Claire's pov

Since I didn't respond to my uncle's request to confirm my comprehension of his punishment for what he called an "unacceptable attitude" this afternoon, he apparently felt the need to repeat, rephrase, and reiterate it.

"I expect you to have the dishes done and the kitchen floors and counters cleaned before your bedtime. Sono chiaro (Am I clear)?"

Yeah, clearly a jackass, I thought to myself, which unfortunately, caused me to smirk.

Roughly grabbing my upper arm, my uncle slapped my bottom firmly.

"Answer me, Francesca," he growled lowly, in that fierce tone that makes my skin crawl.

"Si, Zio, sei chiaro (Yes, Uncle, you are clear)," I replied dutifully, while still thinking my original insulting thoughts.

"You better have your chores done on time. You really don't want to test me on this tonight, bambina (baby girl)," he warned, glaring at me with that stone cold look that instinctually causes my hands to gravitate protectively over my bottom.

Accepting my nod in agreement, my pain in the butt uncle left me in peace finally as he went into his bathroom to go take a shower. As I started unloading the dishwasher, I couldn't help but notice he forgot to take his phone with him as I saw it sitting on the island in the kitchen. Knowing I really shouldn't, but unable to stop myself, I picked it up and hurriedly began dialing my grandfather's number. I figured I was in the clear since I could still hear the water running. Before I could type in the last two digits, however, my furious, clad-only-in-a-towel uncle snatched his phone right out of my hands.

"Consider yourself blessed you didn't complete that call and I don't have a belt on right now, or your ass would already be black and blue."

I stood motionless with my mouth agape hearing the brute anger permeating his ultra-transparent, not-in-the-slightest-bit-subtle threat. Seeing his eye twitch as the vein in his neck throbbed, I gulped, thinking please don't let him spank me over his knee clad only in a flimsy towel. That would be hella embarrassing for both of us. I think I'd officially be scarred for life.

Nervously, I tried to stammer a reply.

"I was, uh, just, um..." I swallowed hard seeing the stony look etched on his face. "It's not what it looks like. I was, um, just moving it so it wouldn't get wet while I was doing the dishes, Uncle EJ. I must have accidentally dialed some numbers when I picked it up." God that was stupid. Why the Hell did I just lie to my livid, practically naked uncle? I'm such a moron sometimes.

"You honestly want me to believe you accidentally dialed all but the last two digits of your grandfather's number as you picked up my phone to keep it from getting wet, even though it was sitting on a counter seven feet away from any water source, while you were unloading a dishwasher full of dry dishes?"

How my uncle spoke so seriously in relation to my absolutely absurd excuse was beyond me. I have to give him credit for keeping a straight face. I don't have a chance of getting out of this unscathed so maybe I should try to distract him from his anger by being as ludicrous as humanly possible.

"I wouldn't believe it myself, Uncle EJ, if I wasn't the one standin' here when it happened."

His nostrils flared as he narrowed his eyes at me. I closely watched his chiseled chest expand and contract with each angry breath he took as he stood silently seething. After setting the phone down, he held one hand over his mouth as the other one thankfully tightly gripped his towel, keeping it closed at the waist.

I gulped in anticipation of the punishment my uncle was about to dole out. After a nerve wracking eternity lasting thirty seconds, he finally spoke.

"For lying to me, you're grounded from swimming for one week. For touching my phone, I ought to spank the shit out of you but first I'm going to shower. Finish your chores, Francesca," he ordered coldly, before picking up his phone and walking back to his bathroom.

I let out the breath I'd been unconsciously holding as I bent over and gripped my knees. SHIT! That was intense. I was so close to gettin' my ass beat. At least now I have a fifteen minute reprieve. I guess I should get the dishes done like he asked, or I won't sit for a month.

My uncle took his time in the bathroom. After his shower, he went into his bedroom and slammed the door. That was forty-six minutes ago. I haven't seen or heard from him since. I finished unloading and loading the dishwasher while he showered. I handwashed the dishes that couldn't go in the dishwasher and started cleaning the kitchen floors and counters.

