Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Vasiah
I knocked once on Seraphina’s door and waited. No stomping this time. No slammed wood. Just the quiet shuffle of feet before she opened it, her expression guarded but sparking with attitude.
“You came,” she said, arms crossed.
I arched my brow. “You doubted me?”
“You’ve been busy before,” she shot back. Sass in her voice. Sharp enough to nick if I let it. But I’d expected as much from her.
I stepped inside, closing the door firmly behind me. “Careful,” I murmured. “You’re walking a fine line.”
She huffed, flopping onto the couch like she owned it. “Maybe I like lines.”
I fought back a smile. Oh, she was testing me. Poking to see if I’d crumble. “Maybe,” I said slowly, “but lines come with consequences.”
Her chin lifted. “You mean punishments.”
“Yes.” I sat across from her, steady, grounded. “But only when they’re earned. Do you want to talk, or do you want to pout?”
Her glare faltered, but she sank deeper into the couch cushions, muttering, “Fine. Talk.”
We did. Piece by piece, I laid out what needed to change—my commitment, her honesty, the effort it would take on both sides. She admitted she wanted me to stay with her until my room was ready at the end of the week. Not near, which would’ve been back with Ezra. With.
“I’ll bunk here,” I said finally. “If you’re serious about trying. But you need to know, Sera, that staying with me means accountability. No more door slamming. No more bratty texts. No more hiding behind sarcasm when you’re hurting. My expectations will be different.”
Her lips twitched. “Bratty texts? Really?”
I leaned forward, letting my voice drop an octave. “Really.”
That shut her up—for a second. Then she smirked. “What if I like being bratty?”
Ah. There it was. The invitation. The push.
Temptation flared between us and I decided to lean into it and not away.
Sure, I’d noticed her bright-ass personality from the driveway when she’d dropped off Emerson.
She sparkled like the biggest warning sign that she’d shit rainbows, sing happy tunes, and laugh infectious positive vibes all over the place.
It irritated the fuck out of me, but I loved it.
Seraphina was quick witted, beautiful, and passionate about everything she did.
From Emerson, to her job at the library, and now this.
I'd seen her with the children at the library she worked at.
She enjoyed story time just as much as they did.
She also was in charge of family night with arts and crafts.
That had been my very first glance into who she truly was.
Emerson had spotted her and asked his Mother—Audrey if he could stay.
When she couldn't, he called me to see if I could swing by to get him on my way home. At first, I thought it was an elaborate scheme to see a girl, but when I arrived early, I spotted him building a cardboard airplane. She’d been patient with him and he received instruction well from her.
When I signed him up for driving school and she was one of the instructors, I immediately chose her.
Big brown eyes, curves, sassy, and legs that seemed to go on forever.
I’d known she was submissive. I’d never thought our paths would cross here though.
It was time to trust fate and to see what it was trying to show me.
“Then,” I said smoothly, “you’ll learn what happens to brats who cross the line.”
Her breath caught, but she didn’t move. She was waiting. Then…
“You wouldn't dare.”
I took the bait. “Stand up,” I ordered.
Her eyes widened, but she obeyed.
“Strip your bottoms. Now.”
Her hands shook, but she pushed her jeans and panties down, leaving herself bare from the waist down. Vulnerable. Blushing furiously.
I guided her over my lap, settling her against my thighs, one hand firm on her lower back. Her brown hair sweeping the floor. “You’re being punished, Sera. For your tone, your sass, and your disrespect earlier. You’ll take your spanking, and then no sweets for two days. Do you understand?”
“Two days!”
I massaged the roundest part of her ass, warming the skin. Her skin was soft, almost buttery smooth. Ripe. Bouncing nicely under my fingers. I felt the darkest parts of me awaken, rushing to the surface. This was dangerous.
“Two glorious days,” I murmured, distracted by her sweet scent. Vanilla maybe. I could only hope that she tasted as good. And if I had my way, I was definitely going to taste her. Not now, but it was going to happen.
Her voice was muffled in the crook of her arm. “Yes, Mistress.”
The first swat landed, sharp and echoing in the quiet room. She jerked, but I held her steady. Again. Slow, deliberate, until her skin warmed under my palm. I continued, letting her softness push back on my palm, taunting my resolve.
Her sass gave way to whimpers, then to soft, broken sobs.
I kept going until the tears came freely, her body trembling, her voice cracking.
I kept to the rhythm of her breathing. Using her body against her, letting it guide me to give her exactly what she needed.
Then I pushed her a little more and she fell apart, shattered into a million pieces. And I caught every one of them.
When I finally stopped, I gathered her into my arms, pulling her into a sitting position on my lap, holding her close. She curled against me like a child, face wet against my shirt.
“Shh,” I soothed, stroking her hair. “It’s okay. Let it out. I’ve got you.” I pulled the knitted throw from the back of the couch and covered her with it. I massaged heat into her arms and legs, until she relaxed into me.
Her breathing slowed little by little, her tears easing into quiet sniffles. She clung to me, and I let her, rocking slightly until her body softened completely in my arms.
“You’re mine to care for,” I whispered against her hair. “Not just to correct. Do you understand that?”
She nodded, still pressed close, her whisper small but certain. “Yes, Mistress.”
“Mmm…”
And just like that, the tension between us shifted. The walls she’d built cracked, leaving room for something real to grow.