Free Lessons of Love by Jolynn Raymond Page A

last night.
    'But why do you care?' her mind screamed. He was pure evil and sho uld fill her with disgust. Jolie tried to tell herself it was simply hate and pride that made his punishment of her so unbearable, but there was a tiny part of her soul that knew she had given him more than just her body during their long night of passion. Regardless of who he was and what he did, Jolie had surrendered a piece of her heart to her husband as he taught her the ways of love. She'd felt cherished lying in his arms while her body soared and now his hateful act and taunting words were shattering that wonderf ul feeling.
    " Jolie you act as if I'm going to kill you. Save your tears for when yo ur bottom is on fire."
    "Cole , please don't do this to me. Pleas e. I can't … I can't take it."
    "Surely your stepfather gave you a good many thrashings. I don't in tend on beating you to death, but you simply must be made to obey. I'm simply planning on warming your bottom for the day so y ou understand not to defy me."
    "But you ’ re my husband." What Jolie wanted to say, was that he was her husband, and being so he was supposed to care for her, but she was afraid he would mock her words if she said them out loud and that was something couldn't bear, so she bit her lip to hold them back.
    Her voice came out in a pitiful wail confusing Cole . Her distress seemed genuine tho ugh he really didn't understand why. He brought the belt down and ran it through his hands as he pondered Jolie 's behavior. It was most likely a woman's ploy in an effort to escape punishment. He had gone soft on her last night and this was the result. She was a defiant, willful, sharp-tongued hellion who fought him at every turn. But... she was also beautiful, soft, and heart wrenching in her tears. Damn her. What was this devil of a woman doing to him? Only that morning she'd spewed hateful words from th o se beautiful lips and Cole knew she damn well should be punished for it. On the other hand, he had just brought her body to climax against her will, a lready proving his dominance.
    Cole raised the belt, determined to strike her, determined to do what must be done. He could never allow a woman to make him soft. It would be suicide in his business. He brought it down hard and it struck the bed next to Jolie , then he flung it aside with a string of curses, berating himself for his weakness. Cole knew he would pay for his gutless decision. She damn well deserved the beating he had planned but he couldn't do it. Jolie turned her head and peaked at him when she heard the belt hit the floor. She had let out a terrified squeak when the belt struck the bed and she co uldn't quite believe that Cole had actually changed his mind.
    Cole growled in rage and frustration. He pulled her to her knees on the bed and opened his breeches. If he couldn't beat her, he would damn well punish her another way. He plunged his hard membe r into Jolie making her gasp. He pulled back and drove into her again up to the hilt, making her cry out in pain. The depth and power of his strokes hurt her newly christened womanhood and she begged him to stop. Her body was tender from the night before a nd soreness still remained from their lovemaking. Cole reared back and took her again, burying himself deep inside her. Jolie cried out and struggled against him, against the pain. He held her hips tightly, ignoring her cries. She was here to be used, damn it! He wouldn't feel anything for this little witch. He wouldn ’ t. He wouldn ’ t! Jolie was no different from the others. He would ride her hard until he was spent and then cast her aside.
    "This is what you deserve. You are here for my use, and nothing more. Do you hear me wife? I control your body. You belong to m e and you will learn to obey."
    Jolie collapsed on the bed sobbing, held up only by Cole 's punishing hands. Gone were the soft strokes designed to give pleasure, gone was the tenderness with which he had made love to her before, gone were