I frowned. “Someone’s at my door.”
“Well, the polite thing to do would be to answer it.”
“Right.” I walked over and peeked through the security hole. My breath lodged in my throat when I saw Sir standing on the other side.
Not wanting to keep him waiting, I pulled it open.
“I…uh…need to call you back, Kristen. Sir’s here.”
“Sir?” She chuckled. “I take it you mean Landon.”
Not looking away from his face, I answered Kristen. “Yes.”
“All right. I’ll let you go. Just remember, if he decides to punish you, you deserve it.”
“Okay.” I hung up the phone and stared at the handsome man who had now crossed his arms over his chest. “What are you doing here?”
“Invite me in, Luci.”
“I’m so sorry, Sir.” I stepped back out of the way. “Please come in.”
“Thank you.”
Oh, crap. He was being far too polite. Kristen was right. I was in trouble and Sir had come over to punish me. Before he stepped inside, he leaned down and grabbed a black bag that he’d evidently brought with him.
Oddly enough, Sir greeted me with a kiss, his fingers trailing down my face as he smiled down on me. I knew that smile. It was wicked.
Yep. I was in so much trouble here.
“Have you had dinner?” he asked.
“No. I just got home, actually.”
Sir pulled his wallet out of his pocket, then retrieved a credit card. “Order Chinese and have it delivered.”
I nodded, taking the card from his hand.
“Then meet me in the living room.”
After confirming what Sir wanted, I grabbed my phone and placed the call. A few minutes later, I had no choice but to head into the living room. I’d done my absolute best not to look to see what Sir was doing. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
Finally, I shored up my nerve, squared my shoulders, then went into the living room.
“Come.” He patted the cushion beside him. “Have a seat.”
I walked toward him, my eyes instantly going to the torture implements—as I’d come to refer to them—laid out on the table. Without looking away from them, I hesitantly took a seat on the edge of the cushion.
Shit.
He turned, then pulled me against him, my back to his side, his arm wrapping around my shoulder.
“Do you feel better, pet?”
“Than last night?” I relaxed against him. “Yes. Much.”
“Good.”
“Sir, I really am sorry for—” I tried to turn, but Sir kept me in place.
“Shh. We’ll discuss your punishment in a little while. Right now, I simply want to hold you and talk.”
This was more torturous than the thought of him using that evil-looking paddle on my ass.
He pressed his lips to the back of my head.
“Langston mentioned he stayed the night last night.”
I sighed. “He did. He was worried about me.”
“We all were,” he clarified. “And don’t think otherwise. He and I discussed who would come over and we decided he would. If I’d had my way, you would’ve been at our apartment last night and we would’ve punished you then.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m not sure I understand why I need to be punished.”
“Really?” He sounded disappointed.
“I mean, sure, I left the office. But…”
“But what? Justin hurt your feelings because he dismissed you from our meeting?”
Well, yes. But now that I heard it from someone else, it sounded a little childish.
“I think I deserve a little more respect than he gave me,” I countered.
“Yet you don’t think we deserve that same respect when we’re in the office?”
“What?” This time I managed to get out of his hold, turning to face him. “Of course you do.”
“Yet you let your personal life interfere with work. You ran out without telling anyone because you didn’t like what your boss told you to do.”
Damn it. Why did he have to be so rational?
“It’s hard for me,” I admitted. “Keeping my personal life separate from the office. Especially when we’re all…” I shrugged.
“When we’re all what? Fucking you?” He frowned. “Would it be easier if we went back to before the agreement?”
“Of course not,” I blurted. “And that’s not what I want. It’s just…” I glanced down at my hands. “It’s hard for me.”
“I know it is, pet.” Sir pulled me back so that I was once again resting against him. “So, tonight, when you receive your punishment, you’ll have something to think back on the next time you feel the need to run away.”
Yeah. I clearly wasn’t getting out of this.
•
The food was delivered and Sir and I sat at the kitchen table to share our meal. It didn’t take nearly long enough to eat. I would’ve preferred to sit there all night long rather than come back into the living room, where I was now.
Sir unbuttoned the sleeves on his shirt. I thought for sure he was going to roll them up, but he surprised me when he proceeded to remove it completely. When he was done, he started to unhook his belt.
