Chapter 1: A Time for Change

As his girlfriend stormed off Brad gazed apologetically at those left seated in the living room. "I really am sorry about all this," he stammered in his wonderfully accented French, "I don't know what's wrong with her at the moment - I should go after her and calm her down.

Sébastien laughed grimly "Sit down" he said with authority. "She's only gone to the bathroom. Let her stew on her own, you said absolutely nothing wrong, and you're playing up to her games by chasing after her; you really shouldn't be the one apologising! If she was my fiancée ..."

Brad noted the beautiful brunette at Seb's side visibly squirm and cast her eyes down to stare intently at the content of her empty glass. It would be too rude to ask him what he meant by that unfinished phrase; on the other hand he was at his wits end with Juliette; where was the wonderful sensual woman he'd met 8 months ago? Who was this intolerable stranger that seemed to be showing her head more and more often as the weeks went by?

He had to chance it. "But Sandrine is the perfect model of politeness!" Brad replied cautiously smiling at the young French woman who, for some reason, was looking more and more uncomfortable. "I can't impossibly imagine her behaving the way Juliette just did."

Sandrine looked up at him, almost pleadingly. Just as Seb opened his mouth to speak, she shot up from the table, quickly made her excuses and disappeared to the kitchen.

Seb smiled and turned back to the American. "My fiancée is a little shy. She knows that if she behaved that way, I would take her home and punish her."

The words hung in the air as Brad looked back at the Frenchman with a mixture of shock and surprise. The other man at the table was smiling broadly, his wife nodding in silent approval. Had he understood correctly? His French wasn't perfect after all.

"Sorry?" he ventured, "I, um, don't understand."

Séb leaned forward and slowly waved his flattened palm in the air. "I would take her home; put her over my knee; lower her panties; and spank her for her behaviour.... and then some!" He added, with a wicked grin in his eye.

Brad blushed, lost for words. "Ermm, I don't think that would work with Juliette; she'd never let me do that"

"It's not a question of letting!!" the Frenchman thundered. "She's behaving like a spoilt brat, so treat her like one. Women here do not respect weak men whom they can walk all over."

This conversation was getting a little heated for the American. "I have no need for this macho nonsense," replied Brad, "Juliette and I are adults and we will sort this out with a simple conversation." He immediately realised his words were totally false. There was very little discussion to be had with Juliette of late. There was only one right way, namely hers, full stop.

André cut in, "Its not beating her up Brad. If she was a ten year old would you put up with this type of attitude? Of course you wouldn't! You would correct her behaviour until it stops - for her sake. It's a physical way of correcting her, when everything else fails. Both Sandrine and Isabelle know only too well what kind of consequences this bratty attitude brings..."

"Good Lord !" exclaimed Brad in disbelief. "You spank Isabelle too!?" This was a huge surprise for him. André's wife Isabelle was a highly successful business woman, and the image of her lying across André's knees, like a naughty child, buttocks glowing red from a hearty spanking, seemed totally incongruous with her persona.

Poor Isabelle blushed, but held her head up nevertheless. "Yes he does," she answered. She seemed to falter a little, but André gently stroked her shoulder and she continued. "I think Juliette needs this .. she's become totally out of hand, she's rude to you, to us, she acts like she's the centre of the universe, she sulks and cries until she gets her way, she's lost much respect from work colleagues and quite frankly we've all had enough of putting up with her. To be honest we're all dreading her temper tantrums on the camping trip. She'll be so much better for it; I promise you; I've known her for a long time, and I can assure..."

Isabelle's words trailed off as Juliette and Sandrine came back into the room, Sandrine carefully avoided both Séb and Brad's eyes as she sat down meekly next to her fiancé. Juliette, however, made a theatrical show of putting on her expensive fitted jacket, running her delicate hands through her lustrous chocolate brown curls before adjusting her sunglasses and swinging her dainty handbag across her shoulder. She addressed her friends at the table without so much of a glance at Brad.

"I'm afraid Brad has totally ruined the evening for us all with his hurtful, rude comments," she proclaimed, "so we are going home and won't be joining you for dinner."

Seconds ticked past, no-one moved or said a word. Juliette shot a glare at Brad, "I'm waiting!" she snapped with as much icy cold venom as she could muster. Not a breath was heard as everyone's gaze turned to the tall American, waiting his reaction.

