Page 183 of Sin & Sapphire

“Jamais.”

“Would you ever hurt me if I didn’t want you to?”

“Never.”

I cupped his cheek. “Then play with me. Please. Help me replace my memories of torture with reminders of your love.”

He closed his eyes and turned his lips into my palm, kissing it, then swallowed hard. “Hands on the back of the couch, sweetheart.”

I did as he asked, spreading my legs slightly so he could see how much I wanted this, how wet I already was.

“Count to ten,” he murmured, then spanked me gently.

Warmth bloomed on my ass, not enough to truly hurt, but I was so grateful Valentin was touching me again, I wasn’t about to complain. “One.”

“I hate that he saw you like this,” Valentin said.

“I love that you’re looking at me,” I answered.

He spanked me again, hard enough to sting.

“Two. I love that when you spank me, it turns us both on.”

Again, harder.

“Three. I love how the sting blooms into fire, and then agony, the more you spank me.”

Harder yet again.

“Four. I love how careful you’ve been with me because you wanted me to know I was more to you than just an object for your sadism.”

“Five. I love you.”

“Six—”

“I love how fucking brave you are,” he interrupted. “How you leaned into the pain when you discovered how much you liked it.”

“Seven.”

“I love that you asked for what you needed, and that you’re trusting me to listen to you when you tell me enough is enough.”

“Eight.”

“I love that you’re helping Angelo build an empire here, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of your father.”

“Nine.”

“I love everything about you.”

“Ten.”

“I love you.”

A sob escaped me, and he immediately reversed our positions so I straddled his lap as he sat on the couch.

“Ana?”

I shook my head as tears streamed down my cheeks, and I collapsed against him, the sweet agony in my ass as cleansing as it was hot.

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