Page 58 of Condemned

Her petite growly sound had him smirking.

“And you’re a coward or... or something.”

Takk fisted her hair where it fell in a ponytail down her back—that pretty red river he’d been admiring. He dragged on her head, forcing her to look backward and up at him.

“You don’t get to growl at me or call me a coward.”

For a second or two she whined, then Avalon panted out a reply. “Then fuck me. What are you afraid of?”

“You’re in heat!” he hissed, shaking her. “Out of control. I’m not obliged to fuck you, girl.”

She frowned, in spite of her upside-down position. “What’s that in your nose?”

“Nose plugs. So I don’t smell your rutting cunt.”

“So that’s how you... Hah.” She opened her mouth, paused, then, “Fuck. You. Coward.”

He laughed then noticed his florse had come to a stop, and the others were ahead and waiting for him. Zo raised one sharp-edged eyebrow. Kon leaned on his florse’s neck. Timin just grinned. They thought this amusing?

She was glaring at him.

She thought it was somehow brave to screw her? The logic escaped him. Perhaps she goaded him for a reason other than cock? Takk shook his head.

“Gorram it.” He hesitated before untying a sack that carried his extra purchases, then he slipped off his florse.

He pulled Avalon off too and regained his hair grip on her even though she grumbled. “Time for some discipline. You stay here!” He waved at the three then headed for the forest with her in tow, stomping at first until he calmed. Further in, he could see it where the trees thinned.

Beneath a wide red-leaved tree where dead leaves crunched under boot, he stopped and stripped her damp fur coat from her, then pushed her chest to the trunk.

Breasts, actually. He stared at where they’d squashed to the bark and winced. Shut up, cock.

Takk pointed his finger at the girl. “Stay there. Move and this will be worse. Hands on the tree.”

When she immediately went to turn and protest, he shoved her back in place with his hand on her back.

“Avalon, do you know how hard I can paddle your ass?” Not that he had a paddle.

That silenced her, after one last twitch of her shoulders. Quivering with indignation, she waited.

He took a moment, letting his breathing settle, unbuckling the belt for his pants one-handed and slipping it free, slowly. “You don’t disrespect me. You don’t make announcements to me like you did. I don’t take orders from you. Hear me?”

After a sniff, she nodded, said a yes. A very curt yes, but he figured this wasn’t like punishing a soldier. His dominance only had to hold until Omage.

The discarded coat lay crumpled to the side. Already twigs, brown leaf fragments, and bark were stuck to the fur. Such a pity he’d wasted money on this girl.

“Good.”

Then he very deliberately pulled down her leggings and underwear, baring her cute ass to the cold air. He strapped her with his doubled-over belt for ten strikes. Not soft, not blindingly hard, but hard enough to make her bruise, and for her yelps to satisfy him.

Again, he said, “Good.” He dropped the belt on top of her coat, and stared at that lovely red ass with the darker marks that would likely go purple in the coming days.

“I don’t take your orders. Say it, girl.”

She inhaled then said it clearly. “You don’t take my orders.”

“But you obey mine.”

This time he saw her grimace but again she said the words, and he nodded.