As he rose, Brad felt the now horribly familiar feelings of humiliation and frustration overwhelm him. Somehow, yet again, she had successfully managed to make him feel guilty and wrong in front of everyone when he was sure that she was the troublemaker, not him.

"Brad!" she barked again.

Suddenly everything just seemed to sink in. Juliette hadn't always been like this; she had been a pure delight to him when they had first met, and he had fallen deeply and instantly in love with her, but as the months went by and their relationship developed, Brad had wound himself tighter and tighter around her little finger, placating her tempers and tears with gifts and flowers, letting her have her own way in order to avoid confrontation. When he should have stood his ground and demanded an apology from her, he had instead apologized himself and taken her out for dinner to make amends, in the hope of bringing that mesmerising smile back to her lips. His fear that she might walk out on him had paralysed him from standing up to her, instead, carrying out her most trivial demands and giving into her childlike whims and desires without comment. He realised that, in short, if she was acting like this today, then perhaps his own behaviour had more than a little to do with it. With the benefit of hindsight it was now transparently obvious that Juliette needed a firm hand to guide her in more ways than one, and in that moment he decided he was going to provide her with just that. He smiled to himself. The time for change had come and tonight was a night his adored girlfriend was not going to forget... ever.

Chapter 2: Shaky Ground

Brad took three quick strides across the room and caught Juliette by the elbow.

"Owww!" she wailed, pulling her arm aside, quite obviously dramatizing and in no pain whatsoever. She feigned a hurt look but noticed somewhat smugly that this had finally got a reaction out of him as the anger was now plainly showing on his face; make him suffer a just a little more she thought to herself, make him pay for what he said.

Her relationship with Brad had deteriorated into what seemed like an endless series of petty arguments and childish disputes. His placatory attitude she had so loved in the beginning had finished by driving her crazy. His recent inability to stand up to even her most petulant demands had left her feeling angry and aggressive; somewhere along the lines she had lost her respect for him and she realised the end of their time together was probably round the corner. It was a shame, he really was quite stunning and had a great mind, but still; no pleasure to be had with a pushover.

Brad turned to their hostess. "Isabelle, my apologies for the interruption to the evening, and for going to the trouble of cooking a meal we won't be able to share," Brad noticed Séb shaking his head slightly at the apology, and heard Juliette huffing behind him. He continued, trying to remain calm. "Juliette's behaviour was a disgrace and I shall deal with her at home."

There! He'd said it out loud, and not without getting a gasp from Juliette too! He felt more and more confident as the seconds ticked by. He turned to his fiancée, who was looking at him in total surprise, took her once again by the elbow and pushed her towards the front door, as he turned to look at his friends, he couldn't help but notice the wry grins on their faces. Something told him they would have enjoyed witnessing the scene!

Still clasping Juliette by the elbow, he frog marched the young woman to the car, opened the door and pushed her inside, slamming the door shut behind her. As he took his seat behind the wheel, the storm erupted.

"JUST what the hell do you think you are playing at?" She hissed. Her contradictory feelings were playing havoc with her mind. Make him stand up to you, but refuse to give in to him!

Brad opened his mouth to reply, but Juliette thundered on, pressing her advantage.

"How dare you humiliate me like that in front of everyone! You totally spoiled and ruined my evening, and you know exactly how much I was looking forward to it, and you had to ruin it for me. All I wanted was to go out for a nice simple evening with my friends. BUT no! 'deal with me at home'? DEAL with me at home!! I just cant believe your audacity and cheek, after all, you were the one to provoke me and I distinctly...... "

Brad let her rant away. It wasn't going to do her any good, besides, she was speaking french so fast he couldn't really understand her anymore. He was most definitely going to spank her and he was now looking forward to it more and more. This was going to be a first for both of them. He concentrated on remaining calm, and planning out the evening he had in store for the unsuspecting Juliette. He toyed with the horrible idea that she would leave him, but at once understood that there just wasn't going to be a future to their relationship if things carried on like this.

She was still ranting when they walked into the house and only stopped when she finally threw her jacket down on the kitchen table and kicked off her heels.

"Well?" she bellowed, "Aren't you going to say anything?? You just going to stand there in silence like you ALWAYS do?"

Brad took a deep breathe, "No actually, Juilette, I'm not."

