Page 27 of The Unplanned Wedding

"I admit, I made a mistake by leaving you."

She seems taken aback.

"But I also think you should pay for the error of your ways."

"I didn’t do anything wrong.” She firms her lips.

"You were flirting right back with my brother."

She blinks. “And if I was?”

“The last time you allowed another man to touch you, I punished you. Have you forgotten?” I growl.

She lowers her chin, then looks up at me from under her eyelashes. “Perhaps, I have. Perhaps, you need to remind me again of the consequences... Sir.”

Her eyes gleam, and I realize, she’s baiting me. Worse, I can’t seem to stop myself from reacting to it. She’s going to pay for it, but first, I need to set her right. "You were flirting with Connor because he reminded you of me. But there’s a reason it’s I'm the one you’re attracted to, and not him,” I declare.

Her forehead furrows. "What do you mean?"

"You need someone who’ll take you in hand."

Color smears her cheeks.

"Someone who'll lay down the rules for you to follow. Someone who'll tell you what to do."

The pulse at the base of her neck increases in intensity.

"Someone who'll dominate you and take the choice away from you, so you can lean into your urges, only?—"

"Only?" she breathes.

"Only, you need to ask me for it.”

Her forehead crinkles, "You want me to ask for what exactly?"

"Your punishment, of course."

She begins to speak, and I cut the air with my palm. "Don’t bother denying it. It’s evident from your features that you want it. The question is, are you bold enough to acknowledge what you want? And make no mistake, you need to ask for this of your own free will."

She swallows, then tips up her chin.

"You…want me to ask for it of my own free will?" She repeats my words.

A delaying tactic, but I’ll allow it. I choose not to reply. Instead, I sprawl in my seat and eye her with a stern look.

"What’s it gonna be, July?"

It’s a testament to the preoccupation of her thoughts that she doesn’t protest at the name I call her.

She flicks a look at the door, then lets out a sigh. A look of resolution comes over her features. She squares her shoulders, then takes a step toward me, and another. She comes forward until she’s standing in front of me.

Thank fuck.The first time I spanked her, in the boardroom, I took a gamble. This time... I took it a step further by being upfront about what I think she needs. That she wants to be taken in hand. That she needs direction. That she yearns for a clear roadmap through which to explore her desires. And that I'm the only one to give it to her.

I could deny it, but the rage I felt on seeing her with Connor showed me, I can’t ignore this attraction between us. It's a problem. And I've yet to face a problem I can’t solve. I'm certainly not going to back away from this one either. So, I decided to play my hand. And now, when she approaches me to stand in front of me, I’m relieved I did.

The thought of the pleasure it will give me to see her submit to me makes me feel like I’m going to float away on a puff of smoke. I don’t deserve the happiness it’s going to bring me, but it’s not forever, is it? Just for now, for this moment, I can make her bend to my will. Just for a few minutes, I can indulge my need for her and allow myself to feel complete. Anticipation pinches my nerve endings, but I keep it from showing on my features.

Instead, I jerk my chin. “Part your legs.”

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