Ben gave her a look she’d never seen before. “Ainsley. I never meant—”
“Found them.” Rielle waved a stack of paper bags. “I also grabbed the herbs. They should be refrigerated.”
Grateful for the interruption, she practically ran to Rielle. “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”
“Twenty bucks oughta cover it.”
Ainsley figured that was a low amount after she loaded the four heavy bags into her trunk. She ignored Bennett’s hard, hot stare that seemed to liquefy her bones as she chatted with Rielle.
She didn’t look his way when she climbed in her car. She hesitated at the end of the driveway.
A right turn led back into town. A left turn led to Ben’s house.
She knew his eyes were on her vehicle as she turned left.
Ainsley wasn’t naked when Ben walked in the door. Something smelled good, and while the thought of a homemade meal awaiting him stirred a weird longing, she hadn’t followed his instructions.
And she didn’t seem particularly perplexed about that.
She sliced cubed potatoes and dropped them in a pot of boiling liquid. She tossed in a handful of herbs and nestled the lid over the steam. Then she looked up at him. “Now that I’ve got that started, we can talk about your—”
“No talkin’.”
“But you always want to talk about this stuff.”
“Not today.” Ben’s gaze swept over her fully clothed body. “Strip. Now.”
“You said I could convince—”
“Huh-uh.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m waitin’.”
“I’m supposed to strip right here in the kitchen?”
“You can strip over by the bar, which you’re supposed to be on, nekkid, if memory serves. Every time you open that pretty mouth to argue I’m takin’ note.”
“But—”
“You are surely tryin’ my patience today, woman, and that will reflect in your punishment.”
“Fine.” Ainsley stomped across the room, throwing clothes over her head like confetti as she peeled them off her body.
Ben would find it funny if he wasn’t so damn annoyed with her.
Oh hell, there was a fine sight, her luscious butt shaking as she climbed atop the bar. She faced him, arms crossed, legs crossed, wearing a very cross look.
“I don’t like your attitude. And I think maybe I’ve been too lenient on you. Or maybe in the two days we’ve been apart, you’ve forgotten who’s holding the reins.”
The woman actually rolled her eyes.
“Stretch out on your belly.”
“Why—”
Then Bennett was in front of her, his hands curled around her face, pulling her forward until they were nose-to-nose. “Do you want me to get a gag?”
Her eyes went wide and she shook her head.
“Then do what I tell you.”
Her flesh squeaked against the bartop she obeyed so fast.
“Hands clasped above your head.” After she complied, he ran his hand across her body, from her ankle up to her shoulder. “Stay put.”
Ben retreated to his bedroom and set his bag of toys on the bed. He transferred the riding crop, the ping-pong paddle, the medium-sized curved vibrator, the vibrating butt plug, the leg and arm restraints, and the small bottle of lube to a smaller bag. Just for shits and giggles, he grabbed the ball gag and his single tail whip.
Ainsley wasn’t meekly stretched out on the bar like a good sub, awaiting his return. She was in the kitchen messing with the stove.
“Are you still defying me?” he roared.
She yelped, dropping the metal lid. The loud clank after it hit the floor made her jump again. She bent down to retrieve it, then slammed it on the counter. “I can explain. I didn’t want the soup to boil over while you were playing with me so I got up and turned it off.” She aimed her gaze at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
“Not acceptable behavior,” he snapped. “When I say stay put, I mean stay put. You could’ve asked me to turn off the soup. Instead, you chose to ignore my instructions and did whatever the hell you wanted. Bad choice. Get back on the bar as you were.”
When Ainsley peeked up at him with those less-than-remorseful eyes, but didn’t move, he pulled out the whip and snapped it in the air. “Now.”
Another yelp and then she was running across the room, making all of her girly parts jiggle very nicely.
Christ, his dick went hard and he hadn’t even touched her yet. He put the whip, the vibrating butt plug, and the ball gag within her view. He stretched her arms above her head and secured her wrists to the brass rail running along the inside and outside of the bartop.
She didn’t utter a peep when he restrained her legs in the same manner, but her breaths were coming much faster.
“Oh and for the record? This isn’t playtime. You are bein’ punished.” Her body shuddered as his fingertips skimmed the curves of her ass. “Do you know why you’re bein’ punished?”
“Umm…initially? No. Now I know my punishment will be because I disobeyed you. God forbid I put safety first by turning off the stove and preventing a fire hazard.”
“Are you still arguing with me?”
“You have to admit—”
“Silence!”
Ainsley sighed. Wearily.
“You disrespected me at Rielle’s place. Then you flat-out insulted me. That alone was enough to earn you a few licks. But your absolute disobedience after the fact, in your Dom’s home, has earned hefty consequences, Ainsley.”
“I understand. And I am sorry.”
Like hell you’re sorry. “Since we agreed early on spanking wasn’t a punishment, I’m improvising. By my count you earned forty marks.”
“F-forty?”
“I’ll split them—twenty with the paddle, twenty with the ridin’ crop.”
She exhaled. “Thank you for not…just thank you.”
Ben didn’t like it that she flinched when he touched her. And why was she shaking so hard? “You wanna tell me what’s goin’ on?”
“I’m f-fine.”
“No, you’re not. Tell me.”
“Don’t use the whip on me. Ever. Please. I-I’d use my safe word before I’d let you.”
He froze. Hadn’t they discussed her hard limits? Didn’t she know he’d never… Christ. This was f**ked up. “Ainsley. Look at me, please.”
She lifted her head, but her hair obscured her face. He gently brushed the silky strands aside. “I’d never use the single tail on you. I know it’s a hard limit.”