I stood in silence for a moment. “What? You want me to go stand in the corner?”
“Now.”
I winced at his sharp and direct order.
“You’ve never made me stand in the corner before. That’s not what we do,” I challenged.
“I said, now.” Price’s brows dipped further in warning.
“I don’t want to. Can’t you just spank me right now? I don’t know how… I mean, I don’t want to stand in the corner,” I said softly. It felt… silly and childish. Or was it vulnerable and uncomfortable?
“I’m angry right now. I need a moment to calm down.”
I lifted my brows and tried to come up with the right words to say.
“So, go get undressed, stand in the corner, and wait for me. I mean it, Tessa.”
His tone and the look on his face made it very clear that I better do just as he asked. I hated seeing him this way. The fury mixed with pain was almost too much to bear. All I had to do was talk to him. Share my feelings with him. He wasn’t asking for much and yet…
“Okay.” My voice was a whisper, and my eyes filled with tears as I turned shamefully away to do just as he ordered.
Chapter Fifteen
Tessa
My mind spun, trying to make sense of what he was making me do. He’d sounded frustrated as he’d ordered me away. I didn’t like the idea of standing in the corner like an errant child. Hated it, in fact. Walking away, alone, made me feel absolutely awful. It hurt to think that Price was too angry with me to deal with the discipline right then and there. I would much rather feel the burn of his hand against my ass, than the cold of walking to the room by myself.
Blinking back tears, I went to the bedroom and walked to the empty corner on the right side of the bed. With my fingers trembling, I removed each item of clothing until I stood completely nude. Taking a few steps closer to the corner, I stood there with my face only inches from the wall.
My heart thumped strong and steady. I stood in the corner, staring at every inch of the wall up close. I stood there. Silence. An endless torturing circle of thoughts punished me more than the worst spanking implement. Tears rose in my eyes as I tried to make sense of my stubborn refusal to just be honest with Price. Why? Why couldn’t I just tell him about the nightmares of my life and how my mother had played a part in them?
I needed his advice and his shoulder to lean on. Instead, I shut him down and backed away from his affection and concern. I made it worse by trying to brush it off as if it were nothing. He kept trying, and I kept shutting down, over and over, until he finally sent me away to be punished alone. Standing in the corner was by far the worst punishment yet. Remaining in place with my nose in the corner was far beyond anything I could imagine. The waiting was excruciating. Alone, naked, chills running along my skin left me desperate for Price’s touch—no matter how harsh it could be. My body shook and my sex throbbed with anticipation. The unknown racked my nerves, and my imagination ran wild with what would happen next. Feelings of embarrassment, shame, and humiliation, mixed with sexual desire and lust, made my knees wobble.
Standing in the corner made me face my thoughts and stare directly at the demons that tormented me. It forced me to deal with my emotions. I had no choice when there was nothing standing in the way. There was nothing to distract me, nothing to hide behind. Naked and out in the open, I had no choice but to think and come to terms with my feelings.
The responsibility of being trusted with so much love had scared me to death. I’d never gotten anything right when it came to love, so I kept up a wall of protection. My fear had caused me to keep Price at bay. As long as things were perfect, then I could give myself to him fully. But if things went bad, I felt the need to hide and shut down. I needed to stop. I needed to trust in Price, and trust that he truly would stand there in not only the good times, but the bad times, too.
I hated being alone with my thoughts, but loved the feeling of standing there exposed and ready for whatever Price had in store. I resisted the urge to move and waited for Price to do with me as he pleased. A submissive wave washed over me as my core melted in hungry need. I stood there, punished, remorseful, and wanting to change. I waited in the corner, willing… willing to trust a man who controlled every part of me.