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Chapter Three

Catherine’s POV

“Bring your hands,” he said so casually, as though he just wanted to caress them.

I was so terrified at the sight of the handcuffs and whip that I went down on my knees and began to sob.

“Shush… shush,” he cooed, putting a finger to my lips. “You are going to accept your punishment without resistance, is that clear?”

“Yes,” I mumbled, as my body trembled the more.

“Now, give me your hands.”

I didn’t say a word as I meekly stretched my hands towards him. I felt the cold metal of the handcuffs against my skin and it made me jump back in fear. I closed my eyes as he cuffed my wrists together.

“Kneel,” he commanded once again, lifting the whip.

Numbly, I obeyed. I kneeled on the floor and closed my eyes, awaiting the first lash.

“I want you to open your eyes, Catherine,” he continued, softly caressing my back.

“I don’t… I don’t want to,” I mumbled, shutting my eyes more tightly.

“No Catherine, I want to see the pain in your eyes. Don’t make me say it again.”

Swallowing deeply, I opened my eyes and stared at the colorful wall clock. I let out a scream when the first lash landed on my bare back. The pain was horrendous, biting into my very soul. More tears filled my eyes and they rolled down my bosom.

“Shush, I don’t want to hear you scream Catherine, please don’t make this harder for me.” Alex let out, turning to stare into my eyes.

When the next stroke landed, I tried to keep myself from screaming by biting hard on my lips until it bled. I knew he made sure the whip landed solely on my back so the marks wouldn’t show when I was dressed.

As stroke after stroke of the whip landed on my back, I bit harder on my lips and muffled my pains as best as I could. My head swirled and I felt as though I would faint at any moment. My hands were cuffed in front of me, there was no way I could use it to scratch my back to relieve myself even a tiny bit. Just when I couldn’t take the pain anymore, he suddenly stopped.

Weak and numb, I fell on my face, brought my knees up to my chest, and sobbed deeply. I felt Alex’s arms around me and stiffened, thinking he wanted to add more strokes.

“No Catherine, don’t move away from me.” he pleaded.

I stared at him through tear-stained eyes and saw the tears in his own eyes. He looked pained as he removed the cuffs.

“Why? Why did you make me do this to you?” he whispered, caressing my damp hair. “Don’t you know? When you disobey me and I punish you, you make me punish myself too.”

I couldn’t say a word, instead, I sobbed harder. Tenderly, he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the floor. Even though my eyes were still shut, I knew he was taking me to the bathroom. Putting me on a small stool, he proceeded to fill the bathtub with hot water.

I let out a painful yelp when his hands touched my scars as he tried to lift me into the bathtub.

“You’ll be alright okay? I promise. He whispered over and over as he cleaned my wounds with a rag and warm water.

When he was done, he lifted me out of the bathtub and dried me with a towel. With utmost tenderness, he made me lay on my face on the bed and proceeded to apply an ointment on the back he had just battered. I heard him move away for a while before coming back to the bed.

“Here, take this,”

Wincing in pain, I managed to sit up and took the two tiny pills he held out to me. I swallowed it with half a glass of water and laid down again. I didn’t know what the pills were but it made me feel lightheaded and the pains in my back seemed to have reduced. The last thing I remembered was Alex holding my hand before I fell into a deep, deep sleep.

I awoke slowly the next morning, still feeling drowsy from whatever pill Alex had given me the previous night. I cried out softly when I tried to move and Alex came rushing towards me.

“Don’t try to move too quickly, just take it slow okay?” he said, helping me to the bathroom.

“I need to go to work,” I muttered, staring at the floor.

“No, I called in sick for you. You will stay home and rest okay?” he commanded, glancing at his watch.

“Okay,” I nodded, too weak and tired to argue.

“Good. I made you breakfast, you can heat it once you are ready. Once you eat, take two of the pills on the kitchen counter and go back to sleep. I am running late so I got to go.”

I only nodded and eased myself into the bed.

“Will you be okay until I get back?” he asked, stopping at the door to look at me.

“Yes Alex, I will be fine.”

“I love you, Catherine,”

“I love you too Alex,” I uttered, not sure if it was true.

I waited for to him drive away before getting to my feet. Slowly, I made my way to the kitchen and had a strong cup of coffee to strengthen me. Not bothering to take a shower, I threw on a sweat shirt, and pants and brought out a small traveling bag.

I didn’t stop to think about what I was doing as I threw dresses and underwear into the bag. The clothes weren’t properly packed but those were the least of my worries. I just wanted to get away and fast. I was about to zip the bag when I heard approaching footsteps.

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