Page 45 of Vow to Hate You

CHAPTER 19

talie

The serving spoon clattered onto the plate, his head whipping up to gape at me. A rush shot through me when I threw him a seductive smile. It was a rare sight to see Damian Valentin speechless, and I had to admit it was amusing.

“You have quite the book collection,” I informed him before taking a bite of a meatball. “It kept me busy all day.”

Understanding flashed in his eyes as his jaw muscle flexed. “You don’t read. What were you doing in the library?”

I shrugged. “Picking up new hobbies since I’m home. But if I knew those kinds of books were out there, maybe I would have started reading sooner.”

My glee grew when his face flushed. He opened his mouth, only to close it again, his food completely forgotten.

“Is this how you kept yourself busy while I was gone? Snooping through my library?” he finally asked.

“Are you blushing, Damian?” I teased, having way too much fun with this. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed. No judgment here. Everyone should read what they love. I know I plan on reading more.”

“It’s for research,” he gritted out.

I raised an eyebrow. “Research?”

“You saw my club, Talie,” he answered, his usual confidence sliding back in place as he straightened up. “I built it as a place where women’s dirty dreams can come to life. Romance books are manuals. They tell me exactly what women want. That’s why we do theme nights. A kink for everyone. But we also make sure it’s safe, which is why I research in real life just as much as the books.”

Heat flooded my stomach when the night in his club rushed back into my head. He got all those ideas from books?

“Which book did you read?” He cocked his head, his eyes burning with curiosity.

I cleared my throat. “More than one.”

He smirked as he leaned back. “I didn’t realize you had a thing for spanking.”

“I don’t.” My cheeks heated, and I cursed myself for letting him flip the conversation.

“Liar.” He called me out. “You wouldn’t have brought it up if that’s the case. Or maybe… you’ve never done it, but you want to try.”

“You think a man has never slapped my ass?” I let out a light laugh, watching his eyes narrow. “I’m not the virgin I was when we were teenagers.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked, and I nearly squirmed in my chair from the dangerous gleam in his gaze. For someone who voiced how furious he was with me, he was sure acting like a jealous husband when he had absolutely no right. It didn’t last long, and a second later, he grinned wickedly as he rose from his chair. My stomach flipped, but I refused to show him my unease, so I raised my fork to take another bite of food.

“I don’t think anyone has ever spanked you like you read in my books,” he murmured as he rounded the table. I slowly chewed the meatball, watching him out of the corner of my eye. “Do you want to try?”

I nearly choked. I reached for my water, downing half the glass before setting it back on the table. By now, he was behind me, making my pulse thrash wildly. His hands landed softly on my shoulders as he leaned down until his lips brushed my ear.

“Are you wet, Talie?” he asked, his voice full of dirty promises. “Did all that reading get you hot? It must have for you to bring it up to me.”

He ran his fingers past my t-shirt sleeves and down my bare arms, causing a shiver to rip through me. It took everything in me to keep still, to hide how he was affecting me. He chuckled, his warm breath hitting my cheek.

“Let’s test if spanking is one of your kinks,” he whispered roughly. “Be a good girl and bend over this table.”

A warmth spread through me, and I squeezed my thighs together, refusing to show that his words were making my pussy throb. The sexual tension only grew thicker as I stayed silent. I fucking wanted an orgasm so badly and I doubted my fingers would be enough to take the edge off. But there was absolutely no way I was going to voice that truth to my arrogant as hell husband.

“Hmm,” he mused, his hand going to the back of my neck before he slid it into my hair. “Maybe you’re not a good girl. Maybe you’re abratwho enjoys not listening and being punished.”

I barely stifled my gasp when he suddenly fisted my hair, tilting my head back until I met his eyes. Lust darkened his gaze, and I stared at him, trying to act like his hold on my hair wasn’t making my lower stomach jolt with pleasure. It was easy to see why he was so successful with his club. He radiated sexual confidence, which was impossible to ignore. I’d spent the last five years holding so much anger toward him, yet here I was, practically melting at his damn touch.

“Give me your words, Talie,” he demanded, desire thick in his voice.

My internal struggle grew as I kept my lips pressed together. Half of me wanted to tell him to fuck off. The other half was screaming to let him take me right here on the table. His grip on my hair tightened, refusing to let me look away from him.

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