Page 72 of King of Temptation

“Good girl. The next snarky word out of your mouth is going to put your right to an orgasm at serious risk. Are we clear, little girl?”

“Y-yes, Daddy.”

He rewarded her obedience with a quick, brutal kiss before releasing his hold on her to climb out of the car. Taking his sweet time, he rounded the vehicle and opened her door, holding out a hand to help her out. And when she placed her hand in his, he felt that same little tremble he’d heard in her voice a moment ago.

Delicious.

Inside, he gestured toward the stairs as he shrugged out of his suit jacket. “Don’t forget. Naked and kneeling.”

At his reminder, her bottom lip pushed out, and he nearly groaned at how fucking cute she was, pouting about her punishment. “Fine.”

He could let it go. Under certain circumstances, he would be completely willing to overlook a bit of sass. But he’d already warned her about her mouth, and he wanted more than just a bit of sexy play tonight. He wanted her to submit, fully, not just her body but her heart and mind, as well.

“Your chances for an orgasm just dropped to about fifty percent, menace. I suggest you watch that mouth if you don’t want them to drop any further.”

Eyes wide, she rolled her lips together, but she couldn’t silence the fury blazing in the golden-brown of her eyes. Turning on her heel, she marched toward the stairs, and he couldn’t help but chuckle at the heavy sound of her footsteps making their way up to his bedroom.

God, he was fucking crazy about her.

Even though the need for her was an itch under his skin, he didn’t rush up to her. He wanted to give her plenty of time to stew, to wonder how much trouble she was in. The honest answer was not a lot, but she didn’t know that, which meant she’d spend every second of her time in the corner thinking about what her Daddy was going to do to her.

Thinking about him.

When he was satisfied she’d been there long enough, he made his way up to the bedroom. And nearly choked at the sight of her.

On her knees, facing the empty corner of her bedroom, her bottom resting on her heels and her spine straight as an arrow, she was a fucking vision. Every inch of her was bare, as he’d requested, giving him full access to the creamy expanse of her back, the curve of her generous hips.

Right down to the sparkling pink gem winking at him from between her bottom cheeks.

Stunning.

Without speaking, he moved around the room, not bothering to be the least bit quiet as he gathered what he wanted. Once he was ready, he settled on the edge of the bed and called her to him.

“Come here, Marigold.”

Goldie

* * *

In the hours she’d been kneeling in the corner, she’d run through pretty much the entire gamut of emotions. Anger at being treated like a child, followed by absolute giddiness at the memory of Brody’s sexy growl when she’d ‘accidentally’ forgotten to use his title. Excitement, fear, worry, annoyance—at some point she’d felt them all while kneeling there.

Now, however, fear was right at the forefront. Knelt there in the corner, she tried to focus on her breathing, on calming her racing heart before she went to him.

Apparently she waited too long, however, because she was still kneeling when his voice reached her again, hard as stone with an edge to it that told her she was pushing her luck.

“Marigold, if I have to come get you, that plug won’t be the only thing you have in your ass tonight.”

It took a moment for his words to register, but when they did she immediately sprang into action, scrambling up from her kneeling position to hurry over to him.

Should she apologize? Did he want her to speak? Sometimes in her books the men wanted complete silence as a show of submission.

She wasn’t very good at being silent.

“Eyes on me, menace.”

Snapping her gaze up, she met his dark eyes, and something inside her just… settled. Like a puzzle piece clicking into place. The worry over her impending punishment was still there, but it was tempered by the knowledge that he was the one punishing her, and while he might hurt her he would never truly harm her.

“Sir?”