Perception (Club Destiny #6)(77)
Author: Nicole Edwards

“If you want to add another five swats, sure.”

Mercedes was wide awake then. He wasn’t playing. Pushing to her feet, she didn’t look away, anticipation now making her body sing.

Xander backed up a few steps and perched on the edge of his desk as he stared back at her. “Remove your clothes,” he insisted. “Keep the shoes on.”

Damn Dom.

Her shoes were killing her feet, but he probably knew that. Had she not ignored him or run away, she knew he would’ve gladly given her permission to remove her shoes but he was in full Dom mode, the intensity in his gaze penetrating her through and through.

Mercedes didn’t think to argue further which either said a lot about how tired she was, or it said a lot about the complete three sixty that her life had taken in the last forty-eight hours.

It was still hard to believe it had only been a little more than two days since they had made their deal.

Trying not to rush, and doing her best not to think, Mercedes removed her clothes, piece by piece, leaving her favorite pair of Gucci’s on as Xander had instructed her to.

As she stood before Xander completely naked, the one thing she knew for sure… she was too damned tired to think about anything right now.

~~*~~*~~

Admiring Mercedes’s completely naked form, Xander let his eyes graze every dip and curve of her graceful body. In her heels, her legs were a work of art, and he found he would be content just to stare at her for as long as she would let him.

Although he knew they had to be damned uncomfortable at this point.

Considering the disappearing act she’d pulled on him just that morning, he wasn’t compelled to give in to her requests though. She needed to think about what she’d done. It was only fair, since he’d spent the majority of the day wondering whether she’d back out of their deal. With the way she was looking at him now, he figured it was still a possibility.

Just that morning, she’d run out of his office like the place was on fire. As if that weren’t bad enough, she’d ignored all of his phone calls throughout the day until finally his irritation level had reached an all-time high. He’d left a very lengthy voicemail expressing as much.

So, as far as he was concerned, his need to dominate her was warranted. She deserved punishment for her actions and he fully intended to make sure she thought about what she did before she ever allowed it to happen again.

After making her wait a solid two minutes while he admired her, Xander rose to his feet. “Lay across the desk,” he told her as he walked around his desk and opened one of the drawers.

He’d retrieved one of his paddles earlier in the day and slipped it into his desk drawer, anticipating this moment.

Mercedes glared at him, and he fought the urge to smile. Oh, yes, she was definitely defiant, he had no doubt about that. But he damn sure wasn’t going to let her get away with the little stunt she had pulled. Running away from her feelings, which he truly believed was what had compelled her to hide out throughout the day, was unacceptable.

Mercedes closed the distance between herself and the desk. Her eyes tore free of his when she leaned over, her chest resting on the wooden top.

“Very nice,” he said approvingly as he tapped his hand with the small wooden paddle. “How many licks do you think you’ve earned today, pet?”

Xander walked back around the desk, coming right up behind her and pressing his straining erection against her ass, letting her know just how much the sight of her bent over his desk did to him.

She didn’t answer his question so he took a step to the side and without hesitation, he slapped her ass with the paddle, making her jump.

“Tell me, pet,” he said firmly. “I don’t appreciate being ignored.”

“I don’t know,” she breathed out.

“You want me to pick a number?”

“No,” she said hurriedly.

Xander smacked her ass one more time. “What was that?”

“No, Sir. I don’t want you to choose a number.”

“Then you better come up with one fast.” Xander set the wooden paddle on her back and squeezed her ass with both hands. Kneading the muscle and marveling at the way her ass brightened from the paddle.

“Ten, Sir.”

“Ten?”

“Yes, Sir. Five for leaving this morning and five for not taking your phone calls.”

Well, at least they were on the same page. She knew just what had gotten him so worked up.

“And you think ten is enough for what you did?”

“No, Sir. But I’m not sure I can handle more than that. Not with the paddle.”

He liked her honesty. And because she’d been prepared with a detailed answer, he decided to give her a reprieve.