14
“Itoldyou not to move. You’re already up to fifteen licks.” Cole sat in the kitchen chair with a satisfied smirk on his devilishly handsomeface.
Tomi wiggled uncomfortably, feeling totally exposed on the small kitchen table. He’d woken her with a passionate kiss, swatted her behind, and told her to go take a shower. Once she was out, he’d said, he would join her in the kitchen for breakfast. If she’d known exactly what he’d intended, she might’ve thought twice before entering the kitchen in the outfit he’d laid out forher.
“You can’t expect me to stay like this.” Yes, her tone was indignant, but there was nothing dignified about what he was doing toher.
“I’m just admiring that beautiful ass and thinking about how much more gorgeous it’s going to be when it’s red from my spanking,” Cole said without relenting in theleast.
She twisted her head to glare at him. He put her on the kitchen table, a sturdy chunk of wood with four thick legs and a polished top. At first glance, the outfit he’d picked out for her was almost demure, a short, sheer baby doll that barely skimmed the tops of her thighs. But he’d ordered her to present herself to him likeshewas breakfast—bent over at the waist, knees tucked under her chest, head down on the table, and ass up in the air. In this position, the teddy did nothing to shield her body. Neither did the thin scrap of lace that couldn’t properly be called athong.
“You’re a monster,” shesaid.
This elicited another chuckle from Cole. “I told you not to take your hands off thatheadboard.”
There was nothing but satisfied amusement in his deepdrawl.
“I told you I needed to touch you.” It’s not like she hadn’t tried to listen andobey.
She heard the scrape of the chair legs, signaling he’d stood. She closed her eyes and let her forehead rest on the table, trying to predict his next move. She sensed his touch a split second before his fingers gently skimmed up her spine, pushing the worthless baby doll up to expose even more flesh. “You don’t get to tell meanything.”
Dear Lord, she’d known he would say that. But he’d driven her beyond the ability to think or be logical, and it washisfault. Changing her tone, Tomi tried another approach. “Cole, you don’t understand. I couldn’t help myself. I had to hold on toyou.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her spine; she arched reflexively, a shudder of pleasure working across her entirebody.
“Iknow.”
Tomi stiffened.He knew?“Then why are you punishingme?”
His hand slid down the curve of her back and gently caressed the curve of her exposed ass. “Because I told you Iwould.”
His simple answer set her teeth onedge.
Cole said, “Are youscared?”
No, she wasn’t scared; she was pissed. Although she wasn’t stupid enough to say that to him. She could tell he’d gone into total Dom mode and was just looking for an excuse to get started on that promised spanking. “Would it help if Iwas?”
Cole laughed out loud, and even though she was aggravated by the position he’d forced her into, she couldn’t help but enjoy the sweet sound coming from his lips. Cole used to laugh all the time. It was just one of the many things she’dmissed.
“Not at all.” He continued rubbing her ass, stepping fully behind her so that he palmed each side with a hand, kneading and squeezingher.
She tensed—partly from fear, partly from anticipation. Cole had only spanked her once before. It had been a first for both of them, and they’d both been clumsy with it, but from the natural air of authority radiating from his body now, she knew Cole was experienced. She knew that he would give her pleasure. A pleasure she’d been unable to find ever since she’d left him. “Do I get a safeword?”
Cole paused and she almost groaned, his kneading had turned pleasant. Then his touch left her completely, and he walked around in front of her, squatting down so that he could look her in the eye over the edge of the table. “Are you worried that I’ll hurtyou?”
Her heart melted at the genuine concern on his face. “No, I know you won’t hurtme.”
His gaze, already black with desire, darkened. Her body responded to that look as if he’d reached down and stroked her core. “Do you have any idea how happy it makes me to hear you saythat?”
He slipped a hand under her chin, tilting her head up so that he could press a kiss to her lips. Her chest clenched; her heart constricted. How could a man so strong be sogentle?
“Everything about you makes me happy, Tomi. You don’t need a safe word with me. If you want me to stop, all you have to do is tell me tostop.”
Those words stole her breath away. “Thankyou.”
“I know I told you this before, but I need to say it again. I never stopped wanting you. These next couple of days are a gift I intend to savor to the fullest. And I want to give you all the pleasure that you can handle. Do I hope that it convinces you to stay with me? Hell, yes, I do. Will I make you?Never.”
A shudder worked through her entire body, and she had to close her eyes to regain control of her breath and her thoughts. Cole’s vulnerability was so unexpected. But the sweet way he’d made his declaration showed her how he so clearly meant what he’d said. He wanted her even though he didn’t know why she’d left him. The thought made her shiver withneed.
