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Coralyn reached back and ran her hand along the length of

her ponytail, playing with the glossy strands coyly. “Maybe

I’ll take my time just to see what you’ll do to me for

disobeying.” She didn’t push further. Didn’t extend the

invitation harder. She’d already given it. Set it out there. Left it

open entirely for Giana to choose or not choose. Coralyn

wasn’t just smart. She was incredibly intuitive. She seemed to

understand what Giana needed before she even knew what that

was. It was maddening and delighting and frustrating and

scary.

Giana narrowed her eyes. “You once accused me of being

filthy, but you like it too. You’re not embarrassed anymore.”

“No.” Coralyn blushed. “I was scared at first. Wounded. I

was trying to be mean back. I didn’t understand. I’m sorry.”

“You have thirty seconds.” Giana’s focus was lasered in on

Coralyn’s mouth while her mind thought up the perfect

punishment as she’d promised. “Better run.”

Coralyn got up slowly. So slowly. It was like she was

goading Giana. She backed away, through the big open kitchen

and dining area, watching Giana the entire time. She slowly

counted down seconds in her head. Thirty. Twenty. Ten.

Coralyn was probably counting down too, because she turned

and sprinted. Giana shoved back her chair and chased her.

She’d never chased anyone in her life. It was strangely

thrilling, that game of seduction. Coralyn wanted to be caught,

and when Giana’s arms closed around her waist on the stairs,

tackling her there, she went down, locking her arms around

Giana’s neck, wrapping one leg around her waist and one at

the back of her legs.

“How haven’t you punished me yet?” she panted, studying