The next week passed in a blur for Jeremy. He and Klaus began to paint together every day. They had lunch on the deck, served by Nicole. Jeremy met the other servants, there was a butler and a gardener. There was also a man who did maintenance named Raul. Supplies had to be shipped into the little island. Jeremy thought that if he had any chance of escaping, it would have to be on that boat.
In the evenings, Klaus was teaching Jeremy to play chess. He would also share his love of books with Jeremy. Jeremy liked the horror stories and finished several in one sitting. Klaus promised to get a letter to Elena, if he wrote one. Jeremy started to write a hundred times, but couldn't finish the letter.
"Klaus, have you ever done sculpture?" Jeremy asked him one afternoon. Raul offered to teach him how to weld if they got the supplied. Jeremy had sketched out a couple of designs for large pieces.
"When I was a boy, I stole my father's knife to carve little figures for my siblings. Wolves, bears, deer, things like that," Klaus mused.
"Did you father catch you?" Jeremy asked fascinated. He had never had to steal a thing. His father had provided for his every want.
"No, but he assumed I stole it anyway. I got a terrible beating for that one. My sister had to thrown herself in front of me to stop him from killing me," Klaus said lost for a moment in the painful memory.
"I'm sorry to bring up stuff like that," Jeremy said regretting asking more about the story.
"No, it was worth it. Father never found the knife. He knew I had taken it, but he could never prove it. It drove him mad," Klaus shared.
"Why did he hate you?" Jeremy ventured. The story really didn't make sense to him.
"I never knew. Truly. I am not sure he even knew," Klaus shared.
"Will you teach me how to whittle like that? I mean, sometime?" Jeremy asked.
"Of course. Now, let's clean our brushes, it's almost time for dinner," Klaus said happily.
Another thing Jeremy was learning was how to fish. One day, after they had catch a few off the deck. Jeremy actually realized the mansion was on the bay. Nicole asked him to clean the catches. Jeremy said he would and then went to shower and forgot.
"Mr. Jeremy, I asked you to clean the fish and then you left them and never did it!" Nicole exclaimed later that night.
"Oh, Nicole, I meant to. I just forgot," Jeremy said with attitude.
"Well, the fish were spoiled in the heat. Next time, do not forget, eh?" Nicole scolded.
"Jesus Christ. Big fuckin' deal. Forget it. You're the maid here, not me!" Jeremy sputtered under his breath.
Nicole froze and turned to glare at him.
"What? Are you going to tell my 'dad' that I got smart with you again? Go ahead," Jeremy smirked.
Klaus had warned him to treat the staff with respect. Jeremy's parents had always wanted he and Elena to focus on their studies. They had no chores or responsibilities around the house.
Nicole nodded and said, "Yes, Mr. Jeremy, I will tell him then if that is your orders."
Jeremy went down to the game room to play darts and some pinball. He felt a twinge of guilt every now and then about Nicole. She had been nothing but good to him since he got here. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone coming down the stairs.
Jeremy turned around and saw Klaus standing there looking irked.
"Hey, Klaus, what's up?" Jeremy said feeling a bit alarmed.
"I just had a nice chat with Nicole," Klaus said slowly.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot to clean the fish. She was kind of a bitch about it. It's not like I killed anyone," Jeremy lamely joked.
"Oh, didn't I warn you to treat the staff with respect? And, didn't I warn you to mind that tongue?" Klaus reminded Jeremy.
"Oh, it's no big deal. I didn't mean anything by it," Jeremy pouted.
"Well, you will apologize," Klaus started.
"Yeah, I will, jeez, it's no biggie," Jeremy interrupted.
Klaus cut in, "You will apologize after you get a good spanking, that is."
A cold slice of fear cut through Jeremy. Really, another spanking? For what?
"Klaus, it's not a big deal. I hardly did anything," Jeremy whined, backing away.
"Jeremy, if you truly believe that, then you need your backside warmed up even more than I thought you did," Klaus admitted.
Klaus glanced around the game room and picked up one of two paddleball racquets on the game shelves.
"This shall do nicely," Klaus said hefting the paddle.
"Klaus, I'm sorry. Really, you don't have to do this," Jeremy begged, now afraid of the consequences of his smart mouth.
"Son, I'm afraid I do. Now, come here," Klaus said sitting down on the leather couch in front of the tv.
Jeremy glanced up at the door. Would Nicole be able to hear from down here.
Klaus followed his gaze and said, "If you don't come here right now. I'm going to march you to the kitchen and paddle you in front of Nicole, young man. Now, over here."
