Most people probably saw Malorie Reed as just a normal woman. To her roommate, Felicia Taylor, she was a goddess however. Just slightly petite but with long legs, Malorie kept herself well toned. She’d been a soccer player in college and remained in excellent shape. Malorie made body sculpting look easy as she’d make slight changes to her diet or exercise regime to keep her body looking the way she wanted it. Her voice was soft, musical, but authoritative when she wanted it to be. Her personality? She gave without regard for herself. When Felicia had been terminated from her job (again) back in March, Malorie had said, “as long as it takes.” She’d let Felicia stay, rent free, and made sure to cook delicious meals everyday. She even found time to come out of her office during work to make sandwiches. So it was just a shock and a surprise what she’d said to Felicia one morning leading up to Christmas.

So Felicia found herself walking down the street in the cold of winter, trying to pull her scarf and sweater tighter around her to fight off the chill. At least she had her fuzzy boots and woolen pants. Cellphone in her pocket, clip with five dollars, all ones, and a credit card (maxed out).

“What a way to start the Christmas season,” she huffed as she stomped down the sidewalk. “She could have at least given me a warning that this was coming.” Felicia was just venting though. The job argument with Malorie hadn’t started today.

“Oh she’s probably right,” Felicia muttered as she trudged up to the mailboxes at the entrance to the neighborhood. There was a community board there. “I could have tried a little harder to get a job. How hard is it to get hired by Walmart?”

The community board was trash. A canceled yard sale, no one wanted to do that in the snow. A couple of missing dogs. Community Christmas potluck, yawn. There was something though, pinned to the bottom of the board: ‘See a Different World’ - Santa’s Workshop by the North Pole- Elves Needed! That was something at least through Christmas. Felicia jammed the number on flyer into her phone.

“What’s that?” the voice on the other end replied after Felicia explained why she was calling. “We’re absolutely swamped, we could definitely use some help! Can you come in for an interview?”

I got an interview, she thumbed to Malorie before stuffing her phone back in her pocket. The workshop was at the mall. Walking there in the cold was going to suck but it wasn’t actually that far away. Maybe after the fact she could talk Malorie into coming and picking her up.

Malorie…Malorie…she’d never had problems getting boyfriends when they’d been in High School. Felicia had never been on a date. It had taken Felicia all of High School to figure out why boys hadn’t excited her and why she just preferred spending all of her time with Malorie when she could. She’d gotten there though. And she’d had to carry a torch ever since. This was going to work though - she’d get that job and she’d get let back in. Even if all she could do was quietly pine while Malorie spent yet another evening with her boyfriend Dan. It was worth it to be under the same roof as Malorie Reed.

* * *

The manager was a woman in her 40s named Jeannie. Her roots were already greying and she had the type of quick canned blond coloring that showed she cared just enough to try and hide it. “You’ll do,” she nodded. The interview hadn’t exactly been a long one. “Can you start today? It’s six hour shifts, one break. Longer the week before Christmas. Uh there’s costumes. After we close we’ll get you fitted. Here put this on for now.” She handed Felicia a green and red striped Santa hat with a pair of fake elf ears.

“Well yeah I can but what do I…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Jeannie grabbed Felicia by the arm and drug her over to the plaza. Santa’s Workshop was set up right in the middle of the mall and the line to see Santa was already huge. One other worker was at the front and she was currently arguing with a mom who had three kids pulling at her.

So she worked. She didn’t even have a chance to text Malorie what she was doing. It wasn’t awful at first. Jeannie kept grabbing the angry moms. Her one other co-worker was Heather, a girl who seemed to want to be anywhere but there. “Like whatever,” Heather would sigh every time a parent asked for a special request. Heather had the “costume” which seemed to be a slinky version of a Santa costume with a skirt that rode high enough to make Felicia uncomfortable. She wasn’t a Goddess like Malorie - in fact she was a little bit frumpy. She’d been skinny in High School but that had turned to frump, especially after she’d gotten fired and had spent months with nothing to do but watch tv. Although that Jeannie lady had said she’d do and had seemed to size her up so maybe she could pull it off?

Felicia didn’t get a chance to meet the guy playing Santa but he seemed to be in role. The ground practically shook the first time he bellowed, “HO HO HO.” About two hours in, she was absolutely exhausted however. She hadn’t done anything besides loaf around on the couch for the last eight months. Sweat was pouring down her face. She was too hot. She had nowhere to put her sweater. The stupid santa hat was itchy, and she didn’t actually like kids all that much.

“WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?!” a woman was shrieking at her. Santa had just stepped out for his break and Jeannie was busy with another parent when a christmas Karen managed to sink her claws into Felicia. “WE DROVE THIRTY MILES SO MY KIDS COULD MEET SANTA AND THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. YOU OWE US MILEAGE FOR DRIVING ALL THIS WAY JUST TO BE TOLD THAT HE’S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW.”

