keep the anal plug I shove up your ass company. Punishment comes in many forms, little one; I like to use them all so naughty subbies stay on their best behavior.” He gave her cheeks a small pat, then gripped her hips. “Roll over, Boadicea.”
“Not on your life!”
He levelled her with a look, his eyebrow arching and giving him a devilish edge. Not that he needed an edge; he was potent enough. “Now, please.”
Yellow was on her tip of her tongue for all the wrong reasons.
You promised him you’d try, a mocking voice in her head sang. This isn’t trying, is it? This is succeeding at being what you’ve always been: a coward.
Rigid from head to toe, Bodie bit down on her tongue and fisted her hands. She was grateful for Braun’s help as she twisted around on top of him until her back laid on his chest, her legs straight between the vee of his. She jerked when his arms hugged around her waist, breath hitching uncertainly.
Her safety blanket tangled around her, baring skin.
Stubble scraped featherlight over her shoulder, followed by the sweet touch of his lips. “Not everything is what we expect, Bodie. The biggest demand I’ll make of you tonight is that you trust me. Give yourself into my hands and trust me to take care of you.”
Relax. Breathe. Don’t freak out again, for the love of all that’s holy.
“Good girl, that’s the way. Just relax and let me hold you, okay? Tomorrow’s soon enough to start confusing this tired brain with rules.” Braun boosted himself up the couch a bit more, releasing an arm to aid himself.
Bodie clung to the other one as his body rocked under her, a tiny lost boat on a dangerous sea, completely baffled as to what she should do. Muscles bunched and flexed beneath her, indicating the sheer power of the man, and she wondered if she’d finally lost her mind and bitten off more than she could chew.
When he was comfortable, she found herself tucked into him again, more on her side than her back, and his hands were just as attentive as before. Soothing, calming ragged nerves until she finally sagged onto him.
“You’re not touching my butt,” she murmured, firing one last stubborn shot.
Chapter Seven
At ten minutes to eight the next night, Braun kicked back in the seating pit with the Masters. Connie was noticeably tardy but had sent word with Loki that she may be up to an hour late due to work commitments.
The hot topic was, of course, last night’s Bodie hunt through the club; Jasper had voiced his displeasure several times already, and Braun promised he wouldn’t use the sadist as a fear tactic again. It wasn’t fair on either Jasper or Bodie, but it had been necessary.
Liam had also vocalized his unhappiness with the situation, not quite as forcefully as Jasper but strong enough Braun knew his friend was worried for Bodie. Especially as Braun had kept her hidden away in his office all night—they’d both fallen asleep on the couch, and it hadn’t been a hardship to wake this morning with an armful of sleeping subbie starfished on top of him, facedown.
“I still can’t believe she’s agreed to give this a go,” Liam muttered, sipping lemonade from a glass. Ice tinkled against the sides musically whenever he moved his arm. “You better look after her, Fitzpatrick, or that pretty face won’t be attracting the ladies anymore.”
Braun was pretty damn sure his days of subbie-searching were over if his heart had anything to say about the matter. There were steel cables wrapped around his feelings, leading back to his raven-haired sub. “Calm your jets, William. I’ve every intention of toning my dominant urges down for the time being. Until Boadicea acclimates to the lifestyle, I’ll treat her in the same manner I would any virgin subbie who comes here to explore. Firmly but fairly.”
Jasper hissed between his teeth. “Goddamn it, and I broke out my favorite cane as a welcoming present just for her. Fucking spoilsport.”
“I know, I know. What can I say, I’m getting soft in my old age. Once you hit the big four-zero, caning the sass out of a perky rear end just doesn’t hold the same appeal.” Braun deadpanned.
Loki crowed with laughter. “What a crock of bullshit. I’ve seen you reduce more than one subbie to grateful tears bent over the spanking horse, buddy. Just because you hit forty doesn’t mean the natural urges fade.” His face held a touch of