Page 49 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

He looked at me, confused, one brow arched high on his forehead.

“What? I can’t talk to you seriously when I’m naked.”

“Didn’t stop you last night.”

“Oh, shut it. You and I both know that’s not the same thing.”

“You’re right, it’s not the same. But…” he trailed off, taking my hand in his and leading me back to the bed and sitting beside me. “But this is a big deal, Maddy. I guess I just thought that after the talk we had before, I ever agreed to this…”

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath. His history with submissives breaking consent and crossing boundaries. I had made him a promise and had broken it without a second thought. Just like that other woman. Instantly, regret and remorse flooded me.

I squeezed his hand in mine, hoping to convey my sincerity.

“Niko, I did the wrong thing here. I know that. I should never have taken your phone. It was dumb. I was dumb. And it won’t happen again. You are right, you guyshave been clear with me about the dangers I’m facing. It was a moment of weakness.”

“Thank you for admitting that. It means a lot, honestly. But I am still going to have to administer a punishment.”

“Punishment? But I apologized!” I said, confused by his words.

“Yes, and you also agreed to the rules we set in this dynamic. If you break a rule, it requires punishment,” he reminded me. Dread settled in my gut.

“But… I apologized,” I repeated, much quieter this time.

“Doesn’t change the fact, now does it?” Leveling me with a stern gaze, I knew my fate was sealed. Trouble was, I remember exactly what that punishment consisted of. Andthat, I was not excited about.

“So, here’s what we are going to do. You’re going to eat your breakfast, and then go get yourself showered and ready for the day. Then you will meet me in the basement.”

“The basement?” I was confused. I had never been in the basement. In fact, the guys had made it clear that it was closed off to me. “I thought I wasn’t allowed down there.”

“Well, I’m giving you permission, so I guess that doesn’t matter this time, does it?” He said with a smirk.

“Okay. I’ll go shower and meet you there soon.” Resigned to my fate, I looked around the room for my clothes.

“Breakfast first,” he reiterated, setting the tray of food down onthe bed.

“I’m not exactly hungry at this point.”

“Trust me, princess,” he chuckled, grabbing a piece of strawberry from my plate and popping it into his smirking mouth. “You’re going to need your energy.”

With that, he left me sitting there, mouth gaping, and with enough anxiety rolling around in my stomach to cause an ulcer.

It was going to be a long day.

And it was all my own doing.

I had triedto meet Niko in the basement shortly after my shower, but he was nowhere to be found, and the door was locked. So much for his plan. Finally, after an hour of waiting for him, he appeared in my doorway.

“Are you ready?” he asked, sounding every bit the part of a Dominant at that moment.

I could only nod my head, guilt plaguing me with every heartbeat. I had hurt him. And I knew I’d fucked up.

“Follow me.” With a flick of his fingers, he beckoned me to follow him, down the stairs and across the house to the door that had remained locked since the day I had arrived. What lurked beneath, I could not begin to guess.

Niko unlocked the door, holding it open and flipping the light on to guide my way. I’d only made it down two steps when his hand gripped my shoulder, stopping my descent.

“Wait.” His tone was sharp, and serious, and I knew better than to argue.

He closed the door behind us before shifting past myposition on the stairs, turning to hold a hand out to me. I took it hesitantly, apprehensive of what was in store for me once we reached the bottom.

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