Page 27 of The Boss

“So will I,” I told him.

I had no idea what he was going to do and the craziest thing about being around him was that I’d wanted him to kiss me. My mind was obviously fractured.

He exhaled, his long, dark eyelashes skimming against his cheeks. I was suddenly very aware that he was in full control of me.

After sitting down on the stone surrounding the fountain, he rubbed my arms then jerked me over his lap.

There was no understanding of what he was doing until he yanked down my shorts and thong, peppering my bottom with savage strikes of his hand. One came right after the other, stunning me and leaving me lost of breath.

The pain was there, but the shock was more out of humiliation. I was out in his yard and he was disciplining me? Were there cameras everywhere? Would the men I’d noticed while trying to find an exit enjoy the entertainment later?

I wiggled and punched his leg as I tried to get away. He was simply too strong for me, bringing down his hand over and over again.

When I shifted back and forth, I felt his hardness and shuddered. Was he attracted to me, or did he just get off by disciplining helpless women?

My mind whirled from lurid possibilities, my hunger the only thing I could concentrate on. It was crazy. I hated myself, but there was no denying my feelings. My uncle would be incensed, maybe even hating the man he’d called his best friend. How could Dimitrios betray him this way?

Three additional hard cracks finally brought a cry of despair. I tried my best to numb my mind as the spanking continued, but I was failing.

Badly.

He’d been so close, his lips appearing so soft. I dragged my tongue across my lower lip before being forced to bite it to keep from crying out again.

Every muscle twitched and I had difficulty breathing normally because my throat felt as if it was closing.

He said nothing. Not a single word, just continued the childish spanking as if he knew I accepted the punishment.

Like a good girl.

My mind was still blown, but my body reacted not just from the hint of agony but from the same desire I’d felt before. How could my attraction explode from having my bare bottom spanked over his knee? This wasn’t just about lust, but about how much I enjoyed being around him.

I always had. He’d taught me about butterflies and different tropical fish when we’d gone snorkeling. He’d taken the time to teach me about food and never seemed to mind my endless questions.

Maybe I remembered too many amazing things, which kept me from hating him as much as I should. He brought his hand down several additional times, keeping the heat building in my bottom.

I heard his breathing changing, becoming more labored just like mine. The swats came slower, but every one was emphatic, drawing a gasp from me as I squeezed his sturdy leg. When he pulled his hand away, he exhaled but kept me on his lap for another full minute.

“You’ve had enough.” He helped me stand, slowly rising to his feet. The look he was giving me had changed; maybe everything had because of his actions. He reached out as if to cup my face as he’d done before, but curled his fingers as an afterthought.

He let me go and I was more embarrassed than before, fighting to yank up my shorts. My face was flushed and the shame was pulling tears to the surface all over again. I turned slightly, rubbing them away. Damn him for doing this to me.

Damn the world for taking everything away from me.

What was I going to do? What choices did I possibly have? He’d taken them all away from me.

He never blinked as he gazed into my eyes, and I was fearful he was looking through me. He was still under the belief my brother was behind all of this. Even worse, I could tell he was questioning my motives as well.

My God, I was tearing up again. I tried to hide it, holding my breath so I didn’t blubber like a child.

I noticed the change in his pupils, both becoming dilated. When he lifted his hand, brushing a tear from my cheek, I trembled visibly, and I knew he could tell how nervous I was.

Because of him.

The thoughts of kissing him was right there, refusing to go away. The desire was so strange yet so vibrant, his scent wafting over me like the warmest cashmere blanket.

But could he also see the hunger that had already formed? Could he ever care about a girl he barely knew but one he’d promised to protect?

I suddenly felt awkward, uncertain of myself. Uncertain of my horrid thoughts.

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