Page 54 of Cole's Command

Yeah. She squeezed her eyes closed at the unhelpful commentary in her head. I’m sure that’s why I’m complying. I want to pacify the predator. It has absolutely nothing to do with the way my clit is throbbing at the feel of his hand on me.

“Sir.” She forced the word out, relieved that she was face down and Cole couldn’t see her red-faced reaction.

“Thank you.” His palm vanished, leaving her oddly bereft. Somehow, it was worse without his touch. Now, beyond his cautions, she had no idea what was coming next.

“I don’t want to hurt you, little girl.”

Her sex clenched as he used the peculiar name again. She was no one’s ‘little girl,’ and had no idea why the term pooled desire at her core. “That’s easy for you to say...” Hesitating, she realized she was going to have to say the word again. “Sir.”

“I understand why you’d say that.” He patted her rump approvingly. “But all I want to do is address your disrespect while giving you a taste of what the chemistry between us could be like.”

“Oh.” She had no idea what to say to that, although she was well aware he’d be listening into her thoughts to try and ascertain for himself.

Some of the tension eased from her shoulders at his explanation. It wasn’t that she suddenly consented to the act, or was any less outraged at the scandalous liberties he was taking, but deep down she was intrigued to know what the spanking would be like.

No man had ever taken her in hand like that before. Likely, because she’d never made real time for a man before, let alone one like Cole, but now that she was strewn over him with her ass exposed, she had to know more. Was she truly as excited as the simmering in her sex suggested she was? Could she handle whatever he had to dish out, and how would she feel once the whole thing was over? She needed Cole, after all. Without him, she was going to struggle to ever get down from this bloody mountain.

“I’ll take care of all of your needs.” His voice was smooth, like a stiff drink when she needed one.

Wait, what? What was that supposed to mean? Had Cole been intruding into her thoughts again, or did his assertion elude to something more carnal? She swallowed at the idea, trying to decide how she felt about him. She’d welcomed their kiss at the office, unable to resist the caress he should never have offered, but a lot had happened since then. After everything they’d been through in the last few hours, could she imagine giving herself to him? Her clit pulsed in response, having apparently already made up its mind.

“Are you ready?”

Since when was he asking for her assent?

“I don’t know,” she admitted, curling her fingertips into the deep fibers of the rug. “I didn’t ask for any of this, Cole.”

Stinging swats rained down on her before she could take another breath.

“What was that?” he barked.

“Sir,” she added quickly, as she realized her mistake. “I didn’t ask for this, sir.”

“You’ve been begging for this ever since I walked through your door,” he purred. “It’s been laced into every glance, into every question you’ve thrown my way since then, let alone the tantrums.”

Tantrums? He seems to think I’m some sort of a child.

“No.” His hand grabbed one of her ass cheeks and squeezed it roughly. “You’re definitely not a child, little girl. But sometimes you get tired of doing it all for yourself and you need someone to look after you.” His thumb stroked her goosing skin. “Need someone to...” He paused, “take the edge off.”

Her breath caught. “Yes.”

That was how she felt, although since she hadn’t been thinking so, she had no idea how Cole had recognized the need in her. It was astonishing, as well as perturbing, how easily he seemed able to read her.

“I can be that man.”

Her throat dried at his dark, sensual promise, and this time as she gave the address he wanted, there was less resistance. This time, she wanted to give it to him. “Yes, sir.”

“Trust me to do this, Eden.” Folding over her, his lips skimmed her ass and she gasped at the unexpected sensation. “Trust me now and if you want to go home afterward, I’ll take you there as soon as you’re recovered.”

“Okay.” What am I doing? Eden could hardly believe what she was hearing from her lips. Why am I agreeing?

“Good girl.”

Heat suffused her face at his praise, her sex once again contracting with need. Cole’s tone should have been patronizing, and yet he was making the condescension sound as sexy as hell.

“I’m going to give you ten strikes,” he told her, grazing a fingertip over her ass. “Then I’ll check how you’re doing.”

A pause, as though he was waiting for her to respond.