Rocky Mountain Ride (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 7) by Lee Savino

waited as long as she could stand it, frustrated and intrigued by his promise of punishment.
    When she pushed inside at first, she didn’t see him, and felt a surge of disappointment. How dare he lead her on. She was about to run home for a good cry when the door slammed shut.
    She whirled, startling back a few steps.
    “Sebastian.”
    The flaxen haired lord towered over her, body menacing, blue eyes ice.
    “Is that how you address your lord?”
    “My lord…I…you startled me.”
    “Take off your drawers.” He motioned.
    “Wait…”
    “Wait?” He raised a brow. “You kept me waiting. I remember making a point to tell you not to keep me waiting too long, or there would be double the consequences.”
    Her mouth was dry; she licked her lips to wet them. “What are the consequences?”
    “You’ll find out. You’re due for a long session, my lovely.” There was no joking in his tone now. “Now do as I say.”
    Heart beating faster, she bent, reached under her skirts and stripped off her drawers, reassuring herself that she was still wearing many layers.
    As her skirts fell back into place, the space filled with her heady musk. She almost closed her eyes when she realized what the scent was. Sebastian snapped his fingers for her attention and held out his hand for her undergarments.
    To her extreme embarrassment, when he took the white bundle, he brought it to his face and sniffed. Her knees weakened; she tried to lock them, but all her pride crumbled away. She was aroused and he knew it. His smirk told her he knew the balance of power had shifted.
    “Kneel,” he said.
    She hesitated.
    “You want this? We do it my way. Obey me, or leave, but do it now, for I am losing patience.” He pointed to the floor.
    Cheeks red with humiliation, she lowered herself before him. The casual degradation made her whole body burn and juices trickle down her thigh.
    “Now, pay attention. These are the rules.” He set her drawers aside and paced in front of her, as if he was master of this space, and not her. “I’m going to punish you. At any point you can stand, say ‘We’re done’ and I’ll stop. Understand? But other than that, you will obey me. The longer you hesitate, the worse it’ll be for you.”
    On her knees, she couldn’t bear to look at him. In less than a minute, he’d stripped all her dignity. What would become of her if she stayed?
    To her surprise, he crouched down in front of her. “Francesca, I’ve been watching you these past few days, and I know you’re under a lot of strain. You need this.” His blue gaze was calm, reassuring, as if he’d stepped out of character to calm her nerves. “This game we play, it’s harmless. You need an outlet. I can provide it.” He bent close to her, enough she could smell the soap he used to shave, see the light freckles on his pale skin. His hand cupped her chin suddenly, as if he had to touch her, and his thumb traced her lips. “What we do here won’t mean anything. Anything that occurs between these walls, is only between us. No one will ever know.”
    She nodded, pushing forward to feel his hand on her skin.
    “You need someone to take you in hand. I’m happy to oblige. Don’t think; just let go. You trust me, yes?”
    “Yes.”
    “Remember, at any point you can tell me ‘we’re done’ and we’ll end. Until then, obey and address me as ‘sir.’”
    She nodded.
    “What’s that?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Good girl.” He rose and she felt the power flow into him. He stood taller, stronger, more serious than she’d ever seen him before, as if a woman at his feet brought out his best self. “Now we begin. Rise and lift your skirts and lean over the table.”
    *
    Sebastian watched his little lady obey his commands. She moved stiffly, as if she was fighting her own limbs. He waited, he could be patient with her, though he couldn’t help her more than he had. She had to decide to submit to him on her own.
    Part of him wanted to coddle her, hold