Free Saffina's Season by Flora Dain Page B

will.
    “Now for the tawse. You’ll take this in silence, or you’ll stay tied here till nightfall.”
    What? The humiliation of it. Terror clamped my mouth shut as I felt his arm rise, saw its shadow fall across the bed. The tawse rose with it, then it landed with a crash.
    I writhed as the sting bit. Heat sparked through me in a lightning shaft of raw lust, clenching my belly and pooling shamefully between my legs. Cruelly, he waited for the pain to bloom, stroking my sorry ass with cool, flexing fingers, his sudden tenderness springing yet more tears. Once more he kissed me, trailing whisper-soft touches of his lips all along my spine, down to where I awaited the next crashing blow on my quivering, burning ass-cheeks.
    The leather fell again and again, until I thought I should have to scream aloud at the force of it. All at once I saw it land on the bed as he flung it away, then, to my surprise, I felt his cock—cool, hard and silky, as he prodded at my punished behind, eager for entry.
    “No climax for you. And you must promise me, no touching. Can you do that? Or shall I bind your wrists?”
    Yet more shame?
    “Are we still going out, sir?”
    “To Vauxhall? Certainly. And I shall expect you to sparkle your best. No slouching or hanging back. If you do, we’ll start over the moment we return. So, no touching. You promise?”
    “Yes, sir. I promise.”
    Drat the man. I was burning up now, desperate to come. Not touching would be a far harder test than a mere spanking.
    How shall I bear it?
    He untied my wrists and spun me around with a laugh. His eyes glittered as he pulled my hair back from my face.
    “See you keep your word,” he murmured. “Or you may regret it.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Vauxhall Gardens was all he’d promised. I walked stiffly after my harsh spanking. But his amused looks turned my discomfort to something very different. With my tender places stirred and throbbing, my sore backside protesting at every step, his glances sparked a steady pulse deep in my groin.
    I felt new heat in every glance, a pleasurable shiver whenever we touched. And soon we’d be alone again…
    The sun shone, the gowns were pretty, smiles bright. Jacquard introduced me to so many persons of fashion that I thought I’d met half of Almack’s before we’d reached halfway.
    Soon, brimming with the latest gossip— Did we know the regent’s new mistress was a mystery? Had we heard he meant to reveal her soon? Was it true he planned a ball at Carlton House? —we turned back for home. Jacquard was greeting some friends from his club when I heard someone call out to me from the shrubbery.
    “ Milady? Over here.”
    Startled, I spun around to see Martin, his eyes wild.
    “I’ve been trying to reach you. I called at your house. They turned me away.”
    I frowned, horrified. “Go away, sir. I warned you, no contact. You promised.”
    He frowned. “But you said—”
    “Enough,” I said firmly. “My husband will see us. Stay away from the house and from me. No one must see us together.”
    I turned away and ran straight into Jacquard. “ Oh. You startled me, sir. Are we ready for home?”
    “Who was that?” His expression was all mild interest.
    My thoughts were all confusion.
    “No one. That is—” I floundered. “I—I was asking a groundsman about the plants.”
    “ Plants? Since when did you take an interest in plants?” Jacquard narrowed his eyes. “Since they needed a fetching young blade to explain them, maybe?”
    My heart sank. He was still out of temper. His losses at cards must be even worse than I’d thought. “Please don’t pry, Jacquard,” I said gently. “It’s all part of your surprise.”
    “Meeting young bloods in shrubberies?” He glowered. “Is this a surprise I’m likely to enjoy?”
    “Yes, sir,” I whispered. “I hope so. Please be patient.”
    Ignoring the risk of being seen out here in the open, I reached up and kissed his cheek. For a moment he stood very still. With a