Page 56 of Betrayed

“Very similar.”

Without elaborating further, he leaned down for a kiss. He deliberately took it deep until the haziness that showed he’d muddle her senses clouded her eyes.

When he sat up, he brushed the hair from her face. She gazed up at him with a soft smile, his sleepy kitten so sweet, adorable, and trusting, which was like a knife in his gut. He vowed to do whatever had to be done to lay this to rest and put this behind them.

Arturo pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be back as fast as I can,minou. Don’t wait up.”

* * *

AS SEARCHES WENT, ITwas low drama and no danger. It was also easy because he had a key to the house. And he didn’t have to search for the safe, going directly to where he knew it was in the master suite.

Once inside, he took in the soft feminine space, with the white-and-teal patterned comforter on what he knew was a soft bed. And the bounty of pillows that he teased her about the two nights he spent here.

“They’re pretty!” she protested when he said two; four at the most would be sufficient.

“You must mean pretty time-consuming taking them off every night, only to have to pile them back on the next morning.”

“You’re such a man.”

“You’ve noticed,” he quipped.

She glared at him. “They’re functional, too.”

He cocked his head and grinned at her across the wide king-size bed. “How so?”

“Well...” she drawled, biting her lower lip. He waited for the count of three seconds while she tried to come up with something before making his way around to her side of the bed.

“Come up with anything yet?” he asked, moving in close and gazing down at her.

“Uh, they’re pretty,” she repeated, scowling at him when he chuckled. “I like them and that’s reason enough for me.”

He reached over and picked up two rectangular ones. The first was ruffled from seam to seam; the other was slippery with a satiny cover. He piled them on the edge of the bed in front of her. “I’ve discovered a function. Bend over.”

She gaped up at him. “Why?”

“You’ve got a bad habit of glaring, scowling, and arguing with me. I thought I could kill two birds with one stone. Provide purpose for your copious number of pillows and paddle your naughty bottom until it’s red and hot.”

On an indrawn breath, her mouth opened and shut. Then her tongue came out and swept her lips, leaving a sheen of moisture. Her lovely eyes held the glimmer of excitement that he saw more and more often of late.

“Uh, I don’t have a paddle, sir.”

“No?” He shook his head while clucking his tongue. “What a travesty! If anyone ever needed one, it is you,ma petite chérie. But I shall improvise. Bend over the pillows and wait for me, while I see what I can find.”

Once settled atop the pillows, her sheer nightie raised to the waist, he began his search. “I supposed I could use my hand, but for you and me, that’s child’s play. On the other hand, you have been arguing like a belligerent teen.”

“I haven’t!”

“See?”

“Oo,” she huffed in frustration.

“Tsk, tsk,” he clucked again, enjoying the game. “Now, you’re only making it worse.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her prop up on her elbows and watch as he explored her room. At her dresser, he stopped and picked up her hairbrush. It was round without a back. He frowned at her as he held it up.

“Really, Mari? A submissive without a proper hair brush is more of a travesty than one without a paddle!”

She peered back at him innocently.

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