Page 20 of Her Double Desire

His lips part, and my palms sweat, thinking he's going to reveal my behavior when we were alone in the bath. “Keep reading,” he says softly.

I turn my attention back to the printed words. My face heats up. “You want to know my experience level withanal sex?”I laugh nervously, but the two men remain quiet. “How many times do I have to tell you boys that I've never done anything beyond vanilla missionary? Shawn's been mocking me about it all day.”

Shawn swallows his drink in one gulp. “I'm sorry, did you think our rules don't apply because we're having dinner?”

I blink a few times. “What?”

His chair scrapes loudly as he gets up, approaching me around the table. The simmering danger in his eyes freezes me where I am. Shawn leans over me, one hand gripping the back of my chair, the other resting on top of the papers on the table.“You boys?”he asks, quoting me. “I might have to accept that you're some sexless excuse for a servant, but I don't have to listen to your cocky attitude under this roof, little lamb.”

I'm speechless. When I glance at Jared, I see he's got his head resting on one fist, watching us.

Fingers capture my cheeks, spinning me back so I'm staring up at Shawn. His aura is wildfire, singeing away my confidence. He's right, I've forgotten I'm supposed to act subservient to these two. It's not in my nature.

“Do you really want to play with us?” he asks in a whisper. He turns my face slightly, considering me with intense interest. “I'm not used to having to teach slaves how to behave. For most of them, it's in their bones. Their hearts. Theycraveto follow every command from their masters. But you? You're a fraud, and a bad actor.”

“It's not that I don't want to play,” I say, my nails digging in my knees. The pain helps me focus so I can speak my mind. “It's that I don't know how to, still.”

Shawn narrows his eyes. I feel like he's absorbing everything he can about me in this single moment. His hand falls from my face, then he whirls away, his black suit-jacket flipping with the motion. “I've lost my appetite. Eat if you want, Jared, but when you're done, bring her into the parlor.”

With him gone, some of my defiance returns; I glare at Jared. “Can you believe him?”

Jared has his hands linked together over his mouth. There's no pity in his expression. No moment where we share even a bit of understanding over how ridiculous Shawn is being.

“He's right. It's time to hand you off to him.”

Thinking of the blonde man with his cruel words chills my blood. “What does that mean, hand me off? What's he going to do?”

“Whatever he wants, Veronica.” His palms slam down on the table, rattling the silverware. I was wondering when we were going to eat, but much like Shawn, my appetite is gone now.

Jared stands smoothly, circling towards me. He motions for me to stand, and the fierceness in his vibrant eyes forces me to jump up. “Jared—”

He pins my arms behind my back, facing me away from him so that my chest is pressed on top of the table. His fingers circle the fabric of my gown, throwing it over my waist. There's cool air on my naked skin.

Then the slap comes.

I cry out, reeling from the stinging heat on my ass.He actually spanked me!

He holds me by my upper arms, turning me towards him. The dominance in his gorgeous face leaves me stunned. “Listen to me, Veronica,” he growls, his pupils dilating. “As long as you're under this roof, you will never call meanythingbut Sir. Ever. Do you understand me?”

My ass cheek throbs. I'm conscious of my skin, my hard nipples, my rapidly swelling pussy. A flutter in my belly keeps me paralyzed from speaking.

His hand cups my jaw. “Answer me. Say 'yes, Sir.' Do it now.”

“Yes, Sir,” the words come out in a rush of air.

He smiles ever so slightly. It's beautiful... and it's ominous. His hold lingers on my face, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. This tenderness comes out of no where. I barely have time to make sense of it happening before he tenses up, his facade cracking, hinting at his own turmoil.

Jared backs away. He dusts his pants, and I swear I can see him trying to disguise a massive erection. The sight of it makes my mouth dry.

“It's settled,” he says, pacing out the door. “Let's go find Shawn.”

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