Free Devoted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella by Lexi Blake

masturbating. Shouldn’t she be way more embarrassed about that than she was? Seeing him naked had thrown her off her shame game. “I thought you were done. I thought you were sending me away and we were through playing.”
    He shoved a hand through his hair, slicking it back. It reached the top of his shoulders and made him look a little savage. Yeah, that was hot, too. “I never said that. I said I needed a moment. I took it. I called in our dinner and it’s an hour away. That’s more than enough time for me to get you cleaned up and comfortable, and the play will last until I drop you off at work in the morning. It will begin again when I pick you up tomorrow afternoon. We’ll have dinner and then go to class and it will continue until such time as your car is replaced and I’m satisfied you’re all right. Do I make myself clear?”
    She’d wondered how she would get to work in the morning. She’d been planning on calling in a rental. It looked like she wouldn’t have that expense. “Yes.”
    A single brow rose over his eyes. “Yes?”
    “Yes, Sir.” It was funny how she suddenly felt energized again.
    “Did you not read the portion of your contract that stated when we’re playing you’re not allowed to masturbate unless I specifically ask you to? I seem to remember you had a name for that clause so I think you should recall it.”
    Yep. She’d called it the anti-rubbing-one-out rule. “I thought the play was over.”
    “It isn’t over until I say it’s over or you use your safe word. Now turn around and place your palms on the bench. I want your feet about shoulder width apart.”
    “What?” He was kidding, right? He didn’t look like he was kidding. He looked twelve kinds of serious.
    “Do it now, Amy. I’m planning nothing more right now than a warm-up spanking and for it to serve as a reminder, but if you say another word, it’s going to be a real punishment.”
    He wanted to spank her. She’d thought a whole lot about that spanking. She’d played at it. Role-play was something she’d always loved, and she’d run through some scenarios with past boyfriends. She’d had her ass spanked by a couple of them and she’d enjoyed it. Somehow she thought this would be different from the light, playful smacks she’d had before.
    Flynn would be serious about it.
    Without another thought, she turned and put her hands flat on the tiled bench. Her backside was totally on display.
    “You said you wanted to explore your sexuality, Amy. Is that still true?”
    She’d told him that the first night when he’d asked why she was taking the class. “Yes, Sir.”
    “Even if it means exploring it with me and me alone because for the duration of this class, if we’re involved in a sexual relationship, I want to be the only man. That’s a hard limit for me. You need to understand that.”
    She didn’t understand it. Not entirely, but she’d begun to suspect that he’d been hurt in the past. Not that everyone hadn’t on some level. She kind of thought he’d probably been cheated on. It would explain some of his reaction in the beginning. The good news was she didn’t want to see anyone but him. “I’m fine with that, Sir. I would like to explore together and see where it goes.”
    No real strings. No expectations beyond getting to know one another and having a very nice time. They could relax and know things were somewhat settled for the next month. No sitting around and wondering what was happening or if he would call. He would because they had a contract.
    “Then we should begin as we mean to go,” Flynn said. “No masturbating while we’re playing.”
    The sound rattled her. It was a loud SMACK and then pain flared across her ass. Hot and fast, he kept it up, his big palm raining fire on her skin.
    Tears pierced her eyes and she bit back a groan. The pain sank into her. Those playful taps she’d taken before had nothing on what Flynn was doing to her. She’d giggled through those but