patter of water from the shower filtered through the wall.
A sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. The doubts she’d pushed down resurfaced, gnawing at her conscience. She fought the compulsion to get dressed and leave before he returned from his shower. She didn’t want to think about what would happen next. She realized again how complicated things could get from here. She should seek a different advisor. She couldn’t continue to have him in that role when she wanted to be sprawled out on his desk—being spanked, no less. Now that they’d acted on the impulse, it would be impossible not to go there again given the opportunity, at least for her.
Liese stared at the ceiling and tried to figure out what the hell to do. There would be no time to talk it out this morning. Even if he hurried, Ryder would still be late. The water turned off, and she listened for sounds of movement but could only hear the fan. Several minutes later, Ryder emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, fastening the last of the buttons on his dress shirt.
The tension in the room felt suffocating. “I should go home.” She sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest, and peered over the edge of the bed, looking for her clothes. Aside from her panties and bra, they were nowhere to be found. They’d been removed in Ryder’s office.
“ No.” He headed for his dresser where he opened a small box and picked out a clip, fastening his tie to his shirt. “Stay as long as you like. Just be at work by twelve-thirty.” When he lifted his eyes, he didn’t look at her, but past her, above her head. “I’m sure you’re aware this is a highly sensitive situation, and I expect you’ll be discreet about what’s happened.”
Her unease transformed into humiliated despair. Ryder had shut down on her. His professional, cold demeanor—the one saved primarily for those who’d done something to displease him—loomed large. This was a look he’d never directed at her, and the sight of it now made her feel used and pathetic.
“ I won’t say anything to anyone,” she said, willing him to meet her gaze. He didn’t.
“ Of course you won’t. But in all seriousness, I suggest you leave your laptop at home from now on. Such a transgression would be detrimental to both of our careers.” He scanned her body, his eyes never reaching hers. An emotion flickered across his face—sadness, regret maybe, but he buried it quickly. “I appreciate your discretion. There’s a package on the table in the foyer with all the materials you would’ve received had you made it to the session.” He turned toward the door.
“ Ryder.” Her voice cracked, betraying her emotions. This wasn’t how she wanted to leave things.
He paused at the threshold, gripping the doorjamb. For a fraction of a second, Liese thought he would turn around. Instead he straightened. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”
And then he was gone.
She sat in stunned silence, listening as he descended the stairs. It seemed to take forever for him to leave. When the front door closed, she dropped the hand pressed against her mouth, embarrassed that she had expected anything different from this experience.
Of course it would be a one-night stand; his references to subsequent punishments last night had been founded on primal need, nothing else. A relationship with Ryder would be too complicated. She knew it, but it still hurt to have it thrown in her face. No kiss goodbye, no reassurance they would talk later or work something out. Despite herself, she wanted more. She wanted secret dates and deep conversation, passionate sex and more spankings.
She dropped back against the pillows, sinking into them as she replayed last night and this morning in her head. It dawned on her with aching clarity that both times they’d had sex it had been from behind. Not once had he looked her in the eyes or kissed her during the act.
Mortified and angry, Liese wished she could take it back. She pulled
A sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. The doubts she’d pushed down resurfaced, gnawing at her conscience. She fought the compulsion to get dressed and leave before he returned from his shower. She didn’t want to think about what would happen next. She realized again how complicated things could get from here. She should seek a different advisor. She couldn’t continue to have him in that role when she wanted to be sprawled out on his desk—being spanked, no less. Now that they’d acted on the impulse, it would be impossible not to go there again given the opportunity, at least for her.
Liese stared at the ceiling and tried to figure out what the hell to do. There would be no time to talk it out this morning. Even if he hurried, Ryder would still be late. The water turned off, and she listened for sounds of movement but could only hear the fan. Several minutes later, Ryder emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, fastening the last of the buttons on his dress shirt.
The tension in the room felt suffocating. “I should go home.” She sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest, and peered over the edge of the bed, looking for her clothes. Aside from her panties and bra, they were nowhere to be found. They’d been removed in Ryder’s office.
“ No.” He headed for his dresser where he opened a small box and picked out a clip, fastening his tie to his shirt. “Stay as long as you like. Just be at work by twelve-thirty.” When he lifted his eyes, he didn’t look at her, but past her, above her head. “I’m sure you’re aware this is a highly sensitive situation, and I expect you’ll be discreet about what’s happened.”
Her unease transformed into humiliated despair. Ryder had shut down on her. His professional, cold demeanor—the one saved primarily for those who’d done something to displease him—loomed large. This was a look he’d never directed at her, and the sight of it now made her feel used and pathetic.
“ I won’t say anything to anyone,” she said, willing him to meet her gaze. He didn’t.
“ Of course you won’t. But in all seriousness, I suggest you leave your laptop at home from now on. Such a transgression would be detrimental to both of our careers.” He scanned her body, his eyes never reaching hers. An emotion flickered across his face—sadness, regret maybe, but he buried it quickly. “I appreciate your discretion. There’s a package on the table in the foyer with all the materials you would’ve received had you made it to the session.” He turned toward the door.
“ Ryder.” Her voice cracked, betraying her emotions. This wasn’t how she wanted to leave things.
He paused at the threshold, gripping the doorjamb. For a fraction of a second, Liese thought he would turn around. Instead he straightened. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”
And then he was gone.
She sat in stunned silence, listening as he descended the stairs. It seemed to take forever for him to leave. When the front door closed, she dropped the hand pressed against her mouth, embarrassed that she had expected anything different from this experience.
Of course it would be a one-night stand; his references to subsequent punishments last night had been founded on primal need, nothing else. A relationship with Ryder would be too complicated. She knew it, but it still hurt to have it thrown in her face. No kiss goodbye, no reassurance they would talk later or work something out. Despite herself, she wanted more. She wanted secret dates and deep conversation, passionate sex and more spankings.
She dropped back against the pillows, sinking into them as she replayed last night and this morning in her head. It dawned on her with aching clarity that both times they’d had sex it had been from behind. Not once had he looked her in the eyes or kissed her during the act.
Mortified and angry, Liese wished she could take it back. She pulled
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