“Turn around, now. Put your arms around the tree,” Kelly gritted the words out, slow and controlled, leaving no room for argument.

It had been the right call. All traces of humour vanished.

Lucy’s eyes glazed over. “Yes, Miss Kel. I’ve been naughty, please punish me.”

Fuck, could she say anything hotter?

Once Lucy had her back to Kelly, her arms as far around the tree as they would go, Kelly took a minute to admire her body. The slope of her back, the round globes of her buttocks, her curvy thighs.

Then, Kelly lingered a little longer, letting anticipation build, tormenting herself as much as Lucy.

When a loose bit of bark above Lucy’s head caught her eye, Kelly reached for it, pressing her breasts into Lucy’s back.

The sudden contact made Lucy jump, but she held her position, arms glued to the tree trunk.

“Good girl,” Kelly whispered into her ear. “Don’t forget your safe word.”

She didn’t intend to flog the life out of Lucy, but Lucy might freak for whatever reason.

“I trust you won’t hurt me, Miss Kel.”

“Much.” Kelly chuckled, dragging the strip of bark down the length of Lucy’s back.

Kelly slashed the birch across her hand, testing the weight, imagining the sound it would make when it connected with Lucy’s bare flesh.

Like a cat stretching, Lucy arched her spine. It was all the encouragement Kelly needed.

“Count for me.” Taking care to warm Lucy up, Kelly landed a soft blow.

“One, thank you, Miss.”

Like a pro tennis player, Kelly delivered two blows in quick succession; forehand, followed by a backhand.

“Two. Three. Harder please.”

A jolt of desire shot from Kelly’s nipples to her clit. She appreciated the guidance given she couldn’t see Lucy’s face to read her expressions.

“Your wish is my command.” Kelly wound up and delivered a hard blow. The ensuing red stripe intersected with the crease of Lucy’s arse forming a perfect letter t.

A quiver rocked Lucy’s body. “Four.”

The husky tenor of her voice turned Kelly on. Soothing the burn, Kelly ran her hand over the offending mark.

“Can you take two more?”

“Yes, Miss Kel.”

The scent of soil wafted up from the ground as Lucy shuffled her feet, moving them further apart, as if to brace herself.

When the next blow landed, Lucy groaned. “Five.”

Her resilience sparked a fire deep inside Kelly. She was tempted to make the last strike really count, but at the same time, Kelly didn’t want Lucy to be too tender to lean back against the tree. As it was, the wood would probably scratch her bare flesh.

Eyeing up the crease where thighs met butt-cheeks, Kelly swished the birch strip one final time.

“Six.” Lucy’s body sagged.

Desperate to get her hands on Lucy, Kelly ate up the small space between them and spun her in a circle.