“Oh, Dahlia…” he sighs.
Confused, I glance down to see my breasts straining against my bodice, my nipples now hard, obvious points.Dammit. “I…”
“Shh.” He presses a finger to my lips. “I understand now,” he chuckles. “All your teasing and bad behaviour… it all makes sense. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, little monster?”
“I am not,” I snarl. But the urgent throbbing between my legs says otherwise. “I don’t like this at all.”
“There you go again.” His laugh rumbles through me. “Lying so I punish you. But I know your secret,PrincessDahlia.” My stomach flutters at the way he devours my name, his voice smooth like honey. “You’re a dirty little whore who likes being punished, and after your little display outside this stall, you’ve given me no choice but to indulge you.” He paces around me, his hand teasing my waist. “Naughty, clever girl.”
Red blooms over my cheeks so intensely my eyes water. I don’t like being punished… I think. But a wicked part of me would give anything to know what he’s going to do next.
He walks behind me while powerful need pulses between my thighs. Ignoring it, I tug my hands against my restraints. They’re not too tight. If I wriggle enough, I might be able to?—
My skirt is yanked up, exposing my bare rear to the night air.
“Fuck.” Tauren’s voice sounds strained. I can’t see him, but I know he’s got my skirt wrapped around his fist and is staring at my naked backside. “Where are your undergarments?”
My blush burns like fire. “I… there weren’t any in the wardrobe.” It’s not a lie. He only left me the gown and some shoes. Then again, I didn’t exactly go looking for anything to wear under my gown. Escaping was much higher on my priority list.
“You didn’t think to check the dresser?” It sounds like he’s being strangled.
A smirk crosses my lips. “I know for next time.” Maybe I can use this. Clearly, my body has some kind of effect on him. Rubbing my thighs together, I force a moan while my wrists ease gradually out of their bindings. If I can just keep him distracted for another couple seconds?—
Pain whips across my backside. I scream, “What the fuck?”
“That’s a bad word for a princess, you’ve just earned yourself two more strikes.”
“What?” I rasp. Twisting my head around, I see Tauren looming over me, one fist curled around my skirt while the other grips a long black horse whip. “You just whipped me!”
He grins. “That’s right, sweetheart. Now keep those pretty eyes forward while I do it seventeen more times.”
“Seventeen?” I whimper.
He nods. “You earned five for tricking my brother into loosening your collar, which I’ll be tightening again the second we return to my bedchamber, five more for slapping me outside your father’s ballroom, another five for kicking me outside this stall, and two more for using that foul word.”
“But you can’t just?—”
“Eighteen.” He whips me again before I can argue. A tear slips down my cheek. “Every time you talk back, I’ll add another. Now eyes forward, my darling. I can do this all night.”
The second I’m facing forward, he whips me again, and again, and again. At first, the pain is overwhelming. Each strike leaves me breathless as stars cloud my vision.
But around the seventh strike, something strange happens. The pain is still breathtaking, but between each strike, the warmth between my thighs burns hotter. It’s like my pain is stoking my pleasure.
When the last strike whips across my skin, I moan. My legs vibrate with need. All it takes is his warm hand cupping my rear for me to shatter.
I try my best to hide it, but it’s useless. Tauren hears every last dirty moan as I come. Hard.
“Beautiful,” he whispers.
“Fuck you,” I rasp, before immediately clamping my lips shut. As if the pain from this humiliation wasn’t bad enough. Wincing, I brace for another strike, but it never lands.
“You just can’t get enough can you?” He squeezes my sore arse, and I whimper. It hurts, but it’s nothing compared to the whip. Still, it’s enough to make my entrance throb.
“Please, Tauren.” My voice is weak, but I no longer care. “You’ve proven your point. I can’t take anymore.”
I feel his stare from behind. After a few seconds, he strokes the sides of my chest, his reply teasing my ear. “Are you going to leave my castle again?” His hands slide down to my waist.
My breath shudders. “No.”
