Page 335 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

She smiled fondly at him. “I won't need it. But thank you.”

He frowned, but didn't look surprised. “I know, but if you do, it would make me happy if you used it.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Dom teased her all week with spanking-related errands, first sending her to Office Max for a “sturdy ruler” and the next day to several drugstores in search of a large wooden hairbrush. At the end of the week, he sent her to Fascinations, the upscale adult boutique where she was required to pick out her very own paddle.

She'd been there before with friends in search of bachelorette party goodies like penis-shaped lollipops and other silly trinkets, but she'd never gone in alone before. It felt a little scarier. The good thing was that Fascinations produced an atmosphere that was as benign as any store at the mall. They had friendly, knowledgeable staff who didn't act awkward or size her up as if they were wondering why she was in a sex shop.

The woman working the floor happily led her to their selection of paddles. “The whips and crops are mostly on the wall there, and the paddles are hanging from that display. There are wood and lexan. The lexan isn't as pretty, but the manufacturer claims it imparts the best sting without bruising.”

“Oh?” Kate choked out, feeling like she must be blushing to her toes.

“Do you have any questions about anything?”

“No, thanks,” she managed and didn't breathe until the salesperson had departed.

It was ridiculous that her fingers were shaking and her heart was running a little too fast as she touched the paddles. She kept thinking about her real punishment spanking. Would Dom use one of these the next time he thought she deserved to be punished? Her belly was developing a little knot. Of course, this is what he wanted. He knew that this errand would make her all a-twitter.

In the end she purchased two paddles—one wood and one lexan. They put it in a black bag and slipped a couple of condoms in as a treat. She managed a weak smile and escaped as fast as she could, not even daring to think of what Dom might have in mind for using them.

Chapter Ten

Randolph's last email sounded like it was written in a near panic. Fox read it again and again.

There's no one I can trust here in London. All the vampires are acting strangely—I can't tell who's working for Roxanna and who isn't. I need to get out of here. Here's my cell number. Call me?

It was just past sundown and Dom and Stella were already out for the evening. He picked up his phone and hesitated. There was a chance Randolph had been turned to Roxanna's side and this was a setup to get to Dom. But no, he trusted Randolph. They had loved each other once, as best they could.

He dialed the number. Randolph picked up on the second ring. “'ello?” he said suspiciously.

“It's Fox.”

“Fox,” Randolph exhaled. “Thanks for calling.”

“What's happening there?”

“Well, the nest I live in is still secure, but I don't know for how long. It seems like other nests in England have been corrupted, as far as we can tell—vampires we knew aren't themselves anymore. Word is that another nest in London was infiltrated in the past few days, and I feel certain we're next. Like tonight. Roxanna has power and sheer numbers in her favor—there's no way we could fight her.”

Fox's heart was beating fast. “Okay,” he said slowly. “I'm at home and I'm sending out an energetic marker to where I am in space. Can you find it?”

The phone was silent for a long moment. Then he heard Randolph exhale. “Bloody hell,” he hissed. “I remember you taught me this trick of yours before, I just can't recall how to find you.”

It was Dom who had created this method of locating each other in space. He and Stella taught him how to use it to safely materialize where the other vampire was. If someone put up his or her energy marker, it meant they were in a place to which it was safe to materialize.

He channeled Dom's patient teaching now. “Try again,” he said in a soothing voice. “It's there, and you will find it.”

Twenty seconds went by in silence, and then suddenly Randolph appeared in the living room, looking worried. His brow cleared he saw Fox and he rushed at him, picking him up in a bear hug. The strange familiarity of Randolph was overwhelming. The smell, the handsome face, the manly strength that had been long forgotten came back to him as if they'd been together merely a week ago instead of 34 years.

“Come on,” he said, putting his hand on Randolph's shoulder. “I'll pour you a drink and you can catch me up.”

Dom stopped on the step outside his front door as if listening, putting his arm out to stop Kate from going further. He had just taken her out for Spanish tapas at a downtown restaurant that featured flamenco dancing as entertainment and was bringing her to his place to spend the night.

His brows snapped together and he frowned. She heard the door unlock without him touching it, and he took her hand as they stepped into the vestibule where Dom unlocked the second door with his mind. Again he stood listening, with a frown.

“What is it?” she whispered.

He shook his head and opened the door slowly, holding her firmly behind his body with a hand on her arm. He stopped there in the doorway, but allowed Kate to come out from behind him.

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