Juliette looked up. She would have been surprised, if she hadn't worked herself up into such a temper. Brad looked her straight in the eye.

"I wanted to give you the chance to explain yourself, and apologise for your behaviour. Instead I see you just want to rant and moan like a little brat, and I'm simply not going to stand for it anymore. Not tonight; not ever. Let me tell you something miss, you are going to apologise to me immediately and then..."

"Then, what??" she interjected with a spiteful little laugh. "You think I'm scared of you?"

"Christ", he thought, "is she actually daring me to do this?" Brad looked at her and smiled. He spoke softly and clearly in English, leaving little pauses between his phrases so she would understand.

"Then, young lady, I'm going to spank you - and please don't ever interrupt me like that again, because it will only make your punishment worse."

This time Juliette actually gaped at him, then suddenly broke into her beautiful deep laugh.

"You? Spank ME?" she said in her little French accent, the absurdity of the situation greatly amused her. No-one had ever slapped her in her life, let alone spank her, and there was no way that gentle, loving, forgiving Brad was going to start now!

Brad stared at her hard, "Believe me honey, it's going to happen. Apologise now and then let's get this over with."

For the first time that evening, it occurred to Juliette, that she may have gone a little too far, and that she may have underestimated Brad, who seemed like he really actually might be quite serious about this whole spanking thing. The idea sent a little shiver of excitement down her spine, but scared her as well; She had only recently found out that Sandrine received quite regular harsh spankings from Seb. Of course, she hadn't believed it at first, but Sandrine had finally shown her the bruises on her rear and Juliette had been shocked. No, she definitely didn't want that. Especially not with the holiday a few days away. A change of tactics was needed.

She walked slowly up to Brad, calmly confident, pushing her chest out just a little, forming a little pouty smile with her lips, swaying her hips gently, just the way she knew he loved it and, putting on her best sad puppy face, she sidled up to him and whispered. "But darling, you upset me so much, it was quite horrible of you to say that about me."

Brad felt his resolve weakening, she looked stunning, as usual, but now she seemed upset, her eyes slightly watery and her voice smooth and creamy, her accent making his heart pound a little harder, so different to the annoying yapping in the car. This close, he could smell her perfume and the scent of her hair. He could see her chest rise and fall with every breath she took. He wanted to reach out and hold her by her tiny waist and run his fingers over the thin fabric covering her breasts; lift her skirt and slide his hand over her golden silky smooth thighs, kiss her, and forget the whole incident; it would be so much easier to end it this way now; and Juliette knew it. God she was good.

Chapter 3: A Change of Tactics

Juliette sniffed and looked like she was about to cry, she could tell the worst of Brad's anger had passed. Spank her?! Oh dear me, it really was laughable, he simply wouldn't dare. She decided the moment had come to let him think that he had won the argument: she would go forlornly to the bedroom and shed a few loud crocodile tears, then he would come in the room and beg her to forgive him for his nastiness. Yes, she could see it all.

As she turned away from him though, she couldn't help a last jab, it really had been too easy. "I do hate arguing with you but you really shouldn't have provoked me like that; calling me fat in front of everyone."

"Excuse me!?" Snorted Brad, snapping suddenly out of his reverie, "what the hell are you talking about?"

"Yes you did! You did!!" She whined.

"Juliette!! How dare you? My exact words were that I was happy you were looking healthy again after your nasty bout of flu!" Brad's patience had finally been worn out. If he'd been prepared to pass over on the spanking a moment ago his resolve had returned threefold.

"Right. In other words you said I was fat!"

Juliette realised a moment too late that she had grotesquely overstepped the mark. Even as she heard the words coming out of her mouth, she knew how ridiculous they were. She just couldn't help it, her inner demon told her to keep pushing the poor lad to his limits, wherever they might be.

Brad stared at her for a while in disbelief; his tone suddenly became intensely cold and stern. "You really are a very spoilt little girl aren't you?"

Juliette shivered.

The silence hung between them. Brad was stunned by his own actions: he had actually managed to silence his fiery tempered fiancée!

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Still silence.

"Juliette, I asked you a question and I am still waiting for an answer."

Tic-Toc, Tic-Toc, Tic-Toc....

Juliette had lost her usual composure. She realised that this was now going to be tougher to get herself out of. Luckily, she still had her joker to play though. This one never failed. She looked up at him through her thick black lashes, took a deep breath and whispered. "Let's go to the bedroom and I'll make it up to you..."

