46. Max

My malyshka is quiet as I lead her into my apartment. I expected more of a fight from her when she realized we were heading back to mine rather than hers. Sasha told me this morning that she's only been back to her apartment once since it was broken into. Even though it has a security system installed and is now as safe as it can be.

I know she's afraid. And she has good reason to be. The mayor called me earlier ranting about how press freedom is the bane of his life. Like he expects me to do something.

Not a chance. He's made his bed. He can lie in it.

Now he's signed off on the permits we need, I don't give a fuck about his problems. He has the money I promised, deposited in a bank account in the Cayman Islands, where the tax authorities can't touch it.

If he causes me any problems now, he'll be dead by dawn. And he fucking knows it.

"Take off your dress and shoes."

Moonlight paints Natalya's curves with a silvery glow as she stands in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. I tap my phone and ambient lighting comes on, pushing the shadows away.

She stares at me for a moment, uncertainty written all over her face. This side of me isn't one she's seen before, but it's about time she understood the consequences of not acting in her best interests.

I wanted her to stay with me this week because that's where she's safest. But she refused. The anger inside me has been building for a few days now. It needs an outlet.

Not that I plan to hurt her. Far from it.

I will make her understand what it means to ignore me, however.

Whatever she sees in my face has the desired effect. I watch as she kicks off her shoes and then slowly lifts the red dress over her head.

After removing my cuff-links and unbuttoning my shirt, I drop onto the sofa and spread my legs.

"Come here, baby." I point to my lap. She looks confused.

"Are we not going to bed? It's late." There's a thickness to her voice. A slight rasp from the alcohol she's consumed, but she's not drunk. I made sure she drank some water in the car on the way home, so she sobered up a lot in the time it took us to get back here.

It's pointless disciplining her if she won't remember it in the morning. I prefer that my lessons stick because I dislike repeating myself.

"Not yet. Now do as you're told." She swallows but does as I ask. Her hips sway as she walks toward me, making my mouth water and my cock ache.

Her eyes are glued to my face, but I'm giving nothing away. Not yet.

"You've been a bad girl, malyshka."

"B… bad?"

"Yes, bad. Did you think I wouldn't notice you being distant with me this week? Or that refusing to stay with me where it's safer is stubborn and stupid."

"I haven't been distant or stubborn," she protests, but the way she bites her lip and looks down tells me she knows damn well I'm telling the truth.

"And you lied to me."

"I didn't lie!" her eyes flare with rage. The cowed, defeated woman I first met in a bar all those months ago is long gone. She's fought back, faced her fears, and is stronger now.

"An omission is still a lie, malyshka."

"Fuck you," she hisses. Before she steps back, I grab her wrist. Not so hard that it will hurt her, but firm enough to ensure she can't escape.

"I said, come here, Natalya." Unwillingly, she comes closer. Her breathing quickens but she's not scared. If she was, I'd let her go. I have no interest in frightening her. That's not who I am. I know what she"s been through with her ex. This isn"t about control. It"s about making her feel good at the same time as teaching her a lesson.

"I'm tired. I want to go back to Jane's place." She"s grumpy with me but there"s no fear in her eyes. No sign that she"s afraid of what I might do.

"No. Now bend over my lap."

Her mouth falls open in shock, but she doesn't try to pull away. I love that my malyshka has a submissive side and I plan to nurture it.

"Now!"

She does as she's told, resting her upper body over my thighs with her ass in the air. My hand itches as I stare at her peachy cheeks either side of her thong. Before she can utter another protest, I spank her ass hard enough to make her shriek with shock.