Chapter 8 #2
The feeling of being this close to him should be as repulsive as the act of kidnapping, but the anxiety from before faded. The way he was holding me was far too intimate, a lover’s hold that had no place in the moment after what he’d done.
I sensed eyes on us as he carried me from one house to another, never breaking a stride. But not a single person dared cross him. He wielded that kind of power not through violence, but by a nod of respect. Had it been earned or forced?
He said nothing else as he moved through a thick bank of shrubs, finally making it to his driveway.
“You can let me down now. I can walk.”
As expected, he ignored me, allowing one of his men to open the door so we could walk inside. Another click indicated he’d locked the door behind us. We were once again all alone and the moment was consuming.
Suffocating.
He eased me to my feet near the couch. I don’t know if he expected me to sit down and take whatever punishing words he had in store for me, but I was having none of it. Defying him was not only my personality, but it felt as if I showed any weakness, he’d use that against me.
The ire on his face when I stood where I was folding my arms only amplified his beauty.
What bothered me was that all I could think about what his physical perfection was.
I’d never known it existed in a man. A part of me wanted to look away, but I was completely drawn to him as apparently he was to me.
Yet he wasn’t a good man. He wouldn’t hesitate to tell me that himself. Maybe he’d sold his soul in exchange for perfected masculinity. In truth, without his jacket, I was able to see just how stunning and rugged his body was.
Broad shoulders with a tapered waist, and long, muscular legs. It was the bulge between his massive thighs that caught and kept my attention. My thoughts were suddenly driven by a desire than had no place, yet I could only imagine the size and length of his cock.
“What you did was dangerous.”
I quickly looked away, closing my eyes in hopes of squeezing out the lurid image. “Dangerous? Were your neighbors about to consider me a stray and put me out of my misery?”
“You think what happened is a joke. I’m here to tell you it’s not.
” There was force and knowing behind his harsh words.
“I don’t know if you were the intended victim or I was.
Whatever the case, the person responsible has seen us together.
Remember, I left the man alive who witnessed our interaction. ”
“There is nothing about us that is together.”
“Not in their eyes. They saw two people standing very closely together and I assure you our body language told a different story.”
Oh, God. He was right. His words also reminded me that according to him, he’d saved my life. I had no idea how to process the information.
“Being that it’s obvious you don’t understand the ramifications of your actions, I’m going to provide you with what consequences you can expect when defying my orders.”
“With punishment.”
“Yes.”
“Then just tell me whatever it is you’re so intent on shouting. You want me to learn more about your ugly world then fine.”
Why was it that every flash of fire in his eyes, every smirk crossing his handsome face did exactly the opposite of what it should? Instead of being repulsed, I was aroused.
“Obviously, I didn’t make myself clear.” He moved closer once again, the musky, citrusy scent of his aftershave overwhelming. “Words and reasoning don’t seem to be able to get through to you. What you require is something more lasting.”
“And what’s that exactly?”
“A spanking.”
“What did you say?”
His answer was by way of unbuckling his belt. Another moment of being completely shocked around him. “You heard what I said, Catherine.”
“Stop saying my name. Just stop. Please.”
“What would you prefer?”
“That you’d back away and take me home.”
“That’s not going to happen. The sooner you realize and accept that, the more likely it is that we’ll come to terms.” He refused to stop tormenting me with his actions, creating a sick anticipation that created butterflies in my stomach.
He took his time tugging on the thick leather, the slow and easy actions forcing me to glance at his hands every few seconds. He wasn’t kidding.
“What terms?”
“That we’re in this together. Remove your skirt.”
My mind went blank hearing his demand. “Why?” Was I really asking him the question? And why was the sound of my voice unrecognizable?
The smirk turned into a smile. “Because I only provide needed discipline on bare skin.”
Oh, my God. The man had done this before. “What do you do with your soldiers who disobey you?”
I was surprised by his sudden chuckle as if no one had ever asked him the question before.
“You don’t want to know. Don’t make this any harsher than it needs to be.
Remove your skirt and panties and lean over the back of the couch.
I won’t take any continued disobedience.
You promised to be a good girl and I’m going to provide you with incentive. ”
My traitorous core infuriated me, the hard pulse awakening something vital, even carnal in nature. I hated myself for the rush of feelings and needs that would never have a place around him.
