and their children, to hunt and provide for them. As time has gone by, women became less willing to allow a man to take control, perhaps not understanding that in doing so, men felt emasculated. With the past several years, men have felt a sense of loss, a sense that their prime purpose in life had disappeared. I'm not saying that women should not be strong, or aren't intelligent or capable. I'm saying that the women I've met and those I've helped along their chosen path of domestic discipline, with the submission it involves, admit to feeling more feminine. They're more willing to truly partner with their mate, not trying to be in control of all things, allowing their husbands to be the ultimate decision maker, giving them back the masculinity they have lost." He paused for a moment to let her absorb his words. After a few moments he asked, "Tell me, did you ever feel that you could trust Nick to guide you? Did you know he would protect you with his life, and that he held you above all others?"

Abby seriously thought about his question and shook her head. "No, not really. We married so young because we thought we knew what love was. We should have listened to our parents. It was nothing but raging hormones, and I wanted to start my life and become the great wife I saw my mom be to my dad. I admitted long ago that we never really learned to even communicate with one another. Maybe I wasn't fair to Nick by expecting him to be like my father. Maybe I really never gave Nick a chance to grow into the man I needed him to be."

Dean nodded at her insight. "I believe part of that is true, however, it wasn't your responsibility for Nick to grow up. He is his own person and only he can control himself. Every man has to make a conscious decision of who he wants to be, how he wants to conduct his life. Men who practice domestic discipline know they need to be strong and yet gentle in their relationships. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that your parents had much more of a DD relationship that you might imagine. You can't blame yourself for everything, Abby. You were only one half of your marriage, and should never feel you have to go through everything alone."

She smiled. "Thank you. I'm grateful for the people who loved me and helped me through the divorce. I felt like such a failure, but Sam was always there for me, telling me that I deserved a man who truly loved me. You can just see and feel the love Ian and Sam share."

Dean thought about the couple and nodded. "Your acknowledgment of that very thing should answer your concerns, Abby. You know how happy they are, and if Sam is so happy, what does that tell you about her choosing this lifestyle?"

Abigail thought about it for a moment. "I guess it tells me that she made the right choice for herself. I truly think they are one of the most perfect couples I've ever known. They remind me a bit of my own parents. Mom and Dad loved each other immensely, and all of us kids always felt a bit left out." She and her siblings had always known their parents loved them. Abby had known from early on that their parents held a deeper love for each other, and briefly wondered if Dean's talk of their private relationship could be true. Her dad always seemed to worship her mother, and she him. "Um, do you think maybe I put myself ahead of Nick? Maybe I didn't give him the love he felt I should."

Dean didn't immediately shake off the concern he heard in her voice with her question. Finally, he shook his head and said, "Abigail, I think you and Nick were children. You went from being kids, to being married without learning what you both wanted and needed to find fulfillment. I give you and Nick credit for lasting as long as you did. Most young people wouldn't have lasted six months, much less six years. It serves as a testament that you hold your word and promises to a high standard. You can't forge a deep, loving relationship by yourself, honey. I know how hard it was for you to file for divorce, but hope you understand that if you hadn't, you'd have continued to grow even more miserable." He paused, looking over to see her watching him, a sheen of tears in her eyes. His heart ached as he reached across and stroked her cheek with his fingertip.

"Sweetheart, Nick was a fool. He should have fought for you, showed you he loved you and treasured you. He needed to demonstrate that he held you above all others. That man lost out big time when he let you go. I can't help but be glad he did though. Otherwise you wouldn't be here today." He paused, and she smiled over at him. "Honey, Sam knew she needed a strong man to live beside her, and she was very lucky to find that man in Ian. Abs, you need to leave the past behind and concentrate on your future. What is it you want from this point forward? What do you need to feel complete?"

Abby smiled, and said quietly what her heart had been urging her to do for days. "You… I mean, well, someone who makes me feel like you do. Someone who deeply cares for me. Someone who isn't just paying lip service. Someone I can love back and trust that it will last if I commit myself to them."

