Page 55 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

“Giving you care allows me time to show you how I feel,” I answered, choosing to not engage in any of our normal witty banter, instead opting for genuine honesty.

“And how is it you feel, Niko?” she asked in a voice that sounded confident, though I could see the timidness in her body language clear as day.

“I feel several things. I feel humbled by your submission, by your willingness to take your punishmentso well.” I let the cloth slip out of my hands, dropping to the bottom of the tub as I allowed my skin to touch hers, to run the length of her body slowly. “I feel proud. Proud that you didn’t shy away from the punishment, even though you were scared. I’m proud of how brave you were, Maddy.”

“Really?” she asked. My eyes found hers, noting the hint of a smile that played on her lips. She should smile.

“Really. And you should be proud of yourself, too. You were incredible. But…” I trailed off, searching for the right words. I grasped her elbow, pulling gently until she sat fully up in the tub. “But, more than anything, Maddy, I am honored.”

“Honored?”

“Yes, honored. Honored that you trusted me to guide you through something as serious and scary as punishment. It’s a huge deal between partners in a dynamic, especially that first time. But for you, even more so, because you have no prior knowledge of the kink scene or how it works. You’re brand new to all of this. And you handled yourself with so much grace, so much strength… I’m completely honored by your submission. And this?” I touched her chin, making sure I had her full attention. “This between us, this aftercare, allows me the chance to show you all of those things. To soothe the ache inside of me that happens after forcing my dominance over you in such a way.”

Her brow furrowed as she took in my words. The water had cooled slightly, but that did not seem to dissuade her from reclining back into the tub, the tips ofher nipples rising above the water’s surface with every breath she drew.

“It means a lot to me, too,” she finally whispered, her eyes flicking to mine for only a moment before her gaze fell away once more.

“Good, I’m glad.” It was an honest answer.

“I seem to remember another promise you made,” she added, a smirk curling the corner of her pretty little mouth.

“Oh? And what is that?”

“You promised that if I succeeded in taking my punishment, you’d give me more orgasms than I could handle.” Her eyes lifted to mine, fire dancing in the bright blue depths. She took her lower lip between her teeth, nibbling at it in a way that had my cock hardening instantly.

“Did I? Hmm, I don’t seem to remember—” My words were cut short as she splashed water at me. And not a little splash. No, it was the kind that spilled over onto the floor and soaked me nearly from head to foot where I knelt on the ground beside the tub. “You little brat,” I seethed, though not in anger, but playing along with our little game.

“Whatcha gonna do about it,buddy?” A fire sparked in her eyes as I grabbed her by the throat, tugging her forward enough that I could wrap my arms around her and hoist her slippery body into the air and up into my arms.

She screeched in a very satisfying manner as I flung her over my shoulder. “Oh, I have plenty I want to doabout that, princess,” I promised, slapping her ass sharply and swiftly, the pain making her yelp.

Hard spanks on wet skin. Was there anything better?

“Niko! Put me down!” She squealed as I marched my way back out of the bathroom, caring not a lick that she was stark naked.

“No way. I have plans, princess,” I scoffed, slapping her ass again for good measure. I was becoming quite a fan of the sound made by my hand on her wet flesh.

“I am soaking wet!”

I stopped just as I closed the door to the playroom behind me. My hand slid up the back of her thigh, finding her apex and letting my fingers delve between.

“Oh, princess. I can make youmuchwetter than that.” Crossing the room in a few long strides, I threw her off my shoulder and onto the bed with enough force that she literally bounced.

“Stay.” It was a sharp command, one that had her closing her gaping mouth sharp enough I almost heard her teeth click together as her eyes popped open wide. With a smirk, I crossed the room again, grabbing a bottle of lube from the top drawer of a dresser and making my way back to her. Along the way, I shed my thoroughly soaked clothes, preferring nakedness to the wet, clinging cloth.

“Here’s how this is going to go, princess. You are going to stay there on the bed, in whatever position I put you in. You can wriggle and writhe and make all the noise that you want, but don’t fight me. This is for your pleasure. This is your reward. Do youunderstand?”

“Hmm…” she paused, tapping her finger to her chin pensively.

“Princess…” I warned, my voice more of a growl than human speech.

“Fine, fine. Yes, Sir.” That eye roll of hers was about to get her a red ass if she didn’t shape up soon, but I kept my thoughts focused on the task at hand.

“I am going to make you wetter than you’ve ever been. Do you trust me?” I asked, giving her one last opportunity to change my mind.

“I trust you.” For a moment, my breath caught. She looked up at me through her lashes, and while we normally engaged in all manner of witty banter and sarcastic repartee, this was something entirely different. This was trust. Real trust.

“Then, let us begin.” With a smirk, I knelt on the floor at the foot of the bed. Grabbing each of her ankles, I yanked her down the bed as she shrieked and giggled. I pulled until the edge of her ass was perched right on the edge of the bed. Pulling a footstool that matched the one in the bathroom from beneath the bed, I made myself comfortable.

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