“Is that the way you greet me?” he asked in a low voice. “Find your position.”
She slid to her knees, widened her legs, and placed her hands on her thighs, straightening her spine. Her heart raced. She’d worn the same skirt and corset she’d put on that first night she’d come here. But without any underwear.
“Sorry, Sir,” she said to him.
“Would you like to explain why you’re here without me?”
She snuck a glance up at him. How mad was he? There was no tic above his eye so he wasn’t completely furious. Yet.
“I want to play, Sir. I’m ready. I’m well. I’ve recovered.”
“And this is how you ask? By pulling a little stunt designed to get my attention? Do you really think you’ll get away with topping from the bottom?”
She made a frustrated noise. “I did ask, but you weren’t listening. You think I’m fragile, that I need protecting. I don’t. I’m alive and well and I want to feel and be treated that way.”
He crouched in front of her and grabbed her chin, raising it up. His face softened. “I have news for you. I will always protect you. No matter what.” He ran his thumb over her cheek. “But I am sorry I didn’t listen and that I didn’t acknowledge what you needed. I didn’t want to push you into anything you weren’t ready for.”
“But I am ready. I am so ready. I need this, Sir.”
He nodded. “And it’s my job to give you what you need.” He stood once more. “Stand.”
He waited until she was upright to continue.
“You’re owed some punishment for coming here alone and for making your Dom worry. Tonight, you’re going to experience the flogger. You’re also going to take me in the ass.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. Well, this was what she wanted, right?
He moved his hand to the nape of her neck. “I’m in charge now, kitten. I kind of like your bratty side, but that doesn’t mean I’ll go easy when you disobey me.”
“You never said I couldn’t come here without you.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You knew what you were doing when you came here. Now strip.”
Nerves filled her. This is what she’d wanted. What she’d pushed for. And it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her naked since her operation. But this felt different somehow. There would be no bed covers or shadows to hide behind.
He placed his hand under her chin, raising her face to study her. His eyes were filled with understanding. “If you’re not ready, we can wait. But I want you to know something. I think you’re the most fucking beautiful person I’ve ever seen. And when I see those scars, all I see are the marks of a survivor, of your fight to live, to stay with me. They’re badges of honor, and you should fucking be proud of them.”
She blinked back tears. Then she straightened her shoulders. He was right, she had no reason to feel ashamed of what she’d gone through. She nodded.
“You want to stay?”
“Yes, Sir.”
He leaned in and lightly kissed her. Then he pulled back. “Then get naked. Now. Each minute you procrastinate, you add to your punishment.”
She quickly stripped and folded her clothes. Jake’s words kept her strong.
He thought she was beautiful. A fighter.
He just studied her for a moment, his eyes hot. “Yep, fucking beautiful. Now turn around and bend over. Spread those legs.”
Her eyes widened as she stared at him. He reached into a bag she hadn’t even noticed was there. It wasn’t his usual play bag. “Where did that come from?”
He gave her a stern look as he pulled out lube and a plug still in its wrapping. “It’s my bag I keep here at the club. Why aren’t you in position? That’s an extra fifteen.”
She gulped and quickly bent over, pushing her legs out.
“Wider,” he barked.