Caning

Ettore cracked him across the cheek with an open hand. The blow made an ugly splat, and her fingers were outlined on his cheek. “I told you to be silent,” she said. “You’re mine, and I’ll do with you as I please. I may even decide to have you as my mate.”

“I’d rather have a snake for a mate,” Josh said. He knew at once that he had made a mistake.

Rage flickered in Ettore’s dark eyes. She whirled and ran through the house yelling, “Where’s my cane?”

She found it, came back, and began to beat Josh about the head. Helplessly he stood there, covering his head with his hands. Then the cane burned like fire as it lashed across his back and sides. He was wearing only a thin shirt, and he heard it tear. He tried to ignore the pain, keeping his lips tightly shut and his eyes closed.

“Stop that!”

Josh opened his eyes to see that Sarah had come into the room and had stepped between him and Ettore.