Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“I want to hear it from you.”
“Okay, well, um, mostly.”
“Mostly?”
“I turn up at meals. That’s good, right?”
“Only if you eat as well.” He gave her a look.
“Right.”
“What’s your safeword?”
“Oranges,” she told him.
“Good girl. Now, bend over. You’re getting five for not eating.”
He stood there, not touching her, not moving. Just waiting. It was up to her whether she wanted to do this. If she didn’t, all she had to do was say her safeword.
Instead, she turned and bent over.
“Good girl. Count of five.”
The smacks landed quickly. And they barely stung. He was obviously going easy on her.
“Very good. What a good girl, taking your punishment.” He ran his hand over her ass, and she took some deep breaths in.
Holy. Crap. Her panties were soaked with need. Could he feel them?
“Stand up and look at me.”
She stood and turned. He cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her lightly. “That was just a small example of what you can expect. Understand?”
“Yes, Liam.”
“Good. Now turn back around and try doing those exercises again.”
Oh, shit.
She turned and bent over, then pulled the dumbbell up.
“Nope. That’s not right.”
He ran his hand over her ass then lightly smacked it. She let out a small groan.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Someone seemed to like that. Keep going. That’s it. No, slower.”
Smack! Smack!
Holy. Crap. She had to put the dumbbell down before she dropped it.
“Other arm.”
“You’re going to kill me,” she told him, moving onto the other arm. She drew it up and down.
“I hate that I’ve barely seen you the past two days. Have you thought about hurting yourself?”
That one she could answer.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Good girl. Stand up.”
She stood, her bottom throbbing. Drawing her close, he kissed her. Her heart skipped, her insides warming. She pressed against him and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. He put an arm under her ass and lifted her.
Putting her legs around his hips, she held on tightly, kissing him back until he drew away.
“Liam,” she moaned.
“My baby likes kissing.”
His baby liked pretty much everything he did to her. Except for the exercise. That sucked.
“We have to stop,” he told her, trying to set her down. But she clung to him. She didn’t want to be put down.
“Girl,” he warned. “Let go.”
“And if I don’t? Whatcha gonna do?”
“This.” He gave her four sharp smacks on her ass. Then lifted her away from him.
Yeah, if he thought those spanks were a deterrent, then he was sadly mistaken. He sat her on the weight bench then loomed over her. Her heart raced for a different reason.
This is Liam, stupid body. Stop.
As though he sensed her unease with his position, he dropped to a crouch.
“Sorry,” she said breathlessly.
“Enough of that,” he growled. He took hold of her chin, holding her stare to his. “I’m not putting up with that nonsense, understand me? Any more talk of being a burden or apologies will result in you going over my knee.”
He watched her carefully, taking in her reaction.
“Are you waiting for me to say my safeword or be scared?”
“Are you? Scared?”
“I don’t think I would’ve just climbed you like a monkey if I were.”
His lips twitched. “You can do that anytime you like, baby.”
She grinned then frowned. “I don’t like sneaking around. We’re going to need to tell Regent eventually.”
“We will,” he promised. “Nothing stands between me and something I want.”
“You really are the most arrogant man.”
“Does it turn you on?” he asked.
“There must be something wrong with me because I think the answer is yes.”
He grinned then stood and held out his hand to her. “Come on, shower time.”
“Oh my God!” she squealed, jumping to her feet. “I stink!”
That grin turned into a laugh.
“And I climbed you while I stunk!”
More laughter. She whacked him on the chest with her hand. “You’re an ass.”
He turned her to the door with a slap on the ass. “Go clean up, baby. I’ll expect you at breakfast in an hour. I’m just going to do some more reps. We need to start some self-defense lessons too.”
Stomping along the hallway, she muttered to herself as she reached the stairs. “Arrogant man, thinking he can make me all stinky. Rude.”
“Lottie?”
She gasped, her hand going to her chest as she scrambled backward.
“It’s me. Vic.”
Oh, hell.
Taking a deep breath in, she let it out slowly. “Sorry. I didn’t see you.”
Victor just studied her.
She smiled at him, trying to push away the last vestiges of panic. Opening her arms, she stepped forward. “You’re home.”
Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezed tightly then stepped back. He stared down at her in shock.
Uh-oh.
Way to act normal, Lottie.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d hugged her brother. Any of them. Shit. Was this really what her life had become? Where she didn’t show the people she loved any affection?
“Sorry.” She grimaced. “I’m all sweaty.”
He was dressed in shorts and a tank top.