“Ma’am, it’s only a fifteen minute break, he-”

“UNACCEPTABLE” the other woman bellowed as her “get me your manager” bob flopped from side to side. “I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO DISRESPECTED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!” The verbal berating continued for what seemed like an eternity, though it was likely only a few seconds before Jeannie swept in and took over. “ARE YOU HER SUPERVISOR?! THIS YOUNG LADY IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL”

“Why don’t you take a break,” Jeannie offered with a smile. Felicia nodded, her face flushed with anger. Her heart was pounding from an adrenaline shot that had absolutely rattled her. By the time she’d popped in the little hut that the team was using as a breakroom, her hands were already shaking. She absolutely had not been prepared to go from zero to one hundred so fast.

‘Santa’ was sitting in a chair, on the table next to him a tall glass of milk and a cookie that he was settling his attention on. He certainly seemed to live into the role. He gave Felicia a fairly wide smile as she walked in. “You must be my new little helper!”

Oh god, please don’t tell me Santa’s a creeper she thought quickly as she scooted to the other end of the makeshift room and collapsed into a chair. “Umm, yeah, I was just hired today.”

“You seem to be working hard out there,” ‘Santa’ said. “You must be working extra hard to be a good girl this year.”

Felicia had to laugh. She was struggling to make it through her first shift. Had she been a good girl? Not by any definition that Santa Claus would use. The more she’d thought about it as she’d spent the day people watching, the more she’d considered how awful she had been to Malorie. Malorie had been sheltering her, feeding her, had even helped her buy some new winter clothes. All she’d asked in return is that Felicia put some kind of effort into finding a job and helping with the expenses. “Well, I’ve been a bit of a bad girl this year to be honest.” And having to talk about it with Creeper Santa is my punishment I suppose.

“You know something,” ‘Santa’ leaned forward with a smile on his face. “I don’t actually take lumps of cold to bad little children. If you could have anything you wanted, anything at all, what would you ask Santa for?”

Not having to work? It sucked. Felicia understood why she was here but it sucked. Getting bitched out by some cranky lady for no reason sucked. If she could land anywhere though? Malorie. Malorie. Her thoughts always came back to the woman she worshipped in private. Imagine if Malorie just went on taking care of all of her needs. For my roommate to love me. That part went unspoken. “I guess to live in a world where all of my needs were taken care of,” Felicia said.

‘Santa’ leaned back in his chair and nodded. He had sort of a skeevy looking smirk on his face and for a brief moment Felicia had the horrible thought that he was going to proposition her. Instead of saying anything though, he pulled a red leather book from his overcoat, took out a pen and began scribbling some notes in it. He didn’t say anything else.

“They’ll be ready for you in five minutes,” Jeannie had stuck her head in and glanced at ‘Santa.’

“Thanks,” he called to Felicia, “Just wanted to look things over a second time. I’ll be right out.”

“You doing alright?” Jeannie turned her attention to Felicia. Her look was…concern but only in the way that a boss was concerned one of her subordinates wouldn’t be able to get work done.

“Yeah, I just…”

“Sorry,” Jeannie frowned. “It won’t be your last angry mom though hon. Can I get you back out on the floor in ten so Heather can take her break?”

“Yeah,” Felicia nodded. She was still trembling but that nauseating post-adrenaline feeling was beginning to subside. She could do this. She had to do it. Right?

“You know,” ‘Santa’ interrupted her thoughts as he was rising to go back out. “Lots of littles wish they could be in different worlds. The metaphorical grass isn’t always greener. Be careful what you wish for Felicia Taylor.” Felicia couldn’t help but wonder how he knew her name.

* * *

“So how was it?” Malorie had come to pick Felicia up after her shift was over. The only thing preventing them from being at home was a fairly long traffic light. Felicia was buckled into the passenger seat, exhausted but surprisingly content. Of course I’m content, I’m back in the car with her again. I get to be back in her world.

“It was fun, angry moms sucked, Santa’s a bit of a weirdo but my boss is nice. But I’m exhausted,” she admitted. After years of suppressing her desires around Malorie, she found small talk came easy to keep a barrier up. Malorie was straight. She had a boyfriend. She couldn’t know that her old High School friend felt that way about her. She did steal a glance at the driver though and cracked a smile.

Malorie laughed, “Yeah, work isn’t easy. I’m proud of you though. Sorry for the tough love act earlier. I actually thought I’d have to go drag you back in the house for lunch. I guess it worked after all.”

