Page 22 of King of Temptation

“I know Brody spanked you. Not that he actually told Killian as much, but he assured him that he’d… how did he put it?” Leaning back against the couch, Aria frowned slightly as her free hand rubbed over her bump. “He said he’d taken care of the menace and that you wouldn’t be causing us any more trouble.”

Pain stabbed at Goldie’s chest. “He said that?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t sound very romantic, I know, but the fact that he’s filling Killian in at all means you’re important to him.”

She didn’t want the burst of hope in her chest, but there it was. “You think so?”

A smug smile tugged at the corner of Aria’s mouth. “Trust me. Brody O’Rourke doesn’t waste his cousin’s time on things that don’t matter.”

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about that.”

Aria shrugged and leaned forward to pick up her plate. “You feel however you feel. Even if it’s a hatred that burns with the passion of a thousand fiery suns.”

“That sounds like the voice of experience.”

“Mmm.” Eyes fluttering closed as she took a bite of her pastry, Aria let out a low moan. “Oh my god, this strawberry roll is amazing. Sorry, just needed to get that out of the way. Yes, that is the voice of experience talking. I had some… very strong opinions about Killian’s business practices when we first met. And finding out I was pregnant with his child did not exactly endear him to me.”

Goldie couldn’t help but grin. “I feel like I’m watching one of my books play out right in front of me.”

“Why do you think I got so obsessed with your writing?” The smirk from earlier returned. “That and the really hot sex scenes. Speaking of being the voice of experience.”

“Would you believe me if I told you Brody was the first man to ever spank me?”

“Shut up.” Mouth open, Aria stared in stunned disbelief. “But you write it so well!”

“I do a lot of research. And, I mean, other guys have spanked me like, during sex and stuff. But last night was my first real, ‘Daddy’s going to spank you for being naughty’ kind of spanking.”

“And? How was it?”

“Fucking incredible.” Groaning at the memory, Goldie flopped back against the couch. “It hurt, way more than I thought it would, but when it was over and he… How much do you actually want to know?”

“Everything. He’s not my cousin.”

A laugh bubbled up in Goldie’s chest. “Fair enough. Okay, after he spanked me, he asked if I’d learned my lesson and then he, um, used his fingers to make me… you know. While I was still over his lap.”

“God.” Waving a hand in front of her face, Aria blew out a breath. “Killian is getting so laid tonight. Well, unless he figures out I lied about Brody being my escort for the day. Oh, who am I kidding, he’s getting laid either way.”

“Would he still—Jesus why is this so hard to say out loud—you know? Spank you, while you're pregnant?”

“He would, and has. He’s a bit more hesitant now, which works in my favor, though he has implied he’s keeping track of things for after the baby is born which just seems rude.”

“The rudest.”

Humming softly, Aria ran a hand over her stomach, a dreamy smile stretching across her face. “If he doesn’t spank me, he’ll spend the whole day playing with me, edging me, until I feel like I’m going to die and I promise to never ever lie to him again. Which sucks while it’s happening, but when he finally lets me come…”

“Oh my god. I think I would die.”

“Yeah, it sorta feels that way when it’s happening. Which is why it’s one of his favorite methods of punishment, the big jerk. Hopefully for your sake he hasn’t shared that information with Brody.”

The thought of being touched and tormented all day by a man who seemingly knew her own body better than she did…

Jesus.

“Yeah. Hopefully.”

Aria’s snort of laughter said she clearly knew exactly where Goldie’s mind was. “Okay, so, real talk. How are you feeling? And I’m not just asking about your butt.”

“My butt is fine, actually. As for the rest of me… I guess raw would be the best way to describe it? He hasn’t even texted me today.”