Brad caught her wrist as she tried to stroke him. "That's not going to work. Why the hell is so hard for you to just simply apologise and admit you were in the wrong?"

Argghh! Juliette hated apologising. Those words just seemed to claw in her throat. She knew Brad was furious, and that she was responsible for provoking him again, but she wanted this whole silly story to be over. She hadn't meant it to get this far, or perhaps she had? She was lost in her own mind, however in any case the apology still stuck unvoiced in her throat.

She sighed, "I'm so tired, and you are annoying me. Why don't you just tell me what would you like me to say?!" Her words sounded harsh even to her own ears. What the heck was up with her?

Suddenly, Brad still holding her wrist, was leading her firmly to the living room and sat down on the sofa.

"Juliette," he said with an authority that made her flinch, "I'm giving you one more chance to apologise, if you don't, I'm going to have to spank you until you do. Is that clear?"

Pride really was Juliette's downfall, she couldn't apologise now. It would be too humiliating, and besides, despite Brad's new stern voice and actions, she couldn't really believe he would actually lift his hand against her. She smiled a fake saccharine smile and turned to leave, but found herself being roughly yanked down and over Brad's lap. She bucked and kicked, calling out his name, but he just held her down, pinning her wrists behind her back. Within a few minutes Juliette had exhausted herself and came to a reluctant pause. Darn, she'd forgotten how strong he was.

"Let me go this instant, Brad!" She wailed, "this is so humiliating, you have no right to do this to me."

Brad's voice came back smooth and calm, but with such determined authority. Juliette squirmed and was forced into silence.

"Juilette, you have no idea what humiliation is, yet. As for my 'right' to spank you, well, I'm afraid your ridiculous behaviour, especially this evening, means you deserve every single slap you receive. I'm doing this for you darling, so you understand that this type of carry-on simply isn't going to be tolerated anymore. There are going to be some big changes around here, and you are going to start showing me some respect."

Holding her down with one hand, Brad raised the other and brought it sharply down on Juliette's behind; with her buttocks snuggled neatly in the confines of her tight long skirt, Brad was pretty sure he wasn't really hurting her. Nevertheless, she cried out, struggling wildly, but still the slaps kept coming.

After a dozen or so blows, the young woman blurted out. "Fine! Fine! I'm sorry!!" Brad stopped momentarily.

"For fucks sake, Brad! I said I was sorry, let me go now, I feel ridiculous!"

"That - SPANK - young lady, is not an apology." Said Brad, even more sternly if that was possible. "And it has just earned you this..."

Brad grabbed the hem of her skirt and tugged the material down to her knees. He couldn't help but admire her beautiful bottom encased in little silk panties. Juliette was struggling frantically again, but he took no notice.

"As I said," Brad resumed, enjoying himself more and more in his new role, "I will continue the spanking until you give me a proper apology."

And down came his hand again, first one cheek then the other.  SPANK - SPANK - SPANK - SPANK - SPANK - SPANK  He noticed that her skin had only just turned a slight shade of light pink, so he guessed that Juliette's cries were theatrical more than anything else. He increased the force behind the blows causing her to take a sharp intake of breath.

"You bastard!!" She yapped.

"If that's the way you want to play it." Brad said with a touch of malice. He hooked his thumb around the waist band of her panties and yanked them down to her knees.

Juilette must suddenly have realised just how much of her was being exposed for she suddenly changed her tone. "Brad, Brad! Please don't do this!" She clenched her thighs together tightly and kept on whining.

"Juliette!!" He thundered, "Stop that terrible whinging! You will - SPANK - apologise  - SPANK - or you will  - SPANK - say nothing  - SPANK - at all  - SPANK - I'm sick of your behaviour" And with that, he let out a barrage of blows, one swiftly after another harder and harder each time.

Her skin turned from pink to dark pinky red. Her shrieks, he noticed, sounded genuine for the first time this evening. He gave her a volley of extra hard slaps, each falling on the same area of tender skin. He continued the punishment until suddenly the floodgates opened and out poured her first genuine tears. Her sobbing became more and more intense, but true to his word he carried on relentlessly.

"Brad! Owwww! Sorry!! Owww! Please! Aieee!!! Stop! Owww! Sorry! Owwwwwww!!! Please, please, owwww! It hurts so much... owwwwww! Please Brad!!" She cried between tears, "please stop!"