Dean felt his heart swell. He had wanted to hear these words ever since he had met this wonderful woman. He knew it took a lot of strength for her to confess her needs. He pulled the car into a clearing in the woods and turned the engine off. Turning to Abigail, he took her hand. "I love hearing that, honey. I want you too. I want to be the man that you love, that you trust, that you share your life with. I want to protect you, to guide you, to show you how much I love you. I want to be standing by your side as we discover all of life's possibilities." He leaned forward and kissed her gently, hoping she would allow her heart to truly open and let his love fill her.

As he drew back, she took another chance. "I think I love you too, Dean. I know it's fast but Sam told me there shouldn't be a timeline for love. Are you… I mean, do you think we're moving too fast?"

Dean chuckled. "Kudos to that smart friend of yours. No, I don't think this is too fast. I think we met for this very reason. I haven't felt this way since Janet, and wasn't even looking for someone else to share my life. I guess I figured I wasn't going to meet another woman that I could love as deeply, or who would love me and allow me to guide our lives together. You aren't a teenager any more, you are a beautiful, fully capable young woman who knows what she needs, and is hopefully strong enough to look deep inside and admit what it is that she truly desires. I just am blessed that you have chosen me to walk this path with you."

Abby felt herself trembling just a bit, letting the tone of his voice and his words flow through her. She lowered her eyes. "I can't promise I can submit my will to you Dean. I just don't know if I can give up control. I don't know if I can let you sp–spank me."

Dean nodded and understood that, despite what she was saying, he needed to be as honest himself. "I'm not expecting you to become a feeble minded lap-dog, Abs. I love your strength, your spirit and your independence. I admire what you've done with your life. However, you must understand that I will require you to surrender to my lead. There can't be two leaders in a relationship, and I must be the undisputed head of our household. I'm not talking about making every decision alone and expecting you to blindly follow my every word. You won't always agree with me and I'm sure when we disagree, we'll have some heated discussions. I'm talking about trusting yourself, and me, enough to submit to my control when I feel you need to be guided." He watched her eyes closely as he spoke. This was vitally important to any relationship he had and he knew that if they could not come together on this subject, he would be unable to commit himself, no matter how badly his heart wanted this woman.

Abigail chewed on her bottom lip and finally whispered, "But you are going to spank me aren't you? That's a given if we continue this relationship isn't it, Dean?"

He leaned down to press his lips to hers. "I suppose some day you will do something to warrant a spanking, and, yes, I will give you one. But, honey, not yet. How do you feel about that?"

"Scared," she admitted. "And, well, a little curious if I'm being honest."

He kissed her again and said, "Always be honest with me, Abigail. I'll always be honest with you, and, young lady, if I do catch you lying to me, you can rest assured that you'll find your curiosity satisfied as I turn you head down and bottom up for a spanking."

Abigail blushed as she felt a distinct tingling begin in her stomach and quickly move south. She couldn't help but remember Sam's prolonged discipline and her willing submission to her husband's decision, as well as her describing loving aftercare. She swallowed hard as she responded, "Yes, Sir!"

Dean loved hearing her address him as 'Sir'. He felt his own stomach tightening as he looked at her upturned face, her eyes shining with both concern and an undeniable gleam of arousal. "Good girl, we'll work it out, I promise." His words broke the tension as he helped her from the car and gave her a kiss before reaching out to give her bottom a quick pop. "Let's go—those fish won't wait all day for their breakfast."

Startled at the touch of his hand on her ass, she shocked herself by giggling. Dean gave her a quick grin as he began unloading the car. Smiling, she helped him carry their gear as he rolled the red Igloo cooler through the woods, feeling both happy and a bit light-headed. As she followed the man she was falling deeply in love with, she knew she was beginning to walk down a path she had never imagined she would be taking. She wondered if she'd feel this happy if and when he did decide he had cause to spank her. Gathering her courage one again, she spoke to his back as he was walking in front of her. "Dean, why do
you
get to decide that I've been bad and you get to spank me. Isn't that just a tiny bit one-sided?"

Dean chuckled as he held back a branch hanging over the path, and saw her ducking very low to step beneath it. As he released the branch, he answered her question. "I guess because I'm the head, sweetheart."

She stood, looking up at him, and shook her head. "That's not an answer. What if I don't think I've done anything wrong and you just start, well, spanking me because you don't agree. Isn't that abuse?"