Chapter Fifteen
Kristina
Kris could hardly think. Collapsed over his hard body, with one of his enormous palms pressing her down, she was nothing more than a ragdoll, a small toy that he could maneuver wherever and whenever he chose.
She hadn’t known what to expect when she’d presented herself for the spanking.
Not that she’d arrived by choice. Kronos had put paid to her free will when he’d taken control of her limbs and marched her over to his side, but still, standing there, she’d experienced something akin to excited anticipation.
Yes, she’d been daunted and disconcerted by the injustice of his proposal, but oddly, a part of her was ready to cede to someone who might finally be worthy of her.
For too long, it had only been her. She had lots of friends, of course, and peers, who she respected, plus a few mentors she looked up to, but there had never been anyone special.
That was the energy she’d been seeking when she’d hooked up with Shaun.
She’d hoped that he might become someone she could depend on, but his rejection had proved her wrong.
In Kronos, she saw the potential for something more, somewhere safe she might finally be able to rest her head without worrying about what came next or how she’d manage.
She knew that sounded crazy. She didn’t approve of the way he’d taken her without permission, nor of the physical chastisement, but there was something in his gaze, beneath the intensity of his obvious passion; a love language she’d never spoken before.
She couldn’t be sure, but it seemed as though something in Kronos called to the woman in her.
“You will learn, little one.” His voice thundered over her like an edict, snapping her back to his demanding presence. “Perhaps regular spankings will help to keep you in line.”
What? Was he mad?
Enduring the last few moments was bad enough, but Kris didn’t think she could entertain regular jaunts over his knees.
Each swat he’d sent slamming against her felt like fire being branded across her skin, and of course, it didn’t help that the swine had removed all of her clothing before punishing her.
Upturned and entirely exposed and powerless, there was nothing she could do to hide from the onslaught, and swat by swat, she was starting to worry about ever being able to comfortably sit down again.
“No, thank you,” she croaked.
The last thing she needed was more spankings. She’d been wrong about suspecting there was anything thrilling about the strikes, and every spank he delivered was resolved to remind her.
What was I thinking? She pulled in a breath. Why would there be anything erotic about being strewn over him and made to submit?
Maybe, if she was lucky, the sizzling chemistry she’d sensed when she’d stood beside Kronos had been real, but if there was no other way to interact with the giant besides being spanked, then she’d have to find a way to flee his clutches sooner rather than later.
Though God only knew how she’d achieve that damn near impossible feat.
“This hurts so much, Master.” She loathed the way she admitted the pain, but what would have been the point of pretending it wasn’t awful?
He might have received news of her alleged high pain threshold like a dare and tried to up the ante. There was no way she could have tolerated that.
“Nonsense.” His admonishment sounded almost playful, and her brows knitted at the sound.
Was he enjoying the spanking? Even though she wholeheartedly disagreed with him, he’d made it sound as though she’d earned the consequence, as though the penalty was her responsibility. The notion that he was also relishing the act changed something. It hardened something inside of her.
Until that moment, she hadn’t really considered the concept that he wanted to spank her. But stretched out over him, she was abruptly aware of the possibility.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she recalled the flimsy attire Kronos was wearing.
If he was enjoying hurting her, would she feel the evidence of his pleasure stirring beneath her tummy?
The anxiety in her belly snaked tighter.
It was one thing to get through the spanking—an accomplishment she still wasn’t even sure was possible—but it was something else to have to come face to face with a Kronos-sized erection.
Pulling in air, she tried to imagine how impressive that organ would be and suppress any sense of burgeoning desire that the thought inspired. It didn’t matter how notable his fucking cock was. That was not what she was there for. In fact, she hadn’t consented to be there at all.
Staring at the white floor between her palms, she wrestled with her colliding feelings.
Enticement was part of the reason she’d ended up over his lap in the first place.
For some stupid reason, she’d thought it would be alluring.
She couldn’t allow the hypothetical prospect of riding Kronos to color her thinking.
He was not her lover.
He was the one who’d taken her, brought her there, and manipulated her body.
Even if she had been filled with a disturbing sense of calm when she’d woken, and even if she hadn’t tried to fight him. He was the assailant.
Just like those hooligans on the street.
She had to remember that.
“Remember what I promised you?” His demanding voice brought her crashing back to reality, reminding her again that the painful spanking wasn’t over. “I am not harming you, just showing you the error of your ways.”
“I understand, Master.”
She didn’t understand in the slightest. Why should she have to call him her fucking master when, so far, all she knew was that he’d snatched her and taken away her clothing?
But she knew that giving him that answer would only anger Kronos, and that his wrath was the last thing she needed.
“I will try harder, Master.”
“Yes, you will.” The hand that clutched at her ass withdrew, and she tensed, expecting another sharp swat to her poor bottom. “You will try until you get it right.”
She bit down on the frustration swirling inside her. Part of her wanted to get up and push him away. If that was even feasible. That facet needed her to get out of there and never set eyes on Kronos again, yet she doubted there was any chance of overpowering him.
“We shall continue.” His hard tone recaptured her attention. “You shall thank me after each spank and refer to me correctly.”
His hand brushed over her ass, and she winced as the deed reignited the hurt. “Do you understand, little mortal?”
Mortal.
It wasn’t the first time he’d referred to her that way, but the word still jarred. What else would she be if she wasn’t mortal? Or perhaps, the most intriguing query of all, if he wasn’t human, as his abilities appeared to suggest, then what the hell was he?
Her fingers grasped at the floor, battling with the disturbing question. What did she mean, ‘if he wasn’t human?’ Of course he was human. The scientist in her refused to truly accept any other option.
“Yes, Master.” She gave the reply unthinkingly, hoping that the remaining swats would be minimal and she’d be up and out of there in no time.
“Then let us begin.” His hand collided with her vulnerable ass again, pressing onto her skin as he, presumably, waited for her reply.
Her eyes widened at the strike. If she’d thought the prior round of smacks was hard to bear, then it seemed Kronos was hellbent on teaching her yet another lesson.
“Thank you, Master.”
The words slipped from her like a reflex, and her brow furrowed at the perturbing reality. She hadn’t been conscious for that long, yet already, he’d been able to control her, guiding her into position over his body and instructing her to refer to him as though he had any right to the authority.
Why was she giving in so easily? Especially since she knew just how much the damn spanking hurt.
“Better.” He tapped her cheeks gently. “Much better, little mortal.”
She sighed, knowing his praise should have riled her, and she was certain that deep down, a part of her was incensed at his audacity. At the same time, though, she couldn’t ignore the low thrum of contentment that stirred at his approval.
It was senseless, but no less tangible.
“When you reply next time,” he tapped her sore ass a little harder, “make me believe you really mean it.”