Chapter 8
Promise To Keep
"Pam. I will not be at the bar this evening."
"Trouble in paradise, Master?"
Eric sighed. He had been putting up with Pam's disrespectful back-talk for far too long. Her amusement was grating on his last nerve and now after recent events and the appalling start to his evening it finally snapped.
"Pamela I have warned you to keep your insolent remarks to yourself. But as you seem incapable of reigning in your impetulance I will be forced to give you an incentive to take my words more gravely."
"My apologies, Master. I will have my paddle ready for you when you return."
"Paaaaaammmmm" he sang with sarcasm and annoyance.
"Master?"
"I will not be giving you a paddling. My point will not be made if you enjoy yourself. I don't even know that public humiliation would suffice as you obviously did not learn your lesson after the last time."
"Master, I…"
"Silence, woman!" he growled at her as an Alpha male would to a subservient pack member. Something he had not done in a long while. Pam had always been loyal and, for the most part, carried out his orders with a genuine desire to please. But she had, as of late, been testing his tolerance with her quips and jibes. This behavior was not befitting of a fledgling towards her Maker and Sheriff. Considering his frame of mind, this was not the best of times for Eric to be devising ways of punishing his disobedient child. He would, however, have to leave her with something to not look forward to.
"Listen. To me. Carefully. You will run the bar this evening and the next, Pam. You will put your mind to working and NOTHING else. You will not feed. You will not fuck. You are forbidden to pleasure yourself in any way during my absence. The only other thought that I want coursing through your head is the knowledge that you will have your punishment very soon. It will not be enjoyable for you during or afterwards. And when I am done with you, you will never again forget that following my orders and doing exactly what's asked of you is your most vital concern. Have I made myself seamlessly clear?"
"You have, Master. I will follow your instructions precisely." The small tinge of alarm and anxiety lacing her words pleased him. "I am anguished that I have displeased you so, my Sire, and that thought will haunt me until I know that I have won back your good favor."
"I am glad to hear it, my child." He knew she was laying it on thick but through their bond he could feel the trembling fear and apprehension his words had filled her with. It made him pleased with himself but it also made his love and devotion towards Pam intensify. At times he would almost will Pam to slip up and defy him if nothing more than to feel their bond strengthen after her reprimand and punishment. This dance was not new to either of them.
"May I have permission to contact you should there be a need?"
"Yes you may. If there is an emergency you may call me."
"Thank you, Master."
"Now go and do as I have bid you."
"Yes, Master."
He closed his phone and tried not to grin too smugly. Pam had taken his words seriously.
Finally! If only I had such power over blonde bar-maids.
There was a tap on his window. Eric had been so distracted by his two trains of thought– one creatively trying to formulate a successful manner of punishment to break Pam's willful spirit – the other considering the next course of action he should take in order to get Sookie to open up to him.
Hmmm, perhaps my formulation for Pam would work on Sookie as well.
But he let that thought float away as it was frivolous and counterproductive.
No. Though alike in so many ways, my methods with both will need to be very dissimilar.
His rudeness and thoughtlessness awoke him from his musings and he realized Bill was standing next to his car door with an inquisitive yet impatient look on his face.
Forgive me, Sookie.