Page 248 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

More secrets than he knew. Although she hadn’t heard from Lance in a while.

“Some things are private, but nothing that causes you to scream and turn pale is going to be.”

She wrinkled her nose at him as her bottom tingled in a warning that she didn’t need. She already knew she was in trouble.

“So what the hell is private?” she asked, disgruntled.

His lips quirked up in a smile as he drawled, “Not much, darlin’, not much.”

Breathing out a sigh, she glared up at him while he stood there calmly waiting.

“Damn it, Alex. I don’t want to tell you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have lied. If it’s something worth lying about, then I think it’s something I need to know about. What caused you to scream?” His voice became harder, implacable, and she knew he was capable of waiting right there until she answered him. Stubborn male.

“The scales. The scales caused me to scream,” she admitted reluctantly as he allowed her to push past him and walk into the bedroom.

“The scales caused you to scream?” he spoke slowly.

“Not the scales themselves,” she replied as she searched for some clothes. “The fact that I’ve put on weight.”

“Turn around and look at me, please.” She knew that voice, knew he expected immediate obedience.

Reggie turned slowly. He had his arms crossed again as he leaned against the doorway between the bedroom and the bathroom.

“Explain why you’re so upset about putting on a little weight?”

“I’m not upset!” Why was she lying to him? Urgh!

“Come here.” He crooked a finger at her, and she moved toward him. As soon as she got within reach, he grabbed her, carrying her to the bed where he sat before he arranged her so she was lying face down on his lap.

“Hey!” she squealed. A sharp smack to her ass had her wriggling harder, but he easily held her in place.

“What are you doing? I didn’t break a rule!”

“You’re not being honest with me. And I thought this position might help remind you to be honest.”

“Okay, okay,” she said hastily. “I’m upset about putting on weight because of Lance! He, well he didn’t like me putting on any weight. When I met him, I was twenty pounds heavier than I am now. He said I needed to lose ten pounds of weight before I could move in with him. So I dieted and exercised. I was so stupid!” Alex turned her over, holding her on his lap.

Reggie rubbed her face tiredly. “Once I lost the ten pounds, I stupidly thought it would stop there. But he wanted me to lose more, and I wanted him to love me.” She leaned against his chest. “So he put me on a diet and each week I had to hop on the scales in front of him, if I lost weight then he was happy, if I was the same he upped my exercise, and if I put on weight, he . . . he . . .”

“He what, little one?” Alex rubbed her back gently.

“He’d beat me down with his words, telling me how ugly I was, how pitiful, that I wasn’t good enough for him.” She began to cry in earnest, large sobs that shook her slight body.

“Oh, baby,” Alex murmured, rocking her. “You know none of that’s true, right?”

She felt him tense before she shook her head. “No, I know. But he’s just got me so messed up. I hear his voice in my head, telling me that I’m ugly and awful and it’s hard not to listen.”

“Darlin’, you are not fat. And all that matters is that you’re healthy. How you feel about yourself. I just want you to be happy and well. Do you think we should get you a therapist?”

A therapist? No. Maybe.

“I don’t know. Perhaps.”

He nodded, then set her on the bed.

“Wait here.” Turning, he walked into the bathroom before returning to the bedroom carrying the scales. Reggie couldn’t help but gulp in worry.

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