Page 10 of Empress of Ruin
“Don’t know,” I rush out, wincing at the next hit. How many has he done by now? I can’t think.
“Hmm. I’m not sure you’re being entirely truthful. Not just with me, but with yourself.” Another hit. I arch and gasp. Okay, the spanking’sreallybecoming painful right about now.
“Where were you?” he questions.
“W-what?” I gasp.
“For the last five months. Where were you?”
“I—don’t,” I cut off to hiss as he hits me again, “I don’t think I can… hold this… conversation—ah!” an intense spank makes me bury my face in the cushion. “Right now.”
“Mm. Well, I’m happy to keep spanking you until your tongue loosens.”
No, no, no. I can’t take much more. Killian’s hitting me so hard, it’s almost as bad as the bite of his belt, and I know things will only get worse from here.
“We have about five left to go. I suggest you start talking. Youwillanswer before we’ve finished.”
“M-Mexico.” The word comes out on a moan.Fuck, think, Lyra. THINK!“P-Portugal.” The word escapes my lips as a sob.Tears are already freely running down my cheeks. I don’t know if it’s the pain, or the building heat between my legs, or being forced to speak while enduring this.
I do know that it’ll be a while before I can sit comfortably.
“And?” Killian asks, still in that calm, unaffected tone.
“Greece,” I moan. “Moving between—” I cut off with a hiss as he delivers a particularly hard slap. “Cities and towns,” I finish, releasing another sob.
“I see.” Killian delivers a truly vicious smack that makes mescream, and rests his hands on my ass. “That’s thirty,” he says softly. “Spread your legs.”
“Please don’t make me.” My voice is meek and soft, almost unrecognizable.
He slaps again, then begins rubbing away the sting. I slowly inch my legs apart. I know this dance; I resist, Killian hurts me more. My best bet to minimize damage is to follow his instructions to a T.
“Wider.”
I comply, burying my tears in the seats.
“Little Bird,” Killian says softly, almost reverently. “Fuck. Do you have any idea how wet you are?”
I could venture a guess, but I don’t want to.
“You’re leaving a wet spot on my pants,” he murmurs. Two fingers land over my folds. I’m already so sensitive, I can’t trap the moan that tears from my lips. My god, I don’t know how to bear this. He spanked me until I cried, and I gotarousedby it.
He glides his fingers over my center, back and forward, his movement leisurely and unhurried—as if he has all the time in the world. I bite my lip to muffle my moan.
“I really have missed you, you know,” he says, the words unusually quiet. “Have you missed me?”
“No.” I was too busy fearing for my life to miss him.
“I’m not sure I believe you.” He circles my clit, his touch gentle enough to hint at pleasure without really delivering it. “But we can get to that later.”
My hips shift forward of their own accord, and my entire body heats with the humiliation. I didn’t mean to push into his hand—really, I didn’t. I guess this is an old, conditioned response of anticipating—yearning for—pleasure on the heels of pain.
“That’s enough.” Killian removes his hand, leaving me wanting and needing.
“W-what?” I squeak.
He chuckles. “I said, that’s enough. You took your punishment very nicely, but I’m quite far from issuing a reward.” He removes me from his lap in a cold, clinical fashion, setting me on my side of the car and scooting all the way back to his. I hiss at the contact of my burning ass with the seat, but when I shift to find a comfortable position, Killian stops me with a cold, sharp look.
“No,” he says succinctly. “The drive is approximately four hours.” He checks his watch. “Without traffic, that is. For the remainder of it, you will stay in place, and suffer through the discomfort.”
