Hardline by Meredith Wild

gorgeous. Even when he was angry as hell.  
       His hand graced my cheek, eliciting a shiver that traveled up my spine.
       “If I wasn’t so pissed off right now, I might be impressed with you, Erica. My little submissive is finally learning. We’ll see how long you can keep it up, because you’re going to get the punishment of a lifetime tonight. Do you think you can take it?”
       I lifted my head, my eyes narrowing. The fighter in me threatened to spout off to him. I inhaled a slow, steadying breath through my nose. Ride out the storm .  
       “Still don’t want a safe word?”
       My chest fought to expand over my next breath. I took another quickly and shook my head, casting my eyes down again. Stupidly, I assured myself that committing myself to one would give him license to make me want to use it.  
        He brushed his fingertips over my lips, sending a tingle over them.
       “He kissed you. Did you kiss him back?”
       I sucked in a breath through my now quivering lips.  
       “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not in the mood to repeat myself tonight. Did you kiss him back?”
       “Yes, I...I kissed him back.” The words left a sour taste in my mouth. Why? Why had I let myself wander so damn far? A tinge of nausea hit my stomach at the thought I could lose Blake over that one stupid moment.
       “Was he in your mouth?”
       I waited a second and nodded again, the sickness reeling through me now. His touch feathered down to my breasts, cupping the heavy weight of one.  
       “What about his hands? How could he resist these perfect tits when his tongue was in your mouth? Did he touch you here?”
       He gave my nipple a tug, eliciting a whimper.  
       “I don’t know. No.”
       Lowering, his palm skimmed over my belly until he was between my parted legs. He grazed the lips of my pussy, barely touching me.  
       “Here?”
       “ No ,” I insisted.
       “Did you want him to?”
       “No.”
       He slapped my pussy, a sharp motion that sent a shock of pain and unexpected pleasure through me.  
       “Truth, Erica,” he snapped.  
       “I wanted it to be you,” I rushed. “If any part of me wanted those things, that was why. But I’m telling you the truth when I say I didn’t feel anything .”  
       “You mean to tell me that he held you in a kiss long enough for Risa to see, with his goddamn tongue in your mouth, and you didn’t feel a thing?”
       I closed my eyes, hating all of this. Everything was confused, as mixed up as I had felt when I let James too close that day. My throat constricted with emotion.  
       “Blake. Please believe me. Everything happened so fast. He caught me off guard, and maybe for a split second, yes, I thought I wanted him. But then I couldn’t stand it. Even believing you were gone, that I’d never have you again, I didn’t want him. I wanted you, but he’s not you. He’ll never be you. Even if you hate me and punish me, that will never change.”  
       My voice was watery as I uttered the last words, the truth that would haunt me to the day I died if he ever left me. God forbid, he’d ruin me forever.  
       “Why didn’t you tell me? Why the fuck did I have to find out this way?”
       I bowed my head. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Blake,” I said, but it was too late for that.
       “Do you have any idea how furious I am right now?” His voice was lower, dangerously low.
       I chanced a look in his eyes. They were blurry through the wetness in my own. The lack of sympathy chilled me further. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry...” My voice wavered, but I was desperate for him to know it.  
       “Are you? And will you show me how sorry you are?”
       “I’ll do whatever you want.” I reached for him, but he stilled me, holding my wrists away from him.
       “What makes you think I want you after what you did?”
       He could have pushed a dagger straight into