Page 60 of Her Older Sheikh

"I understand."

"Just as good deeds must be rewarded, bad deeds cannot go unpunished."

"Oh no."

I actually feel rather impressed at how frightened I sound.

"Are you saying you intend to punish me?"

"What else can a good doctor do," he drawls rather silkily, "when his patient proves to be a very bad girl?"

I let myself whimper."I'm a bad girl?"

"Averybad girl."

"But...I've never been punished." And crazily enough, I think that's the first bit of truth I've uttered in our entire conversation. Io has always been lenient towards me, and while Nik can be strict, he's never punished me either.

"Don't you trust me?"

No.

Or at least that's what real-life Leah would've said.

But since I'mstillTemptation right now...

"I do, Doctor. Always."

"Then if I say I'll have to punish you for your own good..."

Fear skitters down my spine at his words...even as they also make my toes curl.

How is Dr. Somebody so good at making me feel so many things all at once?

"Will you let me?"

Real-life Leah would've retorted 'you wish' without hesitation, but since I'mnotmyself at the moment—-

"Yes, Doctor."

I can only continue to take his word as the bible's truth, and can I just say how exquisitely liberating it is to not have to worry about anything like this?

"Good girl."

My heart skips another beat, which is something itneverused to do...until now.

"In the meantime—-"

There's another pause, and my instincts warn me to brace myself.

"You have yet to tell me your reason for asking about the size of my hands."

Eek!

The question still catches me off guard, and butterflies start fluttering all around my tummy again.

"Um..."

"The truth, Temptation."

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