I leaned in, lips at her ear. “Do you trust me?”
She closed her eyes, lashes dark against her cheek. “Mmm hmm,” she whispered.
“Say it.”
“I trust you, Finn.”
“Good.” I set her upright and placed her on my lap. “There are rules Maverick.”
She looked confused, then understanding flickered across her face. “You mean… like, sex rules?” Her cheeks went bright pink.
“Yeah. Consent rules. You ever done anything like this before?”
She shook her head, a little mortified but more curious than scared.
I took her hands, sandwiched them between mine. “I’m not the Alpha of this pack. But in this house, I am the man in charge. That makes me the Alpha of this house. And when you give me control, that means I take on the responsibility to keep you safe. Understand?”
She nodded, biting her lip.
“Here’s what’s gonna happen.” My voice was steady even though my wolf was pacing like a madman inside. “Anytime we do anything that involves me taking control of your body, you’re gonna call me ‘Sir.’ That’s a reminder to both of us who’s calling the shots, and who’s letting go.” I let that sit, watching her reaction.
She flushed. “Sir,” she whispered, trying it on for size.
“Good girl,” I said, and felt her shiver. “If anything I’m doing to you is too much, or you want to stop, you say ‘red.’ Be certain you want whatever I’m doing to you to stop. Once it stops, we will not go back to it. If you’re feeling uncomfortable or are reaching the point that you need to slow down the activity, you say ‘yellow.’ If you’re good, if you want more, your word is ‘green.’ Got it?”
She swallowed. “Yes, Sir.”
The words made my cock throb, but I kept my face blank.
“And I’m gonna check in with you often. If you ever feel lost, I need you to tell me. Don’t just tough it out. That’s not what this is about, Maverick.”
She nodded again, eager, her eyes big and shining.
“You ready to keep going?”
She hesitated, then: “Yes, Sir.”
I reached for her face, brushed her hair back. “You’re a natural at this,” I murmured, before I even meant to say it. “You’re doing so fucking good, Brie. I want you to feel proud of that.”
Her mouth parted, and I could tell she wanted to say something—maybe a joke, maybe a protest. I kissed her instead, deep, so she’d know shewas safe.
When I broke away, I shifted her, so she lay across my lap. She went willingly, arms dangling, hands reaching my ankles, legs draped down to the floor. I slid my hand inside the waistband of her lace panties and slid them down her legs.
“I told you that your ass would be bare for this. Now, here’s what’s going to happen next.” I made every syllable count. “You’re gonna get ten swats. They’re gonna hurt; it’s punishment. Because you asked for it when you ran into that pen, and because I know you want it, too. You want to be handled. Don’t you, Maverick?”
She was so still I wondered if she’d fallen out of her own body. But her hips shifted, and I saw the need run through her. “Yes, Sir. I want it.”
“Good girl. You’re gonna count them out, one by one. And you’ll say ‘Sir’ after each number.”
She closed her eyes, braced herself. “Yes, Sir.”
I palmed her ass, feeling the heat already there, the bruised muscle shining on her hip. I wanted to go gentle, but I knew she needed the opposite.
“Ready?”
She nodded, then remembered: “Yes, Sir.”
I raised my hand, paused for just a second, and then brought it down with a sharp, clean slap. Her body jerked, a whimper caught in her throat.
