Page 77 of Cole's Command

THE TELL-TALE SOUNDS of the ribbons flying through the air were the first sign. Tensing at the noise milliseconds before the impact, Eden cried out, although the plastic ball shoved between her lips made the protest unintelligible.

‘Oh, God!’ She could still let Cole know how she felt though. Their unique telepathy meant she was permanently empowered. ‘That hurts like a bitch!’

“It’s supposed to hurt, little girl.” His chuckle encircled her as one of his giant palms skimmed over her punished backside. “Remember?”

‘But the flogger!’ Peering over her shoulder, she eyed the vicious implement. ‘It’s too much.’

“Do you want to use your safe word?” He lowered to her level, his gaze serious. “Because if you tell me that word, even in your mind, all of this ends right now.”

He motioned to the bondage, and her gaze followed. Cole’s ropes were hooked up to his doorframe, their lengths ensuring both of her arms were held high above her head. She was unable to release them, just as she was unable to remove the gag or resist his spanking, because that was what she’d signed up for. Over the course of the next few days, Eden was his.

‘I don’t want to use it, sir.’

Tears pricked in her eyes as she answered, but she blinked them away. This was what she wanted. They’d talked about the scene in some detail and they both knew that if he reached down between her parted legs, he’d discover the evidence of her enjoyment for himself.

She didn’t know why she found surrendering her power so damn alluring. Even her scientific background couldn’t explain the strange psychological response, but there was no denying the truth of it. Ever since she’d driven out to the tiny hut in the middle of nowhere to meet her dragon on Friday night, she’d submitted to Cole’s will and loved every moment of it.

“Then we resume.” He was gone in an instant, his tread light on the carpet as he moved, leaving Eden only with the noise of her own ragged breaths. “Five more.”

‘I’ll never get through five more,’ she complained, just as the flogger landed again.

Wincing at the shrill sound of the impact, she had no choice but to absorb the pain of the blow, its tendrils spreading farther than his palm had ever done. She yanked at the ropes holding her in place, her feet shuffling in their own binds. Cole had introduced her to the spreader bar, and she’d soon grown to both love and hate it. The damned bar meant that no matter the provocation, she was never permitted to close her thighs. Her dragon-shifter could access her pussy any time he chose to.

“Yes, you will.”

She couldn’t decide if his tone was taunting or encouraging.

“You’ll survive because you have no choice.”

She threw her head back at the revelation, reveling in all its sweet reality. It was that paradox that drove her wild. For a woman who’d spent all of her life fighting to be independent, the concept of relinquishing control had turned out to be supremely sexy.

“Four more.” He numbered the impact as it landed, its intensity forcing her teeth to grasp the ball between them.

‘Fuck!’

“That’s enough foul language,” he warned. “Any more profanity and I add three more strikes.

‘No way.’ Panting around the gag, she tried to turn and catch his eyes, but the flogger was already on route, its ribbons caressing her no doubt already reddened ass.

“That was three.”

‘Please.’ The pain amplified with each swat. ‘I don’t think I can.’

“Do you want to use your safe word?” he repeated. “Otherwise we continue.”

Do I? Her gaze darted wildly around the door. Eden had never known a sting like the flogger, but she was determined to see it through. ‘No, thank you, sir.’

“Two more, then.” His voice sounded as though it was coming from some distant place. “I’ll make them quick.”

She’d scarcely had time to process his words before the flogger rained down on her again. One strike landed on her right ass cheek, and then the other tanned her left.

‘Thank God.’ Closing her eyes, relief emanated through her body. ‘It’s over.’

“It’s not over until I say it is, little girl.” Cole pressed himself into her, his pants scratching over her punished skin. “And I’m not done with you yet.”

Dropping the flogger to the floor, his hands grazed over her skin, skimming from her hips to her exposed breasts.

“I fucking love these,” he growled as he massaged her tits and pinched her needy nipples.