Page 37 of The Villains We Make

“You did but you were gone.” She touches my face, brushing my hair back from my forehead. “You okay?”

“What a cluster. I need to wash the smell of jail off me.” I take her hand and lead her up the stairs, where I decide on a bath instead of the shower. I roll up my shirt sleeve and sit on the edge. Once the water is to the right temperature, I plug the tub. I’m tired. I’m fucking exhausted. I haven’t slept properly in too many nights.

But there’s one thing I need to do before I rest.

I study Ophelia as I dry my hand on a towel. “Take off your clothes.”

“Me? I already?—"

“Take off your clothes, O,” I repeat, sitting on the velvet bench and crossing one ankle over the opposite knee to watch.

Ophelia faces me, studying me, trying to understand what is to come. She pulls off her boots, then her sweater and jeans. She folds them and sets them aside before stripping off her bra.

When she has her hands in the waistband of her panties, I tell her to stop. I look her over, my beautiful wife. My sweet wife.

My disobedient wife.

“Come here.” I motion with my finger for her to come and she does. I sit up, putting both feet on the floor. I take her hips to pull her close, standing her between my knees.

I look over her shoulder at her reflection in the mirror, at the marks Ethan left with his belt. It reinforces why I need to do this.

“Your bruises are healing,” I say, and she glances back to look at herself. “Does it still hurt?”

“Not really. Just a little tender.”

“Good. As for today, I told you to stay here, didn’t I? Told you to wait for me to take you to see your father.”

“Silas, you were?—”

I give her a slight nudge. “Did I or did I not tell you I would take you?”

“You did.”

I nod. “Lay over my knee, O.”

“What?”

“Over my knee.” I point.

Her eyes search mine, her pupils dilating. She licks her lips then bites one before draping herself over my knee and setting her hands on the floor.

“Now reach back and take your panties down.”

“Silas.” She starts to shift, to sit up, but I place a hand at her lower back.

“Do it.”

“I don’t?—”

“Fucking do it.”

“Fine.” Without looking at me, she does as she’s told and peels her panties down to her knees.

“Good.” I trap her legs between mine and cup one ass cheek, weighing it in the palm of my hand. When I splay her open, I see her pussy is glistening, leaking down her thigh. I’m already hard at the sight of her like this but seeing that takes it to another level.

I spank her ass. Surprised, she clenches her cheeks, relaxing only when I rub out the sting. “When I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it, especially when it comes to your safety.” I spank again.

“Silas.” She squirms.

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