Page 43 of The Shadows We Keep

“But you did, didn’t you? You took off before we could talk it through. You put yourself in potential danger, did you not?”

I pause, playing the situation over in my head. I was so aggravated with him in that moment; I didn’t care what I was doing, hence the fleeing sans shoes. A sharp pinch on my inner thigh reminds me to answer.

“Yes.”

Another pinch, sharper this time, stings my inner thigh. “Yes, what?”

“Yes, sir,” I squeak out.

“That’s not how we handle things between us.” He pauses and steps away, walking over to a young guy that’s sitting on the couch. He’s no longer alone; a cute redhead drapes herself around his side, stroking his cock through his pants.

“You wanted to play. Give me your belt.” Harkin waits as the guy does what he’s asked.

He’s in command of all of us.

The thick leather hangs from his hand. He folds it in half and snaps the material together. The echo of the sound fills the room. My body automatically clenches, clueing into what’s about to come.

“You ran. You put yourself in harm’s way and you caused an unnecessary fight.” I want to sass back at the last one. That was all him and his issues, but now’s not the time or place.

His callused palm rubs soothingly across my rounded globes, warming the flesh.

“You’ll take five as your punishment and count each one for me. You’ll stay still, and you will not scream. If you can’t handle it at any moment, you will say your safeword, black. Do you understand?”

Am I really going to let him do this to me?

This exhibition is a new line I’m not just tripping over. I’m jumping off a damn cliff, trusting the fall won’t kill me. I pull in a deep breath and count back from five.

“Yes, sir.”

The anticipation builds as he drags the leather against my skin. My dress is still hiked over my ass, leaving it bare and waiting.

Wack.

The first slap stings my flesh, and I clench against the assault but breathe through it.

“One,” I whisper into my shoulder.

“Louder, little one.”

Wack. Slap.

“Two. Three.” His pacing changes.

With each new blow, the pressure increases, and the bite of the leather takes a fraction longer to subside. He pauses, his palm smooths the worked skin.

As the pain finally subsides, his hand pulls away. He bends against my back until his lips meet my ear. “You’re doing so good for me, sweetness. Two more. Breathe.”

I do as he says. As the breath leaves my lungs, the fourth crack breaks the silence. My teeth chomp down on my bottom lip to stifle the scream that wants to break free.

“Four,” I groan.

After that, there’s no way in hell I want to add to this. He doesn’t soothe the space, instead the final spank falls.

“Five.”

I don’t move. I don’t speak. A lone tear traces down my cheek, but I can’t reach up to wipe it away. He pulls my dress back down over the battered area. The fabric is hot, tight, and I wish it wasn’t against my skin.

I’m yanked from my bent position. The makeshift cuffs release before I’m spun around quickly, and I almost lose my footing. I can’t look at him—or maybe I don’t want to. Not right now. Not when I know my face is a window to my emotions.

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