As a fighter who had more than once used my martial arts training to help free me from an attack, I should be reacting completely differently than I was.
Yet I couldn’t move. Was I afraid of him and what he could do?
Only to a point. There was something much deeper feeding my hesitation.
As if I wanted his firm hand. As if I wanted to be his good girl.
Every inch of me was shaking, already embarrassed. It had been long enough since I’d been with a man that I was bewildered by some strange concern he wouldn’t approve. That wasn’t normal under the best of circumstances and that certainly wasn’t what was occurring now.
That’s why when I found myself unfastening my skirt, hatred mixed with pure, angry lust keeping me in a thick haze.
I refused to take my eyes off him as I undressed, turning only slightly when I slipped my fingers under the thin elastic of my thong.
My heart was thudding in my chest, the pounding in my ears creating a jagged beat behind my eyes. This wasn’t going to end well.
A slight cool air tickled the skin on my legs and I tugged on my shirt, thankful the flimsy material covered the most intimate part of my body.
His deep breath was ragged, his eyes more hooded than I’d seen.
The single time I’d seen tenderness in them was gone, replaced with lust and extreme hunger.
With his chest rising and falling, there was no doubt what he was thinking.
My mouth was suddenly dry and when he pointed to the couch, my legs refused to respond.
Every harsh sigh sent a skittering of vibrations dancing down through me. I found my courage, moving to the couch. With my fingers digging into the buttery leather, I leaned over.
When he was closer, I realized his heavy breathing wasn’t about anger but increasing lust.
The silence between us was interminable.
He finally jerked my shirt up past my waist, taking a few seconds to roll the tips of his fingers down my spine.
They were surprisingly rough, as if the fingers of a hardworking man who regularly got dirt under his nails.
Why did that add to the already insane attraction?
He took a step back, still hesitating.
“Just get it over with. Prove how masculine and dangerous you really are.” I didn’t need to see his face to know my snarky comment had angered him. Too bad. I refused to fall into whatever web he was weaving.
Even though I’d braced myself, there’d been no way of understanding the pain I’d experience. With the first sharp crack of his wrist, a whooshing sound was followed by white-hot searing pain. I was floored by how intense it was and immediately clawed the leather as I gasped for air.
I had no idea I’d moved away from the couch until his hand was placed on the small of my back. “Stay in position, Catherine. I don’t think you want this to continue for a long time.”
With a single tear trickling down my face and his voice echoing in my ears, I was shocked that I responded with anything other than screams. I dropped my head, watching as the tear slipped down my nose, dropping ever so slowly to the seat.
He smacked the thick strap across my sit spot and I was aware I’d kicked out. My entire body was shaking, the involuntary action nothing I could control. Maybe he sensed the discomfort was too severe, using the same rough fingers to caress my heated skin.
But he wasn’t finished.
The strikes were slow but brutal, the thick strap catching me on every inch of my bottom as well as the tops of my thighs. The haze of agony was intense, so much so I found myself flying mentally to veil the pain.
Alexander kicked my legs further apart, the only sound I managed to concentrate on his continued heavy breathing. The caress of his fingers was infrequent but powerful. Or maybe in my mind all time had stopped.
Another four savage cracks and I threw my head back.
An intense shift had occurred with agony turning to something more obtrusive.
Pleasure. My inner thighs were wet, the thick haze of lust mixing with the slow combustion of the scent of my desire.
How could I want this man? How could I tolerate him touching me, tempting me?
“You’ve had enough.” The deep timbre of his voice pushed the haze onto an entirely different plane. Surreal. Exciting.
Far too tempting.
When I murmured, he was encouraged, slipping his hand between my legs. I stiffened in reaction. The desire was real.
But so was the reality.
I couldn’t want this. Nothing good would come from him touching me or developing a connection of any kind.
He was still a monster and I would always be an officer of the law.
Maybe I’d pay for my actions, but I moved away, providing a resounding no. Grabbing my skirt and thong, I turned around to face him, refusing to wince. I’d never allow him to see he’d bothered me in any way.
He stared at me for the longest time before backing away. His reply wasn’t stated in words, but with a loud hiss of frustration.
But at least for now, he left me alone.