She risked a look at him and he was staring at her intently. “Do you need Sir to help?”

Oh good. He understood.

Tamsyn nodded.

He set aside his soup and she felt bad that he wasn’t getting any lunch because of her. But then he produced a blindfold from his pocket.

She had to smile. “Do you carry those around all the time now?”

“Well, you never know when I’m going to need one. Do you need this, Pet?”

“Yes, Sir. Please,” she begged.

“Good girl for telling me what you need,” he told her as he placed the blindfold over her eyes.

This was the only way for her to let go of the stress forming a tight ball in her stomach.

Slowly, her shoulders eased and she felt like she could breathe.

“Open your mouth, Pet,” he said firmly.

She couldn’t ignore the command in that tone and she parted her lips. He placed a spoonful of soup in her mouth.

“Swallow. That’s it. Here’s some roll. Open again.”

He fed her for several minutes until she grew guilty that his lunch was going cold.

“Open,” he commanded.

She shook her head, pressing her lips closed.

“Excuse me?” he asked in a dark voice. “Are you allowed to refuse Sir?”

Uh-oh.

She should do as she was told. But she shook her head again.

“Do you want to be punished, Pet?” he asked in a silky voice.

Tamsyn had to take a moment to think about that. Did she want to be punished? Was that why she was playing up? To get him to punish her?

You deserve it.

And maybe it would make her feel better . . . maybe.

He cupped her cheek with his warm hand. “Not sure why you want to be punished, but if you need a spanking you only have to ask. Do you need to be spanked, Pet?”

She nodded. “Please, Sir.”

He shifted and she let out a small noise of protest, thinking he was leaving. But he soon returned.

“Shh,” he soothed. “I was just putting the food down. I’m not going anywhere. This is going to be short and hard, though. I don’t want you getting cold.”

Then the blanket was shifted away from her and he guided her over his lap.

More of that tension dissipated as she gave herself over to him.

She didn’t have to worry about all the crap in her life. She didn’t have to stress and balance everyone else’s interests.