Her head jerked his way.
A target flashed, and she didn’t take a shot. “That’s one, Angie.”
“T!” she squealed in protest, as another flash lit up the room.
“Now you’re up to two. Concentrate, or you’ll be standing through lunch.”
“Threatening to spank me is not helping me focus.” Despite her complaints, she had a lock on a target and took a shot. She scored a hit, which made him grin.
“Good shot. I must be helping a little. Keep going.”
Standing behind her, he watched over her head as she fired again with improved accuracy. Despite the noise of the simulator and her weapon discharging, he could hear her talking to herself, recognizing some of his words verbatim. Truly liking what he saw, he admired her determination and fearlessness as much as her beauty and womanly softness, and wished fervently that things could be different.
He shut that line of thinking down fast. No good could come of it.
In the end, she shot 60 percent.
“I can’t believe changing my grip helped so much,” she said, barely able to contain her exuberance.
Damn, she was gorgeous, and that smile lit up her entire face. He hadn’t seen her do much of that.
“You were right,” she acknowledged. “I shifted my focus right before I took a shot, only for a split second, but it was there. I never noticed.”
“Accuracy is in the smallest detail,” he advised, enjoying the satisfaction shining in her eyes. “There might be hope for you yet, trainee.”
Spirits improved, her features became more animated, and he returned her infectious grin.
“We’ve got time for two more rounds. Do you want your penalty spanks now, or for me to hold them all to the end?”
She blinked, her jaw dropping. “You were serious?”
“You’ll find I’m always serious about spankings.” Keeping her on her toes, he further confused her with a wink.
Her smooth brow wrinkled as she shot back, “We’re not at the club, T.”
“We have little time for training at Rossi and at the club. Therefore, I’ve decided to combine the two whenever possible. What’s it going to be? Pay in small installments or pay huge later.”
“You’re assuming I’ll miss. Where’s your confidence in your training techniques?”
“Perfecting your shot is going to take days and weeks, not hours. I foresee considerable penalties piling up while you work on a consistent passing score.”
She glared at him.
“Did we discuss the penalties for frowning at your dom?” His smile deepened when her glare morphed into a scowl. “What’s it going to be, darlin’?”
“Pay now.”
“So be it. Pants down and grip your ankles.”
“Here? Someone could come in!”
“Which is why you get to keep your panties.” He knew his benevolence would be lost on her and was proved right the next moment when she opened her mouth to let more sass fly.
Again, being generous, he laid a finger across her lips and issued a warning. “Any more lip or further delays, and you’ll lose those, too.”
She blew out her breath so hard her cheeks puffed. Still, she turned and skimmed her jeans down to her knees. With cheeks flushed, she glanced over her shoulder.
“All the way over.”