“What is it? Are you all right?” Jared asked her.
“Did you spank her for putting herself at risk again?” North asked. “She looks like she doesn’t want to sit.”
“No, he didn’t spank me!” she cried. “What sort of question is that? He’s not ever going to spank me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Jared commented mildly. “And the truth is, I did think about putting you over my knee. But I hate how you keep staring at me like I’m a monster. So until you stop thinking that I’m going to act likehim, I won’t be spanking you.”
Crap.
Why did she feel guilty? She shouldn’t.
No matter how he wanted to spin it, he was still holding her prisoner.
And you are just trying so hard to escape . . .
Stop it, stupid inner voice.
“But once you realize I’m not my father, then all bets are off,” he added.
What the heck?
“Um, no, that’s not what’s happening. You are not spanking me!”
“If you’re naughty, I will.”
“And if I don’t agree to that?”
Why she was arguing, she didn’t know. She was leaving as soon as she could.
There was no way he’d have the chance to spank her.
“You will,” he said quietly.
The arrogance of this man! It was unbelievable.
And sexy as hell.
Grr. You’re really annoying me now, inner voice!
“Besides, he doesn’t really need your permission,” North stated.
She stiffened.
Jared sighed. “I’m trying not to scare her, North. Or make her think I’m like my father.”
North just shrugged and went back to what he was reading.
“Are you going to sit?” Jared asked her as he held her chair.
“Um, I can do it.”
Jared raised his eyebrows. “Or you can sit and I’ll help push you in.”
“Right . . . right . . .” She didn’t want to admit that she had no idea what she was doing as she moved in front of the chair. He pushed it forward and she kind of just fell into it, nearly toppling off the side.
That was embarrassing.
“Not used to that?” North asked.
