Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Maureen – 3 years later

Mira avoided my gaze as she passed my desk, following the other students filing out of my class. I'd glanced up just in time to notice her and cleared my throat to get her attention. She looked back, her brown eyes widening.

She'd emailed me her assignment not five minutes before the end of class. An assignment that was due two days ago.

"Mira, can I see you for a moment, please?"

She looked longingly at her friends leaving before she drew in a deep breath, her shoulders rising with it, and replied with a slow nod.

I waited patiently for everyone to clear out of the room, ignoring Mira for the time being while I pulled up her file on my laptop. Checking her consent forms and limits, I waited for the final stragglers to exit my classroom.

Discipline was part of my job as a professor at Rawhide University, and I took it seriously. If this was what it took to keep my students on track and reaching their full potential, I was all for it. Ignoring her third late assignment would be a disservice to her. And even though this was technically a new semester, this class, an in-depth one, was broken into two semesters even though it was just one class. Thus, I was counting the first assignment this semester as her third late in the course.

And strike three meant she needed to be disciplined.

Mira, and her success in my course, was as much my responsibility as it was hers. I cared. Most professors at my old job would hate the kind of responsibility Rawhide took with their students. Not that they wouldn't like to take a paddle to some of them though. Just for all the wrong reasons.

Yes, the students here were into the lifestyle, and could get off on the punishments, but that wasn't for me to speculate. I didn't get off on it. That was what the Dungeon was for. Mira was a nice young woman, smart and capable. I liked her. And her engagement during my lectures and lessons was high. I was rooting for her to make Master Derek's list of high-achieving students.

As I perused the first page of Mira's assignment on my laptop, the shuffle of her Mary Janes pulled my attention.

"I'm sorry I was late, Professor Stahlbaum."

"Late again, you mean?" My right brow arched, and Mira visibly straightened at the firm tone of my voice.

Mira's essays were always well-written and thoughtful. She was someone I expected to succeed, but she wasn't going to if she couldn't learn proper time management.

"I told you what would happen should you be late again, hm?"

Mira nodded, her throat working with another swallow. "Yes, Ma'am."

"I'm invested in your success, Mira. Is there a reason you were late again? Did I not give you a suitable amount of time to finish it?"

"Both your assignment and Professor Holland's were due the same day. I spent more time on his assignment because I'm not as solid in his class. And he's new here."

Professor Holland.

For a moment, the name stopped me in my tracks, as a knot formed in my stomach. But I pushed the panicky feeling away. There was no reason to believe that Professor Holland was my Professor Holland. No reason to believe it was Trent.

"Did you get that one in on time?" I asked, genuinely interested.

Her expression looked pained when she nodded. "I did."

"Have you been late with any of his assignments before?"

"No, Ma'am. But this was our first. I was given special permission from Master Derek to take on the extra class when he opened it."

"What would he say if he knew you'd been falling behind in my class?"

Mira's brows knitted and she chewed her lip. "He might not have let me join the new class and I really need it on my transcript."

"Well, regardless of our issues, I'm at least glad you're eager to learn." I gave Mira a soft smile. I wasn't a hardass and I didn't punish my students for fun. I really did care.

Drumming my fingers on my desk, I stared at the young woman, deciding how I wanted to go about her punishment.

"Miss Wilcox, I have one more question before we begin. How do you feel about spending an hour on Sunday evening each week, going through your schedule and organizing your planner for optimum success?"

Her eyes widened and appreciation spread on her lips. "Really? You'd help me like that?"

I nodded.

"Then, yes, please. I'd be so grateful."

"Okay, well you're definitely going to be paddled today, and it won't be pleasant," I said, folding my fingers together on the desk. Her grimace hit me in the chest. Poor girl. "But I'm doing it for your own good, do you understand? And I hope with my extra help, this will be the last punishment you receive for a tardy assignment. From me or anyone else."

Her lip trembled so she bit it, holding it steady for a moment before speaking. "It will, Professor Stahlbaum. It will. I appreciate how fair you've always been. You've given me more than enough chances."

"I have," I agreed, standing and reaching out to touch her shoulder. "This is the third paper you've turned in late this semester. And I told you this was coming should it happen again. I'm glad you're accepting your punishment like a good girl." Releasing her, I walked to the oak armoire where the service subs kept me well-stocked in implements and opened the doors.

Looking through the contents, I decided on a thick maple paddle. One I knew stung when it hit, and then instead of fading, the sting grew far worse for several seconds before easing. I knew this because I'd tested everything in the armoire on myself.

"How do you feel about paddlings, Miss Wilcox?" I asked, my heels clicking briskly on the floor as I came to stand behind her.

"Not good."

"Not good as in, they're a good tool for punishment, or not good as in, they're a hard limit?"

"They're not a hard limit, ma'am." She shook her head, her blonde hair moving over her shoulders.

I knew this, I was thorough in my perusal of her consent file, but I liked to check verbally even though everyone is required to keep their file―their likes, dislikes, and limits, both hard and soft―up to date.

"Right then. Your safeword?"

"Octopus."

The corners of my mouth tightened in a hidden smile. Mira really was quite adorable. Someone I'd play with in the Dungeon if she weren't my student.

"Octopus. Okay. And I can trust you to use it should you feel the need?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good. Lower your garments, bare your bottom and place your elbows and forearms on my desk."

"Yes, Ma'am." Her voice cracked a little as she answered and began raising her skirt and lowering her panties.

I took a moment to position her better, opening her legs slightly and placing my hands on her hips to tilt her bottom out.

"Once I'm through with your paddling, I want you to have a seat on that chair." I pointed to a wooden chair in the corner. "You'll sit there on your bare bottom while we find a time slot in both of our schedules for our weekly meetings."

"Thank you for helping me, Professor Stahlbaum." There was a tremor to her voice I felt deep inside.

I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "You're welcome, Mira. Now prepare yourself."