Free Hidden Heart (Windy City #1) by Measha Stone Page A

decided on a punishment, consequences would be paid, and no amount of sugar on top of it talking would change that.
    Jessica’s eyes darted his to the crop and back again to his eyes. Her thoughts flashed across her expressions.
    He continued to glare her down as she made her decision. Her heavy sigh, brimming with resolve, gave him his answer. He moved out of her path. Her eyes did not meet his as she walked past him and disappeared down the hallway.
    The morning of sultry meals and erotic moments dissipated before his eyes along with his hope of her first spanking being one of pleasure. He looked at the crop in his hand and tossed it onto the coffee table.
    Resigned to the path they were now on, he crossed the living room and headed to the bedroom.

 
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    Taking One’s Lumps
     
     
    Jessica stood next to Royce’s bed, looking at herself in the closet door mirror. The feelings bubbling inside her lacked a name. She couldn’t explain how she knew, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her—not physically—not really. Every man was capable of breaking her heart—she knew that as fact—and Royce was every bit a man.
    She’d never been spanked before, not even as a child. He had been upfront with her from the beginning. He would use it as a punishment if needed. He’d given her an out, a way not to be in the situation she found herself. Why hadn’t she just told him? What was to be gained with pushing him? Forcing him to prove he meant what he said?
    The past loves of her life had made many promises, and very few of them had delivered. This wasn’t a promise of a night of passion. This was a promise of pain. Of punishment.
    She stared at herself in the mirror and began to undress.
    The option of saying no to this step and leaving didn’t stay in her mind long. They had agreed to the terms of their relationship and punishments came with the territory.
    He’d kept to their agreement; he did not try to maintain control when they were apart. She would stick to her part of the agreement. If nothing else, to chalk it up to an experience once had that could be a funny story to tell.
    She knew Royce entered the room from the heavy shuffling of his feet. She still found herself in awe of his size. He hadn’t dressed yet for the day, his pajama bottoms added a lightness to the room. A drawer scraped open. Metal jingled. She buried her face into the comforter.
    A heavy sigh—one full of disappointment—filled the room, and her heart sank in her chest. The bed gave way to his weight as he sat beside her. She didn’t chance looking at him; she didn’t want to lose her nerve.
    “I can’t take care of you if you won’t be honest about your feelings.” He placed a warm palm on the curve of her bare backside. “Part of playing is talking afterward to be sure you and I are okay and no damage physically or emotionally occurred. My intent may be to cause you temporary pain with a clothespin or a spanking, but it is never to injury you. When you won’t talk to me, how can I assess the situation? How can your needs be attended to?” He rubbed her skin.
    Not sure if she should speak, she decided against it. She peeked over her shoulder at him. He was watching his hand linger over her ass. His words made sense, but his talk about her needs threw her off guard.
    The first swat of his hand surprised her. She jumped from the impact and the sting. His bare hand on her skin. He had said it would be with his belt; she figured he’d changed his mind. She wasn’t going to argue.
    “Warm up first. Then the belt.” He slapped her again as if knowing her thoughts.
    She grunted.
    He continued to bring his hand down heavily on her bottom, his fingers lingering a moment before he delivered the next smack. She tried to concentrate on his words, instead of the physical presence of his hand.
    Her lungs burned from the heat of the room, and her ass warmed at a steady pace with each lasting touch of his hand. She gripped the