He turns off the shower, steps out, and wraps himself in a towel. I finish my wine and walk over to the bathroom area. The look in his eyes is entrancing. The hunger. The need. The ravenous desire. I’m feeling it too.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower, too,” I breathe out, even though my instincts are pulling me towards him. “Then, um, I’ll… I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he rumbles, his hand tracing my arm as he walks by. “Don’t keep me waiting too long, though. I’ve been waiting my entire life for you.”
Even that sounds true. I watch as he leaves and can’t look away until he sits down on the bed. I quickly start the shower, peel off my clothes, and step in. I don’t have to look to know that he’s watching me. The sensation tells me I’m the center of his attention, and I’ve been the center of his attention since the first night I saw him. I just didn’t know he was the one watching me.
The hot water cascades over me. I’ve never felt like I need a shower more than I do right now. But it does nothing to douse the fire in my core. My hands shake as I wash away the grime from the cathedral, the blood, the terror. But underneath it all, there’s something else. Anticipation? Need? I tell myself I should be afraid of what is about to happen. Instead, I’m afraid of how much I want it.
Fighting it seems futile. I already know it’s going to end with me in his bed. Naked. Writhing under him. Giving him what I’ve protected for so long. And my body going supernova again and again. I don’t even need a vision this time. I can just feel it in my soul.
I finish my shower, dry off the best I can, and wrap myself in a towel. Despite every instinct pulling me towards him, I’m still nervous. I shake that off as I approach the bedroom. He sits up and moves to the edge of the bed, the hunger in his eyes undeniable. If that didn’t give it away, the bulge underneath his towel certainly does.
“You’re breathtaking,” he growls, and I feel a twinge between my legs. “But before you spend the night in my bed, I still have to punish you.”
“Punish me?” I take a step back, clutching the towel, my brows furrowing with concern. “Why?”
“You lied to me,” he says, a grin teasing the edge of his lips. “Lying to your mate is forbidden.”
Muscles throughout my body tighten with apprehension. I remember what he said in the car, but I didn’t realize he was serious. “I’m not a she-wolf, though. You can’t just… put me over your knee and…and… s-spank me.”
“I don’t have to,” he growls. “You’re going to put yourself over my knee. Right after you drop that towel.”
“And why would I do that?” I have to work to get the words to leave my suddenly dry throat and clutch the pitiful armor of the towel even tighter.
“Because you’re already doing it,” he chuckles, patting his large thigh. “You already know where you belong.”
I start to question it again, then I realize my feet are moving. I’m walking closer to him. My tight grip on the towel is loosening. It’s like I’m not in control, but I am. Like my instincts are guiding me again.
Those instincts let go of the towel. It drops to the floor with a whisper of fabric, and the cool air hits my bare skin. I should cover myself. I don’t. I can’t.
Hayden inhales sharply, and the look in his amber eyes tells me he likes what he sees. They blaze as they travel over every inch of my exposed body.
“Perfect,” he rumbles, and the single word sends more heat flooding through my veins. “You were made for me.”
He reaches for my wrist and I don’t fight it. I don’t even whimper when he pulls me ignominiously across his enormous lap and settles me there with one of his massive hands pressed on my back to hold me in place.
“You could at least use your Third Form,” I squeak, a whimper finally escaping my lips. “Smaller hands…”
“I’m not going to truly hurt you, Ansley. You’re my mate,” he says, his tone too gentle for what is about to happen. “This is nothing more than a little discipline for my naughty mate.”
He adjusts me into position, the hand on my back moving to my ribs. I squirm on the towel, the heat inside me making me absolutely ache. Not for the spanking I’m about to get, though. I’m sure it’s going to sting, even if he doesn’t mean to truly hurt me.
“If you take your punishment like a good girl, it’ll be over before you know it,” he says calmly, placing his big, calloused hand on my bare ass. I’m not calm though.
His hand pulls away and I hold my breath. Sweat beads against my skin. My ass muscles clench and unclench with nervous anticipation. I’ve never been spanked before. I’m not sure what to expect. I get my answer a second later, when a stinging slap lands on my bottom.
“Ow!” I squeal, my hips jerking, my ass raising and lowering as I process the sting. “I thought you said it wasn’t going to hurt!”
“I said I wouldn’ttrulyhurt you. Doesn’t mean you’re not going to feel it,” he makes sure I understand that by slapping my ass a few more times. “You’ll be nice and red before I’m done. That way you’ll think twice before you lie to me again.”
I clutch the towel I’m lying on between my fists as the spanking continues. Each slap sends a confusing mix of sensations through me. The sting, yes, but underneath it, something else. Something that makes my deepest muscles tighten and my breath hitch.
Hayden’s hand is so big that it covers my entire ass with each swat. I whimper and whine my protests, acutely aware that this man who was a complete stranger mere hours ago is now watching my bouncing bare bottom, but I don’t try to get off hislap. Even now, my instincts are in control, and they’re telling me I deserve this spanking, even if it hurts.
“I’m sorry for lying to you,” I whine, my hips continuing to jerk each time he spanks my ass.
Hayden seems to enjoy spanking me. Every time my hips grind against the towel, I can feel his cock. He’s already hard, the big, thick head pressing against my stomach. I’m already anticipating that, but I won’t get it until my penance is paid.
