Page 45 of Illicit Temptation

I still can’t hear anything.

I get to my bedroom to slam the door shut. I fumble for the lock, the metal nub slipping through my fingers. It doesn’t latch and a second later, the door is pushed open.

I jump back so it doesn’t smack me in the head.

Trace stands in the doorway. Caught between the lit sconces in the hallway and the natural sunlight shining into my bedroom, his face is temporarily shadowed. Yet, the sharp angle of his jaw and his chiseled cheekbones stand out.

He’s a god. And sometimes gods are furious. It takes a moment for my eyes to focus on something other than that face. Those veins in his arms I noticed earlier are positively throbbing. He’s charged up. One hand swings gently against his leg.

In that hand is a belt.

What?How?

“You didn’t catch me!” I back up, my heart pounding.

“Looks like I did.” He stands there, slapping the belt against his hand. “Have any appointments tomorrow?”

“N... No,” I stutter at the odd question. “How long do you intend to punish me?”

“As long as it takes.” Trace moves achingly slow toward me, every step measured. “I hope you plan on being on your feet a lot for the next couple of days.”

“Why?” I ask, a shudder snaking down my spine.

“After I’m done with your ass, you won’t be able to sit.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Trace

Shea, Shea, Shea.

“You’ve been living without consequences, lass, but I’m doing this for your own good.” I slap the belt against my palm, warming up the leather.

“Doing what?” Her wild eyes show she’s excited and not frightened.

“I’m not playing games with you, princess. You need to be taught a lesson. Even if it’s precautionary. You already planned to go running through the bloody streets alone this morning. When I tell you, you don’t leave this house without me, I fucking mean it. Now take off that damn robe.”

Horrified, she says, “For what?”

She’s a feisty hellcat, but with my size and strength, I knew I’d catch her, even had time to dive into my bedroom to grab my belt. Twisting it in one hand, I say, “So I can tie you down naked.”

“Like hell, you will.”

“Another challenge. Just can’t help yourself, can you, princess?” I lunge, done with all the cat and mouse. “Watch me.”

I get her on the bed, facedown and she reaches back, adorably swinging to punch me. Clawing wildly, she catches my torso with her nails. Just another scar from my service protecting people. This woman,my wife, means more to me than anyone I’ve protected in the past.

A few knicks in my skin can’t stop me because controlling my temper flew out the window when I crawled along the roofline. I packed it away and held it together to give her what she needed. She would have run off from the bakery if she knew how insanely furious Iwas from being locked in that room.

Words are meaningless at this point. She needs tofeelhow she worried me.

I yank her hands and pin them together with the belt, quickly fastening it. Her yelp seizes me for a moment, and I worry she’ll have another attack.

“Now, let me make myself perfectly clear.” With her hands secured, I wrap my arms around her waist and bring Shea to the balcony.

“Wait...” She bellows, her feet dug into the carpet.

“Time for negotiation is over.” I kick the broken door open and hold her over the edge, letting her experience a few seconds of thinking I’ll drop her into her rose bushes. Which of course I won’t, I’ve got a firm grip on her. “Now you know how I felt when I nearly fell off the damn roof to get to you.”

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