“But, sir!” she whispered softly through her shock.
“So you can ride easier,” he answered gruffly, but softly. “Saddle up your horse,” he then ordered.
Silently, the two readied their horses and mounted. Dario returned and handed a sack to Eiotan.
“Stay safe, sir. You have always been a good and kind master. I will miss you if you do not return.”
Lord Eiotan opened the sack and gave Dario a handful of money.
“You are now free. The other servants are as well. Tell them to get to safety. I fear what will happen to the city now.”
Dario bowed, and the two of them urged the horses to move forward.
“I’ll miss you, Dario. You were a good friend,” Ayala said softly. Dario met her eyes and smiled.
“Take care of yourselves,” he said, waving as the horses edged forward.
Ayala had to admit that the cut fabric of her dress made it much easier to ride Esperanza. Lord Eiotan led them out of the barn slowly and they rode off into the direction of the woods. She nervously looked back in the direction of the soldiers, but didn’t see any following them. The army looked intent on their mission to enter the city. Ayala couldn’t stop the rapid beating of her heart in her chest. It felt so loud that she was surprised that anyone else couldn’t hear it. She kept looking back as the horses led them deep into the woods. They rode for a few hours, before slowing for a break. Ayala dug out a few pieces of dried fruit, and the two ate in silence before setting out again.
Finally, when nightfall came, they stopped, exhausted. It had been hours since they had seen a soul, so deep in the countryside they had ventured. Ayala was tired, but she still felt on edge. Lord Eiotan built a fire next to a few rocks they could easily sit on.
He held her hand, almost as if he could sense her disquiet. The fire flickered in his eyes as he tried to meet her gaze. His eyes narrowed slightly when he realized she was avoiding it.
“Ayala, would you fetch me the bag?” he asked quietly. She walked over to the horses and untied their bag of belongings and brought it to him. He dug through the bag and took out the wooden paddle, the strap, and her hairbrush. He placed them on a nearby rock.
“Choose one,” he said, his tone stern, seeming to sense that she needed him tonight.
“What?”
“Choose which one you would rather be spanked with. If you do not, all three will soon meet your backside.”
Her heart leapt in her throat, beating even louder than before. What had she done? Why was she suddenly getting a spanking? Seeing the implements laid out like that made her bottom tingle in anticipation of the spanks they were about to receive. She swallowed, a lump forming in her throat.
“But, sir, I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“Choose.”
“But they all hurt! Please, sir!”
“I will not tell you again. You know better to fight me. Now you must bring two implements to me, then you will lift your dress and put yourself over my knee.”
She had known better than to fight him. Guilt crashed down over her. She had displeased him. Slowly she trudged over to the rock and picked up her hairbrush and the strap. She made her way over to him and handed him the implements when he reached for them. She suddenly felt extremely vulnerable as he held her gaze, dominance oozing from his every pore.
“Sir?” she said softly.
“Yes, love?”
“May I kiss you before you spank me?”
“You have my permission,” he said, his voice dripping with control and authority.
Slowly, she curled into his lap and brought her lips to his. He kissed her hungrily, and she kissed him back. He broke the kiss and she pulled back, standing slowly. Reaching down, she bared her panty-clad bottom and draped her body over his knees. She jumped as his hands touched her hips and skimmed the waistband of her panties. With both hands, he slowly dragged them down till her entire bottom was exposed. He pushed them to about mid-thigh before he stopped.
He paused for a moment to admire the target that was over his knee. Two perfectly round globes met his gaze, pale in color, begging for his hands to spank them. She quivered, fully aware the two of them were out in the open, that anyone could walk up at any time and see her bottom on display about to get spanked. With her panties down already, she knew she was in for it.
She jumped again when he laid a hand on her bottom, his other reaching around and gripping her waist. She knew that her spanking would begin at any moment. Nervous butterflies circled in her stomach, and her bottom muscles tightened. He removed his hand and she tensed, only to feel his fingers drag across her thigh.
“Relax your bottom, love. Submit to me.”