way. It’s entirely up to you. However, if I’m forced to remove your clothes, your punishment is going to be much worse.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
All the man had to do was cock his head, his eyes piercing mine.
“Okay. Fine. Just let me do it.”
After inhaling, he took a step away, allowing me to scoot by him. I darted a glance at the door. There wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of being able to get to the door in time. Damn it. Damn him. I shifted closer to the bed, turning away from him as I reached behind my back. My fingers were almost numb as I tried to unfasten the hooks. A whimper threatened to escape my mouth, but I refused to give him the satisfaction, snarling instead as I finally managed to pull the two ends away. I shucked the piece behind me. Exasperated, I couldn’t care less where it landed.
I heard nothing but my own ragged breathing, closing my eyes as I unfastened my skirt then kicked off my shoes. The second I shimmied the material over my hips, a sickening wave of nausea mixed with another round of embarrassment. Just do it.
My little voice sounded so brave. I wasn’t certain any longer if I had the strength to be courageous. After tossing the skirt aside, I took several gulping breaths. For God’s sake, I’d worn pretty pink panties, the damn things frilly in detail.
Like a little girl would wear.
Correction. Like a bad little girl would wear.
“Panties too,” he huffed.
“Okay. Okay!” I was certain I’d get a couple of extra strikes for my insolence. Taking a deep breath, I finished the dreaded deed, feeling more exposed than I had in my entire life.
He shifted closer and when I heard the sound of him unbuckling his belt, a lump formed in my throat. For a girl who’d never been spanked in her life before the horrible incident in the bathroom, the anticipation was already killing me.
“Turn around,” he commanded.
Reluctantly, I did as I was told, holding my arms over my breasts as I glared at him with as much venom as I could muster. The last thing I wanted him to see was how aroused I truly was.
When he started to tug the thick strap from the tight loops of his jeans, I couldn’t take my eyes off the wretched action. With every yank of his hand, my stomach lurched. There was also something almost sensuous about his actions, which completely fucked with my mind. How could I be so attracted to him, enough so my thoughts remained lurid, a deep longing remaining at the surface? As my eyes drifted to the thick bulge between his legs, I realized goosebumps had popped all the way down my arms.
The belt finally freed, Nikolai took his time to slide the thick leather between his fingers. “Lie on the bed.”
I couldn’t stop shaking but I did as he demanded, yanking one of the pillows from under the covers. My body stiff, the ugliness of the room was something I could concentrate on in order to allow me to crawl onto the bed, easing down over the barely there softness. The mustard-colored bedspread matched the ugly gold-framed picture of some crazy piece of landscaping, the horse reminding me of a mad donkey. I almost laughed nervously, but instead pressed my face against the material, fisting my hands.
It seemed like he took forever. There was no noise. Nothing. No sounds of traffic or the blare of a television coming from another room.
Just the quiet.
Before the storm.
When I finally sensed his presence behind me, I stiffened and closed my eyes. The bastard had better get this over with quickly.
I hadn’t been prepared for the odd snapping sound of his wrist or the way the belt whooshed through the air like some crazy wind. When he sliced the strap across my sit spot, I was shocked that I felt almost nothing except for a slight stinging sensation. However, after he delivered four in a row, every strike harder than the one before, my breath was yanked away.
“Oh. Oh…” Gasping, I pushed up from the comforter, snagging the bedding as stars floated in front of my eyes. I’d been through pain in my life many times, both physical and emotional, but this was entirely different. I kicked my legs up and down as I shifted from side to side. The pain wasn’t subsiding.
“Stay in position,” he said gruffly as he pressed his hand against the small of