The Dark Protector (Kingpin's Property 1)

He looks filled with regret for a moment, his hand gently brushing against my neck. He leaves goosebumps in the wake of his touch.

“You don’t know how much danger you’re in, Tallulah,” he mutters. “I’d never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“Okay,” I mutter. “I’m sorry, but I feel so cooped up in that stupid room.”

“Let’s go back inside,” Xavier says firmly. “It’s cold and everyone’s worried fucking sick.”

I pluck a rose from the canopy above us and stick it in the boutonniere of his suit. “There. A memory of today.”

He looks like he’s about to say something else, but changes his mind at the last minute. Xavier grabs my wrist and half drags, half walks me back inside the house.

Inside, everyone’s deathly quiet the moment they see me. Xavier urges me upstairs and back into my bedroom. I don’t see Antonio. The door closes and now it’s just us. I’m afraid the sound of my heart doing somersaults will only make my nervousness more obvious.

Will he touch me now?

Will Xavier break his promise?

The thought scares and excites me, and the feeling only gets more intense as he marches me over to the bed.

“Lie on your stomach,” he says darkly. “Ass up. On your knees.”

His request sends my head spinning. “But what about-“

“No more words, angel. Do as you are told.”

I’m grateful for the opportunity to lie down, since I’m shaking so badly I can hardly keep myself upright. I get into the position he demanded.

“First thing tomorrow,” Xavier begins, thoughtfully checking my balcony. “I’m getting a locksmith here to install bars on your windows. You’ll never run from me again. Understood?”

I feel awkward and upset, but I manage a small yes.

“And right now, you’re going to pay me for your insolence.”

“How?”

“Hike your skirt up. I want to see your panties.”

My body freezes. I never expected this to be sexual.

“Now,” Xavier adds icily, making me scramble and push the silk over my hips. I close my eyes as I feel the cool air on my exposed ass. I’m only wearing a pink cotton thong. I know it’s going to be see-through from how wet I am already, and I’m praying Xavier won’t comment on it.

But when he doesn’t, it feels all the more humiliating. As if he doesn’t care, this is arousing to me. All he wants is to punish me and cause me pain.

“I’m going to spank you once for every hour you were missing,” he says. “Six total. you will count them out. If I so much as catch you flinching, we’re doing them from the start again.”

“W-What?” I whisper. “You can’t-“

I don’t get to finish my sentence, because the first hit lands on my ass, hard. I yelp, making Xavier laugh out loud.

“Starting over. No counting, and you’re whimpering.”

“Please, I-“

He hits me again. I cry out, “One!”

“Better.” He hits again and I let out a cry. “Oh well, starting over it is.”

“I can’t stay quiet!” I howl. “It hurts!”

“Get used to it,” Xavier gets out through gritted teeth, adding another blow to my behind.

“One,” I manage, but he hits me hard so fast I bite my lower lip until I draw blood. “Two.”

“Good girl. Four more,” he smirks. “Unless you fuck up again...”

A cold sweat washes over me and I feel myself whimpering. By the sound of Xavier’s cruel laughter, I can already tell he’s going to make me start again. My nightmare is only just beginning.

Chapter 3

XAVIER

I don’t know how many times I’ve hit her ass by now, but her skin is bright red. Tallulah has stopped whimpering. She’s been crying for the last ten at least. But now, it’s finally done. She finished the count without fucking up.

There’s a side of me that wants to comfort her, but I don’t indulge it. I spin on my heel and walk out of her bedroom.

The moment I’m in the hallway, I lean against her door and breathe out. I take a moment to collect myself before walking down the hallway in long, confident strides.

In my home office, Antonio is waiting for me to deal with his transgressions. He’s held up by two other guards, on his knees on the floor. I sit behind my desk, ordering another guard to make me a drink while I stare down at Antonio. To his favor, he looks appropriately chastised already, his face burning up with shame. He seems to regret his actions, but of course that alone won’t do. He must be punished according to his crime.

“Your brother vouched for you, you know,” I tell Antonio. “He said I could count on you. Why would he say that? It’s perfectly clear to me you’re incapable of following a simple order. Why don’t you repeat that order to me, Antonio?”

He swallows thickly before speaking up. “Never keep Tallulah Gunn out of my sight.”