“Or here.”
His hand was placed just above her ass on her lower back.
“Or here.”
She squeaked as she put his hand on her bottom. She stepped forward, and he gave her a light smack.
“Hey!” She glared at him. “I thought spanking was out.”
“That wasn’t a spanking. That was a light smack to tell you to behave. And in the interest of full disclosure, I don’t care who is around. I will give you a smack like that as a reminder whether we’re in public or in private.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t.”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do when it comes to you, baby girl. Misbehave when we’re around others if you need proof that I have no qualms about giving you reminder taps.”
Lord. She was practically squirming. He was like some of her favorite characters come to life. Except this was real.
And there was no one exactly like Zander. He was totally unique.
“If I walk into a room where you are, you come straight to me. If I’m sitting, you’re on my knee or you’re right next to me. If we’re driving, my hand is on your leg or your hand is on mine. If we cross the road, your hand is in mine. If we’re walking anywhere, my hand is on your back or ass. You understand?”
“There’s just one issue,” she whispered.
“What’s that?”
“I’m stuck in here, remember?”
18
Fuck.
I’m stuck in here.
I’m your prisoner.
She hadn’t said it, but it was the truth, wasn’t it? He was keeping her here against her will.
He’d justified it all he could . . . but the truth was the truth.
No matter how he liked to spin shit in his mind.
“Zander, are you all right?” she asked, staring at him worriedly.
“I’m sorry.”
Her eyes widened, and she gave him a shocked look. “Sorry? For what?”
“For kidnapping you. Taking away your choices. For keeping you here against your will. It was wrong. And I’m sorry.”
“That is . . . that is the last thing I expected you to say. I don’t understand . . . why now? What’s going on?”
“This last mission, we were tracking down a man who . . . who kidnapped a child and mother and held them for five days.”
“Oh, Zander,” she said quietly.
“I thought I was doing the right thing. I told myself I was protecting you.”
“You were. You’re not like that man. Is that why you came home so upset?”