After I finished those chores, I began cleaning the living room. When I was done with that, I vacuumed the family room and hallways. I even scrubbed the bathrooms clean. Two hours and twenty minutes later, the house was spotless, except maybe for my uncle's bedroom. No chance in Hell I was willingly going in there. I'm kinda hoping he fell asleep so I can get out of my punishment, at least until tomorrow.

As I fluffed my last pillow on the living room sofa, I heard his bedroom door creak open. Fuck! It's been nice knowin' you, I whispered as I patted my butt.

After giving me a pointed look, my uncle went straight to the kitchen without saying a word. Presumably, he was checking to see if I did my chores as ordered. I saw him nod his head a few times during his inspection before he moved on to the dining room. After assessing my work throughout the house, he finally addressed me.

"You did a nice job cleaning the house, Claire. Thank you."

Yay, he called me Claire. I couldn't help rejoicing a little in my head. Maybe he won't spank the shit outta me as he so eloquently promised to earlier.

"Prego (You're welcome)." Please don't spank me, please don't spank me, please don't sp... I repeated in my head until my uncle interrupted me.

"I'll keep that in mind while I administer your punishment."

So much for my subliminal powers of persuasion.

"Come here," he said, motioning with his hand, pulling one of the stools out from under the kitchen island. Pointing to the round oak seat, he clarified, "Bend over and grip the legs, Francesca. I'm going to spank you for jeopardizing your safety by attempting to call your grandfather. Capiscimi (Understand me)?"

"Si, Zio, yo capisco e mi dispiace (Yes, Uncle, I understand and I'm sorry)," I replied quietly and sadly.

EJ's pov

"Bend," I said, pointing to the stool again. When she made eye contact, I began to unbuckle my belt. Once she was in position, I coldly stated, "We've had this discussion before, Francesca, and I don't intend on having it again." I felt a bit of misplaced satisfaction watching her cringe as she heard me strip my belt from around my waist.

The fact that she's not whining and moaning like an annoying brat as usual, indicates she knows she deserves to be punished for what she did.

Folding my belt in half, I leaned down and whispered harshly in her ear, "Make no mistake about it, if the need ever arises to have this conversation again, Francesca, I will be using my cane to stripe your ass. Trust me, you don't want that. Sono chiaro (Am I clear)?"

"Si, Zio (Yes, Uncle)," she squeaked out, just below the frequency only dogs can hear. Like nails on a chalkboard, I swear. Makes it that much easier to spank the high-pitched miscreant for grating on my nerves though.

"Good. Keep your mouth shut and don't move, or we'll repeat this tomorrow." I spanked my disobedient, obstinate, ill-mannered niece repeatedly with my belt, until I felt she learned her lesson. Seeing as her IQ is on par with someone in the profound mental disability range, it took longer than I would have liked, but being the kind benevolent uncle that I am, I persevered and drove the point home, one painful stroke at a time.

To her credit, my imbecilic niece remained quiet and stayed in place as she cried silent tears throughout her spanking. Thanks to the brat, I've become pretty proficient at wielding the belt to dole out discipline. She'll remember this for the next few days every time she sits down and if she forgets, I'll be happy to provide her with a little reminder.

"Alzati e affrontami, ragazzina (Stand up and face me, little girl)." Surprisingly, the dolt understood what I said and willingly obliged.

"I thought you were going to take it easy on me since I cleaned the whole house," she whined pathetically, as she rubbed her ass.

"You didn't get it on your bare bottom. Did you?" I asked sternly.

"No signore (sir)," the nitwit replied, after I invalidated her baseless complaint.

"Do you understand why I spanked you, Claire?"

"Si signore (Yes sir). You won't compromise when it comes to ensuring my safety."

"La tua risposta è corretta (Your answer is correct). Now get your smarting behind in some pajamas, brush your teeth, and get ready for bed before I take you over my knee for an encore, monella (brat)," I ordered sternly. "Buonanotte (goodnight), Claire."

"Buonanotte (Goodnight), Uncle EJ."