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Fuck.

My throat dried as my free hand shifted to the middle of her back. I’d allowed her other hand to fall loose by her face, but I’d keep one palm available to hold her in position. Swats without her clothing would be harder for her to endure, and I expected her to make a fuss. Perhaps, if she was foolish enough, she’d even try to get up without my say so, though she wouldn’t appreciate the consequences if she did.

“Ten strikes, little girl.”

A slight rosy hue lit the underside of her seat from the prior spanks, but there was no other evidence of her plight.

That was about to change.

“Oh, God.”

Her cheeks tensed beneath my palm, but if she thought preparedness was her ally, she had another think coming. There would only be ten swats to enjoy, and I intended to make them count.

“You can thank me for each one.” Massaging her right cheek, my grin grew at the sound of her breathy whimpers.

“Why are you doing this?” She pushed the question through gritted teeth.

“You know why,” I chided. “And if I need to remind you once more how to address me, then I’m adding strikes.”

“But, please!” She obviously had no idea how her despair tightened the knot of my arousal. If she had, I’d wager she wouldn’t have put on such a mesmerizing display. “I-I don’t understand, sir.”

Despite her sexy performance, I’d heard enough.

It was time to act.

“Yes, you do.” Raising my hand, I tipped my right leg a fraction higher, forcing her hips further into the air, and took aim. My satisfaction swelled when my palm connected with her flesh.

“Fuck!” Her hips danced over me. “Thatreallystings, sir.”

She’d used the correct address, but I didn’t love her language.

Patience, I admonished myself.This is all new for her.

“No more profanity,” I warned, rubbing the flesh I’d just swatted. I wanted to worship her, but she needed to toe the line.

Even from the limited time we’d spent together, I could tell how much Erin needed correction. She seemed permanently tense and poised to fight, whether it be her friend, her friend’s ridiculous boyfriend, or me.

She’d benefit from my discipline. She just didn’t know it yet.

“Now, thank me,” I commanded.

She pulled in a breath, and I sensed how much effort it was for her not to tell me to go and fuck myself.

“Thank you, sir.” She released the air slowly, as though the speed of her breathing had any influence over my palm or what came next.

Christ, she was beautiful, especially when she finally relented.

The fire burning inside of Erin was one of her most appealing traits, but her sassy display in the doorway had convinced me what she needed most was someone to take control and shoulder the worries she was being forced to carry.

Someone like me.

I was the guy who would help her with that. A lone wolf who’d been living outside of societal norms for so long, I barely cared to recall them. I was easily big and strong enough to handle both our concerns. All she needed to do was learn to cede.

“Two.” I numbered the spank as it landed, the crack of our flesh colliding echoing around the wooden structure.

Watching the satisfying ripples spread over her ass, my gaze rose to the hearth. I should have got the fire going before I dealt with her behavior, but Erin had left me with no choice. If she wouldn’t listen to reason and insisted on shouting insults, then I had to act.

As it turned out, therewereflames rising every time my palm landed on her unprotected backside, they just weren’t growing in the fireplace. I had little doubt they would go some way to warming us both, though.

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