nightstand. He held out two white tablets and a glass of orange juice.
I nodded, and then swished down the pills.
“I’m afraid we hit the champagne a little too heavily last night. Now we’ll both have to suffer the consequences.” He sat down next to me, and only then did I notice the belt in his hand. My eyes shot to his. He immediately adverted his gaze. “Last night was . . . incredible . . . but that doesn’t give you free reign to call me anything other than Master.”
“I-I’m sorry, Master. It just slipped out.” His name had more than slipped out; I’d screamed it to high heaven as I came undone in his arms.
He rose to his feet. “I am too, Kayla. Let’s get this over with.” He gestured to the space in front of him. “On your feet. Bend over and grab your ankles.”
I slid from bed, and as I held onto my ankles, preparing for the strike of his belt, I went back to despising myself. He’d gotten to me last night, had snuck into a small corner of my heart. Now that little piece shattered to dust.
Bastard.
I mentally chanted the epithet with every strike, though I had to admit the punishment hurt more on an emotional level than a physical one; perhaps I’d gotten under his skin as well because he was now going easy on me, though recognizing that didn’t make me feel any better.
Gage calmly put his belt away once he was satisfied I’d been thoroughly punished. “I promised you a phone call. Check on your daughter.” He handed me his cell phone.
I studied him, trying to find a hint of the man I’d seen last night hiding under his cool exterior, but all I found was impenetrable steel. “Why do you do this?”
He tilted his head. “Do what?”
“Shut yourself off from emotion.”
His body stiffened. “Are you trying to earn another punishment?”
I stepped closer and placed my hand on his chest; he flinched under my touch. “I’m trying to understand you.” I peeked up and met his eyes. “You’re tender one minute, and a brute the next. I can’t keep up with your mood swings.”
“You know nothing about me, except that disobeying will earn you another punishment.” He gestured toward the bed. “Bend over the bed this time.”
I turned and placed my hands on the mattress. “I know you care enough to let me contact Eve.” The snap of his belt made me jump. I couldn’t hold back a yelp as it landed on my bottom.
“Stop analyzing me!” He put more strength into the lashes, releasing his anger on the back of my thighs as well as my ass.
“I’m sorry!” I cried. God, would he ever stop hitting me?
“I’m a bastard, Kayla—don’t fool yourself otherwise.” I heard the belt buckle hit the floor, and neither of us moved.
“I know what you are, Master.” A walking contradiction. So were my feelings for him.
“Good. Now call your daughter before I change my mind.” He stomped from the room and slammed the door upon his exit.
Exhaling a long breath, I dialed the hospital from memory. Guilt lanced through me at the sound of Eve’s voice. She cried, wanting to know where I was. I held my breath and sought composure. I’d give anything to be with her, and as I recalled how effortlessly Gage had made me forget everything, if only for a while, my self-loathing intensified. I hung up after her doctor assured me she was doing okay—the only thing bothering her at the moment was how much she missed her mother. All things considered, I had to find the silver lining; the new treatment seemed to be helping.
I paced Gage’s bedroom, taking in the furnishings for the first time. The bed and dresser overpowered the room with mahogany-toned masculinity. Unlike the crimson of his basement, this room had been decorated in shades of brown, complimented with touches of royal blue. I eyed the breakfast tray. I didn’t have an appetite, but I forced down what I could. A half hour had passed, and he still hadn’t returned. I was
I nodded, and then swished down the pills.
“I’m afraid we hit the champagne a little too heavily last night. Now we’ll both have to suffer the consequences.” He sat down next to me, and only then did I notice the belt in his hand. My eyes shot to his. He immediately adverted his gaze. “Last night was . . . incredible . . . but that doesn’t give you free reign to call me anything other than Master.”
“I-I’m sorry, Master. It just slipped out.” His name had more than slipped out; I’d screamed it to high heaven as I came undone in his arms.
He rose to his feet. “I am too, Kayla. Let’s get this over with.” He gestured to the space in front of him. “On your feet. Bend over and grab your ankles.”
I slid from bed, and as I held onto my ankles, preparing for the strike of his belt, I went back to despising myself. He’d gotten to me last night, had snuck into a small corner of my heart. Now that little piece shattered to dust.
Bastard.
I mentally chanted the epithet with every strike, though I had to admit the punishment hurt more on an emotional level than a physical one; perhaps I’d gotten under his skin as well because he was now going easy on me, though recognizing that didn’t make me feel any better.
Gage calmly put his belt away once he was satisfied I’d been thoroughly punished. “I promised you a phone call. Check on your daughter.” He handed me his cell phone.
I studied him, trying to find a hint of the man I’d seen last night hiding under his cool exterior, but all I found was impenetrable steel. “Why do you do this?”
He tilted his head. “Do what?”
“Shut yourself off from emotion.”
His body stiffened. “Are you trying to earn another punishment?”
I stepped closer and placed my hand on his chest; he flinched under my touch. “I’m trying to understand you.” I peeked up and met his eyes. “You’re tender one minute, and a brute the next. I can’t keep up with your mood swings.”
“You know nothing about me, except that disobeying will earn you another punishment.” He gestured toward the bed. “Bend over the bed this time.”
I turned and placed my hands on the mattress. “I know you care enough to let me contact Eve.” The snap of his belt made me jump. I couldn’t hold back a yelp as it landed on my bottom.
“Stop analyzing me!” He put more strength into the lashes, releasing his anger on the back of my thighs as well as my ass.
“I’m sorry!” I cried. God, would he ever stop hitting me?
“I’m a bastard, Kayla—don’t fool yourself otherwise.” I heard the belt buckle hit the floor, and neither of us moved.
“I know what you are, Master.” A walking contradiction. So were my feelings for him.
“Good. Now call your daughter before I change my mind.” He stomped from the room and slammed the door upon his exit.
Exhaling a long breath, I dialed the hospital from memory. Guilt lanced through me at the sound of Eve’s voice. She cried, wanting to know where I was. I held my breath and sought composure. I’d give anything to be with her, and as I recalled how effortlessly Gage had made me forget everything, if only for a while, my self-loathing intensified. I hung up after her doctor assured me she was doing okay—the only thing bothering her at the moment was how much she missed her mother. All things considered, I had to find the silver lining; the new treatment seemed to be helping.
I paced Gage’s bedroom, taking in the furnishings for the first time. The bed and dresser overpowered the room with mahogany-toned masculinity. Unlike the crimson of his basement, this room had been decorated in shades of brown, complimented with touches of royal blue. I eyed the breakfast tray. I didn’t have an appetite, but I forced down what I could. A half hour had passed, and he still hadn’t returned. I was
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