Page 43 of Hideaway

“You can’t be serious,”Kara scoffed as she shook her chin from his grasp, her fear momentarily forgotten in the wake of his sheer audacity.

“Oh, I am deadly serious,”Cade informed her, his face dark with intensity.

Kara groaned in anguish, hating the man before her with every molecule in her body. She wished she could take back every pleasant thought she’d ever had about him. She especially wished she could take away every memory of the reprehensible bastard being inside her. And, more than anything, she wished she could take back the twisted irony of enjoying his body so much that she would possibly consider fucking him even after he hit her.

“Should I go get Declan?”Cade asked, growing impatient.

British bastard.

“Fine! I apologize for disobeying your orders. Please be so good as to whip me,”Kara conceded finally, hoping she had adequately concealed the sarcasm in her voice. The malicious grin on Cade’s face implied that she hadn’t.

“Well, if you insist, love. Bend over the desk.”

Kara stood before the ominous desk. There would be no more stalling. No more delays. No more arguments. It was time for her to pay. She felt Cade’s hand on the small of her back, gently encouraging rather than forcing her to lower herself onto the desk. She complied reluctantly, bending at the waist and laying her upper body across the smooth mahogany like a sacrificial offering for his whims of retaliation. The surface of the desk was unforgiving, cold, and too hard against the soft warmth of her skin. The angular corners bit painfully into the tender flesh of her abdomen, connecting with her hip bones any time she shifted or adjusted her weight.

Cade placed the belt on the desk in front of Kara, noticing her startled jolt of fear when it landed on the wood with a loudthud. Kara eyed the detestable implement warily, distracted to the point that she didn’t notice Cade move behind her. She felt him press the length of his body against her, cringing mentally even as her traitorous body leaned slightly into his embrace.

His hands softly traced the outline of her body, stroking from her shoulders, down her sides, dipping into the indent of her waist, over her hips, and, finally, across her backside. His touch lingered there, rubbing concentric circles across her ass, demanding her relaxation with his massaging fingers. Involuntarily, Kara obeyed, raising her hips to lift her ass into his tantalizing touch. She froze when she felt his hands slip under her nightgown and slowly raise it above her hips. She shivered when Cade’s fingers hooked into her panties and gently pulled them down her legs, stroking her thighs and calves along the way. Placing the softest kiss on her right ankle, Cade lifted her feet one at a time and helped her step out the panties.

Kara was naked from the waist down, fully exposed and prostrate to whatever Cade may demand. And in that moment, much to her complete bewilderment, she very much wanted him to fuck her. Feeling him pull away from her, Kara heaved in distress as Cade walked back to the desk and picked up the belt. Her stomach turned as she watched his fingers flex tightly around the smooth, brown leather, the simple act corrupted with the threat of impending violence. She stifled begs and pleas as they crept cowardly up her throat, demanding to be released. She knew, at that point, no words would save her.

The lethal sound of leather cutting through air was the only warning Kara had before the belt landed harshly on the very center of her ass.

One.

She gasped at the sensation resonating across punished flesh. Unquestionably, it had hurt. A lot. But there were layers beneath the singular feeling of pain. And it was confusing as hell. Cade’s sensual caresses had left her feeling open to sensation, insatiable for touch. And somehow, even though that touch was punishing instead of gratifying, her body had welcomed it rather than finding it wholly disagreeable.

After making sure Kara was composed enough to proceed, Cade whipped her again. Harder.

Two.

She flinched at the contact of leather with skin, but remained unyielding. Aiming for the apex of her thighs, Cade hit again.

Three.

She pressed her thighs tightly together, squirming against the edge of the desk.“Please,”Kara begged breathlessly, though not entirely sure for what. For Cade to stop hitting her? For him to continue the onslaught that left her feeling tortured and tingly all at once? For him to put down the damn belt and fuck her hard against the desk? Another lash hit her high on the ass, dragging a soft moan from her lips.

Four.

Cade’s brow furrowed as he stilled his hand momentarily, surprised to find Kara’s utterances echoed lust more than anguish. Clearly not fulfilling his duty adequately, Cade put his full weight into his next swing, the belt landing on the tender skin of her thighs.

Five.

Kara whimpered softly, this time in pain.Six.Every lash pulled her farther from enjoyment.Seven.Slowly, arousal gave way to anguish.Eight.Rather than his arm tiring, Cade’s strength seemed to grow with every blow.Nine.Each strike of the belt was harder than the last, as though exacting her pain and submission fueled him.Ten.Kara began to shake beneath the brutal assault, tears threatening to spill.

“Please,”Kara pleaded again. This time, she was entirely sure all she wanted was for the whipping to stop.

“You don’t get to ask for mercy now, Kara.”Cade layered another blow across an already sore welt on her ass. A blot of deep red blossomed against the purpling bruises as he broke the skin.Eleven.

Kara cried out softly.

“You should have considered the consequences when you broke your promise.”He hit her quickly in succession.Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen.

Kara felt her cheeks dampen with tears she hadn’t realized she’d shed.

“You should have thought of the ramifications when you ran from me.”The lashes grew harder still.Fifteen. Sixteen.Kara’s chest heaved with silent sobs as she struggled to absorb the pain Cade delivered. How much more could she bear? How many more blows would she have to take before Cade was satisfied?

“Do you regret disobeying me now?”

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