Unconditional (Masters and Mercenaries #5.5)(16)

Her skin was still humming as he placed her on the massage table, and she heard the door close. She let her head rest back, still processing exactly what had happened.

He’d spanked her and she’d liked it. It had really hurt at first, but she’d been fighting it. Good girls didn’t want to get their asses smacked.

Good girls. Bad girls. She was starting to question why there had to be classifications. It had seemed so clear at one point, but the truth was her sister lived this lifestyle and there was nothing bad about her. Their mother would have been horrified at the thought that her daughters even knew about the lifestyle. She’d been deeply preoccupied with her place in the community, lowly as it had been. She would have railed at them for bringing shame on her name, but Ashley didn’t see it that way.

Was it wrong to like something most people thought was perverted? Most people didn’t have to live her life.

“Am I losing you?” Keith looked down at her and she was struck by the fact that they were alone. Just the two of them. No more crowds. No one to hold her hand and talk her through it.

She would never be able to properly thank Karina Mills for helping her. She’d been ready to say her safe word, and now she wasn’t even thinking it.

No. Now she was thinking about the fact that her * was wet and soft. What the hell was up with that?

“I’m still here.” She smiled up at him. “So every time I say something bad about myself, you’ll slap my backside?”

He touched her hair, smoothing it back. “If you say it where I can hear it, yes. I think you’re beautiful. I don’t like being told I’m wrong.”

She suspected very few people would contradict the strong, smart man in front of her. “So I’ll fare better if I just agree with you?”

“Turn over. And yes. It’s a good game plan.”

She rolled over and winced a little as he pushed up her skirt. “I’m going to feel that tomorrow, aren’t I?”

His palm covered her cheek. “Yes, but it should just be a nice ache. There aren’t any welts. I didn’t break the skin.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” She sighed a little as she settled down. The massage table had been covered with a silky sheet. It was cool against her skin. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so relaxed.

His hands started to rub her flesh, long strokes that made her feel like every muscle was turning to jelly. “It is for you. There are some people who like more of a bite. I think you’re just going to be a light-pain junkie.”

She was so curious about him. “Do you like to leave marks?”

“I would rather know that you remember the pleasure I can give you, whether it’s from some erotic pain or pure sexual pleasure.”

Just like that she felt herself stiffen up.

“Hey, calm down. Are you afraid?” His hands changed to soothing strokes down her legs.

Afraid? Yes and no. “I’m worried you won’t like me when you realize I’m not one of those girls who can…”

“Come?”

It seemed so easy for him to say it. “Yes. I read somewhere that not every woman can.”

His hands were dangerously close to the junction of her thighs. “Turn over again. I need to see something.”

Why did they have to talk about this? She’d been so happy. He was insistent, his hands moving her. She finally rolled over. He’d been kind to her. Maybe it was for the best they get this out of the way. She’d been looking forward to the next couple of weeks of their contract, but if he was thinking she was going to be some kind of sex kitten, then he should find out the truth about her sooner rather than later.

Her skirt was around her waist. A moment ago she hadn’t minded. Hell, she hadn’t even thought about it when he was spanking her. When she’d realized that twenty or so people had watched the whole thing, she’d merely wondered if a curtsy would get her spanked again.

Now the tone changed, and she could feel all of her insecurities creeping back.

He was looking at her *. He was just staring at it. God, she’d never really looked at it. She wasn’t the kind of girl who looked at herself in the mirror for long periods of time, much less one who inspected her own *. And he could see her C-section scar, though he seemed to be avoiding that.

“You look like you have all the right parts.”

Sure she did. They just didn’t work properly. “Keith, it’s all right. You don’t have to try to prove anything to me.”

His face suddenly loomed over hers. “If you don’t stop talking, I’m going to put a ball gag in your mouth.”

She almost protested and then thought better of it. He’d made good on all of his promises up until now. She was pretty sure if there was ever a place to randomly find a ball gag sitting around, it was Sanctum.

He nodded, obviously satisfied that she intended to comply. “Very good. Now, when I ask a direct question, you can answer me, but other than that, I want silence. Oh, unless you feel the need to moan. Moaning, screaming in pleasure, and calling out my name are perfectly acceptable. Look at that. You just got your first lesson in protocol. We’re moving along quite nicely.”

Wow. Not being able to reply really sucked. She was forced to stay where she was.

“Now, like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, you have all the right parts for an orgasm. Do you masturbate often?”