Page 13 of Bet On Me, Daddy

Across the table, Beckett smiled. But not the same charming, boyish smirk she was used to. No, this smile was that of a predator finally cornering its prey, and it sent shivers racing up Ruby’s spine.

Goddamn the man was potent.

“All right, Ruby Red. Let’s discuss your punishment.”

Refusing to let him see what an effect he was having on her, she leaned back against the bench seat. “What did you have in mind?”

“To start with, I’ve found being bent over for a good hard spanking helps to put a naughty girl in the right frame of mind.”

Snorting out a laugh, she rolled her eyes, deliberately exaggerating the gesture for his benefit. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

“Since we’re just getting to know each other, we’ll keep things simple tonight. A spanking, followed by half a dozen of the best with my favorite Delrin cane—unless that’s a hard limit for you?”

“Nope.” Shehatedbeing caned, but she loved the marks it left behind. So not a hard limit, but more than enough to have her regretting her choices.

“Nipple play? Clamps?”

“Both are fine.” More than fine, as far as she was concerned.

“Good.” Leaning back a bit, Beckett tapped his fingers on the sleek wood of the table, his gaze boring into her as he let the silence between them drag out.

It was all she could do not to break that silence and demand to know what he was thinking so hard about. But she had a feeling that was exactly what he wanted, so she grit her teeth against the urge until he finally spoke again.

“I don’t normally allow naughty girls to orgasm during a punishment. But if you’re a very good girl for me, I might be willing to reconsider. If you’re open to sexual contact during our scene, of course.”

Open to it? She was damn near willing to drop to her knees and beg for it. “I’ll allow it.”

“Perfect. Now, do you have any questions for me?”

“Yes.”

Beckett narrowed his eyes slightly. “Let me rephrase. Do you have any questions about our scene, specifically, that are not of a smartass nature?”

Deliberately puffing out her bottom lip, she sniffed delicately. “Spoilsport.”

“Ruby.”

There was enough steel behind her name to have her shifting uneasily in her seat. “No, I don’t have any questions about our scene.”

“Good girl.”

Fuck. She had wildly underestimated the effect his praise would have on her. Squeezing her thighs together under the table, she cocked a brow. “So… is that everything?”

“Yes. But once we get down to the pit, you’ll be expected to address me appropriately. That means ‘Yes, Sir’ or ‘No, Sir’ when asked a question. If you forget or refuse, you will be punished. If you refuse a direct order, you will be punished. If you are mouthy or sarcastic or otherwise disrespectful, you will be punished. Have I made my expectations perfectly clear?”

“Crystal. Shall we get started?”

Rising to his feet, Beckett once again held out a hand. And when he pulled her up to join him, he didn’t step back to give her space. He crowded her, deliberately, using his free hand to capture her chin and tilt her head back. “It hasn’t escaped mynotice that you are being even brattier than usual tonight. Do you know what I love most about playing with brats, Ruby Red?”

“What?”

His lips curved, and fear snaked up her spine at the predatory gleam in his eyes. “Watching them break.”

CHAPTER 5

BECKETT

Watching Ruby’s eyes go wide at his words was a pleasure he wouldn’t tire of any time soon. Along with that sharp intake of breath and the way her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.

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