Page 31 of Kazzon's Human Bride
* * *
Caylee couldn’t stopthe tremors. She shook in Kazzon’s grip, but she was at least thankful his fingers weren’t digging painfully into her arm this time. She thought she saw a hint of remorse in his eyes, but she couldn’t be certain.
He’d been so angry at her, and he had assumed the worst of her. Her heart sank. Would there always be distrust between them?
She had poured her heart out to him moments ago, but still he remained silent.
Her tummy jolted. He might not punish her for asking about Varro, but would he punish her for slipping up and calling him Kazzon, rather thanXerr? Or would he spank her for escaping his quarters?
Dread coiled low in her stomach and she fought the urge to back away. She started second-guessing her decision to run past the servant and come searching for him. Maybe he required more time for his anger to cool.
He drew in a deep breath, then shifted to cup her face in his large hands. He traced his thumbs over the tear tracks left on her cheeks and stepped closer, until his body brushed against hers.
“I am sorry,” he said, and the words sounded strange coming out of his lips, as if it were the first apology he’d ever uttered in his entire life. Maybe it was. “I am sorry for mistaking your intentions when you asked about Varro, little human. I will admit I believed you wished to speak with him, to visit withhim, and hearing his name on your lips pushed me into a state of rage I’ve never experienced before. I feel like a fool for not considering that you only wished to see your friend.”
Relief flooded Caylee. She stared up at Kazzon, grateful that he’d calmed down, as well as seen the error of his ways. For a reason she couldn’t fathom, hearing his apology tugged at her heartstrings. Perhaps because she suspected the apology hadn’t come easily, yet he’d given her one, and he seemed to mean it. Her throat burned and she couldn’t tear her gaze from his. She stepped closer and drew in a deep breath, once again trying to find her voice.
“Thank you,Xerr,” she said, “for understanding and for apologizing. I-I accept your apology. No hard feelings, but please promise you will hear me out from now on, rather than interrupt me.”
Her tummy dropped a second later when he suddenly tensed. Perhaps she’d overstepped her bounds by telling him not to interrupt her in the future. She swallowed hard and waited for his response, praying she hadn’t angered him all over again.
But his next words cut the lingering tension between them.
“I vow I will allow you time to explain yourself in the future, little human.”
“Thank you,Xerr.” She beamed inwardly, because she felt as if she’d just won a small victory.
Kazzon grasped her hands and brought them to his lips. He bestowed soft kisses upon the backs of her hands and even her fingers, his eyes never leaving hers. Once he finished, he released her hands and cradled her head, caressing her long locks with such a tenderness that her throat started burning all over again.
“You have surprised me, little human,” he said, “with your boldness. But I cannot claim that I do not like this side of you. You are a strong female. You risked punishment all to make things right between us.” His thumbs trailed lightly over her cheeks. “I must confess, I admire you greatly.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Does that mean you’ll overlook the fact that I called you by your given name and escaped your quarters?” Her heart thudded in her chest and breathless anticipation hovered in the air. She doubted he would punish her—not after the confession he’d just made—but even so the prospect of ending up back over his sturdy thighs caused pangs of warmth to unfurl from deep within her core. She flushed, knowing he would likely soon detect the scent of her arousal. During the short time they’d been married, she had learned it was impossible to hide anything from her mate.
Kazzon stepped even closer, and her breath caught in her throat when she felt his hardness pressing against her stomach. Pleasurable shivers assailed her, and she was certain the temperature in the corridor had suddenly increased by at least ten degrees.
“I won’t punish you, Caylee, this time.” His eyes darkened with a mixture of power and lust. “But next time you call me by my given name, know that I will turn you over my knee and redden your bottom. It won’t be a light spanking either, little human.”
Despite his threatening words, heated desire pummeled through her, the aching in her core intensifying with each rapid breath. Though she feared the pain, of course, she couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like to receive arealpunishment from her husband. A serious punishment. She knew the brief spanking he’d given her last week didn’t count—he’d given her a few smacks and nothing more, as she’d acquiesced to his demands during the interrogation rather quickly.
Kazzon’s nostrils flared wide and a knowing look entered his eyes. He tipped her chin up, not allowing her gaze to falter from his. “Talk of punishment has made you all wet and achy between your thighs, hasn’t it, little human?”
She started to shake her head and opened her mouth to deny his claims, but immediately stopped herself and pressed her lips firmly together. If she lied to him, he would know it. Despite her curiosity about receiving a real punishment, she wasn’t going to actively seek one out.
A quiver raced over her bottom as she imagined him slapping her cheeks as he scolded her, while he held her down and chastised her for breaking some important rule. Her face heated and she fidgeted in place, desperate to press her thighs tightly together, but resisted out of fear that Kazzon would take notice.
“Answer me, Caylee.” This time, his tone held the sharp bite of command.
“Yes,Xerr, I-I am getting wet and achy between my thighs,” she confirmed, but she left out the part aboutwhyshe was becoming so aroused at this moment. Unfortunately, nothing escaped Kazzon.
“Is this talk of punishment, talk of me turning you over my knee and reddening your bottom, the cause of your sexual excitement? Answer me honestly, little human—yes or no?”
She gulped hard and tried to jerk her chin from his grasp, but he wouldn’t release her face. She had no choice but to stare into his dark forbidding gaze and utter, “Yes,Xerr,” as shame heated her all over.
Chapter 23
Kazzon escortedCaylee into his quarters, anticipation thrumming through him. The scent of her arousal lingered in the air, and he inhaled deeply as he savored her feminine aroma. Gods, he couldn’t believe his luck. Not for the first time, he mused that Caylee was the perfect bride for him—despite her boldness and occasional outspokenness, she apparently craved his dominance.
And the prospect of receiving a punishment spanking from him left her highly aroused. She’d confessed just as much—that such threats had caused her to become wet and achy between her thighs.
