Page 41 of Dare to Love Again

She sniffed, but not from tears this time. “Easy for you, maybe.”

“I’m not a sadist, but it’s a rare dominant who doesn’t enjoy smacking a sweet subbie ass, and yours is one of the sweetest ever. If it’s for play and we both take pleasure from it, even better. But when the intent is to bring about a response from a lass who’s learned to suppress her emotions and to lock away the pain from a trauma in her past, it’s a tool that serves a purpose. I see using it as part of my job as a dom, but not one that’s ever easy.”

Esme stiffened, afraid she’d offended him, and more than that, appalled she was so transparent.

He nudged up her chin and wiped the new round of tears from her cheeks.

“I think you’ve had enough for tonight. Let’s get you dressed and headed on home.”

“What? That’s it?”

“You were expecting I shackle you to the wall and beat you, perhaps?”

She glanced around the dungeon and the half dozen pieces of equipment they hadn’t used, not to mention the wall covered in implements. “Yes.”

“Sorry, darlin’. While I am that kind of dominant when the occasion calls for it, it doesn’t, tonight. And not our first time out of the gate. We’ll get to know each other first.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

His eyes snapped to hers, fire blazing in their mossy depths.

“There’s an Irish expression you should learn, and right quickly when dealing with me. Beware the anger of a patient man. If you see it, you know things are serious!”

She swallowed hard. “I apologize for getting snippy, but don’t you want to, um...” How did she put this tactfully? “I’m naked,” she blurted out.

“Since I’ve been holding you for almost two hours what with the spanking, the bouts of weeping, and the cuddling, I’m well aware.”

“No way!”

This time, when his eyes snapped to her, they gleamed with amusement. Still, he angled his head and stared at her, patiently waiting.

“No way, sir,” she amended. “How is it possible we’ve been up here so long?”

“Five years is a long time to bottle things up and go without cuddling.” When her face flooded with color, he grinned. “I can see I’m not wrong. Unfortunately, others have the room reserved after us. I’m surprised they’re not beating on the door.”

His arms tightened around her, then she found herself on her feet. He moved around the room as she watched in a daze, truly shocked about how this evening had turned out. Returning, he handed over her discarded clothes just as a knock sounded at the door.

“Hurry and dress.”

Not needing to, because he hadn’t so much as popped a button, he went to the door while Esme did as she was told. While listening to his deep voice intertwine with another, she managed her bra and panties, thankful for the thong as she pulled it over her still-stinging ass cheeks. Her snug linen skirt wasn’t nearly as pleasant. She was buttoning her blouse when he came back to her.

“There she is, a little flushed, a tad mussed”—he fingered combed her hair, tucking several wayward strands behind her ear—“but none the worse for wear. I’m not free again until Tuesday. Meet me in the lounge at seven and we’ll further our acquaintance.”

Finn dipped his head as though he would kiss her but paused a short distance away. She blinked up at him dazedly.

“You’re free on Tuesday, I assume?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Excellent.” He bent the rest of the way and claimed her lips in a kiss that involved lots of tongue while his hands slid down to her backside, molding over her still-warm cheeks.

When he let her up for air, she blinked up at him and whispered dazedly, “I’ve never met a master who completely bypasses his libido for cuddles and kisses.”

He laughed. “I’m not immune. Or have you missed the erection digging into your belly?” Fortunately, he didn’t make her answer that. “You didn’t need sex tonight; you needed the good dom who knew when to push, when to stop, and had your best interest at heart. I pride myself on being my own man. I’m into the trappings of BDSM as anyone else in the lifestyle, but in handling a submissive, I’ll do it my way, not by protocol. And while I’ve had my fair share of scenes and one-night stands with subs who have been looking for that, you, sweet Esme, are not that kind of submissive.”

“You barely know me. How can you know what kind of sub I am?”

“As I mentioned, I’ve been at this awhile and have developed good instincts. I’ve had the chance to observe you on two occasions and have read your file, which contained very little other than a limit list, although that filled in a few of the blanks. You’ll tell me the rest over drinks in the lounge on Tuesday.”

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