and stepped out of her way. “Hopefully, some other time.”
“Maybe so.” She smiled and headed off.
Maybe someday the time would come. When the hurt died. A pang of sadness hit. When she’d first come to the Shadowlands, such an offer from an attractive Dom would have made her night.
Now, it just made her regret the offer hadn’t come from Ghost.
Get moving, woman. Detouring, she swung by the bar. “Thank you for the help, Josie.”
Busy drawing a beer, the redheaded bartender chuckled. “It went a lot better than I thought it would.”
“I know.” Valerie blew out a breath. “Did you get into any trouble?”
“There was a moment. Z gave me a look, and I swear, I took a couple of steps back. But then he shook his head and simply asked for his toy bag.”
“Thank the gods.”
“Right?” Josie set the beer on a tray for a server. “I thought I was off free and clear, but before he walked away, he said Master Holt would instruct me on appropriate behavior.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I’ll be fine.” Josie grinned. “I daresay you might be getting the same sort of lesson from—”
“Doubtful.” Ignoring Josie’s frown, Valerie gave the bar a quick farewell tap. “You take care now.”
As she headed for the door at a quick pace, a shriek, then giggling from the dance floor caught her attention. A “little” was banging a stuffie on the ground. Her Daddy Dom hauled her up and over his shoulder. When she kicked her legs, a reproving smack on her bare thigh drew a squeal that made everyone laugh.
So cute.
Hating to leave, Valerie turned back toward the door and ran right into someone. “Oh sorry, I wasn’t watching where—”
“It’s a very bad habit, pet.” Ghost’s deep, rough voice blasted through her defenses like a hot knife through butter.
He closed his hands on her upper arms.
“Ghost.” She tried to step back, but his grip tightened.
Gaze on his chest, she said in a flurry of words, “I know, I know, you’re grateful, so you’re welcome. Now, I really do need to be leaving.”
Silence. Then a low chuckle. He cupped her chin with a warm palm and lifted her head. “Look at me, Valerie.”
Her heart thumped crazily in her chest. “What?” Good grief, she sounded as surly as her son at fifteen.
A smile eased Ghost’s stern mouth as he moved his hand to curl around her nape. “I think it’s time we talk.” Even as she shook her head no, he added, “Or I can tie you down and role-play an interrogation scene to get my answers.”
Play with him again. Every single cell in her body started to rejoice. “No, absolutely not. Are you crazy?”
Still holding the back of her neck, he studied her with a focused intelligence. “For someone who defended me so vigorously, you sound as if you don’t trust me.”
Oh no, she didn’t mean to make him feel bad. “Of course, I trust you,” she said hastily.
Amusement flickered in his eyes before his gaze turned razor sharp again.
Holding her unmoving, he stroked a finger over her lips, down her neck, and into her cleavage.
Her nipples tightened so fast and hard they ached.
On top of her shirt, he brushed over the lettering on the right and left of the V-neck. SPANK ME. “You wrote out your request right over your breasts. Nice.”
She shook her head. No.
“Professor, I think we need a scene—one where I beat on your pretty ass until I get some answers.”
Sadness filled her to overflowing. Her voice came out hoarse. “They won’t be the answers you want.”
His hand slid up from her nape to tangle in her hair, his grip almost painful. “That happens.”
“I should go.”
“I don’t think so.” His gaze darkened. “Say yes, Valerie.”
She shouldn’t. No, she really shouldn’t.
But to be with him…one last time?
Her whisper was barely loud enough for him to hear. “Yes.”
Sometime later, she realized the wonderful, amazing pain had paused. When had the world disappeared?
She blinked, trying to focus her eyes. Gleaming brown…a hardwood floor. Right. She was naked, bent over a tall, four-legged barstool. Her wrists were bound together to one of the legs. Her thighs were spread, and ropes secured her parted knees to the wooden legs.
Some unknowable time ago, Ghost had warmed her up and then started alternating between paddling her ass and flogging her. Hard enough she’d struggled to escape. Hard enough she’d cried.
And then the pain slid into a sensual golden space where each blow made the air sparkle. She turned her head and saw his legs. He was