Chapter Two

Ivy

Mr. Ronan and Maverick were already waiting when I arrived with Sierra, and I almost begged her to stay when they dismissed her.

“You’re here to finish your punishment. What you did tonight was unacceptable and an embarrassment to my family. Do you understand, Ivy?” Mr. Ronan asked.

“Yes, sir. I apologize, but it was a simple accident.”

“Regardless of why it happened, you have to learn to be better and for that, you’ve earned yourself five lashes that will be given to you by Maverick.”

Mr. Ronan handed Maverick the small whip and directed me to stand in front of him.

I stood in front of Maverick looking at our feet. I refused to slip up again and look at his face.

“Turn around and remove your shirt and kneel.” Mr. Ronan ordered.

I did as he said. I was past the embarrassing part of being topless and I just wanted this to be over with.

Before we could get started, the door opened.

“What are you doing here, Maddox?” Maverick stated. His voice sounded angry, and I knew he was going to take it out on me.

“I want to see if you have it in you. I’ve never witnessed you disciplining someone before.”

“Continue with the punishment. Five lashings.” Mr. Ronan ordered.

Maddox came to stand in front of me next to his father. I could only see their feet, but I knew the two of them had to be smiling.

The first crack of the whip hit my skin, causing me to arch back and let out a small scream. I needed to get a hold of myself. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me in pain.

When the whip hit me the second time, I was more prepared and bit my lip. The second hit was harder and I could feel the blood slowly gather on my back.

The next three strikes were harder and more painful and by the time he was done, my back wasn’t the only thing bleeding. My teeth had split my lip open and all I could taste was the iron flavor of my blood.

I leaned forward on my hands trying to catch my breath and trying to not sob out in pain.

“Let Sierra in here and tell her to clean this shit up.”

I quickly grabbed my shirt before standing. I stood up too fast and almost fell over. If it wasn’t for the desk, I would have fallen onto the floor. I didn’t want them to see me as weak, so I clutched my shirt in front of me, covering my chest, and walked out, refusing help.

I was thankful Leah, my roommate, was already asleep. I wanted to crawl into bed and pretend I was alone. My back was still bleeding, and I didn’t care. I didn’t have anyone to clean up at the moment, and I wasn’t willing to see anyone. I’ll deal with it in the morning.

I was woken up by Leah the next morning.

“You need to wake up. There is someone at the door for you. Make yourself presentable. It’s Maddox.”

I sat up the best I could. My wounds were dry and stiff and it hurt to sit.

Leah let Maddox in and left us to attend to her chores. I looked at the ground instead of at Maddox.

“No need to avert your gaze. You can look at me.”

I ignored him and continued to look at the ground until he lifted my chin and forced me to look at him.

“You put on a good show last night. The way you took the lashings was impressive. How is your back?”

“It’s good. I lied.”

“Mmm. I sent your roommate to fetch me some first aid supplies. It looks like you haven’t cleaned them yet.”

“I didn’t have anyone to help me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”

The way he responded told me he was planning on doing more than cleaning my wounds.

“Here you go, Mr. Maddox.”

“Thank you. You can leave us and please to my brother and father that I will be a little late this morning.”

Maddox waited for Leah to leave before telling me to turn around.

I clutched my sheet close to my chest and faced the wall so he could have access to my back.

“Watching you last night was thrilling. Seeing you hold back the pain, opening yourself up to it, was impressive.”

He tapped a damp rag onto one spot, causing me to hiss. We sat in silence as he wiped the dry blood off my back.

“Maverick did a number on you. It looks like my brother enjoyed lashing you. This ointment might sting a bit.”

The sting wasn’t bad. My back was actually feeling better.”

“The ointment has numbing medicine, so it should feel better soon. I have a proposal for you. I want you to be mine, and in return, I’ll take care of you. No one may put their hands on you unless it’s me, and I’ll only punish you if you truly deserve it.”

“Can I think about it?”

I didn’t want to tell him no right away because I was afraid that I would make him angry.

“Yes, but don’t take too long to think about it.”

I could feel his breath fanning the side of my neck and he laid small, light kisses along with it.

“You really are a work of art.” He commented as he reached around and palmed my breast.

“I want you, Ivy. I could give you everything you could want. You wouldn’t be a servant to us if you were mine.”

When his teeth grazed my earlobe, I forced myself back to reality. I couldn’t believe I was allowing him to touch me this way. Especially as he was asking me to be his whore. I’m not stupid. I would have to share my bed with him to have a better life, and I’m not sure I’m willing to do that.

I pushed his hand away from my chest and turned around to face him.

“I have more self-respect than it looks. I’m not selling my body to you to get out of punishments.”

Maddox ignored my statement and kissed me. I was about to push him away when he pulled back.

“Think about it, love. You’ll be happier.”

What kind of person lets a guy do that? I was giving him free access to my body. I was thrown off because it felt nice to be touched by him.

Maddox

During dinner last night, I wasn’t sure what my brother’s deal with the servant girl was until I saw her accept her punishment and I understood why he was attracted to her. She was a beauty. The way her breasts bounced with each lashing, and the way she held the pain in, was a turn-on. I left my father’s office hard as steel, and all I wanted to do was bend her over the desk and fuck her until she was screaming for mercy.

“Where have you been?” Maverick asked.

“I paid a visit to our little helper from last night. I wanted to see how she was doing. You really did a number on her.”

“Leave her alone and don’t go near her.”

“I understand why you’re drawn to her, but unlike you, I try to get what I want.”

“What did you do? If you laid a finger on her.”

“Relax. I’m not into forcing women, you know that. I simply gave her an out.”

“Leave her alone. I mean it Maddox.”

“What are you doing to do if I don’t?”

“She’s mine. Leave her alone and don’t play games with her.”

I smiled at my brother because now that I know he wants he I will do everything I can do to piss him off.