Page 71 of Mob Knight

“And?” I infuse command into that one word; my eyes narrow as my gaze sharpens.

“And the mom lost her shit on me. She tried to slap me. She pushed me, then she grabbed my hair and screamed in my face. The guy supported her and encouraged her to beat the shit out of me.”

“And why didn’t that happen?”

“Because your men stepped in.”

“Would you have been able to defend yourself if they hadn’t come?”

“Actually, yeah, Cormac. I could have and would have. I appreciate your men’s help, but I didn’t need it. I appreciate they were there, but next time, unless I’m bleeding, they don’t get involved.”

“But you were bleeding. I heard she split your lip, and I can see the cut. That wasn’t just a little dribble.”

“That doesn’t count, and you know it.”

“I know somebody—male or female—laid their hands on my woman and hurt you. I know it scared you, so I’m not okay with that happening. I’m not okay with you not telling me that. And I’m not okay with you thinking my men shouldn’t intervene when that’s why I’ve given you bodyguards.”

“You didn’t give me a security detail because of my clients. You gave me a security detail because of your rivals.”

“Wasn’t it a blessing in disguise?”

“Yes, Cormac, it was. But I’ve already told you?—”

“I know you said you can defend yourself, and I’ll believe you once you show me. But you weren’t going to tell me about this, were you?”

She ducks her chin and shakes her head. “I didn’t want you to make a bigger deal out of it than it needed to be.”

“And didn’t you tell my men not to tell me?”

She cringes at that.

“I figured they probably would, but I also thought it was worth the chance, hoping they wouldn’t.”

“You thought hoping it wasn’t a big deal—” I hold up a finger. “—andme finding out you planned to keep this from me—” I hold up a second finger. “—andyou tried to get my men to lie to me—” I hold up a third finger. “—wouldn’t be a problem? Joey, I am punishing you for this.”

“I know, sir.”

“I think today freaked you out way more than you want to admit. I think that kind of loss of control really bothers you. A punishment from me gives you back that balance. The control you give up by allowing me to punish you is something you actually have control over. As contradictory as that may sound, I think it’s why you didn’t volunteer it. You had to have known I already found out.”

“Yes, sir. I think it was. At least partially. Or maybe in the back of my mind that was it, but I wasn’t thinking about that specifically. Maybe I just knew that’s what I needed.”

“Maybe it was. What do you think your punishment should look like?”

“Well, at least a spanking.”

“Of course, that’s a given. What else?”

“Orgasm denial?”

“That’s also a given. What else?”

It’s obvious she’s racking her brain as she tries to figure out what I believe is the right answer.

“Orgasm denial for me, but not for you. That you get off even if I don’t.”

“That’s right, little one. And how do you think that should happen?”

“In my ass?”

---