Page 34 of Hushed

“They’re clearly crazy about each other, and the way he keeps her on track seems to really work for her.”

“And what do you think of how he keeps her on track?”

“You mean that he spanks her? I’m… interested in what it’s like. How it will make me feel. And listening to her describe it, I can’t help but wonder if it might help me focus.”

He nodded. “It very well might. We can explore that sometime if you want. Did you actually see him spank her?”

For some reason, that made her giggle, and she couldn’t stop.

“It’s not that funny, imp. If you come to the club with me, you’re going to see more than that.”

“Sorry. There was a moment last night where I thought they were coming onto me and then Patrick scolded her for making me think that. The entire night was so surreal that now I laugh every time I think about it. I did not see him spank her. But she was crying when she came back downstairs, and I asked her about it.”

He nods. “So, you know that the spankings he gives her aren’t simply fun, playing around in the bedroom kind of spankings.”

She sobered and nodded. “Yeah. She called them discipline spankings, which sounded very unsexy. But I’m starting to see that kink and BDSM doesn’t have to be all sexy. Sometimes it’s about finding unique ways to improve your life.”

Gage beamed. “Someone has been doing their research. What does the idea of me spanking you in a way that’s not meant to turn you on do for you?”

Nervous laughter rocked her, and she picked at an imaginary crumb on the bedspread. “Um. Would it be weird if I said it turned me on?”

He picked up her hand to stop her from squirming and squeezed. “Not at all. Stand up.”

Fuck. Was he going to spank her?

“I want to punish you for going to the club. Will you resent me if I do that right now?”

Her mouth fell open. “But why?”

“It’s not so much going. It’s the not telling anyone before you went part that I’m disappointed in. And if you’re going to be my sub, the number one rule is that you tell me everything, even if you’re sure I won’t like it. But I also respect that I’ve been quiet and distant these past few years, so if you don’t want to try this, I’m sure you’ll give me another reason to spank you soon enough.”

She stuck her lip out in a pout. “Have you no faith in my ability to be a good girl?” she asked, teasing.

He laughed. “I have plenty of faith in you. But it’s natural to fuck up when you’re first learning the rules. Now answer my question. Can I spank you or not?”

She shifted her weight from one leg to the other and chewed on her lower lip. “Is it going to hurt?”

“It’s punishment, babe. Yes, it’s going to hurt. But I won’t go too hard on you. Just hard enough so that you understand what a punishment spanking is like, so you know the difference between that and a fun spanking.”

Her face was so hot she knew she had to be as red as the tank top she still wore.

“OK. You can spank me.”

He stood and pulled her to him. “If you want it to stop you need to say red, OK? Because you might find yourself saying no or stop, but you won’t mean it. If you really mean it, say red.”

Well, fuck. How much was this going to hurt?

“OK,” she whispered.

“It’s ‘Yes, Sir,’ from now on.”

Oh. That was new. Why did the idea of calling him Sir make her nervous? But she wanted to try this, so she nodded against his chest. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. Now kiss me and then you’re going over my knee.”

She lifted onto her tiptoes, and he bent for a soft kiss that was over far too soon. When he pulled away, he sat back down on the bed. Without another word, he lifted her skirt and rolled the hem into the waistband, so her ass was visible.

He narrowed his eyes and glared at her when he realized she wasn’t bare under her skirt.

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