Page 57 of Mob Knight

As in, there’s no reason for us to be around each other. Despite the friendly conversation earlier, we aren’t friends. This certainly isn’t a romantic relationship…If only it were.

“Yes, sir. I understand. Thank you for looking out for me.”

“Always,cailín.”

Okay. He was definitely quieter when he said that, but was his tone different? Like—I don’t know—kind—or—like sweet?

I don’t know because my mind blanks with the whip’s next slash. I scream. I’m reaching the tipping point. The crop hurt enough to steal my breath a few times and make my eyes water, but the whip pushes me to where a few tears slide down my cheeks. Cormac knows in an instant.

“Talk to me, little one.” He brushes the tear from my cheek.

“I’m all right, sir. I want to keep going, and I can. But it fu—fecking hurts.”

He laughs and turns my head enough to peck my lips.

“You’re adorable.”

He pecks them again before straightening.

If he’s uncomfortable swearing in front of me—at least notthatword—then I can adjust, too. The next three lashes make me shudder and continue to cry. But my mind’s slowing as I focus on what’s happening rather than trying to guess Cormac’s next move. I focus on controlling my breathing. I close my eyes and sigh. I don’t react when he pauses, then a paddle lands across both cheeks. He positions me how he wants by pulling my hips back.

“Ooooh.”

I moan when two fingers slip inside me as the paddle lands on my right ass cheek.

“Cailín,I told you I’m going to punish you. Now it begins.”

Chapter Fourteen

Cormac

I watch Joey’s reaction to my declaration, and I know she’s praying I forgot or that what we already did counts as her punishment. This was just a warm-up. However, I’ve already put her fine little arse through its paces, so her punishment won’t be more spankings. It’ll be far more creative than that.

All the men in my family lean into our kinky side. We’re all alphas, though I’d like to think none of us are alpha-holes. I can’t say as much for the other men in the Four Families. They’re just all arseholes to begin with. But we’re men who thrive off control because life shites on us when we’re not.

Being kinky is, I suppose, a constructive way of living out that need. It also feeds into the protective side of all of us. We have a duty to protect our people, not just within our own family, but within the entire organization. Caring for people is one of our greatest responsibilities and privileges in our role as members of the boss’s family.

Caring for a sub is much the same way. Not only do we need to be mindful of their physical well-being, but there’s a deep emotional connection that happens between a Dom and his sub.It’s a complicated connection to explain to outsiders, especially since you’re not necessarily romantically involved with your sub or Dom, and you’re not even necessarily friends. But there’s a tremendous amount of trust two must share between them.

As I watch Joey tonight, I’m testing her, and I know she knows it. I need to see whether she has faith in me to protect and leave her unharmed. If anything, better off than when the night started. That’s part of the reason it bothered me so much that our first night together ended as such an epic failure because I didn’t take care of her properly. We were both on an emotional high until I fucked things over by getting jealous.

I smooth my hand over her back and down to her arse. I could hold on to it for days and never tire of filling my hands with it. I’ve had enough partners to know what I do and don’t like without being a man-whore, and I very much like Joey’s body. The corner of my mouth twitches as I think it’s a good thing she can’t see me. I ease her off the spanking bench and hold her at the elbows while she steadies herself.

“Are you dizzy?”

“No, I’m all right. I just—I need a moment. My ass burns.”

“I would think so. You did so well,cailín. I definitely wasn’t as gentle as I could be.”

“I know, sir. Thank you.”

I could have been far rougher, but I don’t know her tolerance and preference yet. I’m still learning those things, just like she’s still learning what I desire and what levels of control and submission we have between us.

I return the tools of my trade to the wall rack and look around as I slip my arm around her waist. I hold her close to me, kissing her temple.

“Do you want the first time you come tonight to be in public or private? How much more exhibitionism are you comfortable with?”

“I don’t know that I’m ready to be fully naked in front of all of these people, but I obviously am not that timid.”

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