“I... ah. I don’t want to be rude but is there any way I could go to Adrianna’s?”
“No.” The answer comes quick and firm. The subject is not up for discussion. I sigh, resigning myself to spending the day with my appointed escort.
Being naked in his bathroom.
But I’m not one to easily resign. The second this bike is in park I’m making my way to Adrianna’s and Nick won’t be stopping me.
We turn back the way we came. Quietly ride over the cobblestones. He takes a left onto Fifth Street. Pulls up to a home that’s painted a pale blue. Almost the color of his eyes. The door is shiny black. Stately brass hardware adorns it. There are no decorations, or planters or window boxes like the other homes. But it’s still pretty.
He climbs off the motorcycle. Holds out a hand to help me down. When I’m safely off the bike, two feet planted on the ground, he gives my hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it, sending a current through me. His fingers go beneath my chin, quickly unbuckling the strap.
I clear my throat. Take the helmet off. Fidget a bit. Do anything other than stare at him. Because now that he’s shown me just a bit of his softer side, I can’t take my eyes from him. And that’s a problem.
He puts the helmets on the bike. Detaches my bag and slings it over his shoulder. Gestures for me to climb the front steps before him. “Shall we?”
I stand there, taking him in for a moment. Tall and muscular with a jawline cut from steel. He’s intimidating for sure, but who is he to tell me what to do and where to go?
Much less whose shower I’ll be using.
The motorcycle ride was exciting. He was kind to tour me around. But it’s time for me to take my life back into my own hands and find the friend I came here to visit. I know I promised her that if I wasn’t right by her side, I’d stay with Nick, but this is ridiculous. Why would a few blocks matter?
I give him a polite smile, make like I’m obediently going up the stairs. Instead, I juke to the right—forget my bag, I’ll get it later—and hightail it down the street as fast as my short little legs will go.
Chapter Two
Nicholas
Nothing like a strong woman proving her independence by running away... when she has no fucking clue where she’s going.
I enjoy the view of her full ass sashaying as she hoofs it down the street. “What the hell does she think she’s doing?” I watch with amusement and wait. Three, two, one. There it is. She slows. Hesitates. Then comes to a full stop. She’s looking frantically to the right, to the left. This girl’s got no idea which street Adrianna lives on, much less which house is hers.
“Everything okay, sweetheart?” I drop her bag on my stairs. Stride over to where she stands, doubled over, catching her breath. I grab her shoulders. Turn her toward me. Her eyes flash with something akin to fear. Her cheeks are flushed from her escape attempt. I make the tsk, tsk noise with my tongue. “Thought you’d take a little stroll? By yourself. In the Village? After all the warnings you’ve been given?”
“Er... um...” Her wide brown eyes frantically search my face.
I know what will make the words come. I angle her just so and give that full bottom a few hearty slaps that instantly have her shrieking and stretching up on her tiptoes. “Bad girl.”
Her mouth gapes as wide as her eyes. “You... you... you barbarian! How dare you!” Her hands go to protect her ass.
I’m not having it. I grab her hand in mine. “You need to know who’s in charge here. You’re our guest. You follow our rules. Or pay the price.”
“Let me go! Oomph!”
I pull her toward the closest set of stairs. Rest my foot on the second one. Bend her over my propped-up thigh.
She struggles against me, her efforts only serving to make me hold her tighter. “What do you think you are doing? I’ll have you arrested!”
“I saw this coming from the moment I met you. I knew you’d have a tough time following the rules. That’s okay—I really don’t mind being the one to teach you.”
She shouts up at me through the tangle of her upside-down hair. “I guess you can’t handle dealing with a strong woman. One that doesn’t allow men to make rules for her!”
“Oh, I can handle you just fine.” I pin her wrists to her lower back. Give her ass a hearty smack.
“Ow! What the—just wait till I tell Adrianna... Rockland even! He’ll have you killed!” Her head hangs down, her hair almost touching the ground. I release her arms and they flail by her sides. Her feet struggle to find the sidewalk.
