Mike's room

Julie's pov

Well, here we go again. Now Mike and Shane can blow this whole stupid progress report thing totally out of proportion. Nevermind the fact that my only poor academic mark is for handwriting. What a joke. I'm sure I won't hear any praise for my grades though, I'll just get punished for all the perceived behavioral atrocities. I stop pacing the floor when Shane enters. Guess he drew the short straw.

"Take a seat, Julie," Shane points to Mike's bed.

I sit down in a huff, cross my arms, and scowl at Shane.

"Lose the attitude, luv, you brought this on yourself." Shane raises an eyebrow, daring me to challenge his authority. What he says next completely unnerves me. "First, I want to praise you for your excellent academic performance. Your grades are fantastic, Julie. Thank you for all your hard work studying and completing your assignments on time. Maybe just slow down a little when you're writing so your lettering is a tad neater. Okay?" Shane gives me a warm smile and pats my knee.

My mouth is hanging open in shock. Damn him! There goes my righteous indignation. He's making it really difficult to dislike him at this moment. Stupid British charm, so disarming. Now what am I supposed to do? Accept responsibility for my actions and gracefully endure the consequences? He's so unreasonable sometimes.

"Unfortunately, I also need to address the behavioral component of your progress report, which is not so good. Mike will also be discussing this with you after he attends the conference with your teacher."

"Wait a second." I'm worried after processing what Shane just said. "Let me get this straight. You're going to punish me now for my poor behavior marks on my progress report and then Mike is going to punish me again in three days for the same thing?"

Shane hesitates before replying, "Not exactly." He looks away and rubs the back of his neck.

"This is bullshit! You're an asshole!" I'm so pissed off right now, I'm not even afraid of the consequences for cursing.

"JULIE ELIZABETH! How dare you use that kind of language!" Shane is incensed, to say the least.

Seeing the angry look on his face and hearing the icy tone of his voice, snaps me back to reality. What the hell was I thinking swearing in front of Shane? What he does next brings tears to my eyes and paralyzes me with fear. Shane unbuckles his belt and pulls it through the loops right quick. I'll never forget the whooshing sound the leather made whipping through the fabric of his belt loops. That sound is forever ingrained in my memory. I know this time he's going to follow through. He's not going to back down. My heart races, I can't breathe. My stomach twists in knots and my voice catches in my throat as I see him fold his belt over. He snaps it loudly, making me jump.

"Stand up and bend over the bed, Julie." He's so eerily calm right now, it's frightening.

I want to protest but my mouth betrays me. I can't form the words. I slowly stand and turn away from him and his piercing glare. He places his left hand on my lower back and holds me in place, bent over the bed. I hear him raise his right arm and breathe in deeply before striking my bottom with that cruel piece of leather.

SMACK

My entire body jerks forward from the sheer force of that first stroke. I've often wondered what it would feel like, having never been spanked with a belt. I no longer have to wonder. My ass now knows the blinding intense pain firsthand. It takes a minute for the burn to take effect.

SMACK

I definitely feel it after the second stroke. The first one didn't sting nearly this bad.

SMACK

The tears are no longer welling in my eyes, they are streaming down my cheeks.

SMACK

I have a death grip on the blankets, my nails digging into my palms.

SMACK

I bite my tongue to keep from crying out in pain.

SMACK

Even with the protection from the fabric of my pants, my bottom still feels as if it's on fire.

SMACK

I can feel the leather striping welts into my flesh.

SMACK

I get the feeling Shane isn't even swinging that hard. The fact that he's inflicting this much pain even though he's holding back is truly terrifying.

SMACK

He definitely put more force behind that stroke though. I jerk upwards off the bed but his left hand presses me back down.

SMACK

The hardest stroke yet and he lands it right on my thighs. I sob into Mike's comforter.

"DON'T YOU EVER DISRESPECT ME BY USING THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE AGAIN!" Shane throws his belt on the floor. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

I nod, still sobbing silently, bent over the bed.

Shane sighs audibly, "Julie, stand and face me please." His voice is no longer laced with anger, it's been replaced by a remorseful sadness.

I stand and turn towards him but unable to face him, I keep my head lowered. I flinch involuntarily when he reaches out to gently lift my chin. I hear him swallow hard.

He looks me in the eye and without letting go of my chin says, "You are never to speak to me that way again. Am I clear?"

I don't have any fight left in me right now so I quietly respond, "Yes sir." Thoroughly defeated, I turn and slink out the door, or at least I try to until Shane calls my name. "Julie!"

Without turning around, I roll my eyes and respond through clenched teeth, "Yes sir."

"COME. HERE!"

I roll my eyes again as I turn around and walk back to face him.

"Did I dismiss you?" Shane asks haughtily.

"No sir."

"That's because we're not finished."

Despite my better judgment, I sigh in exasperation. Shane is not amused.

