Page 24 of Hidden Heart

“Are you ashamed you liked it?” He toyed with the crop.

“No.” She shrugged, her eyes darting from the leather to the window behind him, seeking a safe place to mentally hide.

“That’s one. I’ll give you one more chance to be honest with me.” His jaw tightened. “Are you ashamed of what we did last night?”

“Not ashamed.” She scratched her elbow, her eyes on the coffee table.

“Then what?” She had more lingering in that beautiful mind of hers, and he wanted it. He wanted to know everything about her—her feelings, her desires. If only he could get her to stop hiding from them.

Her eyes fixed on the leather rod. “What we did was fine. I liked it.” Another shrug.

“And that’s a bad thing.” He slapped the crop against his palm. The sound hung between them.

“Stop putting words in my mouth,” she demanded with balled-up fists and a stomp of her right foot. Such defiance for such a simple question.

He tilted his head and stared her down like the adversary she was making herself. “Do you think stomping and yelling is the way we should handle this?” His words didn’t hold curiosity, but rather a warning.

“You keep insisting you know my feelings.”

“You keep insisting you don’t have any,” he threw back. “Tell me, and I’ll stop assuming.” He crossed his arms over his chest, still holding the crop in his hand.

“I don’t understand why I liked it. I shouldn’t have liked it.” She took a deep breath.

“Tell me something, Jessica. When I instruct you and you obey, what does it feel like to you?” He leaned against the arm of the couch.

Her eyelids drooped, her fists remaining tight, and she chewed her inner lip. “I was thinking we could have breakfast.” Her eyes moved again, still not falling on him.

“That’s two. One more and you’ll get ten with my belt.” His tone was unyielding, his jaw tight. There was a shift in her stance; she was going to defy him, push him. He hoped he read her signals wrong. The chances of wrapping her legs around his waist and sinking his cock into her shrunk the longer she glared at him.

“Your belt? One difference of opinion, and you reach for your belt?” She crossed her arms over her chest and faced him.

“Stop fighting me. Answer the question, and we can go into the kitchen and have breakfast.” He blocked her attempt to derail the conversation.

“See, now I really don’t want to talk about it.” She raised her chin in defiance.

There would be no morning sex.

“Jessica, go into the bedroom, remove your pants, and bend over the bed. Keep your hands in front of you.” His voice sounded flat, even to him. Most submissives in her position would show some remorse before quickly moving to obey him. But she wasn’t most submissives. Hell, she barely understood what it was to be a submissive.

She didn’t move.

“That would be now, Jessica. Go.” He nodded toward the bedroom, as fear flowed into her expression. “Go.” He held firm.

“I don’t see—”

“Let me put it this way. You have two choices.” He uncrossed his arms and squared his shoulders to her. “You either do as you’re told—like you agreed when we began this—or you leave. Punishments are part of the deal. You broke a rule. You’re holding back.” His heart pounded through his ears. What if she chose the second option and left him? Would he be able to keep from chasing her?

“Fine. I’ll answer you.” She dropped her hands to her sides and relaxed her shoulders. Her eyes met his. She looked so hopeful, and he almost hated to squash it.

“We’ll talk after your spanking. Now, go to the bedroom, or I’ll have to add more to your punishment.” He would not be moved from his decision; she would need to learn that about him. Once he decided on a punishment, consequences would be paid, and no amount of sweet talk would change it.

Jessica’s gaze darted to the crop and back again to his eyes. Her thoughts flashed across her expressions.

He continued to glare at her as she made her decision. Her heavy sigh, brimming with resolve, gave him his answer. He moved from her path. Their eyes never met as she walked past him and disappeared down the hallway.

The morning of sultry meals and erotic moments dissipated before his eyes along with his hope of her first spanking being one of pleasure. He glanced at the crop in his hand and tossed it onto the coffee table.

Resigned to the path they were now on, he crossed the living room and headed to the bedroom.

---