Page 74 of His Mark

I gulped, my pulse pounding. I knew I should say yes, keep up the act, but my body reacted before my brain could, arching just slightly toward his touch.

His thumb stroked over the sensitive skin just above my knee, slow and deliberate. “Because if you’re not,” he continued, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, “I will take my time punishing you. A long, long time.”

Heat flashed through me, pooling between my traitorous legs. I should not be this turned on by the thought of him dragging me over his lap, spanking me until I was sore and spent and wrecked beneath his hands. But I was…

Silas inhaled slowly, his fingers back on my hip.

“You like that, don’t you?” His voice was rich with dark amusement, his thumb pressing just a little harder. “The thought of me turning that pretty little ass bright red all over again.”

I bit my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

He chuckled knowingly. “Your body is telling me the truth, Wildcat.”

I clenched my thighs together, feeling the slow, throbbing ache between them, my mind already running ahead, imagining what it would feel like when he finally followed through on his threats.

Worse, I wanted to push him. I wanted to see just how far I could take this before he made good on every promise he’d just whispered in my ear. For now, though, I played my game. I let him believe I would behave.

Silas’s fingers skimmed up my side, grazing the bare skin beneath my shirt, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. He moved slowly, like he knew he was unraveling me, and he was enjoying every second of my building need.

“You’re trembling,” he murmured, his lips grazing the curve of my jaw.

I was. Not from fear, though, not even close.

His fingers splayed over my ribs, his touch firm, possessive. He exhaled slowly, his breath warm against my skin, and I felt the restraint in him, the careful control he was barely holding onto.

“I know exactly what’s going through that pretty little head of yours,” he said, his voice a low, dark hum in my ear.

I forced myself to keep breathing evenly, even as my pulse pounded in my throat.

“You’re thinking about how sore your ass would be if I bent you over this table right now,” he continued, his tone dripping with quiet amusement. “Aren’t you, Wildcat?”

I clenched my teeth, refusing to answer.

Silas chuckled, brushing his nose along the side of my face before nipping at my ear. “You know what the worst part is?”

I bit my lip, my fingers twitching against the wooden table. “What?”

He grinned against my skin. “You’d love it.”

Heat flared in my core, and I knew he could smell my arousal, knew he could feel the way my body had just betrayed me completely. Stupid pussy.

His thumb was stroking lazy circles over my hip. “You think I don’t know you by now, Lia?” he murmured. “I can feel you already bracing for it. Already wanting it.”

I wanted to tell him he was wrong. Ineededto tell him he was wrong, but I wasn’t sure I could lie convincingly right now. So instead, I turned my head, just enough to meet his gaze.

“Then do it,” I whispered, challenging him.

Silas growled. A deep, rumbling sound that sent a shiver straight down my spine. His pupils dilated, swallowing the gold, his jaw tight like he was trying to force himself to step back. His hands flexed against me, like he was fighting every instinct screaming at him to take me.

I smirked, tilting my head. “What’s wrong, Alpha?” My voice was sweet, teasing. “Getting cold feet?”

His nostrils flared.

“You really don’t know when to shut that mouth, do you?” he murmured ominously.

I shrugged. “Seems to be a naughty habit of mine.”

Silas shook his head for the briefest of seconds and then moved.

---