My hand tightens in her hair, just enough for a bite of pain without crossing any lines. No matter what I say about punishment, I don’t intend to truly hurt her. By the time I’m done, she’s going to understand that a little pain can give her immense pleasure.
“Do you know how angry I was when I realized you were gone?” The words come out through gritted teeth, raw and honest in away that surprises us both. “Do you understand how worried I was?”
“N-no.”
I suddenly release her and take a step back. “I’d just had a severed hand delivered to my door. And then you were gone. What the fuck was I supposed to do with that?”
The color drains from her face. “I’m sorry.”
She looks like she means it. Good.
“Show me you’re sorry. Strip.”
I adjust myself through my pants as she obeys, dropping her clothes in a pile on the floor. She runs her fingers through her hair and arches her back, every inch a woman who knows what her body does to a man. My mouth goes dry.
I groan, low and hungry.
“Are you showing off that gorgeous body for me, Mia? Want your husband to know how lucky he is?”
She licks her lips, and I nearly unbuckle my pants right then. She’s baiting me. She knows exactly what she’s doing.
I smirk. “Trying to get me to forget about the spanking and fuck you instead?”
Mia’s eyes go wide and round as she shakes her head. “No.”
“You’re a terrible liar, baby.”
That spark in her eyes flares again, and I catch a glimpse of the fearless woman who seeks thrills wherever she can find them.
“Get on the bed,” I say. “Hands and knees.”
She doesn’t move right away. That little streak of defiance dances across her face, but after a beat, she drops her gaze and climbs into position. Her dark hair spills over her shoulder as she looks back at me.
“You’re going to count, and you’re going to stay in place. Do you understand? If you move or fail to count, I start over from the beginning.”
I reach out and run my fingertips down her spine. She shudders beautifully.
“Lorenzo...”
She sounds nervous, but when I meet her eyes, there’s no hiding how turned on she is. She wants this. Wants me to punish her in the most pleasurable way possible.
I don’t warn her. I bring my hand down on her ass, light at first, just enough to make her jolt.
She gasps and flinches. I wait, but she doesn’t say anything.
“You need to count, Mia.”
She glares at me over her shoulder. “This is ridiculous. I’m not doing this.”
She starts to move off the bed, but I grab her hips, holding her in place.
“Oh, you’re doing it. You’re going to take your punishment, Mia. You’re going to hold still and count, and when I’m done, I’m going to fuck you hard enough to convince myself that you’re really here.”
That stops her. Her eyes flick to mine, softer now.
“You were really worried about me, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”