“I guess it did,” Felicia nodded. “It’s just a seasonal job though Mal, I’ll have to find something else after the holidays.”

“You know you can do it now though,” Malorie said. “Are you working again tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I get Tuesdays and Thursdays off and have to do eights on the weekend.”

“I’ll make sure to pack you a lunch.” They were home and as painful as car to house was for Felicia’s exhausted body, the living room couch never felt so divine. The night went great. Chinese takeout and Hallmark movies, which Felicia and Malorie heckled endlessly. Sometime towards the end of the second movie, drowsiness overtook Felicia and she was out like a light.

She woke sometime later. The living room was dark, save for the glow of the television. A thick blanket had been draped over her and cradled in her arms was a stuffed black and white cat. “Whassisss?”

“You fell asleep FeFe,” Malorie said from her spot on the couch. “Why don’t you take kitty cat and go to bed?”

“Kaaaaayyyyyy” Felicia was exhausted. What Malorie was saying seemed right enough at least. She pulled herself from the couch, stuffed kitty in one hand, blanket in the other and drug herself to her bed. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

* * *

“Good morning sleepy cat! It’s a beautiful day!” the odd high shrill of Malorie’s voice was almost as unwelcome as the light that poured in and seemed to shine directly in Felicia’s face. Malorie had come into her bedroom and thrust the curtains open and was now standing at the side of Felicia’s bed beaming at her.

“Malorie…wha?” Felicia tried rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Mommy,” Malorie corrected.”

“Wha…?” Felicia must have still been half asleep. She knew she didn’t hear that right.

“It’s mommy sweetie. Malorie is what grown ups call me. Come on, let’s get you out of bed. You have to go to your little job today!”

“Right…” Felicia scrambled out of bed, the stuffed cat from last night getting shoved onto the floor in the process. She was still wearing the clothes she’d worked in yesterday. “I could use a shower.”

“It’s all ready for you,” Malorie smiled sweetly. “I even put a darling little outfit out for you. You’ll be the belle of the ball!”

“Are you feeling ok?” Felicia asked.

“Simply divine,” Malorie beamed. “Now hurry up, you don’t want to be late.”

A good hot shower later had Felicia feeling refreshed but no less confused. “Mal, what the heck is this?” Malorie had set out a pink top and a skirtall decorated with posies. Where had the outfit even come from? It certainly wasn’t one of Felicia’s.

“Isn’t it darling?” Malorie called through the door. “You’ll be a hit with all of your little friends today.”

“It’s a little juvenile,” Felicia replied, mostly to herself. It was also nice of Malorie to get her some clothes and all but Felicia still needed underwear. “And something a little more professional,” she muttered to herself. Slacks and a polo would do. She was supposed to get a costume anyway. Jeannie had taken her measurements yesterday.

“FeFe what are you doing?!” Malorie was waiting for her in her bedroom. She’d come out with a towel wrapped around her. “Did you need help getting dressed?”

“What’s your deal Mal?” Felicia was getting just a little bit annoyed by the helicopter parent routine.

“Mommy,”

“Malorie,” Felicia growled. “I don’t know what kind of game you are trying to play but the whole mommy thing is very much not my thing. Now if you don’t mind, I need to get dressed for work.”

“Well someone is Little Miss Sassypants this morning,” Malorie smirked as she tried to pull Felicia’s towel away from her. “Come on now, we need to get you ready.”

“Knock it off Mal,” Felicia slapped Malorie’s hand away.

“FELICIA MARIE TAYLOR” Malore shouted, a mix of both shock and anger coming from her mouth. “You do not hit mommy!”

“You’re not my fucking mommy Malorie!” Felicia screamed. Goddess? Yes! Mommy? Felicia didn’t begrudge anyone their thing but this was very much not her thing. Still, even if Malorie’s behavior was jarring, she felt bad about swearing. It just comes out when I get worked up.

Malorie’s face flushed with red hot anger and Felicia had the horrible feeling that she had just said something terribly wrong. She’s heard me cuss before! Before she could work out why Malorie seemed so angry, she found the towel ripped from her body and Malorie hauling her to the bed by her ear! “Oww, goddamnit Mal, let go”

“I don’t know why you’ve been asking for this,” Malorie snapped, “But if you want it, you got it kiddo.” As she sat on the edge of the bed she shoved Felicia over her knee. And then the flat of her hand came down right over Felicia’s butt. Malorie was spanking her.

“Oww, fuck, Malorie!” Felicia tried kicking her legs uselessly. Her face burned brightly. She was naked, in front of her roomate, her epic crush, and closer than she’d ever been. From this point across Malorie’s knees, she could feel the warmth radiating from Malorie’s body. Her roommate’s scent poured into her nose. She….she…”Oww!!!!” Malorie had just hit her!

