Page 99 of With this Ring

Because of the acoustics and the music in the room, she couldn’t quite make out where his voice was coming from.

Was he still in front of her? Or had he moved somewhere else?

Not knowing exactly where he was left her a little disoriented.

“Have you ever been spanked with an implement?”

“No,” she said. He scooped her hair to one side. So he was behind her. “In fact, until you, I never had a spanking at all.”

“The way it should be.” Pride rang through his voice. “You watched a scene, and you looked at some of my toys. Did anything in particular intrigue you?”

She kept quiet.

“Something you’re reluctant to say?”

She should have known he’d continue to push.

“You told me you wanted to come over here. I think you can admit what you’re hoping for.”

Maybe it was a good thing she couldn’t see him because that gave her the courage to confess her secret. “I’d like to try your belt.”

“Oh, Petal. Would you, indeed?”

His voice sent little ricochets of pleasure up her spine. She loved his reaction to her, as if she meant as much to him as he meant to her.

“For now, I want to start you out with something a little less intense.”

Like what?

“I’m going to use a short, suede flogger.”

She’d seen some of those at the adult store, next to other longer, slightly terrifying ones with thick, black strands.

“This is one of my favorites. Pale pink, to match the marks I’m going to leave on your skin.”

Goose bumps shot up her arms.

His footsteps echoed off the floor, then soft leather whispered across her shoulders. The falls of the flogger, she presumed. They had little weight, yet their touch electrified her, making her skin tingle with anticipation.

“Feel this, Sasha.” He trailed the flogger down one arm, and the broad leather straps dipped into the crook of her elbow.Then he drew them back up and repeated the motion on her other arm.

Her breath caught in her throat as he traced a path across her collarbone and down between her breasts. She leaned forward, seeking more contact, but he moved away, leaving her wanting.

His voice came from a different angle now, closer to her ear, like earlier. “You’re dependent on my voice, aren’t you, pet? It anchors you in your dark, unexplored world.”

Her heart pounded in rhythm with the thumping music that filled the room.

His breath was warm on her neck, and when he spoke, he kept his words low, seducing her. “Every stroke, every touch, makes you more aware that you’re mine, doesn’t it?”

He moved again.

Leather strips suddenly danced down her spine. Gasping, she leaned forward, trying to get away.

“You’re sensitive there. Good to know.”

Without any warning, the first thuddy stroke landed across her buttocks. It was more of a firm tap than a sting, and the sensation didn’t hurt as much as she expected.

She slowly exhaled the tension she’d been holding.

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