Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
She shouldn’t be happy about that, shouldn’t even care that she’d upset him, and yet, she couldn’t help but be thrilled that he cared enough about her.
Standing in his office, she hated this space. It reminded her so much of home, of the corporate life with the brown leather chair behind the mahogany desk. Was this another reminder for him of the life he left behind?
She didn’t know how long she waited.
Clenching her hands into fists, she waited more. There were no pictures in the room. No personal touches or artwork. Just the standard office furniture.
Her father had loved his office.
She’d sat in one of his sofas for hours watching him. She was sure he’d forgotten she was there. Especially when one of the maids came in and dropped down behind the desk.
Mavis recalled being angry. Not because her father cheated, as her mother cheated too. No, it was because she’d been there and he’d forgotten all about her.
Pulling out of the memory, she looked behind her as Luca entered the room. He was rolling up his sleeves. The dark blue jeans and white shirt were out of place in the office, but with him, it suited. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, another part of him that didn’t go with the outfit of work.
Biting her lip, she waited.
He took a seat on the sofa, and he took her hand.
“I want you to know this is going to hurt me more than it’ll hurt you.”
She scoffed. He wasn’t about to have a spank.
Still, as he pulled her over his lap, she couldn’t help the spark of arousal that rushed through her. She loved his thighs. They were large and strong. He didn’t make her feel fat, frumpy, or out of place. Being over his knee had started to become a comfort to her.
Especially when he held her in place, keeping her steady.
She loved it when his hand wrapped around her. She closed her eyes, just enjoying the moment, the few precious seconds as he held her and the world no longer felt so damn scary.
I’m all alone.
She closed that thought off, refusing to allow any part of her to think or feel that. She’d been alone long before her parents died.
Smack!
The first hit made her gasp. The dress didn’t provide any protection.
She felt him lift up the skirt of her dress, and the next blow was on her naked ass, like the other night. Keeping her eyes closed, she relished every burn as he brought his hand down.
Smack!
Smack!
Smack!
She cried out as each blow hit her ass. The heat went straight to her clit, but now it built, going through her entire body, shocking her with the pain and warmth.
After another six smacks, he stopped, his palm on her ass, not moving.
She took several deep breaths, reeling from what had happened. Tears flooded her eyes, and she quickly batted them away.
She wouldn’t cry.
He rubbed her ass.
“Whenever you put yourself in danger or risk hurting yourself, I’m going to smack your ass until you realize you’re important, Mavis.”
“And if I don’t hurt myself?” she asked.
“If the action would have hurt you, you’ll get punished. Now, go and get dressed.” He helped her to her feet, tucked some hair behind her ear, and kissed her head. “I would hate for anything to happen to you.”
She turned on her heel and walked out of the room. She took the steps slowly, not running.
This time she didn’t go to the en-suite bathroom. She went to the one where the mirror was.
Lifting up her skirt, she turned so her ass faced the mirror and she saw the red of his handprint.
He’d marked her.
Running a finger down one cheek, she couldn’t help but smile. He’d cared enough to punish her.
What is wrong with me?
Both cheeks were a glowing red, and she couldn’t believe how happy she was because of it.
He cares.
That’s what kept going around and around in her head.
He cares.
Nothing else mattered, not really.
Luca cared enough.
To her, that meant a great deal.
Chapter Seven
It had been a long time since Luca had taken a trip out to all parts of the ranch. He hired men to come in and keep the fences active. Without any cattle he didn’t have to worry about poachers on his land.
“What are you going to do with all this?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
He didn’t have any ideas. The land gave him comfort, the fences offering him the quiet, solitary life.
“Are you hiding?” she asked.
“I’m not hiding.”
“You are.” She looked out the window.
He used his four-by-four to get them as far from the ranch as possible. The land was green but not overgrown. Again, he had someone come out to mow the lawns.
“I’m not going to argue with you about this,” he said. Tapping the steering wheel, he glanced back at her.