Chapter Eighteen

Repercussions

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“I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO say.” Her heart was pounding so fast, she thought she might vomit.

“There’s nothing to say.” He dropped the gag onto the leather seat of the sofa. “You’re going to do as you’re told, aren’t you, Amy?”

“Yes, s-sir.” Her attention darted from the gag to his face. Why had he dropped the thing if he was so hellbent on her wearing it?

“That’s right.” The hand at her face lowered, skimming her collarbone. “Because you’re going to be the best housekeeper I’ve ever had. You told me so yourself.”

“I did say that.” She sounded distant, as though he’d mesmerized her.

“Yes, you did.” His large hand brushed over her goosing skin to stroke her pebbling nipple. “And I already know you’re going to make me proud and earn that bonus.”

Her eyes widened at the thought of the money. In the myriad of the intensity Kyle brought, she’d almost forgotten her motivation for being there.

“I’ll wear the gag, sir.”

Her pulse accelerated as she blurted out the admission, though she still couldn’t fathom her thinking. As ridiculous as it was, she wanted to make him proud, and in that instant, enduring the trial was more about pleasing him than even taking the cash and paying her bills.

“Yes, you will.” His unsettlingly calm tone continued. “And you’ll take your spanking as well.”

“Sorry?” Had he just said he’d spank her?

“You’re going to turn around, lean over the end of the couch,”—he signaled to the enormous settee behind her—“and lift the back of your skirt.”

Surely, he couldn’t mean what he said? Sure, he’d only just suggested he gag her for talking while she worked, but actually inflicting pain? That was a step too far!

“You said you wouldn’t hurt me, sir.” Dazed, she perched on the arm of the sofa.

“I said I wouldn’t harm you,” he quibbled, as though there was any difference between the two words. “Ten hard spanks with my palm won’t be enough to cause you any harm, Amy.”

Paralyzed by the image he’d provided, it took her a moment to reply.

He wants to spank me.

She glanced down at the aforementioned palm, imagining how that might feel. “But it’ll hurt?”

“A little,” he ceded. “And that’s the point, little girl. The contract implied your obedience, and a little pain will keep you faithful to that vow.”

Gazing up at his eyes, she thought to argue. To tell him the word ‘obedience’ hadn’t even been mentioned in the contract and that pain was the least effective way of encouraging people, but the words never came. Instead, she was empowered by what she found there—the sense of their strengthening connection and a perturbing notion that, in that headspace, he might be able to sweet talk her into just about anything.

“I don’t want to be spanked, sir.” She swallowed, hardly believing it had to be said, and simultaneously, regretting her choice to tell him.

“I know.” His free hand rose to hold the back of her neck, his fingers stroking her skin as his soft voice coaxed her. “But I know you’ll turn around for me, regardless, Amy.”

“I-I don’t know what’s going on here.” In a matter of half an hour, he’d morphed from the severe headmaster guise to the smooth-talking leading man who’d been able to cajole her to that point with way too little resistance.

“The same thing that was going on last night.” He leaned toward her, teasing her with the one caress she shouldn’t want—the feel of his mouth on hers. “When you let me bind you and you rode us both to heaven.”

Even a couple of days ago, Amy would never have dreamed of behaving that way on her own, let alone with a man who was almost a stranger and had recently become her boss.

What’s happened to me?

“Turn. Around.” His words were soft, but there was no denying they were an order.

Trepidation gripped her insides as his hands fell from her body, giving her just enough space to twist and face the sofa. Time seemed to slow as, implausibly, she found herself moving the way he’d indicated. By the time she’d turned her back to him, her breaths were audible and exaggerated.

“Excellent, Amy.” His arms snaked around her middle, one rising to cradle her right breast while the other rose to her throat. “I knew you could be my good girl.”

Her eyes fluttered closed at his praise. She should despise his shallow words, should have elbowed him in the ribs and run for it, but leaning into his body heat, she accepted neither of those things was going to happen.

Whatever the magnetic passion they manifested between them was, she wanted more of it. Even if it meant humbling herself for him. Even if it meant putting herself into such a preposterous and potentially dangerous position.

What do I mean, ‘even if’? She pulled in a shaky breath. I want those things because they’re humbling and dangerous.

“Now lean forward and plant your palms on the leather.” He spoke to the side of her neck, the caress of every word igniting chills along her spine. “I’ll take care of that skirt for you.”

“Sir?” She turned, anxious not to lose whatever this magic was.

“Hmmm?”

