Page 116 of Renard's Deliverance

Stupid, stupid idea.

“Um. No?”

“What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

His eyes narrowed and that scary look grew even scarier. “Right.”

He picked her up suddenly and she wrapped her legs around him as he carried her into the kitchen, setting her down on the counter.

Then he placed his hands on the counter on either side of her. “Talk to me.”

“Well, it’s a nice day outside . . .”

“You want to stop right now. I’m this close to bending you over my knee, Gem,” he growled at her.

“Well, why don’t you?” she cried.

His eyes widened, his face filling with shock. “What?”

“Nothing. I want to get down now.”

“You want me to spank you? Is that what this has been about?”

God. Now she felt like a complete idiot. She ran her hand over her face. “Sorry. I’m being a fool. I just . . .”

“Didn’t know how to ask me so you decided to disobey me so I’d spank you?”

“I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do,” she said.

He grasped hold of her chin, frowning at her. “What makes you think I wouldn’t want to spank your ass? Especially when you need it.”

“Well, I wouldn’t sayneedit.”

“Don’t play coy. Say what you need.”

“It’s just that you haven’t touched me since the day in the closet.”

“I touch you all the time, touching you right now.”

“Not like that! I want you to touch me like you did in the closet! Do you know how many batteries by vibrator has gone through since I met you?”

That explosion was met with silence.

22

So . . .

“Too much? Sometimes I don’t know where the line is. Most of the time, I step over it. Told you that I’m an acquired tas?—”

His mouth hit hers, his hand slipping behind her head to hold her still. When he drew back, she felt almost dizzy, like the oxygen had been sucked from the room.

“Damn,” she whispered. “You can fucking kiss.”

“Seems like the best way to shut you up,” he told her. “And I most definitely like your taste. Put your hands behind your back.”

She slid them behind her back without argument.

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