“I think that song’s yours now. You just came up with exactly how it should end. I’ve been trying to figure that out for a while. But you did it.” He drew his fingers through my hair, then buried his face in it. “I love your hair. Never wear it up ever again.”
I laughed. “There’s a lot of it.” Hairdressers had tended to be the ones who had commented on my hair in the past, usually with a note of fatigue as they worked to cut it all.
“I want to take a bath in it.”
“That’s weird.” I laughed, but I knew what he meant. It didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t get enough of him, either.
“I made you dinner.”
“It smells amazing.”
“Chicken parm.”
I pulled away. “While I was in there sleeping you were in the kitchen cooking me chicken parmesan?”
“I heated it up. Come on, let me show you.” Ash stood and gave me a moment to pull the blanket up around my shoulders. Then I took his hand and he led me into the kitchen.
“That does not look like a frozen dinner,” I observed. A gorgeous chicken parm with pasta graced a countertop, looking all too good to even share with Ash.
“Do not call this a frozen dinner,” Ash chastised me. “It’s from a place in L.A. It’s a pre-made gourmet meal.”
“Oh, excuse me.” I rolled my eyes. But then I sat down, helped myself to a serving and took a bite. Then I understood, this could never be confused with the type of Swanson aka Hungry Man heat-up tray version. Ash poured me some red wine and it was a few minutes before either of us spoke.
“Wow,” I finally said, licking my fork. “That was amazing.”
Ash looked at me, a flicker of hunger still in his eyes even after the amazing dinner. “It’s good to see you enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks.” I looked at him, a bit of nervousness building in me. I could tell he had something on his mind.
“You look really comfortable.” I sat up a little straighter. “The only problem is that blanket.”
I looked down and noticed I still had the blanket draped around me. Folded and wrapped, I barely showed any skin even though underneath it I wore nothing.
“Take it off.” Ash’s eyes flashed as he looked at me, a flicker building in him.
“The blanket?” I asked, teasing him. “This blanket?” I fingered the edge, the one draped along the outside of my breast.
“Off,” he growled.
“But then I’ll be naked.” Opening my eyes wide, I looked at him as if shocked. “I couldn’t do that!”
“No?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Oh no.” I shook my head.
“Stand up.” Now he looked a little pissed. Shaking slightly with anticipation, I did as he told me. “Now drop it.”
I let my hands fall to the side, letting the blanket ease down off my shoulders. It fell to a pool at my feet, exposing all of me.
Ash walked toward me, stopping a few feet away. He circled me in the kitchen, surveying my nudity from all angles. I felt like I was being stalked, vulnerable, and I trembled. He could take a teasing moment and turn it into tension in the blink of an eye. He had a wild look in his eyes.
Standing in front of me, he cupped my chin in his hand. “You like to tease me,” he said, looking into my eyes.
“Yes,” I agreed, breathless.
“But that’s naughty.” I don’t know why my breath caught at the word naughty, but it did. It seemed so taboo. “Do you know what happens to naughty girls?”
“No.” My eyes widened. What was he going to say?
“They get spanked.”
“What?” Now my eyes grew really wide.
“You heard me.” He stepped forward, and I suddenly felt very aware of how much bigger he was than me, and how very naked I was standing there in the kitchen. I looked around, as if thinking of making a break for it.
“Where are you going to go?” he asked me, one hand upturned. “It’s still snowing outside. No sign of letting up.” He took another step closer. “You’re trapped here. With me. And I’m going to make sure you get the sound spanking you need.”
“Ash!” I brought my hands to my arms, crossing them across my chest. “I’m not sure—”
“Have you ever been spanked, Anika?” Ash brought a hand to my shoulder, touching me gently. His voice took on a more calming tone.
“No.” I bit my lip. This whole conversation was a first.
“I’d very much like to spank you.” He caressed my shoulder and though I didn’t understand why, my entire body responded to his words, trembling.
“Why?” I whispered.
“Do you trust me?” Ash asked. I looked up into his eyes. Dark and inviting, I realized
that I did. Completely. I nodded. “Then let me show you how it feels.”
Still reluctant, I looked down. “I’m not sure, it sounds…”
“Don’t think, Ana,” Ash whispered in my ear, his body coming around behind me. His hands smoothed over my shoulders, up along my upper back, sending shivers along my skin. “Don’t think, just feel.”
It did feel good to let go, let the sensations take over. My mind was always going and it felt so good to let it simply smooth out and release. With a deep sigh, I turned myself over to his strong, capable hands.
“That’s it.” Ash could sense my acquiescence, my agreement to give myself to him. “That’s good, Ana. Now come over here.” He took my hand and led me over to the kitchen counter. It was marble, white with swirls of grey. “Place your hands on it.”
I did, palms down. Then he brought his hands to my hips and walked me out so I was outstretched, bent at the waist, flat back.
“Now spread your legs, baby.” He helped me inch my feet open, keeping me in position. “Nice, like that.” He stroked my lower back, keeping me bent down. “Good.” His hands traveled down my hips, my thighs, up to my buttocks. He tilted me more to his liking, ass up in the air, hips angled just right to offer myself up to him. I felt so exposed and my body tingled with tension, desire, anticipation.
“You look so good like this, Ana. So ripe.” I sighed with his praise, loving that I pleased him. I wanted to turn him on as much as he did me. His hands roamed my skin, still so gentle yet possessive, claiming me as he stroked.
“Now, you know this is going to hurt some, Ana. But you need to trust me. I know you need to take your punishment.” His words frightened me and my hands clutched at the marble. But more than that, I felt tension coil deep in my core. I started to wonder why that would be, but I stopped myself. It wasn’t time to think and reason, it was time to feel.
“Can you trust me enough to put yourself in my hands?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied instantly, knowing it was true with every inch of my body.
“You need to submit to me, give yourself over completely. Can you do that?” His hands stroked and teased, caressing my buttocks, then my inner thighs.