Page 18 of Hooked

“No, sir,” she breathed out, barely above a whisper.

His hands went to the belt in her jeans, unbuckled it, and in one long pull, zipped it from the loops.

“Do you have a different safeword you failed to disclose?”

As he spoke, he spun her to face the couch. Gathering her wrists in one hand, he bound them behind her back, using her own belt as a restraint.

“Orchid, sir.”

“Your favorite flower,” he murmured as his long body leaned into hers, his thighs pressing against the back of her own. His hips pinned her in place, holding her still, while the hard length of him pressed against her bound hands.

“It is,” she gasped, “but—”

“I would have remembered had you said it. But you didn’t, did you?”

He pulled up her T-shirt, his hands cupping her breasts from behind, lifting and massaging them.

“No, sir. I’m—”

“Silence.”

The single word, said in an even but steely tone, sent a sharp jolt of fire, like a streak of lightning straight through to her clit. When his fingers curled into the cups of her bra and pulled them down, she could barely think. And, when his thumbs and index fingers found the taut peaks and rolled them, pinching them deliciously, she could barely breathe.

“You do not have permission to speak, except to say your safeword. Red or orchid—whichever you choose. I will honor both.”

He paused, clearly giving her time to say one of them now. Left breathless by his forcefulness, her body too aroused by his dominance, Livia let the seconds tick by without a response. She knew her time was over when his fingers found the button on her jeans. With the zipper undone, he yanked down her pants, panties and all, then he bent her over the high, overstuffed arm of her couch.

Two fingers dipped into her wetness, easily located her center, and plunged inside. The only acknowledgment he gave her blatant arousal was a grunt before his other hand came down hard on her ass. This wasn’t the sensual spanking of hours before when he was pleased with her. No, this was without a doubt punishment.

Her head reared back, and she sucked in a gulp of air as another blast of fire rained down on her ass. That’s when she saw herself—hair wild about her head, lips parted as she panted fast, shirt shoved up to her shoulders, breasts bare and pushed up wantonly by her lowered bra. The image reflected in the sliding glass door was the embodiment of a conquered and dominated woman. And it didn’t include what she couldn’t see; her jeans and panties in a twist around her knees.

Mesmerized, she watched as his hand rose and fell repeatedly, keeping up a steady pace, building an intense burn with each stroke of his broad palm, not only on her skin but low in her belly and within the achy place between her thighs.

“After three years, spending forty-plus hours per week working alongside one another, attending countless business and social functions together, I thought we had deeper feelings; respect, trust, esteem, at the very least.” He didn’t allow her time to answer, moving to the tops of her thighs to apply swat after scorching swat. “Since you obviously missed it, let me make it clear. Last night was beyond boss and employee, much more than friends, and a damn sight more than a casual fling. Last night took us to an entirely different level. I claimed you, Olivia. Therefore, your response this morning, running from me, was altogether objectionable.”

He grunted again, still whaling away, peppering her ass and thighs with fiery heat.

“For leaving without a word, sneaking off like a college co-ed after a drunken mistake, for that bit of rudeness alone, you deserve more than my hand.” He stopped, leaned over her back, and pressed his lips to her ear. “Don’t you dare move.”

He followed it up with a lick along the delicately curved shell and a quick nip on the lobe. Then he strode away.

She heard him rummaging around in the kitchen. Her mind did a hasty inventory of what he might find as a punishment tool—wooden spoons, spatulas in all sizes, a plastic cutting board with a handle—any of them would drive his point home.

She shouldn’t have left without speaking to him. A shiver coursed through her body as she remembered his words.I claimed you.

How was she supposed to know that? He hadn’t said a word, had he? She was replaying every moment in her brain when the creak of the floorboards announced his return.

At that moment, it clicked.I am that dom, Olivia. No other.

She winced, calling herself an oblivious fool and worse.

“Joseph, please, may I speak?”

“No,” he barked.

She bit her lip. He had never been this stern or angry with her—ever. Of course, she’d never left him naked in bed after a night of unbelievable sex, either.

“Obviously, we have particulars to work out, so I’ll ask to be clear. Do you accept my authority to punish you, pet?”

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