Page 56 of Payback
-Jared-
I fixed my gaze on the watch while taking measured sips of my drink, allowing my agitation to gradually subside. It was during the midday hours that I subjected her to the scorching sun, fully exposed. To prevent severe burns, I knew I had to intervene before it went too far. Even though we were at the beginning of fall, the sun persisted. Nevertheless, I was committed to imparting a lasting lesson to Alison. While I initially entertained the idea of having her endure hours of exposure, the reality was that her fair skin couldn’t withstand such an ordeal. After roughly 45 minutes, I returned to the front door. Although I was on the verge of opening it, I opted to peer outside through the window first. True to my expectations, she remained seated, her lengthy hair swaying gently in the faint breeze. Observing the surroundings, I discerned signs of movement in neighboring houses, as anticipated.
Perhaps some people were even capturing photographs of the scene. I had assumed that this would bring me a sense of tranquility. Yet even after getting a drink and ensuring that Alison had grasped the lesson about not challenging me, the feeling of satisfaction eluded me. My nerves were too frayed to derive any pleasure from the situation, leaving me irritated. All I wanted now was to bring her back indoors. I swung the door open, but she deliberately avoided meeting my gaze. Understandably, as I was the one subjecting her to this extreme humiliation. How many people hadn’t dreamed of being exposed naked in a mall or classroom? It was a universal fear, and now Alison had to endure that very nightmare. Approaching her, I opted for a gentler approach as I took hold of her arm. I guided her to stand, though she steadfastly refused to meet my eyes. Her skin bore the evident mark of reddening. Guiding her back inside, she offered no resistance. Once we were in, I closed the door behind us. The small partial roof outside had shielded her back, but her front had received the burning effect of the sun. Leading her back to the blue room, I instructed her to lie down. She merely glanced at me with obvious disbelief in her eyes. I had no plan of fucking her now. My expectations of deriving joy or excitement from this situation remained unmet, leaving me somewhat disheartened.
“Go on,” I directed her. “Lie on your back.”
She complied with a sigh, opting not to challenge me. She lay down on her back on the bed, and I retreated to another room, procuring soothing lotion for sunburn and dampening a cloth for cleaning. Upon returning, she had her eyes shut, likely bracing herself for what she assumed would transpire. I situated myself on my knees beside her, then leaned over, gently holding her chin. She didn’t meet my gaze, but her eyes fluttered open as the damp cloth brushed over her skin. Startled, she cast a fleeting glance downward, observing it sweep across her cheek before returning her gaze to me. She didn’t voice protest or attempt to regain control. I understood that this experience hadn’t shattered Alison. I found it difficult to believe that such a simple action could achieve that, but she had lost this battle, and she had decided it was best to accept the bitter defeat. She permitted me to clean her up, extracting remnants of food from her hair, and an oddly serene sensation enveloped me. It was the unassuming nature of the task that brought forth this feeling. Occasionally, something minor and commonplace had the capacity to bring a tranquility that transcended all else.
Once I had thoroughly cleaned her, I retrieved the soothing lotion. Dispensing a modest amount into my palm, I applied it gently to her right arm, the motion eliciting a faint hiss as the lotion soothed her reddened skin. I instructed her to pass me the other arm, and she complied. I coated the lotion onto that arm as well before moving to her shoulders. Her face had been shielded from the sun’s impact due to her position. However, I still applied a thin layer before expelling a generous amount into my hand. I proceeded to cover the larger expanse of her body. I smoothed the lotion over her chest, then continued down to her breasts, gliding my hand over them before cupping and ensuring her skin absorbed the lotion. I strove to ensure an even application, massaging her delicate skin. This moment reminded me that I hadn’t thoroughly explored this sweet area. Alison’s involuntary reaction was unmistakable—a gasp escaped her lips. Her chest lifted in response, too weak to resist the delicious sensations. My thumbs grazed over her nipples, and a subdued whimper emerged from her. She clenched her eyes shut, evidently choosing not to witness my actions. Having already endured substantial humiliation today, she lacked the strength to fight me. At last, a gratifying sensation surged within me, watching her surrender to me. I proceeded to tease her breasts further before moving downward, inciting a soft moan from her.
I dispensed more lotion, squirting it into my hands before applying them to her stomach. My hands traveled lower and lower, massaging the lotion into the skin of her hips. Upon reaching her legs, I shifted from my position. Spreading her legs apart, I positioned myself between them and procured more lotion. Starting with her thigh, I began to gently rub it in, savoring the gradual shift in her breathing patterns. The sounds escaping her were toying with my senses. Finally, she relented slightly to me, a development I embraced. Mere moments ago, I had been consumed by cold anger, yet now a warmth surged within me, urging me to play. I carefully removed the bandage from her leg, noting the impressive progress her wound had made in its healing, already showing a graceful form. Drawing nearer, I grazed my lips over the area, prompting her to open her eyes and direct her gaze at me. A fiery intensity radiated from her eyes, momentarily removing the familiar Alison. In that instance, she resembled an entirely different person. My actions today had genuinely rattled her. She didn’t even have the strength to plead me to stop. Having been subjected to such a harsh punishment, all she now yearned for was a little tenderness. I was beginning the process of completely transforming Alison, molding her into someone who needed me near. Her obsession with me was underway, and this marked a promising first step toward that destination.
