Kevin opens my door with his usual greeting. “Evening, sir.”
“Kevin,” I acknowledge with a nod. “How was her day?”
“She spent most of it at the beach. She seemed to enjoy it, sir,” he reports as we stride through the foyer toward my private elevator. I loosen my tie and undo the top button of my shirt.
“Thank you,” I reply, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the penthouse. “Have a good night.”
“You too, sir.”
The tension eases from my shoulders the closer I get to Hailee. Stepping into the penthouse, I’m greeted by a sight of pure beauty—one that I could easily get used to seeing every day. She kneels before me, naked, assuming the traditional submissive posture of Eden. With her back straight, knees slightly parted, hands resting on her thighs, and head bowed, her white-blonde hair falls gracefully around her face.
“Hi, gorgeous.” My fingers gently trace the soft strands of her hair.
“Good evening, sir. Did you have a good day?” Her voice is strained, off somehow. Instantly, I tense. Something isn’t right. My mind races through a million different scenarios.
What happened? Has someone hurt her? Is she unhappy? Does she want to leave?
I lift her chin with two fingers, searching her face for answers. She manages a smile through watery eyes, and my heart fucking shatters at the sight. My eyes drift down her body, and then I see it.
“What the fuck happened to your skin, Hailee?” I can’t contain my shock at seeing her once flawless tanned skin now beet red.
“It’s nothing, sir. Just a little sunburn.” She tries to laugh it off, but her attempt falls flat with a sniffle. It’s far from just a little sunburn; her skin is inflamed and painfully red. Placing my hand on her shoulder, I feel the heat radiating from her, almost burning my palm. This is first-degree sunburn at the very least.
“Stand, gorgeous,” I command, offering her my hand. As she rises from her knees, I notice the wince that crosses her face. “Let’s go.” I dump my laptop bag in the lounge before leading her upstairs to our bedroom.
“Lie on the bed.”
She complies without a word. I shed my jacket and toss my tie over a nearby chair, roll up my sleeves and enter the bathroom to run a tepid bath. Once it’s filled to the right level, I return to the bedroom and scoop up my kitten, carrying her bridal style to the tub.
Her eyes track my movements like a deer caught in the headlights. I don’t like seeing her docile like this. I want my sassy ball of sunshine back. Carefully I lower her into the cool bath, and she hisses when the water touches her overheated skin. Once she’s comfortably settled, I head downstairs and return with a bottle of water and ibuprofen for the pain. She must be in a world of hurt.
“Drink this,” I instruct, handing her the bottle and the tablets. She takes a sip and swallows them down, handing the bottle back to me.
“Thank you,” she says sheepishly.
“Nope. All of it.” She hesitates for a moment before bringing the bottle back to her lips.
Good girl.
It takes her a few minutes, but she finishes it all before I take the empty bottle from her.
“Now, tell me what happened,” I say, softening my voice. I’ve been barking orders at her since I got home, and she’s responded well without putting up much of a fight. Even though I’m fuming, there’s a time and place for punishment.
“Not much to tell, really. I went for a walk along the beach, and I forgot the sunscreen, that’s all.”
“How long were you in the sun for?”
“Only a couple of hours.”
That’s not very long, but still, she should know better. The Australian sun is brutal, even in early spring.
“I had my hat and sunglasses, though,” she adds.
“Hailee, look at me,” I say firmly. She’s been pointedly avoiding my gaze, studying the bathwater the entire time. She raises her head, and I capture her beautiful green eyes that always make me lose my breath.
“Your body belongs to me for the next twelve months. You will look aftermyproperty while under my care. OnlyIget to mark your beautiful skin as I see fit, not you. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. Are you going to punish me?”
