Page 97 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterForty-Three

Ruby

The only sound in the room, apart from my ragged breathing, is the smatter of rain against the windows.

When Layton takes a step towards me, I know exactly what he is going to do and I’m not up for it. Not enough to safe word out though. Fuck him. He can feel guilty about it afterwards.

“No!” I say and wiggle when he picks me up and slings me over his shoulder like Declan did. I really dislike this mode of transport. It’s rude.

“No?” he asks, pausing and giving me the time to safe word out, or relent.

“You fucking dare,” I hiss at him, still being a stubborn asshole. What can I say? I get it from my dad.

“Safe word?” he asks.

I clamp my lips tightly together.

“Right, then,’ he says. “Ramsey. Open the French Doors please.”

“No!” Cillian says, coming to my defense, not that it will do any good. “That was my fault, punish me.”

Aww. Bless him.

“That’s not how it works,” Layton drawls, “but nice try.”

I shoot him an adoring gaze for trying and he gives me a panicked one back.

“Sweetheart, seems you have a champion,” Layton says after a thoughtful pause. “Him instead of you?”

I growl at him for putting me in that place, but the answer is obvious, and he knows it. “Never,” I hiss and then squeal when he slaps my ass hard.

He stalks forward and outside.

“It’s fucking hailing now,” David snaps. “It’s colder than a witch’s tit out there. You can’t do this.”

“Watch me,” Layton says and plants me on my feet in the middle of the soaking wet grass.

The hail pounds down onto me while he retreats to the safety of the house and shuts the fucking doors so I can’t even get back in if I give in.

Which I won’t.

But still.

I close my eyes and turn my face upwards to get pelted by small balls of ice.

“Oww,” I mumble and start to shiver.

My nipples are like torpedoes, they are so taut. I’m going to expect some serious looking after when I have endured this punishment.

My hair is wet through and full of hail. My skin is being battered but mercifully, the hail turns back to rain after a few minutes and I relax slightly, which helps with the shivering. My teeth start to chatter and that’s when Layton comes out to get me. Probably only five minutes? It was still five minutes too long.

He gently places a big fluffy towel over my head and wraps the rest around my body before he picks me up, cradling me this time, and carries me back into the house.

“You are a stubborn woman,” he growls, not looking best pleased with me.

“It was your punishment, Master,” I murmur.

“I expected you to safe word out,” he mutters.

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