Dangerous Fling (Dangerous Noise 4)

She folds her arms. "What does that matter?"

"Yes or no."

"Yes."

"To spank you?"

She clears her throat. Her cheeks flush. This time, it's a mix of desire and shame. "Maybe."

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"With my hand?"

Her gaze goes to the ocean. She turns away from me. But still, she whispers, "Yes."

"With a paddle?"

"I don't know."

"A riding crop?"

"I… yes. Maybe. I'm not sure. I want to try things."

"Look at me and say that."

She keeps her body turned away from mine. "I… I… Um…"

We're interrupted by the server, dropping off our food and Lacey's iced tea. She turns back to the table enough to thank him.

Her eyes refuse to meet mine. She stares at her straw. She stares at her drink. She stares at her food.

I wait until he's well out of earshot. "He hurt you."

"I hurt him."

"I want to tie you up, Lacey. I want to do so many fucking things to you. But I can't do that unless I trust you."

"But I… Fine." She stares at her food.

The silence falls between us. It's not awkward, but it is heavy. She has every right to play her cards close to the vest. She has every right to keep me out of her heart and her head.

But I want to know what happened.

I want to find the thing taking away her pleasure and destroy it.

She plays with her food. Her eyes go to me. Then to her plate.

When she tires of staring, she takes a bite of her taco. Her eyes fill with surprise. Then delight.

She chews and swallows.

She takes another bite. Another. Another.

She eats the whole damn thing, then she's licking the cream sauce running down her hands.

There's only once place my mind can go.

And she knows it.