Page 85 of Becoming His Pet

“Doing what?”

She gazed into his eyes, knowing it was one of the last times she’d be doing so.

“You can’t keep protecting me. You can’t keep me. I know that.”

His brow wrinkled, and his eyes darkened.

“It’s why you’ve been so gentle the past few days. You know it’s time for us to... for me to go—” One hand clamped over her mouth and her nose, cutting off not only her words but her air.

“You can’t possibly be that dense.” He shook his head, loosening his grip to give her some air. “Do you think I would have taken you to see Victor Santinelli if I wasn’t in this for the long haul?”

She didn’t know how to answer that. He’d been so kind the past few days, he would have.

He increased the pressure around her mouth. “Of course I wouldn’t. I’ve been gentle with you because you just went through something fucking horrible. I was giving you time.”

She brought her hands up and pulled on his wrist, getting some air when he pulled his fingers back.

“So, what happens now?” she mumbled behind his palm.

“Now, we go home, and I tan that pretty ass of yours for assuming things again without talking about it. Then we deal with what we found out today.”

She blinked, letting the tears fall and get caught by his hand. He moved it, wiping his thumb across her cheekbone.

“Your brother will never forgive me. He had to send his wife and daughter into hiding. How can you even think—” He cut off her air again.

“I can see it’s going to be a very long tanning.” He pressed his lips together. “One day, after you can sit properly again, you can ask Aubree about how she and Blake got together and then you can see that Blake has nothing to forgive you for. He’s sort of used to chaos.” He pulled his hand off but pressed one finger to her lips. “But for now, no talking. And if you try, I’ll add ten strokes for every word you utter.”

She swallowed back the smartass comment. He meant it, he meant everything he said. And there would be no second chances given.

Once she nodded her understanding, he sat back in his seat and pulled the car into traffic.

“I know you don’t understand it, but I also know you love it as much as I do. And that’s why I know we’ll be okay. We’ll get through this and be good.”

“What?” she asked then slapped her hand over her mouth.

He flashed a grin. “An extra ten.” Reaching over the console, he squeezed her thigh. “I know that you love every second of it.”

She didn’t fall for his vague statement, she wouldn’t ask again. But she tilted her head in questioning.

“You love every second of becoming my pet.”

She didn’t bother trying to deny it. Even if she could use words. Out of all the badness, it had been the one good thing that came out of all of it.

He was right.

She had loved every bit of becoming his pet.

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