Ch. 10 Preview #1

Happy Holidays! Here's the start of the next chapter.

Jen sat in the hot tub, with Ned nuzzling Lola to her right and Nora sidling up to Skylar to her left.  Their public displays of affection only reminded Jen how single she was.  So focused on the show, she hadn’t thought about that much lately.  It seemed pretty clear she was more attractive now in most people’s eyes; but who was she attracted to anymore?  Her gaze flicked to Lola and Ned.  Would she be into a guy if he was smaller and less strong than her – especially if by a lot?  That wouldn’t be something she’d have ever been into before.  What other option did she have, though?  Her gaze turned again to Nora and Skylar, thoughtfully…

“So, Jen,” Lola interrupted, “do you really think a ‘talk’ alone is enough to keep your Mouse in line?”

Whoa.  “Um, what?”

“Alice told us,” Nora offered, “that you didn’t even give your teammate so much as a spanking.”

Jen sat up abruptly; blushed.  “She told you that?”

“Yeah.  So: why take such a risk?  If anyone needs a strong hand, it’s him.”

Jen’s eyes scanned.  “Wait – you all think I should’ve spanked him?”

Nora, Skylar, and Lola all nodded.  And even Ned, after a sheepish pause.

Wow.  “I … It’s … I told him I would if he acts up any more,” Jen explained.

“That may be enough for the day-to-day,” Lola opined, “when he’s got time to reflect on his choices.  But what’ll happen in the heat of the moment, when it’s all on the line and thousands of eyes are on him?”

“You mean during the game show.”

“Exactly.  Do you think he’ll be worried about some abstract, theoretical threat then?  That he’s never actually faced before?”

“Or does he need the memory fresh in his mind,” cut in Skylar, “raw and ready.  Convincing him to listen to you without hardly a second thought.  Keeping him on the right track no matter what comes his way.”

Jen sank back against the hot tub, their words like heavy stones on her shoulders.  She hesitated.  “Do other Mighties spank their Mice?”

“Can’t speak for all of ‘em,” Nora said, “but I happen to know that a lot of ‘em do.  Or they would, if they had a Mouse as unruly as yours.  No question.”

Was spanking really that common now?  At least in these circles?  “I, um …”  Jen tried to say that her teammate wouldn’t betray her; that he’d learned his lesson.  But had he?  Her voice faltered.

Lola’s reassuring hand fell on her shoulder.  “There’s still time to set this right, Jen.  Plenty of it before Thursday.  My advice: just sit him down; explain to him why a spanking’s needed; then do it calmly, quietly, and efficiently.”

“Start gentle, till you know what he can take,” Nora chimed.

“Yes,” agreed Lola.  “Then adjust as needed.  You’ll get the hang of it quickly.”

“And it’ll be over before you know it,” Nora added kindly.  “Just do it and move on.  You won’t regret it.”

Wednesday

‘Won’t regret it.’  How could Jen be sure?  It was still all she could think about during breakfast the next morning.  The spanking idea had been theoretical for Jen too; until now, she hadn’t put thought into the mechanics of it or the reality of actually doing it.  The thought scared her, actually.  It felt like such a big decision, such a huge step.

She’d just gotten underway on her jog when Alice texted to say she was bringing her teammate home.  Shoot.  What should Jen do?  She decided to hold off for the morning anyway and see how things play out.  << k. might be out jogging still >> she texted back. << go ahead and drop him off, it’s fine if he’s home alone for a bit >>.

It hit her a few strides later: her opinion of him had been evolving super quickly.  The fact that she’d even thought to clarify he could be home alone.  And that she was even contemplating a possible spanking…

But Alice replied with a thumbs up, seeming to find nothing amiss.  Maybe Jen wasn’t thinking too crazy after all.