Smack.
“Why, you jack—”
Smack.
She paused in her tirade, stilling. “Athan, let me up.” Herhair fell forward to shield her face, and her voice was muffled.
The woman apparently didn’t understand the lesson yet, butat least she had stopped calling him names. “No. Apologize nicely to me forbiting, kicking, and insulting me,” he said, spreading his left hand over herentire lower back to hold her in place. His right hand itched to smack herperfect ass again.
She managed to be quiet for almost two seconds. “No. You area complete jerk, and—”
Smack, smack, smack. He brought his hand down in rapidsuccession with just enough force to jolt her but not enough to actually hurther. They’d been mated for well over a century, and apparently, he hadn’t beenpaying close enough attention to her if she thought she could physicallyassault him with no repercussions. If she thought she could get away with suchdisrespect, which didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, then she mightbelieve she could disobey him in more important issues such as safety andsubterfuge, which absolutelydidmatter. She could get them bothkilled. “I can do this all day, sweetheart,” he murmured, flattening his righthand over her ass and feeling the heat. “Apologize.”
She struggled again, and he had to admire her grit. A lot.
Even so, he smacked her once more. Harder. “Apologize, Ivy.”The fact that she and Leah had been meeting showed she was no longer afraid ofhim or his rules, and that was a good thing. The girl who’d feared him wasgone, and a courageous woman remained in her place—one he’d patiently waitedfor through the eons. While he didn’t want her fear, he did need her respect.Or at least enough of it that she’d stay safe and not put herself in dangerlike she had. This lesson mattered, and they’d stay until she learned it.“Ivy,” he warned.
She tried to kick out and wriggle off his thighs, but herstrength was no match for his. “You’ll pay for this,” she yelled, reaching forhis ankle to dig in her nails. They were sharp and drew blood. “I mean it.You’ll regret this in ways your moronic brain can’t even compute right now. Youdon’t want me for an enemy.”
Probably. He did love a good threat, and she seemeddetermined. But safety mattered, and the woman needed to listen to him now morethan ever. She had to understand repercussions, and he had no doubt he’d haveto reinforce this lesson soon. Right now, they were running out of time. Hecould feel the fight inside her, so he made it easier for her to submit byincreasing the power in his slaps until she squirmed and then yelped.
“Fine,” she spat. “I apologize.”
There was no doubt she didn’t mean it, and if they weretruly mated, he’d take her to the point where she truly submitted. But hedidn’t have that right, nor did he have the time, considering somebody wastrying to kill one or both of them with modern weapons. Plus, he had noillusions of where that lesson would lead, and once he finally took her to bed,he wanted all the time in the world to explore her.
So, he lifted her off his lap, standing her between hisknees until she regained her footing. She balanced herself with her hands on histhighs and then drew back as if scalded, standing tall and throwing back herhair.
Her face was red, her eyes dark green, and her furyenticing. She was absolutely stunning. “I am so going to kill you.”
He couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing.
Chapter Five
Ivy could barely stand. So many sensations and emotionsblasted through her that she felt like she was on an upside-down rollercoaster. Athan Maxwell had just spanked her. Their interactions had been nearlyclinical and quickly performed for years. Sure, there had been moments ofintimacy, some she’d held on to for eons with both curiosity and need. But thiswas different. Worse yet, although her butt smarted, her body felt alive...andneedy—on fire. For him. Her breasts ached, and a determined pounding resonatedfrom her clit.
She was furious and frighteningly aroused as she stood, herlegs bracketed by his knees. Ones he’d easily flung her over. Given the look inhis now cerulean-blue eyes, he was considering doing it again. She had to standup to him, and now, or he’d never get the message. “If you ever think of doingthat again, I’ll have you arrested for battery.”
His legs moved to press against hers, effectively capturingher in place. “Baby, you’re in a rather precarious position to be threateningme. You might want to reconsider.” His voice was a velvety smooth and darkrumble.
Her body reacted with heat at his tone, but her brainanswered with intent. It was too late to back down. She wasn’t the same terrifiedand dying farm girl who’d once had no choices regarding her existence. Now, shehad not only choice but also power, and if he wasn’t smart enough to realizethat, she’d happily educate him. “Don’t you ever call mebaby. Notagain.” She threw strands of her thick hair away from her face. “That’s anendearment for lovers. For males who can, you know, get it up.” Yeah, she knewshe was throwing a challenge in his face.
It was time she challenged him. Then she held her breath,wondering how he’d react. Part of her thought he’d cool off and disengage likehe had so many times before. The other part, the one still tingling from hisspanking, wondered...
He didn’t let her curiosity last for long.
His hand snaked out faster than she would’ve ever imagined,grasping her neck and yanking her toward him. She had no choice but to grab histhighs to keep from going all the way down.
Then his mouth was on hers.
Her entire being quieted as if encircled by the eye of ahurricane. Then the world blew through her. Fast and hot, dangerous and deadly.
She fell into him, her eyelids fluttering shut, her nailsdigging into his pants. He kissed her, hard and wild, his tongue sweepinginside her mouth. She’d never felt anything like it. There were no feelings inthe world like being kissed by Athan Maxwell.
She’d wondered for years, had dreamed for decades. With asoft moan, she kissed him back, accepting all he was finally giving her.
He stepped up into her, his mouth continuing to devastateany dream she’d ever had. One of his broad hands reached for her thigh andlifted her against him, easily moving her so her legs bracketed his waist. Hisother hand tangled in her hair, positioning her mouth beneath his as he tookcontrol.
All she could do was feel. Heat and danger, lust and fire.So much of it, and he poured every ounce down her throat to light her entirebody aflame.
