Page 76

I sat back and took up one of the knobs ofginger I’d discarded. “This is going to hurt worse than anythingwe’ve done. It’s going to hurta lot.”
“It’s not too bad—” she began, butwhen I slapped her ass and she clenched up, her high-pitched shriekcontradicted her. “Motherfucker!”
“You see, the burn is going to get worse themore the juice squeezes out.” I picked up the knife and sliced abit of the smaller piece off, then worked it beneath her, pushingit between her labia so the fresh-cut side was trapped firmlyagainst her clit. “And you might think to yourself, ‘well, I justwon’t move.’ But that’s what this piece is for.”
Her breathing sped up as the stinging herbworked on her clit.
“I’m sure your ass is on fire by now.Throbbing, because your blood is going to pound into all thatirritated tissue. It has the same effect on your clit. Except, whenblood rushes to that… Well, you’ll want to squirm, won’t you?You’ll get so stiff and engorged and achy, all you’ll want is anorgasm. But every time you do move…”
I gave her ass another smack. She tightenedup and cursed.
“See? Clenching up makes it burn more. Now,you’re going to stay like this…” I reached for my phone to set atimer. “I think five minutes is long enough to learn your lessonwithout your breakfast getting cold.”
“Five minutes?” she gasped in outrage.
“And next time you disobey, it will beseven. I think I’ll keep a tally. Add two minutes to yourpunishment every time you defy me.” I tapped the screen to startthe countdown, then propped the phone on a pillow near her head.“Watch the clock, please.”
I regretted using my phone, because thesight of her lying naked across my bed, held in bondage only by herown self-control, was something I would have loved to keep apicture of.
I went to the cart where our breakfastwaited and put the silver dome back over Charlotte’s plate to keepher food warm. Then, I assessed the situation. There wasn’t a greatplace to eat in the bedroom. My main decorating focus as a teenagerhad been “space to hold all my junk.”
The balcony wasn’t an option, since thegarden was crawling with staff setting up for the lunchtime party.I took my plate to the coffee table and, through great force ofwill, sat with my back to the bed.
Did I want to watch Charlotte struggle andsweat and suffer? Absolutely. Would it make the torment worse forher if I didn’t pay attention to her predicament? Yes, it would.And that’s what I was going for.
“You got waffles?” I asked cheerfully as Isat down to my eggs Benedict. “Good choice. The kitchen makesexcellent waffles. From scratch too. No mixes or anything.”
Charlotte whimpered in reply.
I poured myself some coffee and set itaside. “That’s a bit too hot. Wouldn’t want to burn myself.”
I heard the whisper of her legs writhingagainst the sheet, followed by a gasp of pain.
“Sorry, I’ll let you concentrate. How muchtime is left?”
“Three minutes and two seconds,” she groundout. “Please, I—”
“Do you feel like you need to come?” Iasked, peppering my eggs.
“I feel like I’m burning alive!” she shotback.
“That’s not what I asked, and that’s not howthe princess speaks to her dragon.” The warning in my tone carriedthe threat of two extra minutes. “Try again. Do you feel like youneed to come?”
“I’m starting to, my dragon.” Anotherpathetic whimper. “But it hurts. It hurts so bad!”
“You disobeyed me. This is the consequence.”I cut into the stack of poached egg, ham, and English muffin. “Youcould always beg for mercy.”
There was no way I’d make her enduresomething like this without the ability to opt out. If she took thepunishment for the full five minutes, that was entirely up toher.
I waited for her to utter the word. Shedidn’t.
Pride swelled in my chest. She was so goodat this.
I was so fucking lucky to have her.
“Let’s review. Why are you being punished?”I asked.
She panted audibly while she gave heranswer. “Because I disobeyed my dragon.”