Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“You do, though. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Vivia. It’s normal and natural for a woman to enjoy being dominated.”
I blame my uncomfortable position for the blood rushing to my cheeks.
“Dominated?” I whisper, imagining all sorts of things, like cuffs and clamps and the deliciously heavy weight of his body atop mine. “Yes.”
Yes, I’ll take some of that, and thank you.
He’s quiet for a long minute, before he presses his hand to where my thighs press together.
“Spread your legs, lovely.”
I obey. My eyes flutter closed and I can’t stifle the moan that escapes my lips when he presses his fingers along my still-clothed slit. I throb against the pressure, heat, and dampness pooling between my legs. More, more, more.
“So we’ve established that you like a good spanking. You might not like a real discipline session, but there’s something about discipline that appeals to you.”
I don’t reply. He’s right, but I don’t know if I’m really ready to admit that.
“So let’s address that first. You don’t have to play the brat to get a spanking. Just ask for one.”
Just… ask for one. Like hi, I’m super thirsty and need some water and while you’re at it, how about a good spanking session? Uh, no, too weird.
“Or you can provoke me like you did now, but that could prove dangerous.”
I nod. It absolutely could, and I don’t need him to explain how or why to me. It’s a dangerous game, fraught with roadblocks and loopholes and pitfalls.
Glad we covered that.
“But you haven’t really answered my question. You didn’t just want a spanking just now, did you? There’s far more to it.”
I can’t look at him. I can’t think beyond the beating of my heart. I can’t hear beyond the rush of blood pounding in my ears.
“Is there?” I ask, my voice husky and concerned. I know I’m on the edge of something dangerous, and I don’t know how to respond. I’ve never been in a position like this before.
“I think that a part of you wants me to pay attention to you.”
“What? No! Of course not. Why would I want that? I’d have to be a fool, since there’s no one but the two of us for miles. I mean, I get plenty of attention.”
“Not a fool, lovely,” he corrects, smoothing his heavy, calloused palm over my ass. “But with what I know about your past…”
He doesn’t finish the sentence. I need him to finish the sentence.
“What?” I whisper. “What do you know, then?” The blood’s rushing to my face at this point.
“You lived a sheltered life. You gave your virginity to someone who betrayed you. You didn’t deserve that. You deserve real love with a real man who can stand up to protect you, don’t you?”
If he’s implying what I think he’s implying…
I don’t respond, because I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t know what to say.
“I guess,” I admit, my voice husky. I want to scream Yes, yes, exactly that! But manage to restrain myself. I squirm over his lap, eager to either be let up or spanked again. Anything to avoid this conversation that makes me feel too vulnerable, too needy, childish even.
“I think I know the kind of attention you want from me,” he whispers, slowly dragging his palm down my ass.
“Do you?” I ask. I hope he does because I don’t have the nerve to verbalize it. But maybe he’s figured it out.
When he leans in, I’m momentarily floating at the smell of his clean, signature scent, rugged and masculine and woodsy.
He belongs here. I’m the one that doesn’t.
“I’ve touched you. We’ve slept in the same bed. I’ve skirted the edge and brought you to climax, but we haven’t had sex yet. And here you are, Vivia Montavio…”
He slides me off his lap and onto the sand where I land with a soft oomph. White sand cascades around my clothes and shoes.
“You want me to make love to you, don’t you?”
Well since you put it that way…
I hold his gaze for long minutes, thinking over my response. I have no use for formalities or pussyfooting around and he definitely doesn’t.
Instead of answering his question, I swallow the lump in my throat. “Why don’t you?” I whisper.
He doesn’t answer at first. I wait for his response, but he doesn’t answer at all. He stands, helps me to my feet, and walks to the dock. “Let’s get some food,” he says.
Food. Fish. Ew.
My body’s on fire, and I feel dejected. My belly drops, and a raw feeling of emptiness pervades me. I should know better than to get my hopes up. I should know better than to think anything matters beyond me being his captive and the families that rule us.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Vivia
I carry a towel and my soap with me to the water’s edge, trying to make sense of it all. Trying to ignore the pain in my throat, determined to make the most of this situation. He hasn’t proven the jailer I expected, not at all. We’re almost… friendly.