Page 20 of A Season for Christmas

Though she was rather looking forward to being hosted by a duke for Christmas, since that was an experience she’d never had before, she would have also been perfectly happy being trapped at the inn for the holiday. As long as the food and fuel for the fires and lamps did not run out, that was. Klaus had not seemed worried—he’d been in the thick of the snowballs—which helped soothe any concerns she had.

He’d also reassured them the road crew should come through sometime today, and they’d be able to be on their way again tomorrow.

Catherine turned her mind away from that, focusing on Samuel’s hands on her. No point in thinking about having to leave in the morning when she should be enjoying the moment she was in. It was a very good moment. One that deserved her full attention.

Especially when his hands completed their progress down her legs and reached her feet. Her feet did not particularly hurt, but it still felt so good when his thumbs pressed against her soles. She moaned again, smiling at his answering chuckle.

“I feel like I should do something for you after this,” she murmured.

There was a moment of silence before he answered, though his hands never stopped what they were doing.

“I do not need anything. I am enjoying doing this for you for the sake of your enjoyment.”

Warmth flushed through her chest. Could he be any more perfect for her? Yet, the fact remained that she did want to reciprocate in some way.

“If you were to ask me to do something for you, what would it be?” She wanted to know what he wanted, what he desired. If there was a fantasy he had that she could fulfill.

Not that having him rub her from head to toe was a fantasy she’d had, but she likely would in the future. She might have him rub her all over every day if she could.

But she wanted to give him something as well.

“A flogging,” he said so softly, she almost did not hear him.

“What?” she asked, just to be sure. Rolling over, she faced him, propping herself up on her elbows. His gaze immediately went to her naked breasts.

Neither of them had gotten dressed again after their bath.

His gaze met hers, completely serious, as he cleared his throat.

“I want to try a flogging. I want to know what it feels like. I want to know if I can handle it.” He cocked his head. “Unless you did not bring...”

“I have it.” She had brought it just in case. She did love to administer a flogging. She’d hoped she might have the chance since Samuel had said he wanted to use this trip to explore. It did surprise her when he was being offered whatever he wanted, that was what he chose.

His hand moved along her leg, sliding over her foot and up her calf to her knee. A small smile curved his lips.

“Then that is what I want.”

Catherine tilted her head at him, returning his smile with her own.

“As you wish.”

10

Samuel

There was no equipment, no frame for him to hold on to the way the Duke of Kent had the first time Samuel had witnessed Catherine with the flogger in her hand. Instead, he found himself braced in front of the bed, his hands above his head, gripping the carved wooden post that led to the canopy. They’d pulled the draped fabric to the side to keep it out of his way.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to get them to settle into place, which was difficult as anxiousness made him want to tense up.

“Relax,” Catherine murmured, running her hand over his back. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I am not afraid.” Mostly. Fear was not the word he would use, though he could not deny he felt a bout of nerves at the thought of her using him as a kind of whipping boy. He had not been whipped since his school days and had no pleasant memories of that. “I am having trouble reconciling the fact I asked you to hurt me rather than pleasure me.”

Which was part of the truth. At least a portion of his discomfort came from knowing he’d requested this flogging.

Yes, he’d watched her flog Kent—a duke—so it could not be that bad…Anything he can do, I can do.Surely, it was not a difference of rank that might make such an act palatable.

Catherine laughed softly at his confession but not in a manner that made him feel mocked. It was a warm laugh, a comforting one that said she understood his concerns and was not worried.

---