“He checked a few strange shipments, orders for supplies never received. He realized you faked them.”
I had. I wasn’t proud of it. $400 here, $200 there. The largest was $700, and I forged a receipt in one of the warehouse bathrooms. I needed so much more. Mr. Roberts was a good man. He gave me my first job when I was sixteen, and took me back when I dropped out of college to look after my mom. I’d been desperate for a job, and he’d helped me out.
I was the worst person in the world.
“No, you’re not,” Cole said, and I realized I’d spoken aloud. “You messed up, but it’s going to be okay.”
“How can it possibly be okay?”
“Because I’m going to fix it.” He tugged me up. “Come on. We’re going to bed.”
We?
“You need sleep.”
I didn’t resist until we were halfway down the hall.
“Wait, Cole. What do you mean you’re going to fix it? Won’t it seem weird that I’m in all this trouble, and then I’m here?”
“Relax, Regina, let me worry about it.”
“Cole, no,” I tugged my hand out of his.
I was swaying on my feet, so tired I could barely see. In the dim bedroom, his body filled my vision.
Gently, he maneuvered me to the bed, and tipped me over his lap.
Whap whap whap! His hand beat a strict tattoo. It didn’t quite hurt, but I felt my buns heating up.
He rubbed my bottom and relaxation poured through me.
He set me on my feet, arms still around me to gently squeeze my plump cheeks.
“What was that for?”
“Remind you who’s in charge.” His voice was deep, so deep, like a pool I could fall into. My head nodded as I leaned into him.
His fingers stroked back my hair from my face. “You like it when I spank you?” He sounded curious, but heat lept into his hazel eyes.
“I don’t not like it.” I buried my embarrassed face into his chest, hoping he wouldn’t push for a longer answer.
He let me, wrapping his arms around me and murmuring into my ear. “Now you’re clean, warm, and fed. You’re going to sleep and in the morning we’re going to talk.”
“Okay.”
“Good girl.”
Warmth spread through my whole body. Cole put me to bed and tucked his body around me. His heat seeped into my body, and even exhausted, I felt higher than I’d been all night. I was in handsome Cole Townsend’s bed, bum hot from my three spankings, my body practically trembling with lust as the big man of my dreams spooned me. I wasn’t sure how the events of the night had brought me to this, but I’d take it.
I’d think about my problems in the morning.
* * *
I wokein the middle of the night, absolutely parched.
“Cole—” I coughed.
His arms wrapped around me in a vice grip. I felt hot, too hot.
