Page 37 of A Heart So Savage

Ava’s eyes filled with helpless, angry tears. “Iwon’t! Not like that. Not in front of a woman who wants you so very badly. I won’t let you humiliate me like that.”

“Humiliate you?” Kingston’s head tilted. “Oh, sweet little lamb. You’ve got it all wrong.” His voice softened, the air growing heavy and thick as he tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. Cupping her chin in the palm of his hand, he forced her to meet his gaze. “My ownership is something you should covet. Monique, and others like her, would gladly trade places with you. I need only to snap my fingers to make it happen. However, it is not her obedience I crave. It is yours. And Iwillhave it.”

Ava steeled herself, hating his arrogance, remembering submission meant a quick exit from this nightmare. Compliance would bore him. Her resistance only excited him more.

“I’m sorry, sir,” she murmured, carefully interjecting the right amount of remorse in her tone.

Kingston’s gaze darkened. “I realize this is an unfamiliar situation for you, Ava. You are inexperienced, but my intention is to exercise patience as I teach you. Well, as much patience as I can manage, anyway.” His hand slid from her chin until it cupped the back of her neck. “But my leniency has been sorely tested tonight. You must be punished for your willfulness.”

Ava’s heart skipped a beat, thudding with apprehension and regret for her hasty, thoughtless behavior.

“Punished?” she repeated with a slow blink. “You will spank me again?”

Kingston shook his head. “I’m afraid you’ve earned more than that.”

ChapterFourteen

So completely you take me.

So fiercely.

Like a fire consuming all in its path.

Kingston watchedas the subtle threat sunk in. Ava’s breathing increased, her eyes dilating with alarm. But a spark of reluctant arousal also lurked in the green depths of her gaze. His words were beginning to intrigue her more than they frightened her.

“What do you have in mind?” His defiant girl huffed out a derisive laugh. “Will you send me to bed with no supper?”

“Oh, you’ll end up in a bed. Eventually,” Kingston drawled.

Ava shrugged. “I said I was sorry. It’s just that… thatwoman…”

“Is none of your concern,” he sternly interrupted. “Your greatest worry right now should be focused on how I will deal with this transgression.”

Ava regarded him warily. “What do you mean to do?”

“I want to see how well you obey me. You do want to obey me, don’t you, Ava? Remember, my protection comes with a price.”

Her chin lifted higher at his taunting. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”

The way she trembled reminded Kingston how much he wanted to wrap her up in his arms and hold her tight. There was no understanding the conflicting emotions warring inside him. This dual urge to both protect Ava and fuck her until she cried out his name in helpless abandonment was maddening.

“I won’t hurt you in the manner you are imagining right now.” Kingston trailed his finger over her collarbone.

“What do you want me to do?” Ava’s words were drenched in surrender.

Releasing her, Kingston moved to sit on the platform bed. The small distance between their bodies made it easier to think more clearly. “Get on your knees, lamb.”

Ava bit her bottom lip at the softly spoken command, but she gracefully sank to the floor. Whether subconsciously or because she sincerely wished to appease him, she arranged herself in the manner he’d previously demanded. But she failed in lowering her head in obedience. Instead, she glared at Kingston with such heated ferocity he could not help the chuckle rising in his chest.

“Your atrocious attitude needs work, lamb, but for the moment you’ve pleased me.”

Cheeks flushed pink from the unexpected praise, she shifted her body in a futile attempt to keep the short dress from riding any higher on her bare thighs.

“Be still, Ava.”

The sharpness of the correction snapped her into something resembling a statute of golden marble. She still refused to bow her head. After several seconds passed and she remained completely motionless, Kingston snapped his fingers. The sound echoed like cannon fire over the low hum of the jet’s engines and the soft music.

“Down on all fours, little lamb. Crawl to me.”

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