“I gave you plenty of chances.” The jangle of metal and the ripping of leather against denim sends a shiver through me.
“Artem! I swear to god. If you do what I think you’re going to do…I’ll…I’ll….”
“You’ll what, Babygirl? Run away? Call home and tell on me?” Keeping his hand pressed against my back, he folds his belt over and tucks the buckle into his palm.
“Yes!” I stomp my foot, slap at the door. He’s in my peripheral, and the determination in his expression kicks my heart into overdrive.
The room stills.
I close my eyes. Thank God. He’s listening to reason.
“Then I better make sure this is worth it.” Before I can even blink, a hot streak of pain slashes across my ass.
I howl, rise up to my toes.
“Stop!” I scream, but the sound is swallowed up by leather slapping against skin.
“Enough coddling. Enough giving into you.” Another strike. “You’ve had this coming for a long time, Babygirl.”
“No! I don’t. Stop! Artem! Stop!”
Another blow and then another. No amount of wiggling helps me evade his punishment. Over and over again, he straps me with the thick leather. Until tears roll down my cheeks, until my breathing comes out in gasps.
“All the lying and the sneaking around stops right now.” He lowers his aim, striking the tops of my thighs.
I practically jump out of my skin.
“You’re going to tell me the truth, all of it. Every bit of it, and until you do, you’ll keep finding yourself having trouble sitting.” Another lash.
“Please.” I claw at the door. My throat aches from my screaming.
Hasn’t anyone heard me? Where are his neighbors?
And then I realize—no one is coming for me. He’s it. He’s the only one who is here for me.
“Artem!” Anger takes over. “You’re insane!”
“Am I?” He drops the belt to the floor with a clamor and presses his body against my hip. Moving his hand from my back, he wraps it around my waist to pin me to him.
Somehow the man manages to keep me completely immobilized while he spanks me. Like I’m no more than a spoiled little brat, he brings his hand down across my ass over and over, raising his knee up so I lean over it.
“Artem!” I shove against his body, but it doesn’t do me any good.
“No, Babygirl. Not Artem. Not to you, not anymore.” He sinks his hand into the back of my hair, fisting it at the root as he yanks me up to my feet.
His face comes into full view as I’m spun around to face him. Hard, unyielding eyes. Tense jaw. But there’s something more, something underlining all his irritation.
“What?” I swallow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, Babygirl.” He trails his knuckles across my cheek, brushing away my tears. “When you’re in trouble, when you’re over my knee, you don’t call me Artem. Not anymore. Things have changed now.”
“You shouldn’t be doing this.” It’s a broken whisper. And a lie.
Against all reason, a craving like I’ve never felt before has taken over. My gaze settles on his lips, and all I want is for him to kiss me. To anchor me. I’m tired of floating.
“You’re right. You still haven’t told me what I want to know.” He walks us to the bed. He sinks onto the edge, yanking me over his lap.
“No! That’s not what I meant!”
