Page 36 of The Auction

Her eyes widened. “You want me to go?”

“No, but I imagine you wouldn’t mind two hours off.”

He was baiting her, making her choose him. Cruel? A little but a little cruelty was just his style when it came to beautiful submissive women who drove him up the wall.

“It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t get punished. I have been very bad.” It looked to Daniel like she was having trouble saying that with a straight face.

“Then I suppose I should punish you. Since you know you deserve it. Come in.”

She eased across the threshold and stood in the middle of his living room, looking around without speaking. She looked nervous. Good. He was about to make her even more nervous.

“It’s nice to see you again,” he said. “I’m sorry we were interrupted two days ago.”

Her hands were clasped behind her back. She shrugged as if the whole thing were forgotten.

“Did you come last night while fantasizing about me?” he asked.

Her cheeks reddened. Had any woman ever blushed more beautifully?

“I only said that to make you kiss me,” she said. “When you’re kissing me you don’t talk so much.”

“Ah, I see.” He nodded. “Makes sense. I was thinking of you when I came last night. In case you were wondering.”

She stared at her shoes. “You did?”

“I did. Do you want me to tell you what I was fantasizing about?”

She lifted her eyes to his but quickly lowered them again. “It wouldn’t be a good idea.”

This made him unreasonably happy. Maybe she wanted him enough that he could convince her to let him help her.

Help her.

Fuck her.

All of the above.

“Then I suppose I better start punishing you,” he said. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“Bathroom.”

“What are we doing in your bathroom?”

“I’m taking a bath. And you are going to help.”

* * *

Anya followedDaniel to his bathroom and didn’t say a single word the entire walk there. Not a word of complaint. Not a word of insult. Either she was scared or she was excited.

In the bathroom, he shut the door. “Scared?” he asked, turning the tap back on.

She lifted her chin. “Of course not.”

“Really?”

She clasped her hands nervously in front of her and rubbed an invisible speck of something off her thumb.

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