She’d expected a lecture, or at the very least, the promise of a spanking. “What? Of course not!”
“Then the corset isn’t beyond your limits, is it?”
Shit. He was expertly backing her into a corner and she hadn’t seen it coming. “I don’t want to wear it, Austin.”
“And are you going to tell me why?”
“I already told you. I wasn’t comfortable.”
“What are you supposed to say if something I’m asking you to do is beyond your limits? If you really, honestly, can’t do what I’ve asked?”
Red. One little syllable was all she had to say and he’d back down. Let her off the hook. Probably not without a long talk about it at some point, but at least she wouldn’t be in trouble.
And yet, she had no desire to say it.
“I don’t need my safe word. I just don’t want to wear the outfit.” Or maybe, on some level, she did and that was why she was being so stubborn.
“Sweet, disobedient kitten of mine. I can guarantee by the end of the night you’ll be begging to wear it. Go get the outfit I sent you. We’ll take it with us.”
“You’re not going to… you know?”
“Is that how you thought this would work?” His hand slid from her chin to wrap around her throat, the pads of his fingers pressing into her skin. “You thought you’d openly defy me and I’d let you off with nothing more than a little spanking? No, kitten, you’re going to get a long, painful lesson in obedience tonight.”
Even through the anxious pounding of her heart, she felt the thrill of excitement, the pulse of need between her thighs. “I’m not wearing it. You can’t make me.”
“I could make you.” The hand at her throat squeezed, and she could feel her pulse racing against his palm. “Trust me, after six of the best with the Delrin cane I have in my bag, you’d lick the bathroom floor clean if I told you to. But I have something very different in mind for you tonight. Go get the outfit and pack an overnight bag. You’re staying with me again tonight. I’ll take you to work in the morning, so bring whatever you need for tomorrow.”
When he released her, she stumbled to the steps to do as he’d asked.
No, not asked. Demanded. Ordered.
The small, rebellious part of her wanted to march back into the living room and tell him where he could shove the scraps of clothing he’d so laughingly called an “outfit”. But the logical, rational part knew she’d eventually pay for her disobedience one way or another, and there was no sense in making things any worse.
Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest by the time she made her way back down the stairs. Ever the gentleman, he took the overnight bag and gift box from her before sliding an arm around her waist and jerking her up against his rock-hard body.
“Do you trust me, Katherine?”
“Yes. Yes, sir.”
“I want you to remember that tonight. And that you have your safe word if you need it at any time. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good girl.”
His praise did nothing to ease the nerves dancing in her stomach as she followed him to his car. The first ten minutes of their drive was filled with silence so tense it felt like it would strangle her. “I’m not being a brat,” she finally blurted out when it became more than she could take.
“I didn’t think you were,” he assured her, his voice cool and calm like they weren’t barreling towards the most terrifying event of her life.
“Oh.” Her right leg began to jump up and down with nervous energy. “Okay. Good.”
“If I had to guess, you have a perfectly logical reason why you don’t want to wear what I picked out for you.”
“I do!” She flashed him a relieved smile. “Thank you for understanding.”
“You’re welcome. But it’s not going to save you, kitten.”
“But… but… why not?” she sputtered.