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What was happening to her? She was developing a physical reaction to his commands and she really didn’t mind. Thoughts of punishments ran through her mind. However, it was a short list since she was new to this whole concept of punishment as a form of pleasure.

Her body began to hum in excitement. As long as it wasn’t that delayed gratification nuisance again she was up for it.

Charles had obviously done this before and was well-versed in dominance, heaven knew what tricks he had up his sleeves.

Sarah was so lost to her thoughts that she didn’t realize she was standing in Charles’s bedroom until he closed the door behind her and locked it.

He walked past her and stood at his dresser. He unbuttoned his cuffs one at a time. Sarah’s eyes watched as the muscles moved under the shirt with every movement. Unknowingly, she licked her lips.

Charles rolled up each sleeve, showcasing strong forearms with veins that pulled at his skin down to his large hands..

Sarah’s heart began to race. She knew exactly what it felt like to be held in those strong arms and her body itched to be in that position.

She shifted on her feet and pulled at the collar of her dress. Oh, why couldn’t her dress have ripped in one of her falls? Her clothes felt way too restrictive now.

Charles caught her staring at his arms and he cleared his throat.

Sarah shook her head to clear away the salacious thoughts.

“I know you are new to this household, and I’m sure finding out about Honora was most intriguing to you, but you must be careful with her.” Charles unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dress shirt.

Sarah’s breath caught in her throat as she saw taught skin with dark curls peeking out of the shirt.

“Sarah.” Charles’s voice was coaxing but still had an edge to it.

Sarah blinked a few times to regain conscious thought. “Um, why must I be careful with Nora? She seems like a healthy and capable thirteen-year-old girl, just like any other girl her age.”

Charles shook his head as he sat down on a chair. He crossed one leg over the other to take off his boot.

Sarah looked down at her fidgeting hands. Suddenly the realization that she was standing in Charles’s bedroom while he undressed became too much for her. Which was absurd, he had been her husband for several days now yet, for some reason, this felt too intimate for her.

“Sarah. Look at me,” his voice commanded.

Sarah’s eyes rose to meet his. His green eyes looked almost black in the low light in his room. He seemed sinister and dangerous now standing barefoot with his sleeves rolled up and his shirt open to reveal his muscular chest. However, in the same breath, he was enticing, alluring, and all too consuming for Sarah.

He was magnificently beautiful and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.

“The reasoning doesn’t matter. What would you have done if something truly terrible happened? You don’t know your way around the grounds that well, and I’m not sure Honora is that great of a guide. You two could have been seriously hurt. Look at the state of your dress!”

His normal lecturing tone had another layer to it. Sarah lowered her gaze and turned her head ever so slightly to focus on his words.

“There would be no way for me to find you, I didn’t know where you were. I can’t let that happen again.”

Worry.

Sarah looked back up to Charles. He was standing there with his hands hanging freely at his sides. Not behind him or crossed in front of him. He was standing there, plainly and openly. He was pleading for her safety.

He was worried about her.

Whatever game these two were playing with each other before Sarah put it to the side. “Charles,” she said as she walked to him. “I am sorry, I did not know you didn’t like her out past dark. I knew it would be dark and I was hoping to get a quick walk in. I was hoping a change of scenery would help her open up to me a little more.”

Charles sighed. “Did it work?” His voice cracked ever so slightly with his question.

Sarah shook her head. “It did. That’s part of the reason why we were late coming back. We just walked and talked, it was delightful. It was actually Nora who pointed out that it was dark and we needed to get back.”

Sarah took a risk and took his hand in hers. “I didn’t rush after she said that. Perhaps I should have. I’m sorry.”

Charles was focused on their entwined hands while she spoke. He watched as her thumb rubbed the top of his hand in little circles. The corner of his lip tipped up in a small smile.