Free Taken and Tamed by Kallista Dane

splayed across the middle of her back, he held her firmly in place as he smacked her again.
    “You just had to disobey. So now you’re getting an old-fashioned ass whuppin’, as my granny would have said.” He gave her another harsh whack and she screamed again. “Then you’re going to stand in the corner for a while with your hands behind your head, like a naughty little girl. And I’m taking away all your clothes. From now on, you’ll be naked. Trust me, you don’t want to head through the woods that way. Those thorns hurt like hell.”
    He stopped to deliver a volley of harsh smacks. “That’s for the scratches all over me. You’re lucky I don’t give you a whack for every one.”
    Cass howled. With her bottom still tender from last night’s spanking, every fierce wallop sent a shudder of pain through her. Zander kept up the lecture, punctuating his words now and then with an extra-hard thwack. She gave up trying to be brave and dissolved into wracking sobs.
    Finally she heard a thud as the board dropped to the floor. Cass dropped to her knees, cowering in a fetal position.
    “Get over there. In the corner, facing the wall. And you stay there until I give you permission to come out.”
    She couldn’t move. Hands covering her head, she huddled on the floor, shaking.
    “Get up.” He grabbed her elbow and hauled her to her feet.
    She flinched as though he’d struck her.
    Zander swore and pulled her roughly into his arms. “Dammit, woman! Why can’t you do as you’re told?” He held her tight against him and she felt his heart thudding in his chest. He pushed her away just as quickly and marched her into the corner by the fireplace, placing her hands on her head. Turning her face to the wall, he left her there.
    Cass stood with her hands laced together on top of her head, tears streaming down her face. Her bottom burned, her head ached from crying so hard. Gradually her sobs turned into sniffles. She heard water running in the bathroom and Zander came out. He had a cold cloth in his hand. He turned her to face him as he wiped away her tears, then folded the cloth and held it against her forehead.
    She slumped against him. Still shirtless, he’d washed off the blood on his chest and arms and his body was cold. She began shivering. Once she did, it was as though an earthquake hit her inside. Her body shook uncontrollably. He swore again and picked her up in his arms. Carrying her to the bed, he laid her on it and folded her into the threadbare quilt. Then he got in bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her and rocking her gently until the shaking subsided.
    “Shock.”
    She stared up at him drowsily. “What?”
    “That reaction was shock. The irrational terror even after it was all over, the uncontrollable shivering. I’ve seen it before. PTSD.”
    “I waw… was never in the army.” Her words slurred.
    “You don’t have to be in combat to get PTSD. Any traumatic event can leave you with the symptoms. Later, even the smallest thing sets it off again. I’m sorry, Cass. I didn’t realize how bad it was. Sleep now. I’ll see if I can find anything else for us to eat and when you wake up, I’ll make you another pot of coffee.”
    Cass nestled against his warmth. “More of your coffee? You really want to punish me. Could you just spank me again instead?”
    To her surprise, he actually laughed. Just before she drifted off, Cass swore she felt his lips brush against her forehead.
    She opened her eyes to find the room dark. Somehow she’d managed to sleep until nightfall. She sat up, wincing as her bottom made contact with the bed. Zander was nowhere to be seen. Wrapping the quilt around her body, she struggled to her feet.
    He wasn’t in the bathroom or the kitchen alcove or up in the loft. A fire crackled in the hearth. Maybe he’d gone out for more wood. It was a little frightening to wake up all alone in a deserted cabin in the middle of nowhere. She kept her head turned away from the dark