"Juliette,  - SPANK - you will not win on this one. - SPANK - SPANK - You will  - SPANK - make a heartfelt apology before I stop."

His voice struck a cord deep within her, suddenly she felt the release from the months of tension.  She cried out again, a terrible moaning cry, and it took all Brad's resolve to continue her punishment. Her body shaking and covered in a veneer of sweat, he felt her slump and her kicking subside.

He kept spanking her though, until he heard through her chocking cries. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm OWW sorry for my aieeeeeeeeeee rudeness; sor-sorry for oww my be-owww-haviour. Please stop owwwwwwwwww so I can apologise owwwwwwwwww properly.

And the spanking stopped.

Brad stared down at the now scarlet punished buttocks quivering before him and heard Juliette's plaintive sobbing. She continued to lie over his knees crying wholeheartedly. He ran his fingers over her lower back. Repeating her words from earlier on in the evening he said sternly, "I'm waiting!"

She slithered off his lap and sank to her knees on the floor in front of him. Her face and neck were wet with tears and sweat, her eyes red and overflowing, her curly hair tangled and falling in front of her face. Hands covering her tender reddened rear she whispered. "I'm sorry, sorry for everything I did tonight, sorry for being rude, sorry for pushing you, sorry so sorry. Please forgive me Brad, please, I will never behave like that again."

Brad stooped over and helped her up, waiting for her to scream at him and tell him to pack his things and leave. Instead she just stood there sobbing like a little girl. He pulled her to him and encircled her in his strong arms. She fell into his embrace, hugging him harder. As he stroked her head and hair her little sobs died down to sniffles.

"Sweetheart - go into the kitchen and pick up your jacket and shoes, then go to bed."

Amazingly, Juliette did nothing more than shoot him a reproachful glance, but she shuffled out of the room, picked up her things and went to the bedroom. As she walked past him he couldn't help but admire his handiwork. Brad came in close behind her.

She turned to him and whispered again how sorry she was.

"Good girl" He said soothingly, and she managed a watery smile.

"Now," he said, "I think you should spend a little time thinking about your stubborn pride and what it has cost you tonight, and what it has cost our relationship. I will be back in a few minutes." With that Brad kissed her forehead and left the room.

Chapter 4: Brad's Resolve

Pulling on a fresh silky cool pair of panties, Juliette dropped onto the bed and wiped her last tears away. Despite her burning backside, she was still having trouble believing Brad had spanked her. She wasn't sure whether she should be furious or pleased. The tension between them had instantly vanished and she felt less angry and frustrated than she had done in months. She didn't like admitting it, but she had been in the wrong and now it was all over and she didn't have to worry.

She thought back to the little scene and blushed. How humiliating though, bent over his lap that way, exposing her most private parts. She shuddered and was surprised to notice the wetness between her legs. Rolling gingerly onto her side she slide her fingers under the silk and stroked herself languidly. Brad's obvious sexual arousal from her recent trip over his lap hadn't gone unnoticed and she slipped into a daydream. The pain across her bottom eased gradually but a wave of sexual energy rushed through her, causing her to rub herself harder. She had no idea how long she'd been there, but suddenly her musings were cut short by Brad coming back into the room. She leapt from the bed and smiled awkwardly at him.

He stood, his arms folded, "Doing some thinking were you?" He said with an evil grin.

Juliette mumbled something to herself and managed to look sheepish. "I'm really sorry about this evening," she said, "I don't need extra time to be sure of that!"

"I'm glad you apologised sweetheart, I'm just sorry I had to spank it out of you, and that you couldn't say it yourself." He paused for affect, giving her time to anticipate what was coming. "The fact remains however, that you are still going to be punished for your bad behaviour."

Juliette's jaw dropped, and the tears came springing back to her eyes.

"What?!" She cried out. "There's no way you are spanking me again, Brad! No way! I'm....." She was momentarily silenced by Brad's cold stare.

"Juliette," he lectured, "I told you that you were to be punished for your misbehaviour and it's your own fault you were spanked just now. I gave you plenty of opportunities to apologise but you chose not to. Your apology has been accepted and you are going to be punished. There is no discussion to be had. No, Juliette," he said, seeing her open her mouth to speak, "I mean no discussion. To apologise means you accept the consequences of your actions. Now," he said, standing by the side of the high four-poster bed, "you will come over here, and you will bend over the bed for your punishment."