"I was going to punish you for your poor behavioral marks on your progress report by spanking you with just my hand, but perhaps you'd prefer I use my belt."

"No thank you," I say, in a mildly snarky tone.

After that remark, Shane swiftly pulls me across his lap and begins peppering my bottom with a multitude of hard spanks. Having just been spanked with his belt, I'm squirming with discomfort after only a few smacks. He tightens his hold around my waist to minimize my movement. Shane then wastes no time bringing me to tears with several harsh slaps to my thighs and sit spots. The stinging burning pain on my thoroughly punished bottom is quickly becoming unbearable but I'm too stubborn to apologize or beg Shane to stop. I literally bite my tongue to keep from voicing my agony. Shane spanks me hard another ten times, each stroke more severe than the last.

He pulls me off his lap and keeps hold of my wrist to prevent me from exiting quickly to my room. I wipe my tears on the sleeve of my free arm as I try to calm myself and even out my breathing.

"You'll learn soon enough, Julie, that your misbehavior and disrespect won't be tolerated here or at school. I won't hesitate to spank you each and every time. Am I clear?"

Shane's demeanor leaves no room for interpretation. There is no doubt in my mind that he will pull me right back over his lap if I respond any other way.

"Yes sir."

"I know you don't want to hear this right now and you probably won't even believe me when I say, I'm only doing this because I love and care about you, more than you'll ever know."

"You sure have a funny way of showing it," I mumble under my breath, but loud enough for Shane to hear.

"It's true, ya know," Mike says, eavesdropping while leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Yeah right," I say quietly, feeling very sorry for myself.

"Shane, can I have a minute alone with Julie please?"

"Sure," Shane responds. "We're done here."

Shane leaves and Mike takes his place standing in front of me.

He gently wipes the tears from my cheeks and softly says, "Julie, look at me," while taking hold of my hands. "I know Shane's disciplinary measures may seem harsh at times but believe me when I say he would sooner die than hurt you."

I try to turn away from Mike but he doesn't let go of my hands, so instead I just shake my head from side to side, indicating no, I don't believe him even though I want to with all my heart. I start crying again, this time from emotional not physical pain.

"Hey." Mike pulls me in close, tightly hugging me against his muscular chest with his strong loving arms. "Don't cry, sweetheart," he whispers softly, while rocking me gently from side to side. "You know that man gave up everything to raise you and your sisters and he's never once complained. He would lay down his life without hesitation for each and every one of you." Mike steps back, never breaking his hold on me. He kneels down to meet me at eye level and says, "Never for a minute doubt Shane's love for you, not ever. Do you hear me?"

I nod in agreement, still crying and unable to find my voice. Mike stands and holds me close until I calm my breathing and stop sobbing.

"I waaant ttto taaalk to SSShane," I say shakily, trying to calm my breathing while still sniffling.

"I think that's a good idea. You should apologize to Shane for what you said." I can hear the disappointment in Mike's voice.

"You heard what I said?" I ask, thoroughly ashamed, avoiding eye contact.

"No, but I'm guessing it was pretty bad if it warranted the belt. Am I right?"

"How did you know?" I ask sadly.

"That's a sound you never forget, darlin'. Trust me." Mike winks at me and gives me a knowing smile.

Shane's room

Shane's pov

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in."

Julie enters slowly and asks hesitantly, her breath still hitching, "Shane, can I, I mean may I, speak to you please?"

I smile at her self correction. I'd like to think I played a part in that.

"Of course, luv." I get up from behind my desk and sit on my bed. "Take a seat," I say, patting the spot next to me.

"I'd prefer to stand, sir, if that's okay?" She blushes, embarrassed by her sore bottom.

"Of course. What's on your mind?" My heart breaks, seeing her tear stained face and hearing the sadness in her voice, knowing I'm the cause of both.

"I'm sorry, Shane, I didn't mean it," Julie blurts out, before breaking down in tears.

I immediately stand and pull her into my arms. I gently rub her back as I try to quiet her sobs. "Shhh, it's okay, Julie. Don't cry, luv, all is forgiven." I can't believe she's standing before me apologizing after I spanked her not once, but twice in the last half hour. I'm grateful these girls are turning into decent young women in spite of my parenting ignorance.

"Julie," I say softly, holding her face in my hands, getting her to make eye contact. "There is nothing you could say or do to change how much I love you. I don't punish you because I enjoy it or because I'm angry with you. I do it because I care about you and I want you to learn from your mistakes and make the right choices in life. I want you to understand that your actions have consequences. Okay?"

She nods as she continues to sniffle.

"Sometimes, I'm going to make mistakes too, Julie, and I hope you and your sisters will forgive me. Just know that I love the four of you with all my heart and I always will." I hug her tightly, not wanting to let her go and glad she can't see the tears in my eyes.