Mastering Maeve by Tara Finnegan

she lied.
    “I do. You told me to piss off and keep my nose out of it, isn’t that correct?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Swish . Maeve heard the leather fly through the air a split second before she felt the searing crack across her bottom. She flew up out of position. “No,” she screamed. “Please, no more!”
    He pushed her back down impatiently. “Five lashes and if you move again I’ll start over, now was that a respectful manner with which to address somebody?”
    “No, sir,” she whimpered before she heard the swish and crack again. Although she couldn’t help crying out, she managed to hold her spot. Three more lashes followed in quick succession and then it was over, but the burn lingered mercilessly.
    “Have you something to say?” he asked
    “I’m sorry, sir. Larry,” she said softly. At that he took her in his arms and she buried her face in his shoulder. Although she had yelled plenty she hadn’t cried, which amazed her. His disapproval had upset her much more than the pain of the spanking, and now that she was in his arms again, it didn’t seem so bad at all. It was over and she had survived. And her guilt was indeed reduced. A desperate desire flooded her.
    “You probably could use a cool bath and some salve if you have it. Why don’t you come to my room and I’ll apply it. You can bathe there too,” he suggested, kissing the top of her head.
    “I’m ok. I don’t think it was really any worse than before, or maybe I’m toughening up. I should get back to work. Good job I’m on my feet today,” she said wryly.
    He cupped and squeezed her still naked butt, making her wince.
    “Now that’s just evil, rubbing salt on the wound,” she admonished.
    “Is it? Is that why you pulled in closer?” His voice was thick and husky.
    “You got off on that,” she accused. “So much for not wanting to punish me!” Next minute his mouth was on hers and his hand was between her legs.
    “Looks like I’m not the only one who got off on it,” he teased, pausing his kiss. “It was supposed to be a punishment.” Maeve very reluctantly pulled away. She recovered her clothes and started replacing them.
    “Much and all as I’d like you to fuck the arse off me, I really have to work.” A sharp slap on her bruised behind reminded her to watch her mouth, but Larry was laughing.
    “Very eloquently put. I suppose it will have to wait until later. Anyway, I’d hate to think I was rewarding bad behaviour.”
    “And I’d hate to think I was rewarding brutality,” she shot back, making sure to dodge his hand.
    “Off you go, you brazen little lady, see you soon.”
    She realised as she returned to work she was indeed much calmer than she had been at the start of the day. The pain-relieving endorphins actually made her feel good, relaxed. And of course she was horny as hell. But more than anything she was just so pleased not to be at loggerheads with Larry anymore.
    It was just as well she was feeling so much better because Bridie came at her with a face like thunder as she returned. No, please don’t you start now , Maeve thought, but with the memory of the trouble her quick tongue had just landed her in she managed to keep her thoughts to herself.
     
    * * *
     
    “I want to see you in the office now ,” Bridie demanded. She meant business. “I’ve just been talking to Kathleen, she said you sacked her, what’re you playing at, miss? You can’t just go round sacking people willy-nilly.”
    “So, what was her excuse? It’s the third time since she started and without the courtesy of a phone call for any of her absences.”
    “Well, this time she spent the night in casualty with her husband; they thought it was a heart attack.”
    “Crap,” Maeve groaned. “I did warn her last time that she was on her last chance. I’ll talk to her. Is he ok?”
    “Angina, he’ll be fine, no thanks to you.”
    “You’ve changed your tune. When I didn’t turn in for work once, you got a virtual stranger to