Free Against Her Will (Dragon's Lair) by Britta Ashley

confused by the sudden gratitude she felt. Instead of the horrible leather, Julia had corrected her this time with the touch of her hand. If she were honest with herself, Sarah would admit that it had felt almost…good. Cool and soft, tender rather than the anger of a million bees. Another trickle of moisture, a different kind this time, began to form between her thighs. “Is this right?” she asked, casting a glance sidelong in an irrational desire to be praised.
    Julia hesitated. Normally, she would punish a charge for speaking without permission. But it was the girl’s first day, and it was her first time to ask for approval. The desire to please was a submissive’s strongest asset, and Julia meant to cultivate it. She could reward the attempt at good behavior while still teaching necessary lessons about respect. “No, my pet,” she cooed, bending Sarah over the sink. She took a practice swing with the strap, causing Sarah to flinch. “When it’s right, you won’t have to ask.”
    She stood over Sarah, using the strap to turn the girl’s bottom bright red as Sarah struggled to wash the dress, pinafore, panties, and socks to Julia’s exacting standard. Each item had to be washed three times before being deemed acceptable, and then she had to hang each item on a small clothesline.
    By the end, the clothes had been washed as much with Sarah’s tears as the water and detergent. She could have cried with relief when Julia finally gave her approval, even though she still felt slightly conflicted. What was she doing? Why was she letting this woman boss her around and demean her? Then she caught a glimpse of Julia’s mouth tightening with disapproval, and she hurried to pay attention. She would think about dignity and rights and freedom later. Right now, she only wanted freedom from the awful strap.
    When the clothes were finally ready, Sarah looked around pitifully for replacement clothes. Instead, Julia filled the tub with hot water, told Sarah to get in, and scrubbed the girl all over with a stiff-bristle scrub brush instead of the usual washcloth.
    “Ow!” Sarah complained, trying to keep her tender bottom away from the brush. “That hurts!”
    Julia turned Sarah over her knee, dripping wet, and quickly applied the flat side of the scrub brush to the backs of Sarah’s scissoring thighs. “I’ve had enough of your disobedience and sass, Miss. I’ve made allowances for this being your first day, but your behavior has been abominable. Do you want me to send you back to the holding cell where you’ve been for the past few days?”
    At that terrible threat, Sarah grew absolutely still. She did not say one more word, not even when Julia plunked her back into the bathtub for another thor ough scrubbing. She let out a plaintive sound of pain through firmly pressed lips as the brush chafed her newly spanked skin, and she kept her eyes down. Yet again, she wondered why she didn’t make a run for it. She stood up gratefully as Julia drained the water from the tub and dried her briskly with a fluffy towel. This time, she lathered Sarah in sweet-smelling lotion and dusted her with baby powder. Again, she dumped Sarah across her lap and pried apart her bottom cheeks. Only the previous threats kept Sarah silent, but tears trickled down her face. If only she could be safe at home, or chattering with Becky at the office! She would never complain about last-minute deadlines or outrageous electricity bills again if she could escape this nightmare.
    Julia applied an enormous powder puff to Sarah’s baby-smooth bottom. Really, she should take out and clean the plug, but in the excitement there had not been enough time. She would leave it to Dr. Schroeder’s capable hands. However, since Sarah had shown she was not yet ready to ask for permission to take care of her basic needs, she needed to be taken to a younger stage where she would not be expected to understand protocol. Julia took out a pre-folded cloth diaper and