Smack! Smack! Smack! “Are you acting like you’ve forgotten the rules too FeFe?”

“Oww!” smack! “What fucking…” Smack! “...rules?”

“Count and thank me. We’ll do fifty to help you remember.”

“What the fu” SMACK! Malorie’s hand was coming down faster and harder somehow.

“They don’t count until you start counting them and then thank me after each one Felicia,” Malorie said matter-of-factly. “Pretending you don’t know the rules won’t help you.”

“I DON’T KNOW THE FUCKING RULES!” Felicia wailed. She struggled, trying to push herself away from Malorie but Malorie was holding her firmly in place. She couldn’t believe how strong her roommate was. The spanking continued and she could do little but imagine how red her butt was becoming. The painful blistering seemed to be radiating throughout her body and her eyes were welling up with tears.

Malorie sighed but didn’t stop the punishment, “Count one for each time your butt gets paddled and then thank me for doing it. Here, I’ll get you started.” She brought her hand down again, “One” When Felicia said nothing, she brought her hand down again, “Repeat after me, one”

“One!” Felicia finally coughed out. Fuck it hurt.

“And thank me,” she said as she hit Felicia again.

“Thank you…” Felicia managed.

“Count, thank me, and say my name,” Malorie repeated with more than a little irritation in her voice.

“Two, thank you Ma…”

“No,” SMACK! “You don’t get to count past one until you do it right FeFe.”

“One, thank you Malorie.” SMACK!

“You don’t get to call me what grown ups call me FeFe, it sounds just like dumb baby babble coming out of your mouth.” SMACK!

“Well what the fuck am I supposed to call you?” Felicia shouted through her tears. SMACK! She had a horribly suspicion that she already knew but somehow it wasn’t going to be real until Malorie said it.

“You know to call me mommy FeFe, why are you being so difficult?” SMACK!

“One. Thank you mommy.” Felicia finally managed. She had just called divine Malorie mommy! A knot in her stomach was trying to order her to heave. It was either the shame or the pain. Yet mommy…Malorie!...her scent was still in Felicia’s nose.

“Very good FeFe! Just forty nine more. I know it’s a big number but I think you can count that high.”

“Two. Thank you mommy.”

“You’re very welcome Miss FeFe.”

“Three. Thank you mommy.”

“There’s my girl. You see, mommy always gives you what you ask for.”

“Four. Thank you mommy.” The continued pain radiating from her back was sending a buzzing feeling into Felicia’s brain. She was cognizant of the pain but her sense of reality was starting to get cloudy. She wanted it to stop, she was desperate for it to stop…”Five. Thank you mommy…” but it was almost as if the spanking had become her whole reality.

On and on she counted, “Ten. Thank you mommy… …Fifteen. Thank you mommy… …Twenty. Thank you mommy…”

The entire routine went on with Malorie saying things like, “You’re very welcome FeFe!” as if she was doing Felicia a great favor. Finally, it came to an end.

“Fifty. Thank you mommy.”

“There,” Malorie said. The motherly smile had never left her lips. She stood Felicia up and inspected her work. “My FeFe, you wanted an awful blistering this morning. Are you going to be good for mommy now or do you want a soaping too?”

“I’ll be good…” Felicia said shakily. She definitely didn’t want to get hit again and while she didn’t know what a “soaping” was, she couldn’t imagine it was something she’d want to find out about. Malorie had gone off the deep end. If Felicia could just get away for a few minutes, she could figure out what the hell had happened.

Before she could react though, a pair of fingers slithered up inside her! “Mao…whuuuhhhhh!” Malorie was staring into her eyes, smiling. Gentle tapping, probing, and each time sending waves of pleasure through Felicia’s body.

“You’re so tense this morning baby girl. Is it because you’re asking mommy to help you get something out?” Felica couldn’t help but curve her hips into Malorie’s hands, allowing her roommate to do the work but being as receptive as possible. This had to have been a dream, a very erotic dream. It was one that Felicia needed though, wanted. She could feel herself cresting. Her breathing became shallow, rapid, and then…Malorie pulled her hand back.

“Too bad baby girl,” Malorie snapped, anger crossing her face again. Felicia collapsed to the ground, desperate and mewling. “You don’t get spankies and funsies at the same time, think about what you are giving up every time you are naughty for mommy. Now, mommy’s going to get you a nice clean diaper. You stay there and don’t even think about finishing. If you behave, mommy will get you some lotion for your butt blister too.”

A…diaper? “Fuck me,” Felicia rasped as Malorie walked out of the room. A small voice in the back of her mind was shouting about it being worth it. Malorie had…oh god she’d fantasized about that touch since she was fourteen. What in the world was going on?