Page 27 of Master My Love

Heaven above, was she ready for this?

“This class is an introduction to the club and the BDSM lifestyle.Novice subsare requiredto attend for a reason, to learn the rules. Rulesthat are in place to keep you safe. For this to happen,yourattentionis required.”

With an implacable expression on his gorgeous face, he stood over her with his hands fisted on his hips, the tails of the flogger trailing down one thickly muscled thigh. Her heart picked up its pace and her palms grew damp from being the object of his displeasure.

“Since the club opens in a few hours,and to keep you on track with your classmates, we’ll have tocombine the planned implement demonstration with your punishment.Questions?”

“No, Master Eric,” she replied, her voice pitched higher than usual from equal parts arousal and anxiety.

“What do you recall from class?”

Nothing. Did she dare admit the truth?

“Confidentiality? Respect? SSC? Negotiating a scene?” Although he spoke softly, there was an ominous quality in his voice. “Does any of that sound familiar?”

Crap, she’d spouted it chapter and verse in class, but now, all of it had flown out of her head. And while she racked her brain, she couldn’t come up with the meaning of SSC. “Some of it, yes, master. But I wasn’t completely paying attention.”

He grunted, moving behind her to cuff her ankles. “What could have been more interesting than learning how to keep yourself safe?”

“Nothing. I was daydreaming.”

“I didn’t expect to have to punish you quite so soon.”

His powerful hands easily moved her legs into position and snapped the links on her cuffs to the eyebolts. The snick of metal sent a tingle shooting up her spine. It was crazy, offering her butt as the target for a virtual stranger’s paddle, flogger, and crop, yet she wanted this. And she wanted him. Both more exciting than anything she’d experienced in two decades of marriage.

“What aboutsafewords? You saw firsthand their importance your first night here.”

“Yes, Master Eric. I’m green.”

He paused, but only for a moment then leaned over her and drawled softly in her ear, “That’s good to know, littlesubbie, but I didn’t ask where you were.”

“Oh—” She’d just given away how eager she was to continue.

“Sincewe’ve established green means you’re raring to go, I expect you to use yellow if you need a break, to slow things down, or if you’re scared. We’ll take a time-out, discuss what’s bothering you then, like with a yellow light, proceed with caution. Red means stop—as in everything. The scene ends and doesn’t resume until we have debriefed and resolved whatever the issue is completely. Is that clear?”

“Crystal, master.”

“Mmm, very nice,” he hummed. “It’s not so hard being a good girl when you listen, is it?” His fingers glided slowly up her leg as he moved to her side. “As punishment for your inattention in class, you’ve earned a spanking. Ten swats.”

After pronouncing her sentence,he didn’t mess around and delivered the first resounding smackto her bottom. She remained silent other than to suck in a breath. A heartbeat later, he applied swat number two to her other cheek. The thin layer of her nylon panties and light-weight yoga pants provided little protection from his hard palm.

“What were you dreaming about?” More crisply than the first few, his hand fell twice in a row on each cheek.

“I...um, well—” she squeaked. Trying to come up with a believable story without embarrassing herself while getting her butt busted wasn’t easy.

Once again, she must have taken too long for his liking because the four remaining smacks rained down hard and fast. “We’ll have tocurb your tendency for stalling. I’m not always this patient.”

In between quick gulps of air, she considered her warm, tingling bottom and tried to imagine what impatience felt like. She heard the scuff of his footsteps on the floor right before he squatted down in front of her, this time holding the leather paddle.

Hisfree hand caught her chin and turned her face up to his. “I’ll ask again. What were you daydreaming about?”

Closing her eyes against his intense scrutiny, her face flushed nearly as hotas her backside. Her confession came in a low whisper. “I was thinking about you.”

“I want you to look at me when we’re speaking, Valerie.”

Her eyes opened, something that took determination, so did meeting the gaze of the man who, only moments ago, spanked her. Not for acting like a naughty schoolgirl, but for actually being one.

Eric’s thumb sweptover her cheek and he asked in a velvet-laced tone, “Pleasant thoughts, I trust?”

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