Page 112 of The Duke's Indecent Match

Gasping, Kalina tried to shake the sleep from her head as Nathanial’s hand came down again on her upturned bottom.If the sensations weren’t so sharp, she would have thought she was still dreaming.

“What?”She’d meant to ask why, but she was still grappling with the suddenness of the spanking and the way her body was pulsing with need from the way she’d been woken.It was certainly not the worst way to wake up, but she would have preferred seeing it through to its inevitable conclusion, not having her pleasure interrupted by a spanking.

“Why did you let me believe that you were part of it?”Nathanial’s voice was full of aggrieved frustration as well as self-recrimination.“You asked me to spank you, for God’s sake!You let me believe you were trying to atone for something you had actually done!”

“I—” She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all, then shrieked as his hand came down again.“I just wanted you to forgive me!”

“Forgive you for what?You had done nothing wrong!”His hand came down again with a sharp smack, then rested on her upturned bottom.The extra warmth emanating from her skin made his palm feel hot against it.

“Then why are you spanking me?”She looked over her shoulder at him, utterly confused, especially when he glared at her.

“Because you had me spank you for something you did not do.”

Clearly, it made sense to him.

Kalina was uncertain if she was just too tired or if the concept was just too convoluted.

“I am sorry?”It came out as more of a question than a statement.Kalina tried to roll onto her back, but his fingers dug into her bottom, keeping her in place, like he was uncertain whether or not he was finished with it and therefore refused to let it out of his reach.

“What are you sorry for?”

“Um… asking you to spank me?”

She really was not entirely sure.Nathanial scowled at her.Even if she was just repeating what he’d said, maybe it was her uncertain tone that he was unhappy with now.

But she really did not understand.

“I would never have spanked you if I’d realized you truly had nothing to do with trapping me,” he growled.“It would not be… it is not…” He floundered for the words, but Kalina was starting to understand.

It was not fair.

Nor was it honorable of him to punish her for something she had not actually done.And Nathanial had already proven how important it was to him to do the honorable thing.

Kalina thought she understood now.

“He is my father.I still bear some of the guilt.I could have reacted better when I woke.If I had not screamed…”

His hand rubbed her bottom, fingers brushing over the sensitive crinkled rosebud between them, and a shiver went up her spine in reaction.

“Your maid was screaming, too.”

“Well, yes, but I added to the problem.”

Nathanial snorted and lifted his hand to get her another hard swat.

“Ow!What was that for?”

“For being a martyr.You are hardly in control of your father’s actions or your maid’s reaction.”

“I thought you were upset with me for asking to be spanked,” she groused.

“For asking to be spanked when you did not deserve it.Personally, I think that taking on the burden of others’ actions as your own deserves a bit of punishment.”He rubbed her bottom where he’d just swatted it, sending pleasure pulsing through her.“Though I admire your loyalty, that goes a touch far.The only actions you are responsible for are your own.”

His fingers brushed over the entrance to her bottom again, pressing against it when she did not answer.

“Do you not agree, Kalina?”

“You have taken on the debts your father owed as if they were your own.”She huffed.While she might be guilty, so was he.