I was very angry. Quite angry. Angry enough to have rung the police to see if they knew where she was. They had found her, and were bringing her home. She had been at a party which I had expressly told her I did not want her to attend, and she knew what would happen now that she was being brought home, in disgrace, by the police.
Waiting by the door, the clock had just crept past 1am when there was a knock. I opened it, to see my love, tears dampening her cheeks and making her mascara blotchy, flanked by two police officers whom I thanked.
I stepped aside and she walked in, not saying a word, but simply walked by me, and into the main room of our home. I told the police what they needed to hear and they left. I then closed the door and walked into the living room, where she was standing, facing the window, hands clasped in front of her, sobbing quietly.
"You know what has to happen now, don't you?" I asked, walking up behind her and putting my hands on her shoulders. She turned and buried her face in my chest, her hands balled up into tiny fists as she cried out her apology and begged to be let off.
I lifted her tear-stained face with two fingers, and kissed her full, wet lips. "You know I can't let you off, dear. This is the third time you've gone to a party that I didn't want you to attend. Now go into our bedroom, and bring me what you want to feel."
She sniffed, then nodded her head, and walked into the back of the house. I stood in the living room, breathing deeply, trying to calm myself down so that I wouldn't let my anger flow into my actions. Then with her quiet steps, she returned, holding a leather belt that I had gotten made in Penang some years ago. It was sturdy leather, 4mm thick, and 30mm wide, well over 2 meters long, with holes all along it's length. I knew how much this would hurt, but it was her choice. It always had been.
"All right, darling, over the chair." I said as I took the belt from her limp hands. She walked over to the recliner that I usually sat in, and bent herself over the back, elevating her bottom until it was the highest point of her, with her hands resting on the arms of the chair, and her feet flat on the floor.