Page 55 of Only For Him

“Fine. Have the two of them set up. Kill any of the higher-ups. No one else. Only the higher-ups.” Declan taps his fingers on the desk; I can’t see but I can hear it. I’ve learned he does that when he’s thinking. “Spread the word that Aria and Carter’s marriage was an alliance and we will keep our promise to everyone who has not betrayed us. Make sure we’re giving the impression it was only a few men who we believe should pay for what happened, only the few who gave the orders and that it’s been dealt with. Give the men the option to come to us … and turn on each other.”

Nate responds, “Yes, Boss.”

“I have work to do. We’re finished for now.”

Nate leaves quickly. The office door opens and closes with a thud. My thumb runs over my fingers, wanting me to push the door open. But I don’t know what I’d say.

I’m not given the option to wait any longer, though.

“You can come out now.” His voice is calm and even, yet it sends a fear through me.

“Declan, I—” I speak through the crack, not yet opening it and facing him.

I’m cut off by his order. “Come out now so I can see you.”

Swallowing the spiked ball in my throat, I obey him instantly but my hands tremble. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It doesn’t matter what you meant. It matters that you were here.” Still, his tone portrays a matter-of-factness, no anger, no disappointment.

“I’m sorry.”

“Put those away.” His gaze travels down to my hands, I hadn’t realized I was still holding the nipple clamps. My cheeks heat as I open the door, and I feel Declan’s eyes burning into the back of my neck with every move I make. When I’m done I come back to him, standing beside his desk where I know he prefers me.

He stands with his arms crossed over his broad chest, his thumb traveling down his jaw as he assesses me. I’ve never felt so much like a child in his presence. Struggling to say anything at all, I peer up, waiting for him.

“What did you hear?”

“Nothing.” I swallow thickly.

“You mean everything?” His brow cocks.

I nod. “I heard everything.”

I expect him to be angry at me, but Declan sits on the edge of his desk, his expression calm. “You know better. What should your punishment be?”

“I don’t know.” My palms are clammy and my heart races.

With a gentleness I don’t expect, he brushes my hair away from my face. “You need to give me better answers, my sweet girl.” His hand cups my jaw and he repeats, emphasizing the question, “What should your punishment be?”

My mouth is dry. I can’t come up with an answer. I just want him to tell me. “Whatever you think it should be.”

“I never did get to fuck you after spanking you,” he comments, almost to himself. “The next time you’re in here when you don’t think you should be, do not hide. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“You come out immediately.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl.” His voice is a soothing balm. As his thumb runs down my chin and lower, my eyes close. “I prefer for you to be my good girl so I don’t have to punish you.”

With my heart racing, I swallow and then whisper, “I know.” When I open my eyes, his hazel gaze is on me, swirling with a dark lust. He’s going to spank me; I know he is. With deep breaths, I prepare myself. Remembering the last time, with the ruler, I contemplate begging him to use his hand instead. I swallow down the plea, I will be his good girl. I’ll do whatever he wants. Even if the nervous prickling runs over every inch of my skin. The pain will be bad at first but it won’t last for more than a day.

“Strip,” Declan commands with a deep rumble of desire.

While I take my clothes off, he sets up two stacks of books on his desk. My focus remains entirely on him because I have no idea what the hell he’s doing. There are four to five books in each stack and he attempts to make them even.

Nervousness coils in my stomach. I can’t stop watching him. As my bra hits the floor, and the chill of the air sends goosebumps down my arms, he meets my questioning gaze. “I’ve had a very long night already, my little pet, and an even longer day.” He pats the desk and tells me,“I have a meeting in a moment and I’m going to need you to lie there.”

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