Claire needs to forgive herself. Will doesn’t think she deserves punishment, only sympathy. But in the circumstances he finds the most sympathetic thing is to deliver the punishment she thinks she deserves.
And try to keep her aware that she’s good, really.
It’s a hot scene but it’s had to leave my blog because it’s published now, and publishers don’t like their stuff to be available for free. I’ll put up a link to where you can buy this very hot text, shortly.