She didn’t need to power her way through. She could just be in the moment.
And that was when it happened.
It wasn’t that it had stopped hurting. She could still feel the hard smack of his relentless palm crashing down on her poor bottom, but something had changed. Maybe it was that her skin had grown numb, which had definitely made it easier to take. But something else had been at play. Something dark and powerful had blossomed inside her, opening her soul even as it shut down her mind. It had spread through her body and spirit like a powerful liquor, heating and soothing her in equal measure.
She’d relaxed in a way that was beyond meditative, her soul easing into this quiet, peaceful place, even as her body quivered with desire. When he’d slipped a hard finger into her wetness, she might have come right then, if she could have found the wherewithal to move.
She wanted to ask Cooper about it, but she sensed now wasn’t the time for discussion. He, too, had risen to his feet. She couldn’t resist giving his naked body another frank appraisal.
He was strong, his shoulders broad, his hips narrow. His body had the thick, solid heft of someone who worked out regularly, the long, lean muscles in his legs that of a swimmer. His dark, curly chest hair looked soft and inviting, and she had a sudden urge to nuzzle her cheek against it.
As if reading her mind, he opened his arms in invitation, and she stepped into them. He cradled her in his embrace, one hand moving over her back, the other stroking her hair. His chest hair was as soft as she’d imagined, and she could hear the steady thump of his heart against her ear. She melted against him with a contented sigh. It was hard to believe she’d only just met this man. In a way, it was as if she’d always known him.
Holy shit, she thought. Isn’t that what the romance novels warn against? Falling in love too fast? Is that what I’m doing? Falling in love with a guest of the resort who’s going to disappear in a couple of days? Are you nuts, Lainey?
Placing two fingers gently under her chin, he tilted her face up and kissed her. All thoughts tumbled from her head. His lips were soft but insistent, his tongue dancing with hers as his hands continued to rove over her body. Her nipples poked hard against him, his cock like a steel rod between them.
He was the first to pull away, dropping his arms and taking a step back. He glanced toward the ticking timer on the counter. “We don’t have a lot of time left in here. I want to take full advantage. Are you ready for the next step, Lainey? You already handled the tough part. Flogging, while it can hurt, is more of a sensual experience. You’ll love the scent of leather, the soft, thuddy feel of the tresses, the sound of them slapping and kissing your skin, taking you deeper into the dark, peaceful place where a true sub can fly.”
Fly?
Was that what she had been feeling during the spanking? She made a mental note to ask Abbie. Then she focused on his words. A flogging!
She watched with trepidation as he moved toward the toy rack and selected the largest flogger. It had a long, stiff handle covered with leather, with dozens of long throws hanging from it. He returned to her, his eyes blazing as he ran his fingers along the leather.
He led her over to the wooden suspension rack, directing her to stand on the thick yoga mat just below the overhead beam. “I’m going to cuff your wrists overhead. This will keep you in position so I don’t accidentally miss my aim because you’re wriggling around. Okay, Lainey?”
Lainey looked up at the dangling cuffs, her heart constricting. She was frightened, but also thrilled deep in her bones. She could totally do this. She could do anything she set her mind to.
Resolutely, she nodded.
At his direction, she lifted her arms high overhead. He set down the flogger and moved to stand in front of her. She wanted him to kiss her again, but he was all business, focused on the task at hand. She allowed him to cuff her wrists into the soft leather. He then adjusted the chains until she was pulled taut, but still able to stand flat on her feet.
The rush of helplessness at being bound like this sent a shiver of anxiety through her body. She was completely at this man’s mercy, naked and in chains, unable to get away.
No. That wasn’t true. She could stop this scene at any moment with those two little words.
But she had no intention of stopping anything. Her ass still stung, but it was pleasant, in a way, like the burn of a good workout. Endorphins were zinging through her bloodstream, making her feel powerful and alive.