Yet he has a point. And he’s completely ripped through my defenses, my protests, giving me no choice. What more can he do?
“I’m sorry.”
Declan leans over me until his mouth is by my ear. “Not yet you’re not. But you will be. Oh, before I’m done with you, you will be.”
Twenty-Four
Raven
Declan runs his palm over my ass, his touch more soothing than it should be.
How is it fair that he does the damage, strokes away the sting, yetI’mthe one gasping, arching my back, and lifting my hips, silently begging for more?
“Now I can begin your punishment,” he tells me.
“What the fuck wasthatthen?” I really need to control my mouth.
He gives that low, masculine chuckle that should be illegal. “I told you: warming you up.” His fingers dip between my legs again, and I bite my lip to prevent the whimper that wants to escape. “Warmer, for sure.”
“If you want warm, my ass is on fire.”
“Oh, don’t exaggerate,” he says. “That was only ten.”
Most aggravating manever.
“First ten I’ve ever had,” I mutter.
Shit. Why did I tell him that?
“You don’t say,” he replies dryly. “And this is why you don’t know the effect you have on me.” He helps me to stand, and I need it. My legs are wobbly. Two fingers come up beneath my chin as he tilts my face to his. There’s only inches between us, his eyes holding mine. “It amazes me that someone as stunning as you has so much still to discover.”
I look away. “It’s… uh…”Hardlymyfault.
“A gift,” he finishes for me.
My eyes snap back to his in surprise. That wasn’t what I expected him to say, not for one moment. “What?”
“And a responsibility,” he continues in that same slow tone, the words almost reverent. “It’s my duty—and my pleasure—to ensure that you now get to catch up.” He doesn’t give me time to process that, but nods towards his bedroom. “In there. Keep the heels on; it’s a good look for you.”
Fuck. Now I have to walk away from him, showing him my reddened ass, each step exaggerating the roll of my hips. And I have to do so, knowing that I’m walking to thepunishmentthat awaits me—when that wasn’t it?
Declan follows at a distance, no doubt enjoying the view and my humiliation. I should be strutting, owning this; that was what I’d come here to do. How long did my courage last? Seconds?
He walks past me and whips the comforter onto the floor, leaving a clean, crisp sheet. “On your back, please.”
The hits keep coming. He’s still fully clothed, and I’m worse than naked, these damn heels making me out to be nothing more than a toy. Maybe that’s what I am. And I know full well the view I’m giving him as I put a knee on the mattress, crawling on. I haven’t seen how red my ass is, but I canfeelit. I must look ridiculous.
From behind me, he lets out a long, slow breath. “Fuck me,” he mutters, half to himself. “Most dangerous woman I’ve ever known.”
Me? Naked and vulnerable anddangerous?
There’s a hell of a lot I don’t understand about sex.
I turn to my back, lying down, trying to get comfortable, the cool sheet a welcome balm on my bruised skin. He’s watching. No, he’s staring, a hunger in his eyes as his gaze roves over my body. I can’t meet his eyes, and I bite at my lip, glancing away.
“God,” he breathes. “I love it when you do that.”
I wasn’t aware I’d done anything. “Do what?”
