He realized his hand was actually shaking, something that had never occurred before. He stared at it, as if everything about this moment was foreign. He’d always been controlling, in life, business and in dominating a woman. Why and how had she managed to get under his skin? Snarling, he pushed the odd sensations aside and peppered her ass with hard spanks, cracking the strap one after the other. He wanted her to remember this for a long time.
Maybe forever.
Although in his world, there was no such thing as forever, unless you considered death anything more than the ugliness it was.
And he wasn’t a religious man, his Catholic upbringing limited to holidays and funerals.
There certainly wasn’t any room for love or kindness, not where he’d come from, the upbringing he’d been born into.
There were some who said he and his brothers were dark princes, being groomed to take over the world, but he knew their brutal life was a dress rehearsal for spending eternity in hell.
“Oh. Oh…” Her bedraggled whimpers drew him back into cold reality. He had a woman strapped to a cross, punishing her in a manner that suggested this was the first of many.
If only he could take the chance.
When he was finished, he concentrated on her ragged breathing as he controlled his own. Nothing seemed crystal clear any longer, especially his future. He was unable to resist her, walking closer and inhaling her sweet scent. He could become drunk off the fragrance of her nectar. “You did very well.”
She strained against her bindings, her fists clenching then opening several times. Her eyes followed him as he eased strands of damp hair from her face. “Thank you, sir.”
He chuckled darkly and slid the tawse straps down her back, tapping ever so lightly. “You look beautiful shackled.”
“More beautiful than your other women?”
“I already told you that I don’t bring women here.”
“And I don’t believe you. Sir.”
Exhaling, he wiggled the leather between her legs, slapping her pussy lightly. “Should I take that as continued defiance?”
“Perhaps, sir.”
He did love her spitfire personality, another attribute that kept him rock hard. His need to dominate her was nothing less than primal, an urge that would not be denied for much longer. He replaced the strap with the cane, flicking the slender piece of wood in the air and her eyes never left his actions.
“Is your mouth watering, sweet Ashley?”
“Perhaps.”
He didn’t waste any additional time, snapping the cane across her reddened bottom. The stripe was light, no doubt fading by the end of the night, but right now the symbol only fueled his hunger. “Fourteen more.”
She bit back several cries as he caned her, moving from side to side before cracking the cane. He adored the whooshing sound, subtle yet powerful. The way her body reacted, tensing then relaxing every time he issued a harsh strike left him breathless. Why this particular round of discipline left him in awe was something he would question more than once.
When he was finished, every part of his body was on fire, jazzed to the point he’d never felt so invigorated. And dear God, he wanted her more than ever.
“How do you feel?” he asked, brushing the backs of his fingers across her bruised ass.
“Alive. So damn alive.”
He left her bound, enjoying the lovely view, taking several steps backward. Her clothes came into view, including the clutch that she’d been keeping protected all night long.
Wrath might care for the woman more than he should, but he was no fool. She was hiding more than stories from her past. The bag was heavy, far too much so to simply be holding a lipstick and perhaps a compact. A snarl formed on his lips as he unzipped and peered inside.
Well, well, it seemed the Americans had already gotten a jump on attempting to protect the influential businessman. How clever of them to send a beautiful woman and one who notonly could handle herself at a Blackjack table but win with little effort. The setup had been almost perfect.
Almost.
They were mortal enemies. This was both delicious and gut-wrenching. There was after all, a half million dollars on the line.
Now…
