“Obviously, I didn’t make myself clear.” He moved closer once again, the musky, citrusy scent of his aftershave overwhelming. “Words and reasoning don’t seem to be able to get through to you. What you require is something more lasting.”
“And what’s that exactly?”
“A spanking.”
“What did you say?”
His answer was by way of unbuckling his belt. Another moment of being completely shocked around him. “You heard what I said, Catherine.”
“Stop saying my name. Just stop. Please.”
“What would you prefer?”
“That you’d back away and take me home.”
“That’s not going to happen. The sooner you realize and accept that, the more likely it is that we’ll come to terms.” He refused to stop tormenting me with his actions, creating a sick anticipation that created butterflies in my stomach. He took his time tugging on the thick leather, the slow and easy actions forcing me to glance at his hands every few seconds. He wasn’t kidding.
“What terms?”
“That we’re in this together. Remove your skirt.”
My mind went blank hearing his demand. “Why?” Was I really asking him the question? And why was the sound of my voice unrecognizable?
The smirk turned into a smile. “Because I only provide needed discipline on bare skin.”
Oh, my God. The man had done this before. “What do you do with your soldiers who disobey you?”
I was surprised by his sudden chuckle as if no one had ever asked him the question before. “You don’t want to know. Don’t make this any harsher than it needs to be. Remove your skirt and panties and lean over the back of the couch. I won’t take any continued disobedience. You promised to be a good girl and I’m going to provide you with incentive.”
My traitorous core infuriated me, the hard pulse awakening something vital, even carnal in nature. I hated myself for the rush of feelings and needs that would never have a place around him.
As a fighter who had more than once used my martial arts training to help free me from an attack, I should be reacting completely differently than I was. Yet I couldn’t move. Was I afraid of him and what he could do? Only to a point. There was something much deeper feeding my hesitation. As if I wanted his firm hand. As if I wanted to be his good girl.
Every inch of me was shaking, already embarrassed. It had been long enough since I’d been with a man that I was bewildered by some strange concern he wouldn’t approve. That wasn’t normal under the best of circumstances and that certainly wasn’t what was occurring now.
That’s why when I found myself unfastening my skirt, hatred mixed with pure, angry lust keeping me in a thick haze. I refused to take my eyes off him as I undressed, turning only slightly when I slipped my fingers under the thin elastic of my thong. My heart was thudding in my chest, the pounding in my ears creating a jagged beat behind my eyes. This wasn’t going to end well.
A slight cool air tickled the skin on my legs and I tugged on my shirt, thankful the flimsy material covered the most intimate part of my body.
His deep breath was ragged, his eyes more hooded than I’d seen. The single time I’d seen tenderness in them was gone, replaced with lust and extreme hunger. With his chest rising and falling, there was no doubt what he was thinking. My mouth was suddenly dry and when he pointed to the couch, my legs refused to respond.
Every harsh sigh sent a skittering of vibrations dancing down through me. I found my courage, moving to the couch. With my fingers digging into the buttery leather, I leaned over.
When he was closer, I realized his heavy breathing wasn’t about anger but increasing lust.
The silence between us was interminable. He finally jerked my shirt up past my waist, taking a few seconds to roll the tips of his fingers down my spine. They were surprisingly rough, as if the fingers of a hardworking man who regularly got dirt under his nails. Why did that add to the already insane attraction?
He took a step back, still hesitating.
“Just get it over with. Prove how masculine and dangerous you really are.” I didn’t need to see his face to know my snarkycomment had angered him. Too bad. I refused to fall into whatever web he was weaving.
Even though I’d braced myself, there’d been no way of understanding the pain I’d experience. With the first sharp crack of his wrist, a whooshing sound was followed by white-hot searing pain. I was floored by how intense it was and immediately clawed the leather as I gasped for air.
I had no idea I’d moved away from the couch until his hand was placed on the small of my back. “Stay in position, Catherine. I don’t think you want this to continue for a long time.”
With a single tear trickling down my face and his voice echoing in my ears, I was shocked that I responded with anything other than screams. I dropped my head, watching as the tear slipped down my nose, dropping ever so slowly to the seat.
He smacked the thick strap across my sit spot and I was aware I’d kicked out. My entire body was shaking, the involuntary action nothing I could control. Maybe he sensed the discomfort was too severe, using the same rough fingers to caress my heated skin.
