Page 5 of Captivated By Him

Maybe he won’t call. This was a weird night. A strange moment passing between two strange people. I’m an awkward flirt. He’ll forget about me within minutes.

A text notification beeps.

Your friends were looking for you. Both underage.

I’ll be over in an hour so we can discuss your dishonesty.

Seeing him again would be a really bad idea.

Horrible even.

Then maybe you’ll get that spanking I promised.

My belly tightens at the memory of his voice as he said those words.

One time wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Just once.

* * *

An hour after I make it home, the knocking on my front door begins.

As a second round starts, I slide the heavy bolt to the left and open the door. Jakub Staszek stands in my hallway, still wearing the same black shirt with the Musicbox logo embossed on the front. His jaw is set firm, and his eyes pin me to where I stand.

“You’re here,” I say softly. I hadn’t actually completely expected him to come over. Part of me hoped he’d been joking; the other part had downed an energy drink just in case.

“I said I’d be over.” He steps forward, gently nudging me into my apartment. He closes the door quietly and slides the bolt back in place.

“Look. I’m sorry about the club.” I fold my hands in front of me. All the bravery I’d put forth at the club is gone now. Either from exhaustion or from the reality there is no one here to save me if things get out of hand.

“Hmm.” He walks the periphery of my living room, stopping to look at a photograph here and there. “You’re sorry you snuck in my club or you’re sorry you left so soon?”

I swallow. “I got a text from my friends.”

He raises a dark eyebrow. “Your two nineteen-year-old friends?”

I try to smile, but there’s a darkness in his stare that stifles it. “Yeah. Those two. Thanks for not giving them trouble. Just letting them leave.”

He keeps silent as he moves closer, stopping just shy of touching me. “You lied to me, Nicole.”

“What was I supposed to do, help you track them down and kick them out? They’re my friends. I wasn’t going to do that to them.”

“I know.” He moves to my couch, sitting down on the middle cushion and resting his hands on his knees. Sitting in my apartment he seems so much larger than at his office. But in both places he exudes confidence. He’s in my apartment, but he looks as though he owns the place.

“Your loyalty kept them out of trouble. I did have to make them leave, and I did take their IDs, though.” He runs his hands up and down his thighs, like he’s warming them up.

“Oh.” I suppress a smile. “Too bad for them, I guess.” Staci and Devin have several IDs. In case one place did exactly as he did, they have backups. They’ll be fine.

“But your lying has put you in trouble.” He pats his knee. “And it’s time you paid the consequence.”

A nervous bubble rises up in my throat and I laugh. What other response should there be to such a crazy statement? “What?”

“I told you on strike three you’d get a spanking. You lied.” He levels me with his hard glare. “That’s strike three.”

“You’re crazy if you think I’m going to just go over there and let you spank me. That’s insane. You’re insane.” I haven’t moved an inch though. I’m not opening the door and yelling at him to leave. I’m just standing here waiting to see what happens, waiting to see if this heat conjuring in my belly will stop.

“You were a bad girl tonight, Nicole. Come take your punishment.” He pats his knee again. “If you don’t, if I have to make you, I can’t make you feel good. I’ll have to leave you desperate and wanting.”

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