Her guts squirmed with the humiliation of the situation. Much better to be thrown over a lap than to have to position yourself over the edge of a bed, she instantly decided. Her pride stopped her from moving. He couldn't make her, after all her bottom was still very sore and she had no intention of making this easier on him.

Pride really was this woman's downfall he thought to himself again, she was as stubborn as hell, even after a good spanking!

"Juliette, I suggest you don't push me any further than you already have done this evening. If I have to get up it will be to loosen my belt and I assure you I have no qualms about using it on your already sore behind!"

Juliette felt her stomach churn, the belt sounded a frightening prospect. Wretchedly she walked very slowly towards him. She came to a stop in front of him, her eyes wide and watery again.

"Mon amour, S'il te plait. Don't make do this." She begged.

"That's an extra 5 right there." He replied firmly.

There was nothing left for it, she would have to obey. Hating him for his determination, and for forcing her submission, she bent herself over the bed. Her heart was pounding, her bottom quivering. She felt his fingers run down her back and between her legs. The silk between her legs was damp and sticky.

"Remove your panties, Juliette, and remember, not a word!"

Juliette reluctantly reached her arms back and nervously rolled the material down her thighs, once again exposing herself to him. It was too humiliating for words.

Brad couldn't believe how wet she was, and was hit by his desire to call off the whole spanking and make love to her right there and then. Yet something told him if he weakened now, he'd never be able to face up to her again.

"Good girl, now spread your legs a little", he said, guessing how awkward this must be for her.

She shifted her feet apart, realising how terribly exposed she was and how obvious her strange excitement must be.

Brad rested his palm on her pink bottom and she flinched. He moved his hand to the small of her back and held her down firmly. He didn't want to hurt her but needed to drive the lesson home. He lifted his palm and a shower of spanks fell on Juliette's pert punished little behind.

She shrieked with the very first slap, and tried to stand, but Brad's hold on her didn't falter and he settled into a steady spanking rhythm, alternating between the two cheeks.

"Brad! Please! Please!" She cried, "Please! No more! No more!"

He continued to spank her, paying no heed to her wails and cries. When her entire backside was a deep dark scarlet Brad stopped. Her cries were incoherent.

"Juliette," he said, "here are the last 5 your disobedience has earned you. Understand that I will never again tolerate a bratty attitude like this evening, ever. Things are going to be different around here, at work, and with your entourage from now on. Is that clear?"

Her sobs continued but she nodded her head from where she had buried it in the pillows, and managed a little "yes".

"Good girl" he said and then finished the last 5 blistering spanks to her behind with a force that left his hand stinging and which extracted a scream from the young French girl.

"It's over little one, shhh... shh... its over. Don't move, I'll be straight back" he said and left the room.

Juliette was in no position to move, she was crying uncontrollably and felt weak at the knees. Her bottom was on fire, and the pain was like nothing she had ever experienced. Again a wave of conflicting emotion hit her. Did she love him or hate him for this? She could sense he was back in the room and she raised her head a little, and gasped through her tears.

"Brad, I just cant take anymore. Please don't spank me again. I really can't. I'm sorry I was disrespectful, and that I didn't apologise straight away, but I can't possibly take anymore."

Brad's heart twinged, had he been too harsh? He had no intention of spanking her again that evening. He rested his hand on the small of her back and saw her flinch. Looking at the bruises on her rear, he felt a mixture of genuine guilt and yet the satisfaction of a job well done.

"Hush darling", he said softly with love and reassurance in his voice, "it's over, you're forgiven and I've got something here for you."

With that, he gently rubbed the cool lotion into her well chastised buttocks, surveying his own handiwork.

Still lying bent over the bed, but too upset and exhausted to care anymore, this unexpected tenderness caused another wave of emotion to ripple through her. How could he be so harsh and unrelenting and yet to loving and tender? Juliette felt herself being gently pulled to her feet, still sobbing.

Brad turned her to face him, and cupping his hands around her tear stained face he kissed her salty lips. Once twice, three times. Holding her up firmly by her little waist, he murmured, "I love you."

Juliette gave a little whimper of pleasure and pain and whispered back.

"Je t'aime."