54 | Patience

**Third Person POV**

At the end of the day, and by the time when Gabriel has already exceeded his patience, Sienna appeared at the door of his office.
She deliberately delayed her appointment until she figured out a way to face him and hide the obvious worry written all over her face. Sienna was aware of his temper, his need for obedience, and she braced herself for his wrath.
Instead of knocking, she decided to push the door a little and peek inside. Gabriel was on his desk, angrily tapping on the keyboard before his head snapped up. For a moment, he was startled. He quickly masked his surprise and put on a veneer of annoyance.
"Did you forget to knock?" He asked in a growling voice.
"The reception desk was empty, and I did not know if you were inside."
Gabriel let it slide and then crooked his finger to beckon her inside. He slammed shut the laptop and set it aside, showering her with undivided attention.
She entered in small steps and, unsure whether she should take the chair or not, decided to remain standing. And Gabriel did not want to make her comfortable either. In fact, he wanted her to be edgy.
"You were called for this morning, Miss Emerson. Did you not receive the message?"
"I did, Father." Sienna played along.
"Then, enlighten me with your frivolous excuse. Of course, it would not save you from the impending punishment, but still, I want to know."
"I was late for the Morning Mass."
"What about after the class?" He countered. "I was specific in my directions." Yeah, well, he was.
Sienna gripped the table, shifting on her legs. "I know. But I had to rush for the second class. So, I thought—"
"You thought?" He cut in. "If I needed your expert opinion the next time, I will tell you. Otherwise, you will do exactly what you are being told."
"And what if I don't?" She challenged, feeling brave.
"Excuse me?"
She gulped down the fear and cleared her throat. "I might be a student of this school, Father Sullivan, but I am a free human. I am not a mindless slave to obey you at the drop of a hat. What is the use of education if we can't raise our voice against the wrong?"
At the end of her tiny rant, Gabriel hid a discreet smile. He had always admired the fire inside her, one that set her aside from all the women he had been with. Even in the toughest of times, Sienna Emerson did not cave.
"You did not come last night," he said, a little softly this time. "I was waiting for you."
"I was busy with homework."
This stubborn girl…
Gabriel shook his head and unraveled himself from the chair. He walked around to perch down on the table and crossed his arms. "Sienna, what's going on? Is something troubling you?" He asked.
"Why would you think that?"
Her quick defense raised his suspicions. "What is going on? You seem closed off…"
"I am fine," she snapped. "May I go back to the classes now?"
"No, you may not!" He scolded.
"So, are you planning to keep me here all day and bore me with the lecture? C'mon!"
Gabriel continued to stare at her, giving her a chance to talk it out, but she would not budge. "The matron complained against you. Apparently, you take your lunch and dinner outside the dining hall and do not keep up with the rules and regulations of Mount Carmel."
She rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air. "Seriously, Gabriel?"
"It's Father Sullivan to you if you won't answer my goddamned questions," he growled, his temper rising. "And I have not summoned you here for chitchat. You are here to be penalized."
"What, another ten Hail Marys?" Came the scoff.
A wicked smile adorned his lips. "Oh, no. That is for regular penitents. You are a sinner."
"Then, what?"
He hauled in a breath and narrowed his eyes that meant business.
And instead of using his words, he simply disappeared behind his desk and unlocked the cabinet. The cabinet of full canes, paddles, and other instruments. For the first time since Sienna entered his office, she did not feel very brave. Her heart raced, wondering the implement he would pick as he carefully obstructed her line of sight.
And when he closed the door and stood to his full height, the air from her lungs whooshed out. Her wide eyes continued to gawk at the thick leather in his hand — about 15 inches long and sufficiently thick.
He came to stand before her hand and tested the strap on his palm, producing the sharp 'thwack' sound that almost made her jump.
"So, Miss Emerson, for your repeated misbehaviors, blatant disregard of school rules, and habit of talking back to the headmaster — how many do you deserve?"
Sienna barely heard his taunting question. "You are not going to…" she trailed off, trembling. "It's going to hurt."
"That is the whole point." He smiled and then leaned a little to whisper, "A little pain makes it more fun."
Fun? Definitely not for her. Her ass cheeks squeezed in fear.
Sienna looked between the leather strap in his hand and his determined eyes and dared to can't up to her chin. "I have every right to challenge the allegations," she stuttered.
Impressed, Gabriel smiled.
"You have the floor then. But if you can't convince me, then I'd double your punishment. Do you still want to challenge?"
Her frowning deepened. "One should not be prosecuted for defending herself. By that logic, every criminal would have to endure twice the sentence, and no falsely accused person would challenge the decree."
He put his hands behind his back, the strap dangling from it, and slowly walked around her stiff frame. "I see you might grow up and become a fine lawyer one day, but here, at Mount Carmel, I make the rules. I am the judge, jury, and executioner. And if I decide on something, you will follow without so much as a peep of protest."
She let the words sink into her — slowly. Sienna realized that her fear of getting caught with Gabriel, the anxiety for the pictures, and every other thought melted away at the thought of being punished by his hand.
She was scared but also curious. Oddly, her thighs rubbed against each other, and that tingle between her legs was soaking her panties. God, she was hopeless when it came to Gabriel Sullivan.
A punishment would not be a bad idea…
"Okay." She gave in.
"Okay?"
She nodded her acquiescence. "I will take the punishment, Father Sullivan."

