Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
She didn’t feel guilty about sending him away. No, she’d done that to save him, but she did feel bad about running away.
When he returned, she’d already washed her hands and was nibbling on a piece of toast. “I want at least half of that plate gone, Lily.”
She sighed, shaking her head. “So bossy.”
“When it comes to you, I am.”
“Do you think your sister’s ever going to like me?” she asked.
They’d gotten home late last night and just fell into bed. So far, they hadn’t taken things any further than some cuddling and kissing. Not that they could really have sex at her sister’s house, that would have been weird. But she’d felt sure that during the trip back here and the last few nights that he’d make a move.
But there had been nothing more than some heated kissing.
It was extremely hard for her. Especially since he seemed fond of wearing just a pair of cutoff gray sweatpants and nothing else. The man was gorgeous. She wasn’t sure which part of him she liked better. His firm shoulders, that flat stomach, his hips with those little notches. Oh, Lord, she had to stop thinking about this.
“Why are you staring at me like you’re starving and I’m a piece of steak?”
“Because you’re my piece of meat,” she said.
Holy moly, where had that come from? She could feel her face growing bright red.
He just threw back his head and laughed.
Then he leaned over her, kissing her. Oh boy. That kiss.
It was amazing. It was mind-blowing. And she was ready for more.
And then he pulled back.
Damn it. The man was trying to kill her.
They headed home after attending four open houses. None of them had been quite right, unfortunately.
Harvey parked his car outside the cabin and came around to open her door, leading her inside. She checked in on Crackling first, giving him a big cuddle, and then walked into the kitchen.
She sat down at the kitchen island while he prepared them some coffee.
“Do you think what we want is out there?” she asked. “Maybe I’m being too fussy.”
He took hold of her chin. “You’re not being too fussy to want what you want. It’s out there. We’ll find it. Don’t worry.”
His confidence eased something inside her.
“I just don’t want you to have to do long commutes all the time.”
“It’s not that far, baby. And I can work from home sometimes. I don’t want to leave you too long by yourself. You’ll get into trouble.”
“I don’t get into trouble,” she protested.
“Sure you don’t,” he replied. “That’s why you’re not owed a spanking, because you never get into trouble.”
“You keep talking about these spankings,” she said. “But you never actually do them. I don’t think you’re ever going to.”
Well, that was a stupid thing to say, wasn’t it?
Getting off the stool, he stared down at her, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh, no? You think I’m full of hot air, do you?”
She gulped. “No, no, not at all. Not you. You could never be full of hot air. You’re full of cold air, absolutely pure cold air.”
He tilted his head to the side. “I’m not actually sure that’s better.”
No, neither was she when she thought about it. She was simply trying to defuse the situation, and maybe distract him from thinking about the spanking that he owed her.
“In fact, I think it’s time to get that over and done with, so the next time you break any of the rules you know what will happen.”
Oh, no. Here it came.
He held out his hand to her. He didn’t seriously expect that she was just going to take his hand and let him lead her toward a spanking, right? Because that would be nuts.
He couldn’t have sex with her, but he could spank her?
Not. Cool.
“What color are you at?”
Drat.
“Yellow, I think.” She couldn’t lie and say red. As much as she wanted to. Besides, she had a feeling she’d just be putting off the inevitable.
“Why yellow? What are you worried about?”
“That I won’t like it, that it’ll be painful, that I’ll be embarrassed.”
“Well, to be honest, painful and embarrassing are part of the punishment. And not liking it, that’s also kind of part of it. If you liked it, then it wouldn’t be a punishment, would it? The question is do you deserve it? Were you naughty?”
Yes, she had been. And she knew it.
“Will it make me feel less guilty afterward?” she asked.
“It should,” he told her. “Because after a punishment, everything is forgiven. And it won’t be brought up again. Unless, of course, you’re naughty again and earn yourself another punishment.”
“All right.” She slid her hand into his, letting him help her down off the stool and lead her into the living room. “Don’t you think it’s a bit open out here? What if somebody walked past the window and looked in?”