Page 46 of Pushed

All they needed to see was the fear on her face and the tears she had cried. I still needed them to believe I was one of them or everything I had done, everything I had to live with, it would all be for nothing.

Imperial stared at me, her eyes wide and unsure. But she didn't answer, trading her words for silence.

“Nothing to say? You're not even going to chew me out for asking?”

Shrugging her shoulder, she blinked slowly as her brow twitched in thought.

Did she like it a little?

Is she scared because she doesn't think she should have enjoyed it at all?

Smirking, I sat down beside her and rested my hands on my legs. “There's nothing wrong with admitting that you liked it, Imperial. Sometimes you have try first and evaluate later.”

Huffing under her breath, she shook her head. “I didn't say I liked it.”

“But you didn't say you hated it.”

“I don't have to tell you anything.”

No, you don't. . . But you didn't scream, you didn't beg me to stop.

You accepted it after a blowup, you took it without one damn word.

“Can you at least tell me that you're going to listen now? If you did or didn't like it, it doesn't matter. I just need to know that you're going to try and trust me.”

“Is this why you do it? Because you like delivering punishments?”

“No, that's not it at all.” Scrubbing my jaw, I clasped my hands together. “I can't tell you what brought me here, I can't tell you why I do this. But I can tell you it's not for the reasons you're thinking.”

Her eyes lifted up to my face, squinting and curious. “If I listen, will it really get me home?”

“Eventually.”

“Eventually? That's your answer? I can't imagine any of those men ever letting go of something they bought. Eventually means nothing to me. Eventually tells me that you could be full of shit and don't know what the hell you're talking about.”

“You need to trust me, that's all I can tell you.”

“How? How can I trust you when you're answer is bullshit? That's not a solid yes, that's leaving me in limbo with just wishes of freedom.”

“Trust me because I'm not one of those men, trust me because I'm not just telling you this so you do what I want. I don't need to bribe you with freedom to get my way, if I was like any of those other guys, you'd be in a lot more pain right now.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Sucking in my bottom lip, I bit down hard, trying not to give away too much. “I'm telling you because you deserve better than this.”

“If I deserve better then why did you take me to begin with?” Her head drooped down, fingers braiding together. “Why didn't you just let me go?”

I wanted to. . . Fuck did I want to.

“Imperial, you don't realize how much safer you are being here with me.” Dropping my eyes to my lap, her fingers danced over mine, softly wrapping my hand.

“I did.”

“You did what?”

“I liked it.” Snapping her eyes to the floor, she kept talking soft and low. “I don't why, I should be fucking pissed, but I'm not. I never imagined being spanked before and I did, I liked it.”

“Did it scare you?”