He turned to her. “Lesson three. We don’t make excuses. You did a decent job as far as it went. You called me in to inspect incomplete work. What do you think I should do about it?”
“Um, chalk it up to inexperience?” Alex stared at the floor, feeling like a recalcitrant child as she twisted her hands nervously behind her.
“That I will. This is your first day and your first chore. I know it won’t happen again because I’m going to help you to remember.”
“How?” Alex asked, her voice tiny.
“Your first punishment. Pull down your shorts and bend over the bathtub.”
“Oh Daniel. You’re kidding, right?” Alex had expected something sexy like a flogging in the torture chamber or being “forced” to suck Daniel’s cock, a task she absolutely adored. “You’re not going to spank me.” Even as she said this, she imagined his large hand coming down hard on her ass. Despite her embarrassment, her clit throbbed at the thought of it.
“No, I’m not actually. I know that wouldn’t be a punishment, you see. I’m just like you, don’t forget. I know how your perverted little mind works. In fact, you probably left that bit of cleaning undone just to see what I would do.”
That was unfair! “No, I swear. I’m just a lousy housekeeper.”
“So you say,” Daniel said, grinning. “Anyway, you’ve wasted enough of my time. Do what I said. Pull down your shorts and bend over the bathtub.”
“But if you’re not going to spank me…” she trailed off uncertainly.
“You’re going to bend over the tub with your bare ass sticking out. You’ll stay that way until I tell you.”
“This is weird, Daniel. I—”
“Alex,” Daniel interrupted, his voice deadly serious. “If you continue to disobey me, I’m going to tell Liam I don’t want you here any longer. This isn’t a game. You have one week to prove yourself. So far, you’re doing a damn poor job of it. While we’re here alone, my word is law. I own you for all intents and purposes. Do you understand? Now get in position and don’t move until I get back. Got it?”
Aware she was blushing, Alex slowly obeyed. She unbuttoned her shorts and pulled them down past her bare ass. She bent over the tub, pressing her hands on the porcelain to maintain her position. She was glad at least to be facing away from Daniel, whose eyes she could feel boring into her.
“Wider,” he said, flicking at her ankle with his bare foot. Obediently, if a little awkwardly, she spread her legs wider.
She heard him leave the room but didn’t dare turn around. In a moment he was back and she heard him moving behind her.
“What’re you doing?” she asked, craning her head to see.
“Face the wall,” he snapped. “I didn’t tell you to move.”
She turned back but not before she’d seen the cell phone he held in his hand. She heard the sound of a picture being taken.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked.
“Taking a picture of your stubble for Liam. I was going to let it slide, but I’ve decided he should see how you arrived for your first day as our sub girl.”
“I didn’t know,” she said miserably. “It won’t happen again.”
Hot tears formed behind her eyes. It took all her willpower not to slam her legs closed to Daniel’s scrutiny. This morning was not going at all how she’d planned. She’d envisioned sexy erotic torture, the kind she adored, with the added benefit of two men fawning over her instead of the usual one.
Yet, hadn’t she sought out men who would by their very nature be resistant to her efforts to control the scene, to dictate the pace and actions of those she claimed to want to serve? Before today, she would have used her tears to advantage. She would have turned around to show Daniel how he’d upset her, aware her large green eyes, brimming with tears, her lower lip trembling, would melt his heart at once.
Instead, she blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay. She would endure what in retrospect she guessed she’d earned, first by not grooming the morning of her visit and second by failing to properly clean the bathroom.
“You can get up now,” Daniel said behind her, his tone now gentle.
Slowly, Alex pushed herself upright. She didn’t turn around. She felt Daniel’s hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her toward him.
Crouching in front of her, he pulled up her shorts and buttoned them. “You did well,” he said. “You were very obedient just then. I know it was really hard for you to handle that. I embarrassed you. I’m sorry.” Reaching out, he flicked away her tears with his thumb.
“Come and sit down,” he said, leading her by the hand to the huge bed. It was piled with pillows at the headboard and covered by a huge, black quilt that felt soft as silk when she sat on it.