Jeremy saw that he was serious and trudged over to wear Klaus was sitting. He gazed at him with big eyes hoping to look sorry. In truth, he was irritated that Nicole had made such a big deal over this.
"You are going to learn some respect if I have to smack you every night for a week. Now over," Klaus demanded as he gripped Jeremy's bicep and flipped him over his left knee. Klaus set the paddle down on the couch.
"Now, you can start by telling me why you are over my knee right now," Klaus asked, bringing his palm down in a soft pat.
Jeremy sucked in his breath and tensed.
"I was rude to Nicole," Jeremy choked out.
Smack! Klaus swatted him in the middle of his behind.
"And?" Klaus asked punctuating his question with two more hard whacks.
Crack. Crack.
"I didn't do what I said I would do," Jeremy confessed realizing that this was going to be quite a different experience from the first spanking he got from Klaus.
"And?" Klaus prompted. Spank! Spank! Spank!
Jeremy panicked, not sure what to say. "Ouch! Oww. Ah, I was rude?"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"You said that. What else did you do?" Klaus said now bringing the flat of his palm down on the seat of the boy's pants in a steady fashion.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Jeremy was starting to struggle and couldn't think as the swats reigned down on his burning behind.
"Ouch! I made fun of her for being the maid," Jeremy yelled out.
Crack. Crack.
"Yes, you need to respect the people who help you, not make fun of them," Klaus said pausing.
"Now stand up," Klaus said sternly.
"No! Please don't pull down my pants. It already stings," Jeremy screeched in panci.
"If you don't comply, you will be getting another spanking tonight before you go to bed. Now stand," Klaus demanded with a swat to Jeremy's thigh.
"No! I can't. I learned my lesson. Stop!" Jeremy cried.
"You will regret getting another spanking on top of this one tonight, young man," Klaus assured him as he yanked him up by force.
Jeremy fought to hold up his shorts. Klaus gripped both of his hands to the front and pulled down both his shorts and underwear with one hand to bare his behind. This boy was sorely overdue for some strict discipline.
Klaus glanced to check the condition of his bottom. It was only light pink in some areas.
"Your backside is hardly pink. Now, settle down," Klaus chided the thrashing teen. He arranged him so his hands were supporting him and he pinned Jeremy's legs with his right leg. Klaus pulled his pants down to his knees.
"Sorry, it stings. I can't," Jeremy continued to carry on. Klaus rolled his eyes at the boy's dramatics as he picked up the round paddleball racquet. It had a weight to it.
Klaus rested the paddle on Jeremy's bare cheeks a moment to calm him down. It felt cool for a moment to Jeremy on his burning behind.
"Now, I want you to think of how Nicole felt when you spoke to her that way," Klaus prompted as he brought the paddle down smartly.
Pop!
Jeremy howled and tried to kick his legs. He pounded the floor with his fists, but didn't try to reach back. His backside was on fire.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Klaus could tell that the paddle stung as the boy wailed and fought to move his backside out of the target range.
Swat! Swat! Klaus swatted a bit lower to address Jeremy's sit spots.
"You are going to apologize to Nicole and then you are getting your mouth soaped out. Any time you talk back, lie, or curse, maybe that will help you remember to mind your tongue," Klaus promised swatting the boy's sit spots twice more. Jeremy's arm came back to try to protect his backside.
"Hand down!"
Pop! Pop.
"I'm sorry. No, please. I've had enough. NO!" Jeremy sobbed.
Klaus paddled the center of Jeremy's behind ten more times letting the swats do the talking.
Crack! Crack. Swat. Smack. Smack. Smack. Pop. Pop. Pop. Smack!
Jeremy stopped struggling and took the last few blows without whining.
Klaus rubbed his burning backside with the paddle.
"Now, we're going to go up and apologize. I'm bringing this paddle because if your apology is not sufficient, you will get another spanking in front of her. Do you understand?" Klaus asked, lightly swatting the red cheeks in front of him.
"Yes!" Jeremy cried out. "I will."
With his pants still around his knees, Klaus marched Jeremy up to the kitchen. He gave him a light swat with the paddle every time the boy slowed down or tried to beg for mercy. Nicole was chopping vegetables at the island.
"Young Jeremy has something to say to you, Nicole," Klaus said pushing the boy forward and setting the paddle down on the counter.. Jeremy's shirt was providing him with some modesty, but Jeremy also covered himself up with his hands for good measure.
"Nicole, I am sorry for not cleaning the fish and..." Jeremy started.
