Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
When we pull apart, I touch my forehead to his.
I lay my head on his chest. It feels right and natural when his arms come around me.
“I’ll keep you safe, Eden. I promise. No one’s going to hurt you.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Eden
Sergio strokes my cheek gently as I nestle against his chest.
Holding my chin in his hand, he makes me meet his eyes. "Tell me why I asked you not to go into that club without my permission."
My heart beats faster. This is a side of Sergio I haven’t seen before now—stern yet gentle, firm but in control.
"Because you didn't want to scare me away. Because you wanted to make sure that I didn't see anything that would frighten me.” I swallow and clear my throat before I continue. “Because you wanted to keep me safe."
My voice catches on the last word. Is that right? Should I have said that?
"Very good," he says, with the slightest hint of an approving smile. He bends his mouth to me and kisses my cheek.
"If you want the freedom that comes with this kind of submission," he says, gesturing at the wall behind which all manner of activity is still going at full throttle, "it starts right here." He taps the side of my head. “In your mind. With your emotions and thoughts. And the difference between what you experienced and what I can give you is right here…” He points to my heart. I swear I feel it swell inside my chest.
I nod, understanding.
“What would I do if you were my submissive, Eden?”
“I’d… be punished,” I say, curious and aroused and a little confused. “I think? You said you wouldn’t fire me.”
“Correct. I’d spank you for your disobedience.”
“Over your lap?”
He pauses. My heartbeat thunders in my ears. I point behind me. “Like… that?”
“Yes. I’d be able to read your reaction better that way, judge what you could handle.” He strokes my cheek, and that quickly, I imagine him stroking my whole body with those rough, masculine hands of his. “I could make sure you enjoyed it.”
“I—” Questions teem in my mind, but I distill them all to the one response that will please him. “Yes, sir.”
I would do anything to see that approval in his eyes again.
“You had a question, but you censored yourself just now.”
“I… can’t imagine enjoying a punishment, is all. That seems pretty hard to imagine.”
His deep-throated chuckle sets my nerves on fire.
“Is that a challenge?”
Oh. Oh no.
Oh yes.
I stare at him.
I’ve spent my entire life afraid of what would happen. Scared to take a step out of turn. Now, I feel like if I don’t take the chance now… when will I?
If I don’t have the courage now… when will I?
“I want you to lie over my lap."
Oh my goodness. I… I don’t know what to say or what to do. It seems I have nothing left in front of me but to… do what he says.
Do it.
I stand. I square my shoulders and take a breath and remind myself how I felt before I ran. How I felt before I left.
And I know… on the other side of fear is… freedom.
I've definitely never experienced anything like this before. I've been beaten, but it was always with some kind of object. I've been pushed up against the wall, thrown over a bed…
No, I won't think about that now. This is different.
This is Sergio.
I stand in front of him and look from the broad expanse of his lap to the people below us, where a woman is strewn over a man’s lap, a look of utter contentment on her face.
I can do this.
I close my eyes and lay over his lap. The warm, strong expanse of his thighs press into my belly. My braid dangles in front of me, and my legs dangle on the other side. I squirm when his hand comes to rest on my backside.
I close my eyes when a rush of emotion and heat overwhelms me. I draw in a shuddering breath and let it out again.
I can do this.
I feel so exposed, so vulnerable.
So aroused.
My pulse races like a rushing torrent, pounding in my head so quickly I’m deafened. My hands shake, and I don’t know what to do with them until I realize I can flatten them on the floor in front of me. My skin feels like it’s consumed in flames. Even the fabric of my clothes against my breasts sends a tingle through my body. My entire being vibrates, like an instrument ready to be played.
“I’m going to punish you for disobeying me, Eden. I know why you did, so I’m going to take it easy on you. This time.”
I can feel him lift his hand. I close my eyes and brace.
When he slams his palm against my butt, I gasp in surprise. I shudder, as a wave of pleasure ripples through me.