Page 31 of Bought

“Your second punishment will be denial,” he went on in the same cool tone. “I am going to examine what I bought for five hundred thousand tonight and I’m going to examine it thoroughly. But you will not be able to touch me or touch yourself.”

Examine what he bought? Did that mean me? And as far as punishments went, wasn’t that kind of weak? I didn’t want to touch him, not really.

Don’t you?

I ignored that thought. One thing was certain though, I wouldn’t be touching myself, not if he was watching.

He still had his thumb on my mouth, so I lifted a shoulder, trying to act as if that was no big deal.

“If you speak out of turn again,” he said. “Your third punishment will be a gag.”

I went cold, swallowing down the retort on my tongue and settling on a nod instead to show him I’d heard.

He stared at me for a moment longer then let go of my chin. He took a step back then came around behind me and took hold of my bound wrists. “On your feet, little one.”

I did as I was told and again, he steadied me as I awkwardly got off my knees.

“Now,” he murmured. “Go over to the bed and lie down.”

I did as I was told, the combination of fear and anticipation, and desire continuing to tangle and knot inside me.

The bed was very soft, the white cover on the comforter crisp as I lay down on it on my back, again awkwardly since my hands were bound. The linen was cool against my hot skin, that only got hotter as Fox followed me to stand beside the bed, his arms still folded, his gaze full of authority.

There was a building ache between my thighs, that only got worse under the pressure of his gaze. It felt as if he could see right inside my head.

He’ll see how flawed you are. He’ll see why your mother left you behind and your dad hated you so much he beat you.

Cold seeped through me. But again, I ignored it, shoving the thoughts out of my head and staring at him instead. Five hundred thousand he paid for me and if he didn’t like what he saw he could stick it up his uptight ass.

Yet staring at Fox was like having a staring competition with the sun, the sheer force of his will making it impossible to hold.

“I could give you a blindfold,” he said. “To remind you to keep your gaze down.”

Shit. I didn’t want a blindfold either.

Perhaps the best thing would be to close my eyes, which was technically following the rules, yet it was also deliberately shutting him out. That stare of his was too much, and my feelings were rubbed raw, and also, he’d probably hate it.

He said nothing as I closed my eyes, and I soon realized my mistake — because it was a mistake. I couldn’t see him; I couldn’t see what he was doing and it made me even more aware of him than I was already.

“So,” he murmured, his voice somehow much closer than it had been before. “Let’s see what five hundred thousand dollars buys me.”

12

Tennyson

She’d closed her eyes deliberately and I knew it. A silent rebellion yes, but also so I wouldn’t see the vulnerability and confusion in her eyes. Yet I’d seen it.

Vulnerability at being at my mercy and examined with such intense focus. Confusion because she liked it. And oh yes, she did like it. She’d told me she wanted me, and she hadn’t been lying. I hadn’t missed the frantic rush of her pulse beneath my hand as I’d gripped her throat.

What she didn’t like was obeying me, that was clear, her willful, stubborn nature making her fight and question. A backbone of pure steel, this one. Yet there was also a fragility to her as if her strength was brittle and one well-placed blow would shatter it.

Intriguing. I hadn’t seen fragility like that in a sub in a long time.

Because you never looked.

It was true. I paid attention but only to their physical responses, not their emotional ones. I kept myself apart and I didn’t get involved. Only physical pleasure was important, nothing more. Which was fine for practiced subs who knew what they were doing, but for this little one…

This was all new to her, kneeling and obeying my orders, receiving punishments. She was afraid of it and yet she wanted it, I’d seen the arousal in her eyes, so yes, she would be confused. Especially considering what she’d said about her past.