Page 86 of Beguiled

“Mmm…” he growled and pulled away, immediately pulling off his jacket.

Easing back, I had no idea what would happen now. A few seconds later, I was provided with a hint when he unbuttoned his cuffs and began to roll his sleeves over his elbows.

“What are you doing?”

“Moving forward,” he said. There was no emotion. No sense of what he was thinking. But his body language screamed loudly enough. He was going to ensure I knew who was boss. A tiny thrill rolled through me. “As I told you before, I value loyalty more than anything. That loyalty includes being able to count on decent, hardworking behavior and the people closest to me following the rules.”

With the slow and steady actions of a predator, he moved around the side of the desk, shifting directly in front of me. “Understood.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that, which is why you won’t fight me when receiving your punishment.”

My first reaction was to groan, which pleased him to no end. “What does that entail?”

“Simple. Removing your clothes and leaning over the edge of my desk.” As he started to unfasten his belt, another series of shivers prickled every inch of skin, every muscle in my body.

Now my mouth was Sahara dry. “Do you punish the men who disobey you?”

He stopped long enough to stare at me with furrowed brows. “I think you know that answer.”

Yes, and I didn’t want the differences spelled out.

“You not only broke into my office, you also managed to do the same with my computer and locked files.”

“You’re terrible with security. I found your password easily.”

His movement stopped long enough to open his eyes wide, laughing under his breath. “It’s up to you,chastnaya tantsovshchitsa. You can accept your punishment and we’ll move forward, or clear your desk out, which I would hate.”

He was purposely using his pet name for me against me. Damn the man. Damn how handsome he was and how manipulative he could be in turning the tables. He’d backed me into a corner given the advantage he’d had. With his dazzling ice-blue eyes staring into mine, I felt as if I was being sucked into his world whether a deal was struck or not. “I’ll want an office and a promotion, more money and benefits.”

He cocked his head, more amused than I’d seen him. Ever. “At this point, you aren’t in a position to demand anything. We will see after the report. This is a business arrangement, Saige. Is it not?”

I was already unbuttoning my skirt. “Yes, it is. Nothing more.”

As his head lifted, I could tell he wasn’t pleased with my response. “Very well.”

We both continued with our respective tasks, him removing his belt in preparation and me removing my clothes. While he wore his usual air of arrogance, I was flushed all over. Yet somethinghad already changed between us, a business arrangement that didn’t and wouldn’t make any sense to anyone.

However, the electricity surged between us.

My skin was on fire by the time I was completely naked. I was feeling extremely vulnerable, worried and frustrated that others would discover our secret. He wasn’t worried at all, so damn confident I could smell it on him just like the aura surrounding a true predator.

When he moved his computer to the side, my pulse shot up more than before.

“Across the desk, Saige.”

His tone was commanding, devoid of any real inflection.

With every tug in pulling the thick strap free of his beltloops, I was pushed into a hypertense bubble.

Somehow, I managed to follow his orders, stretching my body across the oversized desk so I could grab the edge on the other side.

Very slowly and very much on purpose, he moved around me in a wide arc until he vanished from view. But I could feel him, his presence and power, the current running through his veins keeping the air in the room energized.

At the same time, the air was oppressive enough I couldn’t breathe. This didn’t seem real any longer, although I could say it stopped being real the minute I’d stepped foot inside the stupid club.

He moved closer. I knew that because my body tensed. When he was looming over me, he gently caressed my skin by rolling hisfingers down my spine. The fact he was taking his sweet time meant he was purposely pushing the anticipation on high. Much like he’d done with my vibrator. I’d say it again. Damn the man.

The only indication he was ready to start doling out my punishment was when he tapped one butt cheek. There was no sense of bracing for the moment or what to expect in the level of pain. Other than by use of his hand in what seemed a lifetime before, I’d never been spanked.