Page 17 of Breaking the Annulment

Instead of responding, as she expected, he went over to the wet bar area and opened the mini fridge. He pulled out a small blue cooler, then brought it over to where she was sitting and placed it at her feet.

“I don’t understand.” She stared at the cooler, dread tightening her chest. What was inside the cooler? Michalis was a ruthless killer. Anything could be in there.Please don’t be body parts. Please, please, please.With a forced laugh, she stared at the cooler. “Are we having a picnic?”

“No,” he said quietly. “We’re having a lesson.”

8

The smell of Michalis' cologne filled the limo, a warm and musky scent that was both enticing and intimidating. Aurelia's heart raced at the heady scent, her body responding to his masculine presence.

Her mouth was suddenly dry. “A lesson? I don’t understand.”

“You ran away. I told you I would chase you, but you didn’t listen. I am now forced to show you what disobeying me means. Now, are you ready to accept the consequences of your actions, learn from this lesson, or are you going to fight me?”

“I hate you,” she whispered.

“I know. Now, what is it to be? Are you ready or are we going to fight first?”

Was she ready? She could fight him. She didn’t have to take this punishment. He could call it a lesson, call it anything he wanted; she wasn’t stupid, his ‘lesson’ was still a punishment.

She could kick and scratch and make him bleed. Why not? What was he going to do? He’d already said he wouldn’t kill her or beat her, so she didn’t need to be afraid of him. Andbecausehe’d said that, she was not afraid. Did he know what kind of power he’d given her? He’d given her the power torefusewithout fearof death or beating––a priceless gift if she was willing to take advantage of the knowledge.

Except now he was asking hernotto refuse his punishment, even though she didn’t know what it was and didn’t think she deserved one at all; to submit willingly to whatever he had planned.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Michalis was very angry with her, that much was clear to see. If he hadn’t already assured her that he wouldn’t kill her or beat her, she would be a mess right now, truly afraid for her life.

She took her time answering, thinking about what she wanted to do. He’d unknowingly given her a gift, and there was a part of her that wanted to return the favor; to give in and let him punish her, just once, without fighting––her gift––in exchange for the one he’d given her.

Would he understand that if she allowed this, it was a one-time gift, not an apology, and not a promise not to run away again? There was one way to make sure. She straightened her posture and looked him straight in the eye. “I will allow this punishment, Michalis, for reasons of my own. It is not an apology, and it changes nothing.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “You can have any reason you want, as long as you learn the lesson.”

Their gazes locked, both angry. Both determined. “Fine,” she hissed. “Ready when you are.”

“Remove your shirt and panties. When you’re naked, kneel in front of me, and we will begin.”

Color suffused her cheeks as she did as he instructed. Slowly, agonizingly so, she unbuttoned her top. As it slid to the floor, she removed her panties, then calmly folded the garments, setting them on the seat next to her. She was extremely nervous, but only a slight tremble gave away her inner feelings as she knelt in front of him.

He guided her hands together in front of her and wrapped a strip of silk around each wrist, then fastened a length of soft, silky rope around each wrist, taking his time with the knots, cinching them tight enough to be effective but not painful.

In between her wrists, he left a foot of loose rope. It seemed counterintuitive to bind someone’s wrists, then give them enough room in between to make them useless, but who was she to point out the obvious?

Her nipples hardened as the cool air inside the limo prickled her bare skin. Tilting her head back, she considered protesting once again then thought better of it when she glanced at his face. He was still really angry.

She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake in trusting him. She would take the punishment––then go back to her room until she figured out her next move. Let him think this punishment was going to keep her from doing exactly the same thing again, if given the chance.

Aurelia closed her eyes and focused on a happy place—anywhere but here—as he retrieved the next item from the cooler. “Get on your hands and knees.”

Reluctantly, she complied without a word.

“Good. You’re learning. Now, reach your hands out on the floor in front of you, and rest your head on your arms, with your bottom raised.”

Again, she complied. The position was humiliating, as she was sure he intended. She didn’t want to be there, and yet she could feel the beginnings of arousal. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

No such luck.

He crouched down beside her hip, his hand unerringly finding her center. She was still tender down there, but that hadn’t stopped her from getting wet. “Do you like this punishment?”

She burned with embarrassment. “Can we just get this over with, please?”

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