Page 60 of Master My Love

Tears burned her eyes as guilt overwhelmed her. And her heart ached that he’d send her away with this unsettled between them. What if it festered, and when he returned, he decided she wasn’t worth the effort? Or that he couldn’t forgive her?

“Can’t you punish me now?” Her voice quivered, her emotions in upheaval; shameforemost over all. “I don’t want us to part this way, please.”

The last word broke on a sob, and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling. She didn’t want to manipulate him with her blubbering.

Ha, as if she could.

Silence followed her plea.

When several heartbeats thudded past, and he didn’t respond, she peeked up at him. He stood in profile, head bowed forward, his hand squeezing the back of his neck, a sure sign of his frustration.

“I shouldn’t have asked. You have to go,” she conceded softly. “Will you call me when you get home?”

He turned toward her, his eyes blazing with such fire she took an involuntary step in retreat.

“Do not run away from me.” He slowly approached her, and Val willed her feet to remain still, although they itched to run. “Bend over,” he ordered, pointing at the couch.

Overwhelmed with relief, she complied with his command without hesitation. She lowered herself on her belly over the high-back, disobedient ass in the air, fingers sinking into the soft cushions and gripping them fiercely while anticipating his next move.

“I have to remind myself how new you are to all of this. After only two weeks, you’re still a mere babe in the woods. If we were simply Valerie and Eric without the club or any power exchange between us, what you did would still be wrong.”

“I’m so very sorry, master,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. “If I could do it over, I’d take the stairs, I swear.”

He moved in behind her and flipped up her dress. Leaning over her, he used his chest to press her forward, forcing her head down until her check rested on the cushions and she stood on tiptoe, though barely. Her body was an inverted vee, her butt at its zenith, held in place by his body.

As the hard bulge in his trousers nudged between her thighs from behind, his voice was a seductive hum in her ear.“This is what I mean when I tell you to bend over.”

Shifting slightly, he nudged her legs farther apart with his booted feet. The chill in the air from the AC wafted over the wetness on her inner thighs. It didn’t last long because he moved closer and ground his hips against hers, allowing her to feel every inch of his hard length pressing into her softness. But he didn’t continue as she hoped. Instead, he straightened, and before she could blink, his open palm cracked hard across the fullness ofone cheek.

She yelped at the explosion of fire on her skin. As she teetered precariously on her perch, her fingers scrabbled frantically for purchase on the slick leather cushions. She pointed her toes, straining to maintain contact with the floor and regain her balance.

Eric’s big hand splayed across her lower back, keeping her in place while hedelivered another smarting swat a second later. He followed it with anotherjustas sharp. Like a grandfather clock striking the hour, the sound of his hand spanking her mischievous behind echoed resoundingly through the room. It continued until he had delivered at least thirtyhard,stinging slaps to her bottom and upper thighs.

When he stopped, his voice was smooth and unwavering, like the calm, collected man she’d met in the Decadence lobby, and come to know in the past two weeks, before she messed up royally tonight.

“You asked something of me, Valerie. I have given it. In return, I ask this.” Her breath caught in her throat as his warm palm skimmed over her tender skin, soothing the sting, as the heat of the blows merged into a fiery ache beneath his hand. “While we are apart, I want you to reflect on what a relationship with me entails. We’ll talk and laugh and enjoy each other’s company, and we’ll play—a lot. Respect works both ways, and trust is tough to mend after it’s broken. As my submissive, you will honor the experience I’ve gained in nearly two decades in the lifestyle, and ultimately, submit to my dominance.”

He leaned over her again, his fingers curling beneath her chin to angle her face to the side. His breath brushed warm against her cheek, and his scent, a mix of soap and cologne and man, filled her nostrils. He surprised her by pressing a kiss to her lips, so tender it made her heart skip a beat.

It ended much too soon, however, his mouth sliding along her cheek until he reached her ear. His teeth clamped onto the lobe and tugged lightly before he delivered one last message.

“Think carefully, because the next time you decide on willful disobedience, I won’t be nearly as pleasant.”

With his warning hanging between them, he left, closing the door with a soft thud behind him.

Val couldn’t say how long she lay there, arms and legs hanging limply over his couch, burning bottom bare, not bothering to cover herself, as tears leaked from her eyes. She considered all the missteps she’d made and firmly believed she deserved his anger, his disappointment, and his discipline. In her mind and body, but especially her heart, she ached for what her foolishness had risked, which hurt more than her hot bottom ever could.

Val didn’t need to consider anything. If she got another chance, she would yield. On her knees, if necessary. And she had a sneaking suspicion it would be.

A knock at the door prompted her to move. Hurriedly pulling her dress down, she hissed as the clingy material abraded her tender skin.

The knock came again. “Miss Thornton?”

While wiping her eyes and wet cheeks, she hurried to the door. She opened it to find Samson leaning against the frame, her white T-strap five-inch heels dangling from his long, broad fingers. “Your master requested I escort you to your car.”

She nodded, outwardly striving for calm while aching with an inner pain over losing his trust.

“My keys are in my purse in the locker room.”

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