I wrap my arm around her waist, holding her bent in half, balancing over my thigh. Her short dress has ridden up. Exposing pretty little white panties. “Go ahead and try and tell Adrianna I took you over my knee and spanked you—see if you can even say the words out loud. And if Rockland gets even a whiff of your disobedience, he’ll have you out of the Village so fast your head will spin. Maybe even give you a taste of his own discipline as a farewell gift.” I apply a nice, stinging smack to the creamy skin that’s peeking out beneath those precious panties. A beautiful red handprint appears. I swat the other side to match.
She shouts between spanks, “Ow! He would never... don’t you dare... let me up... stop it this instant!” Her legs are kicking. Her breathing getting heavier.
“You shouldn’t have run away from me. You were warned.” I wrap my arm tighter around her waist. Another few spanks this time on the center of her cheeks.
“You didn’t tell me this would happen!”
“I shouldn’t have had to. You gave your word to Adrianna you’d be escorted by me.” Right cheek, left cheek, right cheek, left cheek. “You broke your word.” Each spank harder as I go. Her bottom is already warm to the touch. “Now you’re facing the consequences.”
“I can’t believe you’re treating me like this! Is this how you handle all your guests?” She wiggles and struggles but it’s no use.
“Only the naughty ones.”
“I’m a grown woman! Well educated and perfectly capable. I’m not a little girl you can just toss about like a rag doll and punish to boost your ego! I demand you let me up and take me to Adrianna’s. I can take care of myself from there.”
“You don’t look like a grown woman right now. You look like a bad girl having her bottom spanked to adjust her bad attitude.” To prove my point, I give her several heartier smacks. She lets out a shriek, then a howl. As she wiggles, her skirt rides higher and higher, settling around her waist. Her full round bottom jiggles. Her tiny panties are bunching up into the cleft of her cheeks, offering me more skin to redden. “A naughty guest who needs to know her place.”
“My place? My place? How dare you—”
“How dare you disrespect our leader by disobeying his orders. Rockland generously allowed you to visit under one condition. Which you immediately broke.” I tilt her over just a bit more, so I have better access to the bottom curve of her ass—I want every inch of it well spanked.
“I broke them because they were ridiculous!”
“This is a warning—next time it will be my belt marking your ass.” The tips of her toes are no longer brushing the ground. She’s hanging over my thigh, helpless and made immobile by my arm locked around her waist. I spank away. The flesh of her bottom is hot and red and must be stinging like hell.
Her tone changes. “Please... I can’t take any more!”
I spank steadily, waiting for the words I need to hear.
A few more sharp smacks and she cries out, “I’m sorry! Alright. I’ll stop. I’ll stay with you, I promise!”
“Right by my side?”
Another well placed volley of smacks has her saying, “Yes, sir! I’ll... I’ll be good. I promise.”
I stop spanking. Let her hang there a moment feeling the burn while I enjoy the sight of her lovely, bright red bottom. Her scrunched-up panties. Panties that I suspect are quite damp between her legs.
I smooth my hand over her bottom. She lets out a soft sigh. “That’s better. Good girl.”
I let her up. Enjoy the flushed, shameful look on her face as she pulls her dress back into place. Smooths down her hair. She’s too much of a lady to adjust the panties that have crept up into her bottom.
She faces me, humiliation glinting in her eyes. The anger is gone, cured from our little over the knee therapy. She’s embarrassed, and rightfully so. But beneath her outfit, I see the outline of her hardened nipples. The scent of her arousal practically fills the air. If I were to slide my finger between her legs, I’d find a very slick pussy.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Just where were you going, sweetheart?”
She shrugs. “I had no idea where I was going.”
“You sure didn’t. Or who you were dealing with.”
She looks at me shyly. What I see in her eyes hardens my cock. “Guess not.”
“Shall we go back to my house now? Let you take that shower you wanted?”
She nods but as she does, her full bottom lip pokes out into a pout. Her big brown eyes are shiny with tears. The sight of her lovely face tugs at my heart. But there’ll be no cuddles for this one.
