Page 37

“I’ll listen! I’ll stay where you say!” I would promise him the moon and the man inside if he would just stop spanking me.

He delivers another hard blow that lands across both cheeks and has me howling like the worst adaptation of teen wolf.

The belt hits the floor with a clamor and his hand is back on my ass rubbing in the heat the leather left behind. Tears fall from my cheeks onto the cushion, and I wipe them away with the back of my hand before he sees them.

“Do you know what your ass looks like now?” His sultry voice almost makes up for the inferno he’s lit on my ass.

Almost.

Because his voice ignites an entirely different flame. One that burns so deep inside, it can’t be touched.

“Not really.” I try to turn my head, to look at the back of the couch instead of his thigh that’s in my view, but he clenches my hair tighter.

“It’s red, like a cherry ready to be plucked from the tree. And here.” He pauses to press into a particularly tender spot. “A dark line runs from here to here.”

He drags the tip of his finger across my ass, painfully showing me where a welt is forming from the edge of his damn belt.

“And here.” He slides his hand between my thighs,finding the worst kept secret in the world. My soaking wet pussy. “Is where the truth of you lies.”

“It’s just a physical response,” I mutter, but even I know a bullshit answer when I hear it.

It’s not just wet, it’s soaked and the moment his fingertip brushes across my lips I arch my back, practically begging him for more.

He dips his finger inside, slowly sinking into my pussy until his knuckles press against me. With a simple curl of his finger, I melt into a puddle of arousal.

He lets out a low growl of approval as he drags his finger back out, bringing it in front of my face. It’s practically dripping with the evidence of my arousal.

“You’re soaked.” He crouches down beside me, where I can see him as he sticks his finger into his mouth. Rolling it over his tongue first, then pulls it back out.

This is how I die.

Watching this man, who is too beautiful for comprehension, suck my pussy juice from his fucking fingers. It’s going to make me explode.

“Mira.” He brushes the back of his knuckles along my cheekbone. “I’m taking you to bed.”

My eyes flicker to the clock on the mantel over the fireplace. It’s only half past seven. But when I meet his gaze again, I realize he’s not talking about sleep.

“You have to tell me no right now if you don’t want that.” His voice sounds strained, like he’s not used to giving this option and it’s hurting him to do it.

“You’d take no for an answer?” I push up onto my elbows.

He nods. “I would.”

“Because you just spanked me, and you feel guilty about it?”

A ghost of a grin touches his lips.

“You deserved every lash of the belt.” He pauses a moment. “I’m giving you this one chance because once I have you, I’m not letting go.”

“So you might not take the no later, if I decide I don’t want that?” Testing the boundaries has gotten me nothing but trouble in my life, yet I continue to do it.

He presses his forehead against mine, inhaling deeply as though he’s trying to gain some resemblance of control.

“Once I have you. You’re mine.” It’s clear cut and hot as hell.

He knows exactly what to say to get a woman’s motor running.

Dirty talk has never been my thing, but I’ve never been with a man like Rurik. The man exudes confidence and alpha vibes.