Page 48 of Dominion

Zolla shrugged. “Of course. My place is yours for as long as you need it.”

“Thank you,” he said. He didn’t understand why the wolf seemed so inclined to help him, but he wasn’t in a position to argue with it. He needed all the help he could get.

Ben saton the edge of the motel bed, resting his forearms on his knees and his head in his hands. He’d taken off his belt and laid it beside him, but he wasn’t sure he would actually go through with punishing Ashley. She was human, after all. It wasn’t part of her culture to resolve things in a physical manner. Still, if she was to be his mate…

But she couldn’t be, could she?

And even though she seemed to enjoy a little dominance from him, that didn’t mean she would stand for a full-on spanking. Hell, he didn’t even know if he could stand giving her one—the thought of hurting her made his stomach turn to lead. How did male wolves actually discipline their mates? Wasn’t it their role to protect?

But it was exactly for that reason—because her disobedience made it harder to protect her—that he needed to be sure she learned this lesson.

She came out of the bathroom and stopped, looking over at him. “What are you thinking about?”

He sighed. “You and I have some unfinished business to discuss.”

She drew a slow breath, obviously expecting this. She stood where she was, looking at him warily.

“I specifically told you to go straight to the car and drive away. Did you obey me?”

“I—” She stopped, as if realizing excuses or defenses were fruitless. “No, sir,” she said softly.

Her use of the wordsirgave him confidence to go on—she accepted his authority. “Because you were in danger, I could think of nothing but protecting you. I lost my game and some of them got away with the laptop.”

She sucked in her breath. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes flitted to his belt on the bed beside him. “Are you going to use that on me?”

“I haven’t decided yet. What do you think I should do, Ashley?” He wanted her compliance.

She lifted her slender shoulders. “You’re the boss,” she whispered.

He figured that was as much consent as he would get. She wasn’t going to ask him to spank her. He was the alpha; it was his duty to take charge. “Take off your clothes,” he said, putting the edge of command into his voice.

Her cheeks colored, but she began to undress almost immediately, unzipping the wrinkled skirt and letting it drop to a puddle at her feet. She pulled the t-shirt over her head, then opened the back clasp of her bra, her breasts springing free. They were perfectly shaped, round and lifted, pale with peach nipples, which jutted out in eager points. An angry bruise stood out over her sternum, where a bullet had hit her vest. He tensed at the sight of it, his body ready to shift and fight to protect her. But the mark underlined the need for this discussion.

His jeans became too tight in the crotch area. He kept his face impassive. “Panties, too,” he said, clearing his voice.

She hooked her thumbs in the waistband and lowered them over her thighs, bending to remove them.

When she straightened, fully naked, he suppressed a growl.

She slid her hands up and down her thighs, and then, as if suddenly aware of what she was doing, shook her hands out, but not before he caught the tremble in her fingers.

“Come here,” he said.

She took a few steps toward him, but stopped, out of reach. He smelled the metallic scent of fear, mingled with the heady perfume of her arousal.

“Ashley,” he said with a steely note of warning. “Come here.”

She swallowed but did not move, her eyes darting to the belt on the bed once more.

“I know you’re scared. Do you trust me to punish you?”

She caught his gaze, her blue eyes searching his. He knew she had no reason to trust him, but he held his breath for her answer.

She licked her lips and nodded, closing the distance between them.

The warmth of her trust spread through his body. Opening his knees, he grasped her hips and pulled her to stand between them. Her lips parted, her sternum rose and fell rapidly.

The conflict within him tore at his chest.His to protect.What if she cried?Would he be able to go on? He doubted it.He grit his teeth. Better to deal with this situation directly and have it over with. He pulled her face down over one knee and clamped his other leg over hers to keep her from kicking. Lifting his palm, he brought it down on one cheek, then the other. She gasped at first, but otherwise made no sound or protest. He spanked her with enough force to leave hand prints on her creamy flesh. She offered up her submission as easily as she’d given her whole self to him—placing herself in his hands with a trust he didn’t deserve.