She needs to know she’s crossed the line.
I grab her arm roughly, guiding her back to my place.
* * *
Hannah
I’m overly aware of his presence behind me as I walk up the front steps, my skirt brushing against my sore ass. My undies have ridden up into my bottom and every step I take reminds me of the humiliating punishment I’ve just endured. I wait on the stoop for him to open the door.
Like a good little girl.
I groan inwardly, humiliated that I’ve been publicly chastised. Embarrassed by how quickly I was subdued by his big hand smacking my bum. Shamed at how damp my panties now are, by how my pussy aches for his attention.
Why didn’t I fight him when he released me? Give him a quick kick to the shins and take off down the road? It’s confusing... my bottom is absolutely throbbing. My pussy is throbbing. My heart is beating out of my ribcage, yet I feel a deep calmness oozing through my body. After what he did to me, how is it that he stands this close to me and I don’t have an ounce of desire to hurt him?
We stand side by side before his front door. I sneak a tiny glance at him from the corner of my eyes. He’s smiling, but it’s not a smug smirk. Now that he’s put me in my place, he seems genuinely happy to have me here. He lifts his hand to a black box buried in the stone, the same as the ones at the gate. Presses his thumb against it. There’s a soft click, and the door swings open on its own.
“Impressive,” I say. I knew this clan was well off but from what I’ve seen of the Village thus far I realize I may have underestimated how wealthy they truly are.
He steps past me. “Home sweet home.”
I follow him over the threshold, trying to act natural. Pretending my bottom isn’t on fire. That my pussy doesn’t ache with each movement.
The wood floors gleam. The walls are painted a soft white. Forgetting my manners, I wander through the entryway. Make my way down the hall to a gourmet kitchen that would be the envy of any chef. Huge expanses of marble countertops. Sleek black cabinets. Gas stove and a stainless-steel refrigerator that both look as if they’ve never been used. There isn’t a dish or pot or pan out. The room is spotless.
I feel his gaze on me. He hovers in the kitchen doorway, waiting for me. “Bathroom’s this way.”
“Thanks.” I follow him back down the hall to the staircase. My bag is slung over his shoulder. When I see all the stairs, I have to admit I’m glad he’s the one carrying it.
We reach the second floor and I peer around as much as possible without looking snoopy. There’s a large living room to the left. A black leather sofa is pushed against one wall, a soft-looking white shag carpet laid out before it. A beautiful white marble fireplace draws my attention.
Across from this room is a small, tidy office. A desk and a chair. And nothing else. No art on the walls. No shelves. No books or clutter. No plants or pets.
I follow him up one more flight of stairs and I’m a bit out of breath when we reach the landing. Nick looks as if he could run back down and up again.
I step into the master bedroom. A black-framed four-poster bed sits in the center of the room, giving off a sleek, sexy vibe. Soft gray duvet and pillows adorn it. Again, no personal effects.
“Did you just move in?” I ask, taking in the almost empty space. It’s beautiful, but so free from any sign of personality I find it a bit strange.
“I’ve been here about a year. Give or take a few months.”
“Are you planning on staying?”
He looks at me curiously. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just so... empty. Where’s all your stuff? My tiny apartment is chock full of clutter. You seem as if you’re ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”
“I’m kind of a minimalist. And a workaholic. Honestly, I sleep here but that’s about it.”
“Where do you eat? The kitchen looks as if it’s never been used.” I realize I might be overstepping. That he might find my curiosity to be rude. I study his face but it’s free from care.
He smiles. “The Beauties keep me fed.”
“The Beauties?”
“It’s what we call the women in the family. A nickname that Paige gave them when she first came to the Village. It stuck.”
“Paige—the one who married the previous head of the Village, Bronson? They’re the couple that moved to the Hamlet?”
“Yes. With one little boy in their arms, Thomas, and one on the way.” He passes by me, headed toward the bathroom. I follow behind him, my eyes widening in awe. It’s a room fit for a palace. A huge stone shower with two showerheads.
