Page 96 of here

Another smack, slightly harder.

My thighs clench, and I whimper again.

“Color system.” His fingers trace lazy circles between my thighs “Green means go. Yellow means slow down. Red means stop. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” His smooth, growly voice washes over me like warm honey. “What’s your color?”

“Green.” I arch into his touch, seeking more. “So fucking green.”

A dark chuckle rumbles against my neck. “Eager little thing, aren’t you?”

His fingers drift higher, barely grazing where I need them, and my hips buck, trying to get him there.

“Ah ah.” The hand in my hair switches to my hip, holding me still. “My rules.”

I nod.

Another smack lands, harder this time, and the sting blooms across my skin. Pleasure mixing with pain.

“Color?”

My voice comes out breathless. “Green.”

His fingers trail down my spine. “You’re going to count for me. Ten strikes. After each one, you’ll tell me something true.”

My stomach clenches. “About what?”

“Whatever’s in that pretty head of yours.” His palm smooths over my ass. “Something real. No deflecting.”

“I—”

The next strike cuts off my protest.

“One,” I gasp.

He waits, his hand resting on my hip.

“I…” The words are there, burning behind my lips. “I hate how the dress felt, but I bought it anyway.”

“Why?” Another strike lands.

“Two.” A deep breath, then I shut my eyes, bracing myself. “It keeps everything together when I’m falling apart.”

The next strike makes me arch.

“Keep going.”

“Three.” Tears pool at the edges of my lashes, blurring my vision. “I’m scared of what you’ll think of me. After seeing… after tonight.”

His thumb sweeps away a stray tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The fourth strike lands before I can process his words.

“Four.” My skin burns, the warmth almost dizzying. “I don’t believe you.”

His touch vanishes, and for several heartbeats, there’s nothing but our breathing and the steady drip of the faucet echoing off tile.

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