to get it over and done with. We weren't looking to make you feel like-"
"Like you don't trust me?" I finished for her and Kyan growled something angrily as he stood from his bed, stalking over to stand at my side in solidarity. I loved when he got like this, that anger and rage inside of him pressing out against the confines of his skin as the darkness in him hungered for blood.
"It's not that," Tatum gasped, seeming to realise how deeply she'd cut me with this behaviour as she took a step closer. "It's just-"
"You know how I get?" I supplied coldly, trying not to feel that bite of pain in my chest as I tossed her words back at her.
Tatum's eyes widened and for a moment I was certain that she had realised the cost of her actions to me and I could see how she really hadn't meant to hurt me like this. But it was a little too late for that and we both knew it. There was only one way that the beast in me would be tamed now.
She glanced at the others for a moment then dropped down to her knees in front of me, making my heart lurch as she gave me what I needed so easily. Submitting to my control, offering herself as a sacrifice to the darkness in my soul and giving me this way out, this release which we both knew I needed beyond measure now.
"Look, I know she fucked up in the mind of Saint Memphis," Blake said heatedly as he pushed to his feet and moved to stand between us. "But it was really all on me. So punish me if you have to punish someone. I'm not gonna let her take the rap for my mistake."
"I think we all know that Tatum is a strong, wilful, powerful woman," I hissed. "She was more than capable of making her own choice to go with you, just as she is more than capable of paying for her missteps. But you do make a valid point. You must be punished too."
I flicked a glance at Kyan beside me and he barked a laugh as he lunged for Blake who surprisingly made very little attempt to escape him.
"On the bed," I said casually and Kyan dragged him over to it. "Face down. Ass up," I added.
"You're not seriously going to spank me, are you?" Blake laughed as Kyan shoved him onto the bed and yanked his sweats off.
Tatum lifted her head, her eyes twinkling as she watched, and I retrieved a coil of rope from my bag.
"On your knees," I said casually as I moved towards him and Blake huffed before complying. "Lean forward and grasp your ankles." The moment he did it, I tied his wrists in place tightly then shoved him forwards so that his face hit the pillows and his ass was left in the air.
"Fuck you," Blake said, half laughing as I made him my bitch and the others laughed too.
"Do you like this, siren?" I asked, looking back over at her where she remained on her knees in the middle of the room.
"It has a certain appeal," she admitted, and the hint of a smirk touched the corner of my lips.
"Why don't you count then?" I offered her and she nodded eagerly. "Does ten strikes seem fair?" I asked my brothers, because this punishment was on their behalf too. I wasn't the only one Blake and Tatum had betrayed tonight.
"That should do it," Nash agreed with a snigger, rolling up a magazine and handing it to me.
"Wait a second," Blake protested. "I thought you were gonna use your hand?"
He tried to struggle as I moved to stand behind the bed, giving Tatum a perfect view and Kyan placed his hands on Blake's shoulders to stop him from wriggling about.
"Take it like a man, naughty boy," he teased and I couldn't help but smirk again as I raised the magazine for the first strike.
"Bare ass, I think is fair," Nash said quickly, yanking Blake's boxers down too and he started cursing.
"Do you want a safe word?" I offered Blake.
"Just get the fuck on with it," he growled, giving up his struggle and I shrugged before clapping the rolled up magazine down on his ass.
Blake swore as I struck him and Tatum dutifully started counting, her blue eyes flaring with excitement as she watched.
The magazine struck his ass repeatedly and his skin pinked from the slap of it