Page 38 of Renascence
“Did youeat, Em?”
“I had a Caesar salad,” she replies as I strap on her helmet.
Shaking my head, I place her purse in my saddlebag, then hop on and wait until she climbs on behind me. With her arms securely around my waist, I head into town. She’s more relaxed than she was last night, or even this morning, melting into me. I’ve had women on the back of my bike before, but none of them have incited the kinds of feelings Emily does. She feelsright.
I pull up to Millie’s, helping her off and removing her helmet.
“Are you getting something? I’ll wait for you here,” she says, a nervous lilt to her voice.
I place my hand at the small of her back and nudge her forward, opening the door to the diner so she can enter. Her gaze is skeptical, watching my every move after I point her to a booth and slide in opposite her.
“I told you, I already ate.”
“Yeah, right.”
Scoffing, she begins to slide out of her seat.
“Sit your ass right there or I swear I’ll bend you over this table and tan it until youcan’tsit.”
Her eyes widen, fear and horror staring back at me. She quickly scoots out of the booth, rushing for the door.
“Fuck.”
When I catch up to her, I grab her elbow.
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieks.
I block her path, forcing her to look at me. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? I endured a lot of things being with James, but he never put his hands on me. I’m not going to go from one type of abuse to another!”
“You think I’d hurt you?” I demand.
“You just said—”
“I said I was going to spank you.”
“I’m not a naughty child you need to discipline. I’m a grown woman.”
“I know, babe. A lot of women like that shit. Well, whenIdo it.”
“You mean…?” The anger slowly drains from her, curiosity replacing it.
I step forward, trapping her against the wall of the building.
“Imeanwhen I do it, you’ll be begging for more.”
Her head moves from side to side, her brain unable to reconcile what’s happening to her body. She thinks she shouldn’t want it, but she does. She wants everything I have to give her.
“Emily.” I take her chin between my fingers, lifting her face to mine. “Trust and believe, I’d never hurt you, physically or otherwise. If I ever do, know it’s not intentional.”
“How can I trust you? I barely know you.”
“You will.” I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “Just give it time.”
“Okay, but… no more talks of spankings.”
“You got it, darlin’.”Fornow.
