Page 35 of Forbidden Vows

He leads me deeper into the house. Where is my indignation? Where is my girl-power war cry?

If Keith ever tried to talk ‘rules’ with me, that would finally be the hard line. Instead, I’m pressing my thighs together, wondering what the consequences he mentioned consist of.

And yet…

Why am I not giving him a long lecture on the dangers of patriarchy and the need for men and women alike to focus their attention on breaking through the pink ceiling? Is that even a thing? A pink ceiling? Isn’t it supposed to be made of glass?

I sneak a glance up at Romeo Rule-maker. Is it because I know Blaze would do anything to keep me safe, unlike Keith?

A man must take care of you before you let him lay down rules.

If you choose to let him, of course.

Now his hand smooths back up to my lower back as he guides me through his mansion of good bones and limitless potential.

His statement about laying down the law has completely distracted me.

My mind meanders between obsessively memorizing every inch of this gorgeous, sprawling house, marveling at the meticulous remodel that will require painstaking years of work and considering what small improvements I would make if it were mine.

With memories of the spanking in the coat closet.

I try to listen as he educates me on the property.

“The Main Villa, where we are now, was built in 1903 as a Liberty-style masterpiece. It includes six luxurious bedrooms with private bathrooms- three in each wing- and the center, a shared space where we’re headed now, featuring a double living room, formal dining room, massive kitchen, which has been a real pain to replumb, wine cellar, and laundry room.”

“Wow.” I’m happy I’m capable of speech.

“There will be a pool in the future. Right now, there’s a massive hole in the ground, but it’ll be done eventually, and there will be an entertainment area: grill, spa, jacuzzi—the works. And that building.” He points to a small one-story building in the back. It has two open doors with eight panesof windows and black trim paint. “No idea what we’ll do with that, but Liam’s wife, Emilia, insists it would make a ‘lovely library.’ She’s obsessed with hers.”

“The big white one we first saw when we came up the drive?” I ask, finally prying my mind away from the heat between my thighs. “I remember the driver pointing it out.”

He nods.

As I wander from room to exquisite room,I find myself lingering on the vibrant memory of the night before, when he drew me into the coat closet and delivered a deliciously sexy, impulsive spanking.

It was so intense and completely unexpected that, at first, I was utterly speechless, unable to believe what was happening. The shock made my heart skitter, jolting with each sharp, thrilling spank.

A filthy surprise, his hand possessively stinging yet somehow tender, my soft moan caught in my throat. I remember how wickedly he smiled, how I fumbled for words, and how the confined space and his sudden, irresistible wildness pushed the air from my lungs.

The imprint of his hand is as vivid as if it were happening again: the warmth, the rush, the way he caught me off guard, the moisture between my legs.

Now, hopelessly distracted, I picture him hoisting me over his shoulder, while my attention flits from the sweeping stairs to the thought of him carrying me up them to have his way with me, and I have to catch my breath.

I want to stop my brain from running in all these directions, but I can’t. I’m overwhelmed.We climb the stairs, I safelybehind him. I don’t know what mess he was talking about. Some other rooms were empty and void of décor, but I could not find a speck of drywall or dust.

We approach the doorway of the primary bedroom, where he undoubtedly expects us both to stay. Together. In one bed. My blood heats another ten degrees. Oh, the things he could do to me in this elegant room!

"Hello,” he says. “Earth to Cleo.”

“Oh, jet lag. Never experienced it before. That must be why I’m in a daze.”

A dizzy daze of a haze of Blaze.

I focus on the completed bedroom, decorated in soft gray and pale blue shades, which creates a serene and calming atmosphere. The king-sized bed is adorned with plush pillows and a luxurious silk duvet, inviting me to sink into its comfort.

As I take in the elegant furniture and subtle hints of his masculine touch scattered throughout the room, I feel a strange mix of anticipation and nervousness fluttering in my stomach. His presence beside me is both comforting and electrifying, with palpable tension hanging between us.

I turn to look at him; his intense gaze is fixed on me, conveying a mixture of amusement and desire. The memory of his touch from the night before lingers on my skin. Without a word, he reaches out to me, his fingers grazing my cheek before tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

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