“I’ve never been spanked before.”

Her voice was fraught with the tension curling in her throat. She wanted the experience, even though it was the last thing she sought. There was no way to reconcile the warped needs he seemed able to inspire.

“I know.” His fingers stiffened a fraction at her throat. “It won’t be too much. I promise.”

She had absolutely no reason to believe him. Hell, she should probably have never come to his house in the first place, but as his hand fell from her breast to her thigh, she already knew she’d surrender to the spanking.

“Ten spanks, sir?” She pushed away her remaining nagging doubts and dismissed the idea of Graham’s disapproval or what her sons would think. None of them were there. None of them were her. None of them could ever understand.

“Ten spanks,” he confirmed.

“It’s going to make me want you again.” Wait, had she actually just admitted that out loud? Even by the current standard, that was brazen.

“Oh, I know, little girl.” He chuckled, placing a kiss on her nape. “But there’ll be no more fun until this place is properly dusted.”

“Oh God.” Her heart raced as she tipped forward over the arm, splaying her fingers against the cold leather. The gag he’d threatened to use on her rested between her outstretched hands, as if it was there to taunt her. “I can’t believe this.”

“You’re magnificent.” He ran his hands from her waist to the curve of her ass, hiking the hem up to reveal her panties. “And these are very pretty.” He tugged at the material at her hip. “But they’re in my way. They’ll have to go.”

She groaned as he eased the fabric down around her thighs, already knowing how aroused he’d find her if he cared to look. He left her panties hooked just above her knees, and the fact she was neither able to benefit from their protection nor open her legs properly because of them was deliciously twisted.

“Ass in the air, please.” One hand nudged her hips backward, so her behind was prone and on display. “Ready, Amy?”

Was she ready? Could anyone be ready for what he’d pledged to deliver?

“Yes, sir.” She pushed the words toward the leather, tensing in preparation for his first strike.

He didn’t make her wait long.

His right hand rose from her skin and crashed down on her bare backside only seconds later.

She winced at the impact, aware it hadn’t been too severe, yet still hardly able to discern what she was allowing.

“Tell me why you’re being spanked, Amy.” His voice rang out from somewhere behind her.

Why? The query pinballed in her head. How did she know why? He’d been the one determined to spank her.

“I...” she hesitated, unsure what he wanted to hear.

“What was that?” His second spank was harder, the blow taking her breath away for a moment. “I can’t hear you, Amy.”

“I was talking, sir.” She braced as the third swat struck, steeling herself for the sting and the subsequent heat that emanated from the impact.

“Correct.” He rubbed the orbs of her ass roughly. “You complained when you’d been left to work, then talked again when I’d explicitly asked you for quiet.”

She squeezed her eyes closed as the fourth strike landed. “I’m sorry, sir.” She no longer knew if she was genuinely apologetic or just telling him what he wanted to hear. She couldn’t even decide if it mattered.

“Thank you.” He smacked the side of her right cheek as he bent over her and brushed a kiss over her shoulder. Her lips parted as a succession of short, sharp swats landed in the same area.

“Oww!”

There was no choice but to release some of the tension that had built inside her. She couldn’t say she liked the spanking, but Kyle had a way of turning the intolerable into an enthralling adventure, and as he rose to his original place, she was dimly aware that the ‘ordeal’ might be over far too soon.

“One more spank, little girl.” He caressed the place he’d punished.

“Yes.” What was that in her voice? Sorrow at the end of the onslaught?

“You’ve done well.”

“Thank you, sir.” She nibbled her lip as she basked in his admiration.

“I want you to beg for this final one.” His hand shifted to the middle of her ass, lowering past her cheeks to the place she really craved his attention. “Beg well, and I’ll make sure you reach the stars again later today... after your duties.”

Was he promising her an orgasm if she pleaded nicely? Christ, this guy was too much!

“You want that, don’t you?” His roaming fingers had already established that for themselves, and as he dipped one digit into her pussy, she whimpered with yearning.

“Oh, yes!” She wanted it now, needed to splinter right then and there over his fucking expensive sofa.

“Then beg.” He plunged the finger deeper, curling it gently to elicit another rasped moan.

“Please.” It didn’t matter that she’d sworn she’d never beg the man for a damn thing. At that moment, all she cared about was the looming pleasure and affording herself as much of it as she could. “Please, sir. Please spank me again.”

She needed it. She might even have deserved it, but as the weight of his palm came crashing down over her prone ass, she only knew one thing.

She never wanted it to end.