He stroked her back until the raggedness of her crying had diminished to sniffles and gasps. Pulling away, he bent down to put her underwear back and even pulled them up until they were once more covering her tender bottom.
She watched in confused disbelief as he smoothed her skirt down into place. Done, he braced his hands on the back of the couch on either side of her, studied her, and waited.
Dawning realization of what he’d just done crept across her face and into her dismay-stricken eyes.
“You aren’t done,” she guessed.
He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’m not.”
Her expression crumpled. “Then why did you stop?” she cried, betrayed.
“Because,” he said simply, “you told me you changed your mind, and I won’t do this without your consent.”
“But I gave it to you!”
“What you give, you also have the power to take away. I couldn’t tell if you meant it when you said you changed your mind. What’s the safeword?”
Sniffling, holding her bottom with both hands, she looked adorable. She was also just rattled enough, she had to think before she answered.
“I want to pay my bill?”
He’d been right to stop.
“Sorry, baby girl. You’ve been naughty, and you still have one hell of a spanking coming, but if you want the rest of it, you have to ask for it.”