"Keep going," Klaus swatted him with his hand on the upper thigh,
"for getting smart with you and making that comment. Would you please forgive me?" Jeremy asked crying softly.
"Go show her your red backside," Klaus prompted. Jeremy, with a face as red as his backside, turned to show her the damage.
Nicole's eye's widened as the paddle turned the whole area red and sore.
"I will forgive you, but only if you give me a hug," Nicole said coming over to embrace the chastened boy. Jeremy clamped on to her and cried for a minute on her shoulder whispering that he was sorry, as she comforted him.
Klaus said, "Jeremy, your punishment isn't over. Let's deal with that dirty mouth." Klaus rinsed a newly unwrapped bar of white soap at the sink to lather it up.
"Open and do not spit it out. You have already earned another spanking tonight and I don't think your behind can take more tonight," Klaus cautioned popping the bar into the boy's mouth.
He then led him to the corner of the kitchen after directing him to hold up his shirt. Nicole glanced at Jeremy's bright red bottom and smiled at Klaus. He smiled back and then glanced at the kitchen clock. Nicole left to get some laundry done.
Klaus busied himself by making more tea and then released the boy after five minutes.
Klaus helped Jeremy rinse his mouth out. Jeremy frowned at the residual taste of the soap.
"Now, go to your room. You can have dinner up there. I'll come up after your bath and put you to bed, well, after you get another good thrashing," Klaus said kissing the boy on the forehead.
Jeremy was about to argue about getting spanked again when he realized he was bare bottomed. He nodded and went up to his room.
Jeremy laid on his bed and cried for a while longer. His rear end smarted terribly, but he was embarrassed and angry. Some at his father and some at himself. Wait, did he just think of Klaus as his dad? What was happening to him. He still had that soap taste in his mouth. Would it ever go away?
Jeremy fell asleep half naked. He woke up and found his dinner tray on the table. He ate quickly and then took his shower. Klaus had given him a bedtime of ten and he made it back in bed but barely. Jeremy fumed that he was too old for this treatment, then he remember the look on Nicole's face and realized he deserved this and more.
Klaus came in shortly after and Jeremy was relieved that he didn't have that paddle with him.
"Doing okay, son?" Klaus asked kindly.
"My butt still hurts," Jeremy pouted.
"Good, that is a lesson to behave yourself then," Klaus said pulling out a small jar.
"What is that?" Jeremy asked suspiciously.
"It's a cream that should help prevent bruising," Klaus said.
"Are you really going to give me another spanking?" Jeremy asked trying to plead for sympathy with big eyes.
"Yes, I warned you what would happen if you didn't mind," Klaus admonished.
"It hurt too much. I couldn't help it," Jeremy defended.
"Now Jeremy, you had just gotten a few swats over your pants at that time. I know it's embarrassing to have your pants taken down but I need to see what I am doing. I didn't want to be too severe," Klaus explained.
"Oh, I didn't think of it like that. I'm sorry," Jeremy admitted.
"Now, let's try this again, take down your pants and lay face down," Klaus said firmly.
Jeremy's face burned and his eyes filled up with tears, but he did as he was told to do.
He felt Klaus smear the cold cream all over his backside and upper thighs. Jeremy's behind was a little pink in some places, but much recovered. The cream was soothing, but Jeremy knew he still was going to get swatted.
"Okay, we'll take care of your bedtime spanking and this night is over," Klaus said softly.
"Okay, I'm ready," Jeremy said sadly.
Klaus steadied Jeremy by putting his left hand on his back. He brought his right hand down with a crack. Klaus reignited the earlier fire by spanking the boy's behind all over in a random pattern. He knew he had already been through a lot, but the next time he told Jeremy to do something he wanted him to obey. Klaus had to force himself to keep going. He swatted him about 30 times, targeting the sensitive area of his upper thighs and sit spots. Jeremy bucked and kicked but was held in place by Klaus' hold.
Jeremy found himself sobbing again. The pain in his rear was less than the pain in his heart. The guilt of the incident with Nicole and leaving his family was melting.
"I'm sorry about everything. Please don't be mad," Jeremy cried out after Klaus stopped the spanking.
"Hey, you are forgiven, son. It's over, I'm not mad. I love you," Klaus said, feeling overcome with emotion himself.
Jeremy was crying softly, but feeling relieved that Klaus wasn't angry. He whispered, "I love you, too."
Klaus pulled up his pants carefully as the boy let out a hiss when the material touched his scorched cheeks. Klaus got into the bed and put his arms around his son and held him. They fell asleep like that. And for the first time, neither had nightmares about the past or the future.