My wife Fran had been caught out. Was it just a little misdemeanour, a lack of judgement, alcohol muddying the waters of reasonable behaviour or perhaps a combination of all three? Perhaps, but I suppose it also depends on your perspective. She wasn't the first, and almost certainly won't be the last, to get drunk and get carried away with a work mate or someone at a work's function. Groping and snogging is one thing, although that too would need addressing, but shagging is another and she crossed the line. This matter had come to my attention and I confronted Fran. She was certainly surprised and embarrassed to have been caught out, but didn't seem as contrite as I thought she should have been.
'So that's it, you shag some bloke at a work's do and it's all fine?' I gestured puzzlement.
'Yes, really that's it. It happened, I can't undo it.' She sounded so matter of fact.
'And the small matter that you didn't tell me, I had to find out from someone else, is of no consequence I suppose?' again I gestured amazement at this lack of character and honesty.
She paused 'yes, it was a shame you found out that way,' Fran replied.
'Not sorry you did it though?' I retorted.
'What difference does it make? Like I said, it happened, get over it. I have' and she turned away.
'There will be consequences' I said as she left the room.
She stuck her head back round the door, 'Like smacking my bottom?' she laughed.
'That's one possibility' I replied as she disappeared again.
Fran came back into the room. She gave me a condescending glance and continued doing whatever it was she was doing.
'There is of course another possibility?' I said quite calmly.
'And that is?' she was being really blasé.
'You haven't even said you're sorry?' I gave her a chance.
'Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry. Ok?' she was so dismissive or maybe uncomfortable.
'Like I said, there is a consequence to your actions. The way I see it, there are two possibilities?' I tried to sound emotionless, almost business like, to make the point.
'Such as?' there was that faux arrogance again or was she now a little concerned?
'Marriage is about give and take etc etc. Having sex outside the marriage, without your spouse being aware or consenting, crosses the line of what's acceptable. Don't you think?' I looked at Fran.
'Don't give me a lecture, get to the point?' Fran said.
'Well the trust has disappeared, and your condescending arrogance about the matter suggests to me that you are now out of your depth in how to deal with this, or you really don't give a damn. Like I said, one of two things can happen next.'
'And they are?' she was really fronting this out.
'I leave the house, now, and make preparations for a divorce, adultery is good cause. Your cushy little number is about to come to an end, and the upheaval it will lead to.... Well, I can only hope that matey was the best shag you've ever had or ever likely to have.'
'Or?' she was giving that 'So what' act again. Was she really this impervious to this or was she a great actress?
I paused for a moment.
'I decide what punishment you receive. No questions asked. Any defiance or non-compliance means an immediate return to divorce proceedings. With no chance of a reprieve.'
'So it's a divorce or something else of your choice?' Fran asked.
I just nodded.
'Fancy giving me a clue as to what the 'something else' might be?' Fran asked this without any side.
'You get a spanking. A proper, over the knee, bare bottom spanking. You get spanked for the following: What you did, adultery. Your deceit in not owning up. Your disgusting and condescending attitude today and you get the spanking to outline what our relationship will now involve. I want you to show me you are genuinely sorry. Not just the words but genuine contrition for damaging our marriage, possibly beyond repair.' I looked right at her and although it's a cliché, her jaw did drop, perhaps almost imperceptibly, but drop it did.
Fran gathered herself enough to say 'You're kidding, right? I was joking when I said about smacking my bottom' This woman had some sass, that's for sure.
'No, I'm deadly serious.' I said with a dead pan look on my face.
'I get to choose between a divorce or a spanking?'
'The agony of choice darling,' I said calmly.
There was a silence between us. I could see her mentally sifting through this.
'What gives you the right to spank me?' I wasn't sure if she was trying rationalise this or trying to get me to justify it, or perhaps she was playing for time. Either way she wasn't dismissing the idea any more.
'The right of a husband whose wife has broken an absolute. The right of a husband to give his wife a chance to make reparations for what she has damaged. The right of a husband to give, the woman he loves, a chance to not throw everything away and show some responsibility for her actions. Finally the right of a husband to instigate some, long overdue, changes that will be made to our marriage.' I just looked at Fran.
'I'm not sure. How will this work, when does it happen, where will it happen? She asked nervously, stammering almost and showing emotion for virtually the first time.
'It'll happen here, in the house. Probably in the lounge. In private.' I said, having already thought this through. 'The children need to be out of the house for a few hours as well, ideally on a sleep over at your parent's house so we have no time constraints.' I laid it all out for her.
'And you will you spank me with what, exactly?' was curiosity getting the better of her?
'I haven't decided completely, but it will involve my hand, a slipper and a hairbrush at the very least' I was very matter of fact. I had given some thought to this. I was also rather pleased it looked like she would choose a spanking, I couldn't have hacked the whole divorce thing.
'You said about making some changes in our marriage, what changes?' Fran asked.
'Spanking will now be part of our marriage. You will be responsible for your conduct, attitude, actions and inactions' I was very clear.
Fran was thoughtful for a moment, processing everything that had been put in front of her. She rubbed her hand over her chin. She turned away slightly and stamped her foot in frustration.
'Damn it!' she said abruptly, then 'Alright, agreed.'
'To all of it?' I replied, not entirely sure it was as clear cut as it looked.
She took a deep breath, 'Yes, all of it.'
I tried to suppress my surprise, and delight, but agreeing to be spanked for what she had done was one thing, but agreeing for spanking to be a part of our marriage moving forward was something else. Perhaps she thought that her 'conduct' would be beyond reproach and that this would be her only spanking. Time would tell with that one.
Within a day or two Fran had arranged everything, so this Saturday would be the day she would get her spanking. She'd wasted no time in arranging matters with her parents. I thought she would drag her feet and I'd have to do it, but not a bit of it. I guess she was just keen to get it over with.
Saturday came around in no time at all, I dropped the kids off and got back to the house around 3.00pm. Fran was in the kitchen. She was at the sink and drying her hands, she turned and looked at me.
'When are we going to do this then?' she asked.
'Any time is fine with me.' I replied.
'Now?' she said almost timidly.
'Certainly, why not?'
Fran took a deep breath and asked 'Do I need to wear something or dress a particular way?'
