Page 93 of My Solemn Vow

As the orgasm fades, the reality of what he did to me sinks in. “You fucking hit me.”

“Spanked, there’s a difference,” he murmurs sleepily against my head.

I roll out of his arms, and he grabs me, pulling me back and holding me closer this time.

Our eyes meet, and his are soft, almost sleepy. “Did you enjoy yourself? Not the two orgasms.”

“Valor.” I start but then bite my tongue.

It wasn’t what I expected. It fuckin’ hurt, and I don’t understand where the emotions came from.

“Say what you’re thinking.” Valor’s words, a soft command, ease the heat.

“I never thought I’d be okay with something like that. I don’t understand why I am. It fucking hurt. But I wasn’t crying from physical pain.” I feel so weak saying those words, and the image of him in front of me gets blurry.

But Valor runs a thumb across my cheek and dries a tear. “Overwhelm, emotional release, and pain can all bring tears. I’ll admit to maybe pushing you too hard. But I’m an asshole through and through. Stop me if I say something that’s wrong, okay?”

He waits, and after a second, I nod.

“You don’t cry. You don’t let people see you upset. Angry? Sure. But never when you’re honestly wounded or hurt. You’re in control at all times, always trying to prove that you’re worthy of attention and respect.” He pauses, giving me an opening to interject, and as much as it grates me that he clearly knows this part about me, I say nothing. “You carry your pain deep in your soul, never to see the light of day.”

His words rouse feelings from within me, like water slowly bubbling up through a fountain turned on for the first time after a long winter. My breathing is ragged, and I’m at a loss. It’s not like me to fall apart.

Valor knows what to do though. He pulls me against his chest and holds me while delivering words into my crown, his breath warm against my hair. “If you never want me to do that to you again, I’ll understand. It can be a wrong method in the search to find the right thing, but part of you needs that release. I want to be the person who gives it to you.”

I nod, accepting, because the shock that pushed me away from him before pulls me deeper into him now. “Promise me one thing?”

“Try me?” Valor doesn’t make the promise before he hears it.

“You can’t be cold toward me and expect me then to be this soft toward you.” I can’t make my voice loud to drive home the point, but he doesn’t need me to.

“I’ll make every effort. Tell me if you’re not feeling me as you feel me now.” He gives me a soft squeeze.

Valor pulls back a little, bringing his hand from around me to pull my chin up to meet his gaze. The seductive smirk on his face tells me all I need to know.

“I don’t understand why sometimes you freeze me out or leave me in the dark about things. Is it all stuff because you’re...” I let that trail off, and Valor pulls his eyes away from me as he cocks his head.

“Kerrianne is done feeding the tortoise.” He sighs but brings his attention back to me. “Don’t worry, princess. I’ll be sure to be mindful not to bring out the ball gag until you’re ready.”

Whatever face I make has Valor kissing me deeply. He pulls away, giving my thigh a love tap before getting out of bed. “Come on, we’re underdressed for dinner.”

“I thought dinner with your parents was tomorrow?” I sit up, wide eyed, feeling the sting of the way he so thoroughly spanked my ass.

“Mmhmm.” Valor won’t look at me.

“Valor,” I groan, trying to wrangle all the emotions of the past half hour. “Who’s coming to dinner tonight?”

“Well, it was meant to be a surprise but...” Valor’s sheepish smile does nothing to ease my tense shoulders. “Leticia will be here in twenty minutes.”

“You better not be lying to me.” I glare at him. “And she better be coming in through the front door.”

“Where else would she be c —” Valor snorts. “Of course she’s coming in the front door. I have some morals and respect for the truce. She’s hardly my first choice of your cousins to kill.”

40

VALOR

THE IN-LAW IS NOT AN OUTLAW