~FAILING IN REVERSE~ (spanking story)

Chapter 12: Recovery Part 1

Kamilla sets a hand on one of your shoulders. "It'll be okay, little bear. You don't have to worry about another spanking until bedtime. For now, just enjoy your bath. I've made sure it's nice and steamy, with lavender tea."

The smell of the lavender does distract you slightly from your anxiety.

She stares at you for a moment in the bathroom doorway before realizing you probably want your privacy. Although she has seen your ass plenty of times already, even she knows there's a boundary a parent does not cross. There ain't no reason she needs to see anything else.

So she leaves you to it, and you've gotta admit, it feels like heaven. You've had more hot showers and baths at the Lanceworth house than you have the rest of your life—a perk of this mentorship punishment. After all, the only reason you're here in the first place is because you stole that car and did drugs (but come on, everybody did drugs as teens, right?) The heat of the water somehow detracts from the heat radiating off your pummeled skin. Initially, it kind of sucked, but now, well, you can barely notice it. You hum yourself into a lull, and you would've fallen right asleep if it wasn't for waking up upon contact of the water with your nose, making you sputter.

Ben has to knock on the door and coax you to come out because you would've stayed in here forever, even despite the water getting cooler, still gotta be warmer than the air when you get out. "Come on, kiddo," he beckons through the door. "I heard from your mother that you're feeling pretty uncertain of a few things. Come out, and we can discuss plans and expectations. No pain involved. Unless you prefer to shrivel up into a raisin in there instead. I doubt that would feel super good on that tattoo of yours."

There's that sarcasm again. The man's right though. Your hands are already starting to prune. It is probably getting close to lunchtime by now.

Wordlessly, you attempt to get yourself up, drain the bathtub and dry your body, but your attempt is too quick for your inner ear, and the vertigo almost makes you face plant. In the process, you instead slip back onto your rump, causing a big splash and a yelp to come out of you.

Then you hear another series of knocks. "You okay in there? Did you fall?"

You want to snark back, but you frankly don't have the energy to, and a little help might be nice. With a defeated huff, you ask the man to come in and help you out of the bathtub.

He does as requested, helping you up then immediately placing a towel over you to give you some false sense of privacy. Also plopping another couple towels on the floor to step on and to soak up the spill. And then he pauses once you both are on solid ground, giving you a concerned glance. "Hey, you're shaking. And you're near tears. What's up?"

You hate your lack of a poker face, and you hate being half naked in front of other people. And you hate getting only two hours of sleep. And you hate when people ask if you're okay—when you clearly aren't okay.

"I was just fucking spanked again. And again tonight. And I got, like, a minute of sleep." You snark. "What do you think?"

Great. Wrong choice. Again. Every fucking series of options you're given, you always choose the wrong one. You instantly apologize for the rudeness. "I-I'm sorry. I'm just—I can't see my cousin anymore? Ever?" A little tear drapes itself down your cheek, and you can taste the first drop of water you've had since the hospital. You're especially dehydrated, and you all sort of forgot about doing the normal things you do as human beings.

The man slips your tears away with yet another towel then tips your chin up. "Hey, we aren't evil. We won't keep you from your family. I—I was angry when I threatened your cousin, okay? And scared 'caus I didn't know who the guy even was. Not everything I say is gospel truth." He studies your questioning expression, and gives you a small shake, emphasizing, urging, "I will not keep you from your family. Family is everything. But you will be supervised. And if you sneak to see him again unsupervised, just know we may be getting the courts involved about a temporary restraining order. So just don't."