“Liam, I don’t think we should—”
“That’s right. Don’t think.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, then nuzzled them against her palm. “Right now, I want you. And you want me. That’s enough for now.”
He squeezed her hand and she stared into his chocolate-brown eyes. The depth of feeling there took her breath away.
She’d lost the ability to believe he loved her, but they’d shared so much together. Lost so much together. The depth of their connection couldn’t be denied.
He glided his arms around her and held her close to him, her ear tight to his chest. Hearing the thumping of his heartbeat.
“Give us this one night, my love. Will you do that?”
* * *
Before she could answer, Liam tipped up her chin and kissed her.
When she melted against him, he knew he’d won. He eased back and their gazes locked.
She nodded and his heart leapt in joy. He laughed and dragged her into another kiss, then drew her into bed with him, his lips never leaving hers. Her body, so warm and soft against him, sent heat flooding through his veins.
He wanted her physically, there was no doubt about that. But more, he wanted her heart. He wanted her to love him as much as he loved her.
Somehow he had to find a way.
CHAPTER FOUR
Abi woke up to darkness. She immediately knew she was in Liam’s arms. Tight against his body. It was warm and comforting, and she wanted to snuggle against him.
But she was confused.
She’d been in his arms, ready and willing to make love. But he’d held her close to him, stroking her hair, his other hand gliding over her back in comforting strokes.
And she’d fallen asleep.
Oh, God, how had she wound up in this position?
If she was going to slip away from him, now was the time. But as soon as she made a move, his arms tightened around her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” his deep masculine voice rumbled.
“I was … uh … just going to—”
“Slip away in the middle of the night? Is that any way to treat your husband?”
The smile on his lips and the delighted gleam in his eyes took her breath away. It was moments like this when she could believe that she was the only woman in the world for him.
He rolled her back and prowled over her body. His lips covered hers and his mouth moved on hers with a tenderness that melted her heart. At the same time, he slid her hands over her head and held them tight to the bed as if he owned her.
And right this instant, he did.
“You promised to stay the night,” he murmured against her ear.
“I did?”
He chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. “Yes, you most certainly did.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“That’s good that you’re sorry. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get out of your punishment.”
Heat washed through her at the word.
When they’d first been together, they’d tried many things in the bedroom, including occasional role-playing where he’d taught her the pleasures of submitting to him without question. It had a potent effect on her, satisfying a pulsing need deep inside.
And it often involved being punished if she didn’t follow his instructions to the letter. Sometimes she would defy him in small ways to earn herself a punishment.
It was something she’d never thought she’d be into. But that was before she’d met Liam and understood what it was like to be mastered by a man who could understand exactly what she wanted, when she wanted, even better than she did.
He was a Master in every sense of the word.
He rolled off her.
“Go and get my hairbrush from my suitcase. It’s in the other room.”
His authoritative tone triggered a powerful response. Her insides quivered with the desire to please him. To obey him. Anything he commanded her to do right now, she would do without question. “Yes, Master.”
His eyes glittered and she knew she had pleased him.
She walked out the bedroom door to the large black suitcase sitting against the wall. She tipped it flat and unzipped it, then found his accessory bag. Inside, she found a rectangular wooden brush and she carried it back to him. He was sitting on the side of the bed.
“Very good, kitten. Now bend over my knee.”
Obediently, she lay across his lap, presenting her naked ass to him.
“Are you ready for your punishment?”
“Yes, Master.”
He stroked her ass with his fingers and goose bumps danced across her skin. Then the flat of the brush whacked against her. She whimpered at the burn.
“Thank you, Master.”
He smacked again and her fingers tightened around the fabric of the duvet at the smarting sting.
“Thank you, Master.”
“You can thank me at the end, kitten.”
“Yes, Master.”
This time, he dragged the wooden surface over her burning skin in light strokes. Back and forth across her cheeks. Then he bounced it up and down in light taps. Connecting again and again with her skin. Slowly, the strokes became harder. Her skin tingled with heat. Soon he was paddling her ass over and over. Her breathing was hard and euphoria filled her.
He smacked her ass a couple more times, then tossed the brush aside and gave her one loud smack with the flat of his hand. Then he stroked over her hot flesh, soothing it. She arched against his palm and he laughed.
“Do you want more punishment, my love?”
“Yes, Master, please.”
He laughed.
“Since you want it so badly, my punishment will be to deny you more spanking.”
She groaned, wanting to feel his hand crack against her reddened ass.
Instead, he rested his hand on her round buttocks and stroked. Around and around. Gliding over her. His hand strayed down toward her thighs, and he caressed lightly. When she felt his fingertips grazing her inner thighs, a mere inch from her pussy, she arched again.
She wanted to feel him touch her there.
She widened her legs and used her knees to push herself up higher toward him, inviting. “Please, Master. Stroke
