“I don’t like it,” she said, folding the last of her clothes and handing them to him.
“Because it makes you feel vulnerable. I see it in the flush that pinks up your skin, in the slouching of your shoulders, the way you try to look anywhere but at me.”
Tara glared. “Now I just don’t like you.”
She was teasing . . . and yet not. She really didn’t like feeling vulnerable with him when she was so off balance. Time and trust would heal that. He just hoped he could convince her of his abiding love, that it was safe to give him her trust, before his time with her ran out.
“Undercover, that won’t be tolerated. Shoulders back, br**sts out. Eyes on me, Cherry. Now.”
Dragging in a deep breath, she did as she was told. Her posture improved a hundred percent. His respect for her determination went up a thousand.
“Did you kids start without me?” Xander called from the doorway, then sauntered across the room.
Tara stiffened. She didn’t cover up, but he could tell she fought the urge. Pride at her progress surged, even as he wanted to clobber Xander for his mischief. This wasn’t how he’d wanted to explain today’s lesson to Tara.
“Damn, she looks pretty,” Xander commented. “Edible, even. I need a taste.”
Logan glared at his friend as he circled Tara to wrap a naked hand on her hip and drop a kiss on her bare shoulder. When he saw Xander’s tongue hit her soft skin, Logan nearly lost it.
“Get your f**king hands off her.”
Xander smiled as he pulled back.
“What is going on here?” Tara demanded.
Both he and Xander turned disapproving stares on her.
“Watch your attitude, Cherry,” he warned. “I won’t spank your ass again until the bruises fade, but I know plenty of other ways to make you suffer. You won’t come for hours until you remember how you do and don’t address me on this assignment.”
Instantly, she pressed her lips together. “Yes, Logan.”
“Good.” He rubbed a soothing hand across her shoulder. “Xander is here to help us with the next phase of your training. I’m not going to tell you too much about it yet, because you need to learn to be ready for anything. Understood?”
Tara wanted to argue, but didn’t. “Yes, Logan.”
“Good girl. Stay here.” Then he scowled at Xander as he moved to the cabinet in the corner. “Keep your hands off. Take a seat.”
Xander strolled to the bed and sat. “This ought to be a great show. Wish I’d brought popcorn.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Logan saw Tara shoot Xander a quelling glare and pretended not to notice. The bastard deserved that and more. Logan would have to make sure that she knew better than to disrespect any other Doms . . . but he was getting ahead of himself.
“Cherry, lean over the spanking bench.”
She glanced at the apparatus, hesitated, then looked at him. He raised a brow, but waited wordlessly. Logan saw her brace herself, then comply, draping her figure over the leather top with grace.
After gathering the things he needed, he crossed the room and set everything on a table out of Tara’s sight. Quickly, he clipped her in, then took a breath.
For the purposes of this mission, this preparation may save her pain. For their relationship, it was equally important. If she didn’t enjoy this, Logan wouldn’t love her less—but he’d always want to possess her more completely. After years of barriers between them, he didn’t like the idea of enduring more.
In fact, last night, he’d been aware that he hadn’t used a condom. They hadn’t discussed birth control at all. Children were something they should talk about, but he wanted them with Tara, and everything about her made him want to embrace life full throttle. For the first time in years, he felt truly alive and he wanted to share it, spread it, breed it.
He glanced at Tara, and the thought she could already be pregnant made him harder than steel. One thing at a time, buddy. Get her out of this mission alive. Then get a collar around her neck and a ring on her finger.
Logan unscrewed the tube of lube, then squeezed it on the pink plastic plug. Moment of truth . . .
He sidled up behind her. “You ever been taken anally?”
His guess was that she hadn’t, but he needed to hear her say it.