Colters' Daughter (Colters' Legacy #3)(33)

“Lucky for you I’m not looking to hook up with two other men,” she said cheekily. “Guess you’ll have to do.”

He smacked her on the hip. “Watch it.”

She glanced mischievously at him. “Or what? What happens when I’m a bad girl and don’t do as you tell me?”

“Depends on how badly you’re wanting to be punished,” he said dryly. “If you’re yanking my chain because you want to be spanked, I’ll just ignore you.”

She stuck out her lip in an exaggerated pout. “You’re no fun.”

“Not to worry,” he said lazily. “I’ll find plenty of reasons to spank that pretty ass, none of which have a damn thing to do with punishment. Remember I talked about the things I do solely for my pleasure and not yours? Seeing my mark on your sweet little behind is an example. Right before I f**k it.”

She trembled again and her ni**les hardened against his chest. He smiled. Somehow he imagined that he wouldn’t be the only one who got pleasure from spanking her.

Chapter Fifteen

“I have a present for you,” Max said.Callie was sucking air through her nostrils, so turned on that she shook in Max’s arms. And now he casually changed the subject. She wanted to growl in frustration.

But still, mention of a present perked her up.

“I’ll admit up front that it’s as much a present for me as it is for you.”

She arched an eyebrow and leveled her stare at him. “Oh?”

He smiled and then carried her over to the couch. “Wait right here while I get it.”

She watched as he rummaged in the bags that had been delivered earlier. He pulled out a white, nondescript box and carried it back to where she sat.

He settled beside her and opened the box. She frowned when she saw black material. Clothes? Hadn’t he just said he wanted her naked?

But when he pulled it out, it was apparent it wasn’t any sort of clothing she was familiar with. It looked like half a corset.

“Stand up,” he directed as he unfolded the item.

She rose and stood before him.

“Turn around.”

Dutifully she turned until her back was presented to him. She heard him shove off the couch and the next thing she knew, he reached around her and positioned the wide band of material over her waist.

Maybe it was a corset. It was soft but stiff, like the material covered a harder object. But it was flexible and wrapped around to secure in the back.

He adjusted and pulled until it rested just below her br**sts and fit snugly about her waist. She looked down, still unsure of what it was or what purpose it served.

She soon had her answer.

Gently he pulled one arm behind her and bent her elbow so that her wrist lay flush against her back. She jumped when a band wrapped around her wrist, securing it to the contraption she wore.

Her pulse leapt and sped up as he pulled her other arm and secured it in the same fashion.

“Turn around.”

Slowly she turned and realized that the way her arms were confined by the apparatus forced her chest forward.

“Very beautiful. I think I’d like you in this when we eat so you’re completely dependent on my hand to feed you.”

Her cheeks grew warm under his scrutiny. She rolled up on the balls of her feet but then flushed harder when she saw his gaze tracked the bounce of her br**sts.

He lowered his head, and she closed her eyes just as his tongue flicked out and licked her nipple.

Desire crashed through her, jolting her senses into instant awareness. It was like being hit by a bus.

She was vulnerable in this position. Was it a test? Or was he simply trying to rebuild her trust? She wasn’t sure she liked being pushed. Or was he simply enjoying what he’d been so straightforward in saying he wanted?

Slowly he straightened, his brows drawn together as he studied her expression.

“What are you thinking?” he asked quietly.

She shivered under his scrutiny and swallowed nervously. Before, she would have thought nothing of letting him have it with both barrels. She’d never had any problem with speaking her mind. But now, she wasn’t in a position of equality.

She licked her lips and forced herself to meet his eyes.

“Is this a test?”

He frowned and confusion—genuine confusion—clouded his eyes. No, it obviously wasn’t a test and now she’d stepped into it all over again. If it had been a test of her trust, she’d failed miserably.

Without a word he reached round her and set her wrists free. He pulled at the material until she heard the sound of Velcro separating. It slid from her waist and he tossed it aside.

Then he turned and walked out of the living room, leaving her alone and naked.

She trembled, suddenly cold. Silence crept around her until it was heavy against her ears. She became aware of each breath until she purposely lowered her respirations so the sound wasn’t so explosive in the quiet.

She’d hurt him. It hadn’t been intentional. It wasn’t some vindictive payback to make him suffer. But the truth was there for the both of them to see. She didn’t trust him anymore. Not completely.

Hadn’t she wanted him to feel at least one-quarter of the pain she’d felt when he’d left her? Hadn’t she wanted to get back at him even just a little?

She had, if she was honest, but now the victory—if it could be called that—was hollow and unsatisfying. She wanted to cry, not for all the pain she’d endured but for something beautiful that was lost.