Wyatt pursed his lips and tilted his head, glancing up at Linc through thick lashes as he deliberately pushed the bar back over to Linc. “You’re not the boss of me.”
Linc leaned across the island until they were almost nose to nose, and Wyatt most definitely regretted his decision to go commando. “Kid, I’m the textbook definition of the boss of you. Now, eat.”
Linc slid the bar back across the island, one brow arching upward as a smirk spread across his face.
Wyatt huffed through his nose and made a show of tearing the wrapper and taking a big bite, pulling a face as he chewed. “Why does this taste like cardboard?” he asked, mouth full.
Linc chuckled. “Because it’s healthy. It’s packed with vitamins and healthy nutrients. You need the calories.”
“‘Healthy nutrients’?” he mimicked around another bite. “You’re so old.”
“I didn’t realize nutrition was something only old people cared about. Now eat.”
Wyatt forced himself to swallow down the bite with a shudder. “I don’t want to eat this. It’s disgusting.”
“Well you didn’t eat your dinner last night, so this is the consequence.”
Wyatt’s already hard cock throbbed at the word consequence, his gaze darting to Linc’s. “You can’t be serious. Lincoln, come on. I’m twenty-two years old. I don’t have to eat if I don’t want to.”
Linc’s honey-brown eyes pinned him in place. “I don’t think you want to test that theory. I’m in a mood.”
Wyatt’s mouth went dry, his tongue darting out to lick his lower lip. What did Linc’s moods look like? Would Wyatt end up with more bruises? He couldn’t remember another human being ever having this kind of effect on him.
Wyatt had no idea what would happen next, but he sure as shit wasn’t going to finish that cardboard granola bar. “Well, I’ll seeyourmood”—he stood and walked to the trash can by the island—“and raise you mine.” He opened the lid and dropped in the granola bar before turning on his heel and sashaying down the hallway with as much attitude as he could muster.
He’d almost made it back to his bedroom when Linc caught him, pinning him against the door, one hand tangling in his hair, tugging his head back. “You’re just begging for it, aren’t you?” he growled into Wyatt’s ear. “Did you think if you misbehaved, I’d jerk you off again? Hmm?”
Wyatt swallowed past the lump in his throat, grateful that his super-obvious erection was being crushed against the wall. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said, tongue all but tripping over his lie.
“Bad boys don’t get to come. Bad boys get punished. Do you understand?”
He didn’t understand, not really. He gave a jerky shake of his head, suddenly not sure what to do with his hands hanging uselessly at his sides.
“Then I’ll demonstrate.”
Wyatt sucked in a startled breath as Linc yanked Wyatt’s pants to mid-thigh, his dick slapping against his stomach and revealing his arousal. The sudden cool air had goosebumps erupting along his overheated skin. His heartbeat became erratic. “Wait.”
“Too late for that.”
Before Wyatt could ask what he meant, Linc’s hand cracked across his bare ass. Hard. Wyatt yelped, face flushing at the sound.This wasn’t how he’d seen this playing out. They were in the hallway where anybody could see… could see Linc punishing him,spankinghim. His head swam, thinking of the many people who could waltz into his house any time they pleased. “You can’t—”
Two more sharp slaps turned Wyatt’s words into a low moan. If this wasn’t what he wanted, his fucking body wasn’t getting the memo. His body bowed, pushing his hips toward Linc like a whore. Fuck, it would just figure Wyatt would like to be spanked. God, he really wasn’t paying his therapist enough.
“I. Can’t. What?” Linc asked, punctuating each word with another blow until Wyatt’s ass burned and tears pricked at his eyes.
“Please,” Wyatt heard himself whisper, breathless.
Slap.“Please what, baby?” Linc purred in his ear.
“I—”
Slap. Slap. Slap.
Tears rolled down Wyatt’s cheeks, skin blazing everywhere Linc’s blows landed, and all he could think about was whether he’d still see Linc’s handprints on his ass tomorrow, whether he’d still feel them. It made the pain worth it. It made him crave it.
“You finished misbehaving?” Linc asked.
“I don’t know,” he heard himself say, his voice sounding far away.
