Page 66 of Training His Pet

He grabbed her ass cheeks, pulling them wide apart. “You should keep your tail in all the time. You’re more obedient when it’s in, reminding you of your position, your place between us.”

She wrapped her arms around the column and pressed her face into the wood. There were no words that would make this right. She needed to take her punishment, show him she meant it. She regretted acting selfishly.

“Fifteen.” His heavy boots sounded on the porch. The belt dangled. She could hear the buckle as he fit it into his palm. The moment she peeked over her shoulder, she regretted it. The full length of the belt hung from his hand. He wasn’t doubling it over. This was a true whipping.

She moved her gaze from the belt up to his eyes. Hard determination settled in his gaze. There would be no getting out of this, no plea for mercy answered, no second chance. She’d given up her choices when she’d disobeyed him.

He pulled his arm back, his gaze set on her ass. She shut her eyes, trying to shut out the actions. The fire lit across her ass and she sucked in a hot breath. The second lash landed, and out came her scream. He didn’t make her count, or even give her the chance to recall the last lash before the next landed.

Over and over again, hot pain rained down on her ass. The pain vibrated through her body, but the intensity shot straight across her tender flesh.

“Two more,” he announced and she pressed herself further into the pole. How had she survived so far? How was she still standing?

Sharp pain crossed the tops of her thighs and she jumped up to her toes. Tears rushed down her cheeks.

“Last one,” he stated, and before she finished hearing him, it was on her. The belt crossed her ass in the hardest of lashes, making her scream into the wood.

The tension in Erika’s shoulders slowly eased away the longer the silence stretched. The burn melted into a heated blanket and her breath came easier.

“Why did you go up to the dungeons?” Dax’s hard voice told her he wasn’t through with her yet.

She sank off her toes and hugged the pole to her chest.

“I just wanted to talk to some other guests,” she said honestly. It took too much energy to cover up her intent, and after spending everything keeping herself from jumping over the porch railing and running away, she had nothing left to guard herself with.

He scoffed, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Hadn’t he already told her that was forbidden? That the only person she was to concentrate on while they were at the resort was herself?

But she had questions. She had thoughts she needed to toss around with other people who felt the same way, who reacted the way she did. She needed to know she wasn’t completely crazy.

Dax grabbed her leash and pulled hard downward. “Down,” he commanded and she obeyed.

Once she was on her hands and knees, he walked her back into the house, his belt dangling from one hand and her leash fisted in the other. Tears fell down her cheeks onto the flooring as he brought her to the kitchen. She didn’t dare make him pause so she could wipe them away.

She’d earned them, after all. If she had told him what she wanted to do, he might have let her. He probably would have brought her up to the dungeons himself. He wouldn’t have just ignored her questions. She knew that.

And feeling his disappointment in her hurt more than his belt ever could.

“Heel.” He pointed to the floor, and without hesitation she obeyed.

“I just wanted...” she spoke softly when he walked to the counter. The scent of grilled steaks filled the kitchen; her gaze traveled to the platter next to the sink where their dinner sat. He didn’t pick up the plate though.

He snatched one of the bowls she’d picked out at the pet store and brought it back over to her.

“What? What did you want, pet?” he asked in a low grave tone.

“I just wanted to talk to other people... like me.” She chanced looking up at him through her wet eyelashes.

His jaw tightened.

“I—”

“I know what you mean.” His hand sliced through the air. “I understand that. And if you had come to me with that, had asked me to talk to other submissives, I would have brought you up there myself. I would have asked Devin who was best for you to talk with. But.” He dropped the belt on the kitchen table and worked the button on his jeans open. “You didn’t. You disobeyed. You went behind my back.”

Pain burst through her chest at the dip in his voice. Going behind his back. That was her greatest crime. He’d trusted her to stay inside the cabin and do her work while he made them dinner; instead, she’d used his lack of attention as a way to sneak out.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, bowing her head again.

“Hold this.” He handed her the bowl. She took it in both hands.

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