I adjusted her position by having her increase her fold at the hips and giving me better access to the underside of her ass cheeks. She was excited. Her essence coated her naked mound.

I reached out and ran a finger along her slit. She arched her ass toward me, and I brought the paddle down with medium force.

“Ouch,” she cried out and tried to press her legs together and tuck her hips forward away from me.

There was no way in hell this little hellion would stay still. Time for Plan B. With my hand back on her neck, I guided her over to the spanking bench and helped her to climb up. I fastened the restraints around her ankles, wrists, and over her waist to keep her from squirming.

Time to decorate her pretty backside. The five-inch plug would do. I went back to the cabinet and selected a glass plug and a tube of lube. I greased up her tight rosette and plunged one finger inside, working the tight ring of muscle.

“Relax.” I moved a finger along her slit and instantly she opened up to me, a flower opening its petals. I replaced my finger with the narrow tip of the plug and worked it inside of her and felt her clench as the widest part of the plug pressed against her tight rosette.

I ran a finger along her dewy opening. Whatever else she was, Melody was very excited. My finger circled her hardened nub, and she relaxed her muscles, allowing me to slide the plug home.

“How does that feel?” I wiggled the plug.

“It feels full, Sir.”

“Good.”

I picked up the paddle. “Okay, twelve with the paddle, and then we can finally get started on your punishment.”

From the tensing of her body and the fact her mouth opened, I knew she wanted to speak, to tell me I was wrong and it was only six. When she pressed her lips together, I bit back a grin. The little sub was learning.

I brought the paddle down right over the plug. Mel whimpered but otherwise remained still and silent. The next five strokes I brought down in quick succession, covering her entire backside and loving the light blush color of her skin. The dragon tongue marks had already disappeared.

She healed fast, and her body enjoyed leather. I made a mental note to only use leather when she was being rewarded. I aimed the paddle at her thigh and brought it down right at the crease.

“Ow!”

I landed a matching stroke on the other side.

Melody yowled and attempted to wiggle her ass. “I’m sorry,” she cried.

“Are you?” I cracked the paddle down two more times on her upper thighs. “What are you sorry for, little brat?”

I brought the implement down two more times.

Melody howled. “Sorry—Sorry—Sorreee,” came out in a long string.

I rubbed her hot, tight skin. “Tell me what you are sorry for, Melody, and I will forgive you for speaking without permission.”

“I’m sorry I disappointed you, Master. I didn’t mean to. I—well, what you did felt so good, and I guess my body just sort of took over.”

“Master Clay, little one, I’m not your Master, so the proper address is to add my name after Master.” No way in hell I was ready to claim the little brat, but maybe, down the road, I would collar her and keep her on a leash at my feet when I was a monitor and based on her behavior throughout the night, punish or reward her in my personal dungeon afterward. The vision of the little brat on her knees submitting to me had my cock straining to be released. But not yet. There was still a punishment to get to, and I had no plans to go easy on her.

“You’re forgiven. Now it’s time to move on, Melody. Are you ready to pay for your disrespect?”

“Yes, Master Clay.”

“Then let’s begin.”

Chapter Three

Melody

Holy hell! This was by far the hottest experience in my life. Clay’s deep, growly voice had me drenched right from the moment he squeezed my neck which took me to my knees. I’d always known I was a sub, and I did my best to hide it in the real world because life had taught me that to be anything but an M&M was dangerous. Like the candy, appearing hard on the outside while hiding the soft and sweet on the inside was my aim.

What I never knew, even after my nights at Midgard, was how hot submitting to a Master could be. Already, I was different. I could feel the shift inside of me that others who’d experienced the process had described. And for the first time, I also understood how hard it was to not fall for the one you played with.