Page 118 of The More the Merrier

“For the rest of the time I’m at your house, I’d like you to call me ‘Sir’. Last chance to do as I’ve said.”

Though I attempted to convince myself that I didn’t have a bratty side to my personality, something about his tone and the way he cut through my bullshit prompted me to disregard the order. I would not be compliant until he forced me to be. I gave him blank eyes.

“Roll onto your side, Grant.”

“I’m not going to do that.”

“Oh, lumbersnack.” He clenched and released his jaw as his gorgeous blue eyes studied mine. “You’re going to wish you did.”

Dalton released his hold long enough to manhandle me onto my stomach. He kept my leg in a semi natural position so I didn’t put any pressure on it, but it hardly mattered. The sound of leather being pulled through the loops of his jeans sounded over my shoulder. After thinking about our kiss in the backroom at the fair, the way he carried me inside last night, and all our interactions in between, I was finally going to get what he’d promised.

“I may have bitten off more than I can chew, Sir.” I coughed on his requested title, choking on my words. If anyone deserved to be referred to as Sir, it was Dalton, but it sounded odd on my lips.

“Five strikes, and then we’ll see if you have a fever.” He tugged my boxer briefs to mid-thigh.

I braced for the leather strap. Dalton landed the first one across the full expanse of my ass. I hissed as the pain registered, and again when the afterburn flared. “Fuck.”

“Four more to go.”

The next one expertly caressed my right asscheek. It would have been almost soothing if the skin wasn’t so sensitive. Another stinging bite attacked the same spot. He delivered each one with incredible precision, and I bit down on my fist to keep from yelling. Dalton allowed me the moment. Breathing through the pain wasn’t enough. Instead of allowing myself to process it, I sassed him. “So, this is what turns you on?”

“No. Punishing you for not listening brings me no joy. I hoped this would help you work through whatever is going on, but you’re holding everything in.”

He rubbed the back of my head, and the gesture was so soothing. Dalton wouldn’t let me spiral out of control as long as he was around. Though it might have appeared to everyone else that I had a good handle on things, the awful truth was that I’d been burning the candles at both ends, even after both of my businesses were placed in good hands. I worked ridiculous hours, refusing to let the control slip because I needed to stay busy. Allowing him to shoulder some of the crap that I hadn’t shared with anyone would grant me the freedom to explore a side of me I never let see the light of the day. He would balance our relationship as much as I would, and I looked forward to a new beginning with him and Kendall. She was the sweetest thing, even though she’d let herself get bogged down with grief. After allowing one night of her burdens to be taken off her shoulders, despite my getting hurt, the air around her seemed lighter than I’d observed in months.

Tears pricked my eyes, and I blew out a breath. For a long time, I had been holding it all together on my own. “I apologize for messing this up. Sir, I'm completely out of my element. I’ve never done this.”

“You haven’t messed anything up. No one is perfect, besides, it means I’ll have to get more creative.” Dalton patted my head once more before moving his hand to my hip. “Two more.”

Nodding, I gripped the comforter with both hands. He targeted my left ass cheek, lining up his belt and delivering a snapping blow. It hurt as badly as the other ones. I was not used to being on the receiving end of a correction, and I didn’t want him to use his belt again anytime soon. The last stroke fell in the same spot. Groaning, I took several deep breaths and let them out.

“You took it better than I thought you would.” He patted my ass once and his cool hand felt soothing under the circumstances. “How’s your leg?”

“Compared to the burn on my ass, it’s just peachy.”

Dalton smacked each of my upper thighs hard enough to make me wince. “What did you say, Grant?”

“My leg isn’t currently experiencing any pain, Sir.”

“Good boy,” he praised.

His words touched me in a way I didn't expect. The surprises just kept coming. I heard the whipping of air over my shoulder and I glanced to see him shaking down the thermometer. So much for thinking that he would forget about it. I said nothing as he parted my asscheeks and tensed as the tip touched me.

“Relax.”

“Easy for you to say,” I mumbled.

Dalton slid the glass tool inside my tight back hole, and I moaned. Out of all the sounds that could have fallen from between my lips, I hadn’t expected one of pleasure. He knew exactly what he was doing, stroking nerves inside of me that no one else had ever touched. No wonder Kendall had given breathy moans in response to Dalton teasing the rim of her asshole before claiming it was a hard limit. She’d immediately caved, sheepishly admitting how good it felt.

“Seems like you got all huffy for no reason at all,” he mused.

“Mm.” I shifted slightly, but it made no difference. My cock was rock hard from the attention my ass was currently receiving. “I’ve never had anything back there, Sir. Not even a finger.” Why the hell had I worded it like that? Dalton was already wearing gloves, and he had an entire tube of lubricant. I wouldn’t put it past him to find something bigger to insert.

“How terribly unfortunate.” He slid the rod a little deeper, twisting it as he advanced it. “Three minutes.”

“I don’t have a fever, Sir. You can remove it.”

“When we’re done.”

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