***

Gabriel expected a fight. But now that she willingly agreed to accept the punishment gave him some hope. Underneath all this stubbornness, his little lamb was somewhere there. He would just have to pry her out.
Nodding, he walked past her and locked the door. "Come here," he said and pointed to an antique ottoman placed on the other end of the room.
Sienna obeyed, coming to stand beside the furniture and making the mistake of looking at him. The air of dominance he exuded made her shiver down to her toes.
"Kneel here," he ordered, eyeing the ottoman. "Then bend over with your palms flat on the floor and make sure your ass is positioned high in the air."
Heat rose to her cheeks while Gabriel waited. He watched as she moved at snail's pace and knelt, stumbling a little to adjust herself. The position was such that her ass was quite high in the air—as if she was offering it to be taken in any given manner he thought fit. The humiliation aroused her further.
As a result of her position, her skirt was already falling over her back while those stark white panties were waving in his face.
Gabriel took notice of the small damp spot between her legs and smiled discreetly.
He encircled her position, enjoying her nervousness before coming to a stop behind her ass. Lowering himself on his haunches, he trailed a finger from the top of her ass crack to her clit and smiled at her expense.
If Sienna was wet before, she was gushing now.
"So, how many strokes do you think you deserve?" He asked, toying with her.
Sienna looked over her shoulder, catching a part of his face. "I thought you said you are the judge, jury, and executioner."
"Touché."
When he pressed a finger over her clit and tapped over the fabric, Sienna suppressed her moan and whimpered.
"Since you did not challenge your punishment, let's keep it to fifteen," he said and continued to tease her over the panties.
"Fifteen?!"
"Yes, fifteen. And you should know that I am lenient." Saying, he grabbed the waistband of her panties and yanked them down to her knees, and bared her cunt.
The view pleased him. She has acceded to his request and shaved her pussy, which was now glistening with all the moisture.
"Look at that," he drawled and smoothed a finger up and down her slit. This time, she let out a keening whimper before went ahead and pinched her clit.
"Ow!"
His palm tapped her thighs, instructing, "Wider. I know you can, little lamb."
"I don't think I can take so many," Sienna worried. She had never taken a strap, and the fact that Gabriel was positively angry at her, it set her panic.
"You can and you will," he decided. "And you are going to thank me after every lash. Is that clear?"
Oh, no. Her mind was racing with possibilities. She did not know how she was going to force herself to verbalize it.
"I will…I will try."
A low hum reached her ears. "You will do more than try. And once you are sufficiently chastised, you will tell me what is eating your mind. But before that—" He stood, tightening his grip on the strap. "—you will wear my marks on my skin, and you will know what it means to be mine."

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**Hey guys! I am taking a smalls break, so the next update will be a little late. Thank you!**