Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“As do I.” Our eyes remain locked in one another’s. “Which means giving her the tools to protect herself intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Shielding her is a disservice that puts her in far more danger than exposing her to such lessons as very light combat or the benefits of stealth. Although, I’ll admit, I do not look forward to the amount of oatmeal cookies that will suddenly start vanishing from the kitchen.”
Another warm laugh escapes, lifting the weight of his worries from my shoulder. “My peremestim ikh na boleye vysokuyu polku.”
The idea that we’ll just move them to a higher shelf has me lightly snickering in return. “Remind me to tell you about my own acrobatic adventures after dinner tonight.”
Yavok shakes his head in further amusement. “Never fail to amaze.”
“It’s one of my best qualities.”
He lets his eyes steal a hungry glance of my cleavage. “Have many.”
I slyly squeeze my legs together to prevent a sexual ache from growing at the same time I teasingly scold, “You blatantly disregard the rules and expect to be rewarded?”
“Expect to show remorse.”
There’s no ignoring the growing twinkle in his stare.
“You punish, da?”
“You mean you want me to punish you.”
Mischievousness tugs at the ends of his lips. “Da.”
You know I remember when punishment was just a bad thing.
The tool used to shape and mold and train him to be the respectable powerful man he has become in this world. The man that on Nights of Syn others speak to like he is an extension of me. Like he was born to be the Kessler he’s become. Like he was created to rule a position I’m not sure anyone else could ever even survive let alone thrive in as he has.
However, I won’t pretend that I don’t enjoy punishment now being a twisted mix of good and bad.
It’s basically become another principle of our marriage itself.
We do it for better or worse.
And we’ll do it until death divides us.
With me delving out the punishments, of course.
Never taking them.
“I’m in the middle of something important.” My head tips the direction of the paperwork. “You’ll have to wait.”
“Pet wait.” The seductive smile he begins to sport seems like delectable trouble. “Know place.”
Suspicion causes me to quirk an eyebrow.
Slowly, my husband slides off the edge of the desk, crosses over to the chase lounge, retrieves a pillow, and strolls back to the space beside my chair. There isn’t a moment to question or chastise his decision before it’s already in motion. After the object is carefully placed on the ground near my feet, he lowers himself onto his knees and leans back to rest his ass on his heels as he drops his head to a submissive pose.
The familiar tactic not only swells my chest with pride, it ignites an undeniable pang between my legs.
Fuck.
Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love him more than I do he has to prove me wrong.
Prove that he does know me.
Prove that he values me.
Prove that he can still be trusted in spite of making an emotion-inspired mistake, something I’m grateful he doesn’t make in front of others.
Yavok never fails to prove himself to me even when I sometimes wonder if I’m failing to prove myself to him.
“Lean,” I quietly instruct, softly smiling to myself when the command is instantly met. Running my fingers through his dirty blond locks that have grown darker over the year is attached to a soothing sigh. Smells of the fruity shampoo he’s grown to prefer grace my senses and call to me to move closer. Tug harder. Moan and pull while enjoying his struggle to stay still. To maintain his obedience. “Such a good boy, Pet.” Trailing one finger down his cheek is done to tip his chin upward for our eyes to reconnect. “Eyes and head down until Minun Herrani is finished, and I’ll make the punishment less harsh. Understood?”
He lovingly leans into my touch. “Da.”
“Thank you.”
Yavok nods once prior to resuming the previous pose allowing me to return to the paperwork I wasn’t expecting to sort through when I arrived this morning after dropping Kat off at school.
The day will come when she’ll have to be taught by private tutors or online courses, but for now, her private academy is where she needs to be. Learning to socialize, the workings of social hierarchy, mistrust, and insecurities are all vital lessons for her survival. Plus, it allows my husband to play the doting parent role I know he lives to play.
Seriously.
No person should get that excited when it’s their turn to host treat week for a bunch of first graders.
My hunt for useful information begins again to the peaceful sound of his steady breathing. One hand locates to the files I’ve been scanning while the other can’t seem to help itself from encouraging him to rest his head on my leg. The instant it’s there my fingers mindlessly thread themselves through the locks once more, grateful for the feelings of comfort during a stressful situation. Yavok’s light nuzzling into the stroking alleviates additional tension allowing me to focus better.