I go round the house, giving everything a final once-over. The place is clean, tidy. I've done almost everything I possibly can, but I still feel anxious for his arrival home. My nerves are shot, my mind all over the place. I catch sight of myself in the hallway mirror. I look pretty, presentable. I've curled my hair, put on a dress. I'm pouring him a glass of whiskey now, anticipating that he'll walk through the door any moment.
This was our agreement when we married; he'd make the money, I'd keep the house. He makes good money, really good money, which means I have to keep a perfect house, be the perfect housewife. And I try, I really do, but I always feel as though I feel slightly short of expectations. That's my anxiety speaking. My mind can never simply tell me 'job well done'. Instead it ruminates on that last book gone un-dusted, the last plate not put away just so.
He helps me with this, though, and I'm grateful to him. He's 10 years older than me; he was already 35 when I met him. Well established, with a good career behind him already. 'I'll pay to keep you,' he told me. 'You just work on giving me a comfortable life to come home to'.
7pm. The front door handle turns; right on time.
"Hello darling," he says, smiling as he spots me there waiting for him. He grabs me by the waist, pulls me in for a long kiss. When he releases me I smile up at him, breathless. I take his jacket off for him and hang it up, he takes off his tie and hangs it up, loosening the top few buttons of his shirt. I pass him the waiting glass of whiskey. This routine is well established, honed and perfected.
He walks to the back of the house, to our open-plan kitchen-diner. Our house is beautiful, spacious. His money has provided us with a lovely home. But it's large, difficult for me to keep up with the cleaning. He runs a finger along the top of the fridge. It comes up clean. Spotless.
"The house looks perfect darling," he says, looking around. His nose sniffs the air."Why don't I smell dinner?"
"I had to order takeaway," I say. "I got a little behind with the cleaning and I ran out of time."
As I say it I flush with shame. I hate not living up to perfection.
His brow furrows. "Go upstairs and put some lingerie on," he tells me. "With a suspender belt and stockings. Be back in the living room in five minutes."
I do as he says, putting on some of my best, lacy bra in a midnight blue with a tiny matching g string, black lace suspender belt, smooth, sheer stockings. Slipping the garter belt shut, I wonder what he has in store for me.
I go back downstairs, walking as quiet as a whisper in my stockinged feet. When I walk into the living room, he pauses the programme he was watching with a nonchalant jab of the remote.
"Come and lay across my lap," he tells me. "Face down."
I do as I'm told. He runs his palm across the domes of my ass cheeks, draped over his lap.
"You're need a spanking for your failure," he says, his tone almost a lazy drawl. "But I need you to tell me... why are you getting a spanking?"
"Because I didn't manage my time well," I whisper, my pulse racing. "I didn't finish all of my chores."