The weight of the day, the travel... the spanking... the disappointment in not being with Adrianna, it all falls onto my shoulders at once. I want to stand beneath a hot stream of water. Smell the familiar scent of my Coconut Girl shampoo. Shave the prickly hairs from my legs.
Nick senses me lusting after the shower. He deposits my bag onto the oversized countertop. Points to a cabinet. “Towels are in there. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thank you.”
He walks from the room. But not before throwing a look over his shoulder and saying, “Don’t try anything.”
I give a nod and shut the door, locking it. Not that I think a little piece of metal could stop this man from getting in—from the moment I met him, deep down I sensed what he was capable of. I knew he was not going to let me walk away on that sidewalk. I just didn’t anticipate him spanking me.
Curiosity gets the best of me and I turn my back to the mirror. I lift the hem of my skirt and peek at my bottom. It’s red with the outlines of a few well-formed handprints. I place my open palm on my skin and find my flesh to be warm to the touch. There’s a tightening in my stomach. My pussy weeps at the inspection of my spanked bottom.
How has Nick transformed me into this turned-on hot mess of a woman? Had someone pulled me aside this morning and explained the type of man I’d be encountering, would I even have gotten on that bus? My brain gives me a firm no, consoling me, confirming I haven’t lost all common sense. But between my legs there’s an outcry of hell, yes, we’re loving this! that has me blushing and questioning myself to the core.
I’ve got to clear my mind. And cool off my body.
Time for a relaxing shower. I begin to rifle through my bag, pulling out my lotions and potions. Though I require minimal maintenance, I do love a long shower. I go to the cabinet and pull out the thickest towel I’ve ever felt. It’s a snowy white and I bring the fabric to my nose and inhale. The clean soapy scent of fresh laundry floods my senses.
I quickly undress, overly aware of Nick’s presence in the house. But then I’m turning on the showerhead and standing beneath a wa
terfall of steaming water and everything else melts away.
This is heavenly.
I’m so used to cramped apartments. Our tiny one-bedroom home growing up, my father sleeping on a pull-out sofa. My apartment at Columbia is a shoebox. This place feels like a castle, this shower fit for a queen. I lather my hair, rinse and repeat. Scrub the grime of the city from my skin. Shave every hair from my body. I keep waiting for the heat to disappear, but it doesn’t. Finally, when my skin is wrinkled and pruned I turn the faucet handle. Dry myself with the thick, soft towel. Wrap one around my hair, another around my body.
I reach into my bag and find my goats’ milk lotion. It’s imported from England and the creamy luxury is my only splurge. My father told me it was the same my mother would wear. It’s produced in her hometown. She died in childbirth and since I’ve only a few pictures to know her by, the lotion makes me feel connected to her in some small way. As I stroke it on my skin, the familiar smell calms me.
Now, what to wear? Adrianna is always dressed to the nines and if the couture-clad women at the bus stop are an accurate representation of the other ‘Beauties,’ my plain outfits are not going to cut it. I find my good black skirt and a festive red V-neck sweater. I dress quickly, donning a fresh pair of panties and matching white bra. I’m disappointed to find the skirt a bit snug around my full bum. Which is getting fuller with each hour I spend seated poring over science journals.
I take more care with my hair than normal, pulling it into soft waves with a round brush and my hairdryer. A nagging voice irks me, telling me I’m only spending the extra time because of a certain blue-eyed escort. One that I should be running from... not primping for. Shaking the thought from my mind, I take in my reflection.
My eyes seem brighter than normal. My cheeks flush prettily. Whether it’s from the hot water of the shower, the public spanking—gah, I hope no one witnessed it!—or the hot dom downstairs, I’m not sure. The sweater is a big snug in the chest and lower cut than I remember but the scarlet color gives me a dressed-up look.
My hair falls around my face, tumbling gently past my shoulders. It shines beneath the light. I give myself a smile in the mirror. “Not half bad. Right?”
Surrender: A Mafia Billionaire Romance Page 3