The Bottom Line Read Online Free PDF

off?’ gasped Helen. ‘Are you telling me I have to be naked? Do you lot think you’re really going to watch me get my pyjamas off and then thrash my bare bum?’
    â€˜That’s exactly what we think,’ said Carla, very calmly. ‘As Dolly told you, we’ve all been there and you’ll soon get over it.’
    â€˜And would you really give me a bad report if I refused?’ Helen demanded.
    â€˜Not exactly,’ Carla replied. ‘But word would get around that you weren’t part of the team, that you considered yourself superior to the rest of us, and there’s no room for that in our business; we all have to work together. You’re not asked to strip off because we’re all lesbians. Some of us are, some of us aren’t, and quite frankly we don’t care either way. No, it’s more a case of having no secrets, of everyone trusting everyone else. We have to know that you’ll instinctively do what’s best for the team.’
    â€˜What nonsense,’ Helen snapped. ‘You just want to see if I can take it, don’t you?’
    â€˜Okay,’ Carla conceded, ‘there’s an element of that to it, too. But it’s mostly a game and nobody gets seriously hurt.’
    â€˜Hm,’ sniffed Helen. ‘I’m surprised you don’t invite the guys from the flight deck along so they can get an eyeful.’
    â€˜They can come if they want to,’ Carla told her. ‘In fact Louise got three strokes of the cane from the second officer for going onto the flight deck without permission. And he didn’t half lay them on, so consider yourself lucky.’
    â€˜It seems like I have no choice,’ Helen said. ‘So come on then; just get on with it.’
    â€˜Just one or two more things you need to know first,’ Carla continued. ‘First of all, you do as you’re told during the punishment. You take whatever position I decide. If we have to hold you down the punishment is increased. You can make as much noise as you like but you’re not allowed to change position or rub yourself until I give permission. Have you got all that?’
    Helen reluctantly confirmed that she understood, whereupon Carla motioned to two of the girls to reposition two pieces of furniture.
    â€˜Right then,’ Carla told her. ‘Take your wrap off and kneel sideways in the armchair with your arms stretched over the side and your hands resting on the stool.’
    Helen slowly slipped the wrap from her shoulders and let it slide to the floor. Then, even more slowly, she walked to the armchair, knelt on the cushion, turned sideways, leaned across to the stool and rested her hands on it, so her bottom was raised and taut.
    â€˜That will do very nicely,’ Carla told her. ‘Now you can stay like that while the girls draw lots for the batting order. The anticipation will do you good.’
    There were rustling noises as Helen held herself in position, then Bridget came into view again. ‘Looks like I’ve got first whack, Helen,’ she said, lowering Helen’s pyjama trousers until they were round her ankles, ‘so we’ll just get rid of these, shall we?’
    â€˜You sound like my doctor,’ Helen said sarcastically. ‘Just get on with it, please.’
    She felt the paddle being rested on her left buttock for a few seconds, and then withdrawn. When it landed again it felt as though she’d been slapped not exactly playfully but not exactly seriously, either.
    The next stroke landed on the other buttock, and very quickly afterwards the third landed across the middle and appreciably harder, though not hard enough to cause any serious discomfort.
    â€˜Karen next,’ Bridget announced, ‘and she’s a lot more powerful than I am.’
    Helen shrugged mentally as well as physically and waited. The first stroke was again on the left cheek, and Bridget was right. Had Helen not been warned