A low hum sounded in his chest. “You made war on your parents?”
“Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the best comparison. It was more that I was defiant. My parents were against me and mysiblings getting tattoos. They always wanted us looking our best because our appearances reflected on them. So, the moment I turned eighteen, I got a tattoo where they’d never see it becauseIwanted it.”
Urkot understood little of the world the humans had come from, and most of what he’d learned from Callie and the others had only left him with more questions. Shadowstalkers sometimes adorned themselves with silk, gold, leather, and beads—much more often during Zurvashi’s reign—but had never intentionally left permanent marks on their hides.
“Humans choose to mark themselves this way? Why?”
“There are many reasons. Some people get tattoos because they’re cultural or spiritual. Others get them as a form of self-expression or just because they like something. It’s art.”
He ran his eyes over the marking again. Despite his curiosity, it was difficult to prevent his gaze from wandering to admire her ass in its entirety. “What does your tattoo mean?”
Callie let out a small laugh. “Um… Keep in mind I was young when I had this done and I wanted something on the naughty side. Kind of like a dirty little secret.”
“Tell me.”
“It…saysspank me.”
“Explain.”
“Oh my God,” she groaned, letting her head fall back. “I can’t believe I’m going to do this.”
When Urkot was about to ask what she meant, Callie lifted her head and shifted her body, showing him her profile while keeping an arm banded across her breasts. She met his gaze. There was shyness in her eyes now.
“I, uh, think it’s easier to just show you,” she said.
Then she slapped her hand down on her ass.
The impact produced a sharpcrack. Her flesh gave beneath the blow, shaking visibly. Urkot could only stare and hold his hands at his sides, keeping his fists tight, unable to move.
Gods, he wanted to take her ass in his hands and feel it yield to his palms.
It took longer than it should have for him to produce any words. “You…wantto be hit?”
She thrust a finger at him, and their gazes locked. “Don’tkeenkshame me.”
Urkot’s mandibles fell. “I…what? I do not knowkeenk.”
Chuckling, Callie shook her head. “You’re killing me here, big guy.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Akeenkis something someone finds sexually arousing.”
That meant…
His eyes widened, and his cock stirred anew behind his slit. “Ah…”
She turned her face away, seeming to look everywhere but at him. “Spanking in this way isn’t really a hit that hurts. I mean, it can hurt, but it can feel good when done right.”
Her eyes again met his. “Really,reallygood.”
There was something in her gaze that Urkot could not name, something that called to him. Was he interpreting her words, her expression, incorrectly, or…or was she looking at him like she wanted to explore thiskinkwith him?
No, it couldn’t be that. Why would she want that? Why would she want his big, rough, clumsy hands on her soft skin?
But even the tiniest possibility of her wanting it, of her wanting him…that was enough to amplify his longing, his desire, and make it hotter than the water in which he stood.
“I will…remember,” he rasped. How could his tongue feel so dry when the air was so wet?
Callie cleared her throat. “Well, I’ve given you enough of a show for tonight. Now…” She twirled her finger in the air.
Urkot blinked. “Now?”
