“Yes. Fine.”
Before I was able to pass by him, he gripped and squeezed my chin. “Do not rile me, Willow. I am not a man to be fucked with. You should have learned that by now. Your brother has done you a disservice by not sending in another to try and kill me. That is… unless he wants to get rid of you.”
“How. Dare. You. My brother loves me. He’s a good and wonderful man and…” He’d goaded me and I’d fallen into his snare. Hissing, I jerked away, moving directly toward the desk and leaning over. I hated this, detested every concept of submitting in any manner. One day, no matter the cost, Aleksei would face my revenge, and he would never see it coming. On that day, my soul would sing with joy.
I could no longer feel my hands as I gripped the edge of the desk. I could only imagine what else he had in store for me.
“Very nice. You can follow directions.”
Every curse word was on the tip of my tongue, ever derogatory comment that I’d heard coming from my brother’s mouth. Peter considered Aleksei enemy number one and I’d accepted the belief, waging a war against the Petrovs, only asking limited questions. I was usually thorough, finding out every aspect of my mark before attempting to take out my target. This time, I’d merely glanced at the internet, reading a few articles, most negative stories regarding the Petrov family. What if Aleksei was right? Was there any possibility my brother wasn’t on the up and up, trying to take on two mafia families? Oh, Jesus. My fear and anxiety were doing the talking.
Hearing the sound of his buckle being unfastened had a ripple effect deep inside. Every nerve ending was on fire, every portion of my body shaking and blood pumping in a way that made me lightheaded.
No one had ever disciplined me, at least not in this way. I was the scrappy girl, the one who’d been taught to fight like a man. I’d saved myself from street thugs and assholes hell bent on forcing me into a sinful tryst more than once. This man, this fucking poor excuse for a human being thought I deserved something of this nature.
“Your beautiful bottom is going to wear my marks for days,” Aleksei stated in his usual husky tone, his accent far too attractive.
I shifted, cursing him under my breath.
“I can hear you, sweet cherie. I won’t tolerate insolence of any kind. I assure you, this is your first lesson of many.”
Why did his velveteen voice have to create myriad sensations? Lust. Anger. Fear. They all mingled together in an unrelenting fashion. I held my breath as the whooshing sound floated all around me, bracing for the pain. When the first crack was slammed against the floor, it took everything out of me not to jump out of my skin.
My breath was shallow, my mind reeling as various images and thoughts pressed deep into my brain. There had to be a way to get out of his grasp.
I honestly wasn’t prepared for the quick revolution, the way the thick leather slashed down on my naked skin. While there was no instant moment of anguish, I was cognizant that my senses were all on overload, preparing for the onslaught.
Aleksei gave a second and third strike, both hitting directly across the middle of my ass cheeks. Only when he danced his fingers across my skin, caressing as if we were lovers did the blinding pain rush into every muscle and tendon in my body.
Jerking up, I gasped, tears immediately forming in my eyes.
“It’s all right, Willow. You’re going to do just fine.”
The bastard was promising me now? Who the hell was he kidding? I bit back woeful cries as he smacked me again. And again. The same stars floated in front of my eyes, all vibrant in color and all a stark reminder of just how stupid I’d been to get caught. Every precaution taken. Every list checked off.
Why had I failed?
Crack!
I heard the sound before the strap hit me again, forcing me to dig my nails into the very expensive wood. I could no longer control my body, my legs kicking out, one then the other. I gasped for air, every part of me shaking and ready to blubber like a little kid. I wanted to beg him to stop, shouting to the world that I’d be a good little girl.
My mind had to be shutting down, sick from worry. I couldn’t be thinking this way. I was a strong woman, prepared to handle anything. God knows I’d had to during the course of my life.
“Keep your place,” he commanded as he pressed his hand against the small of my back.
God, how I wanted to shove my fist into his face more than once.
He continued the spanking, every strike methodical as if he’d done this hundreds of times before. I knew the heat from the harsh punishment was drifting, creeping up and moving down my legs. I wouldn’t be able to sit comfortably for some time. I was almost thinking about this rationally. There was nothing about this that was normal in any manner.
“You will learn that it’s much easier to obey me.”
I took several deep breaths, daring to defy him by answering, “What’s next, a cage?”
He made no other sound, but he didn’t have to. The strap did it for him, arcing and whooshing in the air before slamming down across my buttocks. I was no longer the same woman as before, not the girl who could take anything.
I’d finally been reduced to tears, but not from the pain itself. From the realization that my entire life had been lived in retaliation of a handful of enemies. I’d been changed from a bright-eyed little girl with hopes of becoming a doctor to a trained killer.
And I’d allowed it to happen.
I lost count after he delivered several more, trying desperately to concentrate on my breathing and little else.
“You’ve had enough. For now.”
His voice seemed so far away. Did I detect a hint of caring? I almost laughed at the thought. A man like him only hungered for eye candy and nothing more.
I didn’t have to hear the ugly sound as he unzipped his pants. I watched the entire event unfold in the reflection in the window, praying to God that I would survive this. He moved quickly behind me once again, kicking my legs apart and fisting my hair.
“I will enjoy this moment, cherie. Fucking you in a way no man ever has.”
“You have no conscience, Aleksei. None. You prey on the weak. You’ve met your match. Just remember to watch your back.”
I expected him to simply thrust his cock deep inside, taking what he believed truly belonged to him. I didn’t anticipate the way his fingers lightly danced across my skin, brushing in a loving manner up and down the inside of my thigh.
My breath was stolen, the sensations like rocket fuel from the mere touch alone. I was thrown, unable to think clearly as he caressed, moving his fingers up and down in a delicate dance.
“You’ve hungered for a man to take you, dominate you.”
“You are crazy.”