I'd switched from the paddle to the thin, whippy Delrin cane, interspersing gentle taps in the furrow between her buttocks with swifter strokes to the fleshiest part, but this time the sting was too much for her. So I went back to the paddle, a recent addition to the toy box (not to mention the long rack in the clothes closet plus the two dresser drawers devoted to implements that deliver attention-getting sensations).

This particular paddle was a recent addition to our collection's menacing array of wooden spoons, a cheese board drilled through with a dozen inch-wide holes, a set of official Jokari paddles, several hairbrushes, the infamous bath brush from an extremely vanilla New England purveyor, and half-a-dozen wooden paddles of various shapes and sizes, explicitly designed for recreationally whacking human buttocks.

Obviously, to justify its acquisition, any new sensation toy has to be unusual, has to look different, feel different, has to have an esthetic appeal and an ominous aura, as well as practicality, durability, balance, and a memorable impact. The black rubber paddle from Toys in Babeland makes the grade on all counts.

Hefting the paddle, I appreciated its compact dimensions, only a foot long with a three-inch by six-inch business end, making it ideal for close-up or over-the-knee applications, so much more intimate than the distance required by twenty-two-inch fraternity paddles. Kneeling beside my wife, I gripped her around the waist with my left arm, not neglecting to press my hardness into her thigh, just a little reminder of what was to follow. I inhaled the paddle's sharp, sulfurous aroma and decided to share it with her by rubbing it caressingly across her face and holding it under her nose. I even had her kiss and lick it (giving a lovely grimace at the bitter taste), before I put it to work further down.

Finally, I struck downward over the top of her buttocks, in a direction parallel to her legs, whacking the center of each butt-cheek in turn. The paddle's handle fit my hand comfortably and its natural flex allowed me to inflict a telling impact using mainly my wrist, with minimum arm swing. I alternated this with striking her sweet spot (the center of the lower buttocks just above the thighs), and -- instructing her to spread her legs -- softly thumping her labia.

Her bottom-cheeks colored deeply and immediately, evidence of one of the striking qualities of rubber: the way it momentarily adheres to the skin during impact, causing burning surface trauma as it departs from its cruel kiss. In contrast to its small size, the black rubber paddle's half-inch thickness provides sufficient weight to deliver quite a pounding, if your partner likes it hard, while its balance and springiness permit a gentle, tapping rhythm just as easily. The relative softness of rubber, compared to wood (not that I'd recommend whacking anybody in the elbow or the ribs with this) allows its fruitful application to areas other than the buttocks: the fronts and backs of the thighs, the calves, biceps, shoulders, upper back, and male pectorals. Even the soles of the feet and palms of the hands can be safely whacked, provided sufficient care and control are exercised.

Rubber has a time-honored place in the CP (corporal punishment) tradition, a rich source of fantasy for many spanking-oriented adults. Canadian school discipline straps were historically made of rubber, and British schoolboy and schoolgirl punishments often utilized the plimsoll, or rubber-soled gym sneaker. Among people of kink, rubber lovers form a major sub-group. Here's the perfect accessory for that latex cat suit.

A compact all-rubber paddle like this one from Babeland, in addition to its effective design, is easy to thoroughly clean and disinfect and convenient to carry with you in a large purse or tucked into a man's inner suit jacket pocket. (You never know when your companion may require a little touching up before you get home.) The handle is drilled with a beveled hole in case you'd like to attach a hanging thong, or you might chose to customize it by wrapping the handle with some decorative, grip-enhancing material.

Why would anybody want to whack a dear one in the buttocks with a rubber paddle? Well, because that's what buttocks are for, and because if you use your hand to deliver a sound spanking, it rapidly gets just as sore as the butt you're working on. Of course, if you have an unrealized desire to so whack or be whacked, it's best to discuss it with your partner first and to start very slowly and gently with plenty of real-time feedback. Also bear in mind that abusive youthful corporal punishment experiences may make this kind of play impossible for some.

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