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Gotta admire his concentration when it’s obvious as hell he wants to let her curl up on him.

“I… I’m s-sorry,” she hiccupped.

“For what?” Chandler prompted.

Her eyes slid to Aaron, and then back to the man questioning her. “F-for being a g-general pain in the ass?”

Aaron snorted before he could stop himself.

Chandler gave him a menacing look, but he could only shrug apologetically. The girl was funny, had to give her that.

“What do you mean by that?” Chandler prompted, all business.

“You know.” Her gaze dropped to the floor and she ran her toe along the carpet. “Makin’ you mad.”

Hmm… baby girl or submissive? Thatisthe question.

“Eyes up, Chyanne,” he ordered.

She obeyed immediately, lip quivering.

He exchanged a look with Chandler who, unless he missed his guess, was wondering the very same thing.

“What were you punished for?” Chandler tried again.

“Um… for not listening. For not st-staying after I pr-promised and putting myself in d-danger.” She swiped at her eyes. “Although if I hadn’t gotten distracted, I could have totally taken that fall like a boss.”

“Not the point, Chyanne,” he scolded, holding his chuckle in for later. Man, this girl was something.

“Then what is the point?”

Aaron scrutinized her face, and not seeing a trace of anger or defiance in her expression, decided to answer her. “Keeping you safe is our top priority here at Discipline Ranch.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why? I’m not a guest, I came here as an employee.”

His brows shot up. Did she notwantto be safe? As he considered it, a piece of who she was clicked into place for him. Of course. She was a danger seeker by nature, but why? That was the real question.

As he mulled this over, Chandler spoke up beside him. “Liability for one. And if you’re going to be hired, then Nate needs to keep you safe.”

“He doesn’t seem to worry aboutyou.” Her tone and her gaze encompassed them both.

“That’s not true,” Chandler objected, gently but firmly. “We have rules we have to follow too, or we’ll be fired.”

Her lips spread into a smug smile. “Exactly. So what you’re saying is that I, as a woman, get subjected to this caveman-style shit—” She winced and her cheeks tightened right before their very eyes.

Aaron gestured for her to continue, partly just for the pleasure of seeing the wary confusion in her eyes. He liked playing games, and he had a feeling Chyanne often got herself involved in ones she didn’t know how to get out of. With any luck, he’d be granted the time to help her with that.

“Sorry,” she muttered. Then she took a deep breath, and exhaled it slowly.

She’s learning already. Amazing what a spanked bottom will do for naughty habits.

“I just meant that if I were a man, this would be different.”

“Maybe,” Chandler allowed. “Maybe not. All depends on the type of contract you sign. Andyousigned one that indicated this type of discipline was acceptable.”

Seeming not to know how to respond to that, her eyes shifted back and forth between them. Finally, she asked, “Are we, ah… through?”

Aaron chuckled. “No, we are not. Be right back.” He slipped out and into the bathroom. Retrieving what he was after, he returned.