As I wriggled on the bed, shifting my hips to try to alleviate the ache, I let out an involuntary moan. It couldn't be mistaken for anything but arousal. Tears pricked my eyes as humiliation swamped me, but I blinked them back, determined to get through this punishment with some dignity.
All thoughts of maintaining my composure flew out of my head with the first stroke of the belt. I screeched in shock at the sharp sting as the harsh leather met my tender flesh. Pressing my fists into the mattress, I focused on breathing through the pain.
Nate paused as if waiting for me to use my safe word. Though that had hurt more than I expected, I wasn't at the point of being unable to bear it.
After a moment, Nate brought the belt down on my right butt cheek. I hissed and rose up on my tiptoes. A gentle hand at the small of my back pushed me down.
The third lash of the belt lit a fire across the left side of my bottom. Fat tears rolled down my cheeks, soaking the sheets beneath me. I choked on a sob. By the time he reached the sixth stroke, I was a mess. My mouth twisted in pain, and I moaned as I wriggled on the bed, trying to find some way to make it better.
"Juliet, do you need to use your safeword?" The concern in Nate's voice unraveled the knot inside me, and I began to cry in earnest.
I shook my head vehemently, determined to endure this punishment. My actions had earned me a harsh spanking. The least I could do was take it.
A thud on the carpet behind me told me Nate had dropped the belt. He sat on the edge of the bed and drew me upright, turning me toward him. Without thinking, I crawled onto his knee and pressed my face against his chest.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," I wailed as he patted my hair soothingly. This was the second time I'd fallen to pieces in his arms. Was I really such a pampered princess that I couldn't stand a few lashes with a belt?
"There's not a damned thing wrong with you, Juliet," Nate assured me. "You're overwhelmed, that's all."
Needing to get myself under control, I breathed in deeply. I wiped the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand.
"It's okay now," I said. "We can carry on."
"No, honey." Nate wrapped his arms tighter around me as I moved to climb off his knee. "We're done."
I pulled back so I could see his face. "But I didn't use my safeword."
"Doesn't matter. It was too much for you."
It heartened me to know Nate was watching out for me, but I couldn't help feeling I'd let him down.
"Are you disappointed in me?"
Nate shook his head. "Of course not. You took as much as you could bear, and you did it with grace. Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance. Yours will build over time."
"Does that mean you intend to punish me again?"
"I don't know." His voice was light, teasing. "Do you intend to break my rules again?"
"Probably." I looked up at him from beneath my lashes and smiled softly.
Nate's hand came up to brush the hair back from my face. His thumb trailed along my cheekbone. As we stared at each other, neither of us speaking, the air around us grew increasingly charged.
Nate's gaze dropped to my mouth as I darted my tongue out to lick my lips.
"Tell me to go." His voice was almost a whisper.
"No."
Nate stood, bringing me to my feet with him. My legs were unsteady, but he anchored me with a hand around my waist. When he was sure I wasn't about to collapse in a heap on the floor, he stepped back and studied my face.
"You're so beautiful, Juliet."
I'd heard that compliment a thousand times before, but it had never meant as much as it did coming from Nate. I wanted to tell him that he was beautiful too, but I doubted he'd enjoy that description of himself. Instead I reached for him.
As I wrapped my arms around his neck, he kissed me again as he had at the dance, in that slow, unhurried manner. It was like we had all the time in the world. I pressed myself against him. He broke the kiss and stepped back, leaving me bereft. Wasthat it? Was it over before it had even begun? One glimpse of the lust burning in his eyes told me he was far from done with me.
"Strip." The one-word command sent a flutter of desire straight to my core.