I lowered her thigh and then shifted to the other, addressing the last spot I had overlooked. Once finished, I gradually moved my hands upward, gliding them along her body this time. Moving them from her hips, I kneaded her breasts once more, and her panting grew louder. Leaning over her, I rested my weight on my hands. She gazed up at me with big, blue eyes, brimming with need. She yearned for a hint of gentle affection, and an intriguing idea flitted through my mind. Smiling, I leaned in closer, pressing my lips to hers, and to my surprise, she reciprocated this time. While I hadn't succeeded in getting her to kiss me back just yet, it seemed that this punishment of mine had genuinely altered her, at least temporarily. The kiss started slowly, with her hesitantly responding at first, but then she fully engaged. Her lips moved over mine, and I delved deeper, sliding my tongue into her mouth, accompanied by the whimper that escaped her. My right hand began tracing along her body, teasing her breast once again before descending further. She widened her legs for me, extending an invitation to explore her sensitive area. If this was what it meant to fully break her, to mold her into a compliant and sweet slave, then I eagerly anticipated that stage. I intended to indulge for a time, then cast her away, dismantling everything she knew. And just when she believed she could approach me, seeking assistance, I would slam the door in her face. The idea thrilled me. I could hardly wait!
"Ah, right there," she exclaimed as my fingers located her clit.
This was a new response from her, catching me off guard as she vocalized her desires. I rubbed her swollen clit, escalating her arousal. She reached out for me, although her touch wasn't what I craved. Just as I had ignited her desire, I withdrew, leaving her looking puzzled as she gazed up at me.
"I know you now understand why defying me is a terrible choice," I remarked darkly, asserting my dominance.
I distanced myself from her, leaving her in suspense, and a smile crept onto my face as I observed her incredulous expression. If she believed I was there to offer solace, she was mistaken. I was imparting a lesson on why defying me was the worst idea she could have. Now she comprehended it. With a smile, I strolled away, allowing her a few moments alone before I would return for her.
-Alison-
I knew that pushing Jared would mean consequences followed, but never in my wildest imagination did I anticipate the extent to which he would go. The notion of being publicly exposed to his neighbors never crossed my mind. While having food smeared across my face was not an unexpected form of punishment, the savagery with which he carried it out was astonishing. He restrained me, denying me the chance to breathe until he deemed it suitable, and I could feel the food nearly pushing inside my nostrils, obstructing my air passages. Nevertheless, that experience paled in comparison to kneeling outside his residence on full display. An indescribable sensation washed over me—more than mere mortification, it was a feeling difficult to articulate. It almost made me to want to shatter. I even found myself begging for mercy, a development I never thought would transpire. It became evident that I had failed to fathom the depths of Jared’s darkness.
Despite labeling him a copycat, a mini-me, I realized that my understanding of him was superficial. I knew myself, hence I believed I knew Jared. However, there were layers to him I hadn't grasped. While I had never subjected him to the humiliation of exposure before the entire school, he had no reservations about subjecting me to that ordeal. It marked a new low, one that extinguished my desire to continue resisting. I surrendered to his touch, and it unnerved me to realize that I now yearned for warmth from the very person who had subjected me to such shame. As he left me alone on the bed, the realization dawned on me. I had challenged him to demonstrate originality, and he had undoubtedly showcased his creativity. This realization ignited my anger, prompting me to assess my surroundings, contemplating whether I could use any available items to harm him. However, I swiftly recalled why I found myself in this predicament. He possessed leverage against me—secrets that could ruin me far more profoundly than being exposed on his staircase. Yet, this insight also rekindled my determination. I could endure the humiliation, but I couldn't endure complete annihilation. One thing had always been made abundantly clear to me: my image must always be preserved.
Slap!
My head jerked to the side as my mother’s hand struck my cheek. Instinctively, I raised my own hand, clutching the stinging flesh. She seized my hair, forcefully twisting my head back around.
“I’ve had enough of your games, Alison!” she snarled inches from my face. “This marks the fourth time this year we’ve had to bribe the school to hush up your childish pranks!”
“So what? It’s not like you can’t afford it,” I retorted.
Her hand rose again, slapping my other cheek, snapping my head to the opposite side.
“Do you even grasp what is at stake here? Do you?” Her voice was a thunderous roar.
I held my tongue. I understood what was at stake. From childhood, my parents had carefully crafted an impeccable façade. My grades had to be flawless, my appearance pristine, and every friend or boyfriend meticulously approved by them. If they didn’t like them, those connections were severed. Everything had to be unequivocally perfect.
“I do…” I muttered.
“Clearly not! You should consider yourself lucky I didn’t agree to suspension! I was this close!” She showed me the narrow gap with her fingers. “Just to drill a lesson into you!”
The truth was, I knew my mother would never agree to suspension, fearing it could taint my pristine reputation, putting Ivy League acceptance at risk. She couldn’t jeopardize my image. In anger, she strode over to the petite bar cart, pouring herself a drink. Her hand trembled, ice cubes clinging as she raised the glass to her lips. To an outsider, her trembling might suggest anger and disappointment. I, however, knew the real reason. Her trembling arose from the fact that her body couldn’t handle complete sobriety. People endured unhappy marriages in different ways—hers involved alcohol.
“And you!” she bellowed at my father, who was engrossed in his laptop, typing away. Since returning from the school meeting with the principal—a consequence of a teacher reporting my tormenting of Jared—my father had been glued to his computer screen. He seemed preoccupied with everything but our family. It wouldn’t be surprising if he were diverting his attention to other women. We were all too familiar with his disdain for my mother.
“Darling, Alison is young. She’ll mature over time. Who in high school didn’t partake in a harmless prank?” my father countered, delivering his typical speech to my mother.
“But it’s not harmless! It’s a grave offense! There are even rumors that she made people sexually assault him!”
“Well, given his father’s track record, he’ll settle for some hush money to fund his drinking habit and conveniently declare it all a misunderstanding. You know how it works.”
“But why can’t she just sever ties with that loser’s child?” my mother shouted before turning her glare toward me. “I warned you when you were a child that he wasn’t a suitable companion! Why won’t you just leave him be?”
