Page 31 of Cruel Master

Slap.

His hand disappeared from my ass only to come down hard on the sensitive flesh. I screamed at the first strike. The second one was less surprising but still just as harsh. Gaven’s palm came down hard, again and again. He spanked me, lighting my ass on fire with his discipline.

I keened, arching up as he pinned me down across his lap. Fresh pain blistered my ass and I breathed low, hissing through my teeth as I waited for it to change. I knew it would, given time.

“Do. Not. Speak.” Gaven’s words were clipped and quick. “That was your last warning. The next time you open your mouth and try to talk without permission, I’ll fuck your ass right here and have you walking into that club with my cum dripping out of it, do you understand? Nod once if you do.”

I nodded and then hung my head over the side of his lap as I breathed quickly through my teeth. I could feel his gaze eating up my body. I was pinned by something far larger and more dangerous than myself. A lion and his prey. As if he heard my inner thoughts, too, Gaven’s hand slid over my ass, smoothing across the area he’d just abused.

My hands clenched into fists as I remained perched, precariously, on his lap with my naked ass in the air—waiting for whatever he decided to do to it. “This is going to hurt.” That was the only indication I got—the only warning. A split second later, his forearm pressed across the small of my back harder than ever and his hand came down.

Slap.

Slap.

Slap.

My legs shot back as I automatically kicked out, the pain a shock to my entire system. I thought he was hitting me hard before. That was nothing compared to this. My nails sank into his pants legs. Gasping, I clutched onto him to keep from shooting off of his lap.

Ten passed. Twenty. Thirty. I lost count. He never struck the same place twice in a row, but instead layered his spanks all over my ass and then even down to my upper thighs until I felt as if my flesh was burning. I squirmed on his thighs, my pussy juices leaking down my legs despite myself.

A gasp broke free and then another and another until I was panting with each slap. Still, he continued, spanking me far past what I thought I could handle and then into a hazy fog where the pain disappeared. It faded and something warm took its place. He struck my ass on both sides, peppering my flesh with his hand until I swore it was already painted red.

Tears threatened the corners of my eyes, and as shame poured through me, I tucked my head against the seat on the other side of his lap. I didn’t want to cry. Not here. Not now. And certainly not in front of him. Regardless of what I wanted, I could feel them—the tears—as they leaked down the sides of my face, dripping onto the seat.

He began gently stroking his fingertips over my bare ass cheeks before he struck me again, and another line of wetness dripped down my inner thigh. A shudder moved through me. My legs lowered to the ground and Gaven’s other arm settled over my upper back, keeping me stable against him. I blinked back the wetness at the backs of my eyes.

I closed my eyes as the realization hit me. This was what he needed—someone else’s pain.Mypain. It not only turned him on, but also gave him some sick sense of relief. Shame. Embarrassment. Humiliation. All of it drove through me.

Why? Because I liked it. Because despite the wrongness of it all, there was no denying that if Gaven were to reach between my legs and slip his fingers up my cunt, he’d find me open and wanting. I was fucking soaked. My nipples were hard. I craved—I wanted—something harder, darker.More.

I wanted him to hurt me.

I sobbed against Gaven and the limo seat at the suddenness of my understanding, and only then did I feel his hands pause. “Angel?”

I whimpered, and when I wanted to speak, I sealed my mouth shut and even went so far as to bite down on my lower lip. “Angel, speak,” Gaven ordered. “Where are you at? Do you need to use your safe word?”

I shook my head against his thigh. No. Safe wording was the last thing I needed—or maybe it wasn’t. I wasn’t scared of him right now, but I was scared of myself. Of what I was feeling and of what I wanted him to do to me.

Gaven flipped me over and I must have been a mess if the way his brows rose at my expression was any indication. He lifted me up and settled me into his lap in much the same way I’d been originally, both legs closed and slung over his as he wrapped one arm around my back and cradled me against his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded quickly as I sniffed hard and turned, burying my face against his chest. His wide palm smoothed up my back, the warmth against my skin welcomed. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Tell me.”

“Can I?” I asked, rubbing my hand under my nose and thankful it came away clean. At least I wasn’t fucking snotting everywhere.

His hand cupped my face and directed my eyes up to meet his. “Yes,” he said. “You have permission. Tell me why you’re crying.”

I sniffed. Hard. “I thought you liked it when I cried.”

One thick dark blonde brow arched. “I do,” he agreed, “but only when I think we’re both enjoying it. These…” He drifted off as he caught one of the still lingering tears as it slid down my cheek and then stroked it away with his finger. “These don’t seem like you’re enjoying it.”

I shook my head. “I am,” I murmured, dipping my head and pulling my gaze away from his. “That’s why I’m crying.”

“You’re crying because you’re enjoying it?”

I nodded. “It’s fucked up.” I laughed, but the sound was anything but amused. His fingers found my chin once more and forced my head back up.

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