Page 38 of Taming Her

She squealed, grappled for something to hold onto, found a jar of beans that clattered to the work surface.

Momentum took over and she stretched out her arms, bracing for impact.

Which didn’t come.

Instead she found herself caught and pressed up against Griff’s hard chest.

The stool overturned, the crash loud in the large kitchen. A bird on the patio let out a shrill alarm call.

“In the name of God, woman.”

She clutched his t-shirt, grateful for his strong arms and the fact she hadn’t collided with stone. That wouldn’t have gone well.

But looking at his face—eyes narrowed, lips a tight straight line—she quickly realized she was still in a bad place. It was just of a different nature.

“What were you doing? No, don’t tell me, it’s blatantly obvious.” He spun around and strode to the armchair.

“Put me down.”

He ignored her.

“Put me down, Griff.” She kicked and squirmed.

He tightened his grip. “Your phone is off limits, as you well know.” He sat, bumping her down with him.

“It’smyphone.” She wriggled on his lap.

“You’re here to clean up and get a grip on your life. You cannot do that with a phone clutched in your hand.” His voice was low and dark. “And you’re not stupid, you know that’s the case.”

A sense of danger, of having pushed him too far, flooded her veins.

“And,” he went on, “you went against my instructions, you disobeyed me.” He caught her chin, forcing her to look at him.

She stilled.

His eyes flashed with annoyance.

She swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, Sir.”

“I’m sorry, Sir.” A tremble of nerves took hold of her stomach.

“I accept your apology if you understand that you must not take your phone without permission.”

She nodded and clenched her fists. “I understand.”

“Good, now to your punishment.”

“My punishment? I—”

Suddenly she was tipping over, upside down, her chest landing on his wide thighs and her head hanging low. “Griff!”

“Bad girls get spanked, and as you already had fifty due, we’ll just double that and call it the end of the matter.”

“You can’t… spank me.” Her palms landed flat on the cool floor.

“I most certainly can and I will.” He dragged her sweats over the round of her ass, exposing her bare buttocks. Humiliation swarmed over her, heating her skin and firming her resolve to get him back for this.

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