Page 88 of Captive

“I want that more than anything.”

“Good, because I won’t take no for an answer. After all, you are my favorite little pet.”

“The professor’s pet, huh?” I taunted as I shifted my hips back and forth.

“Exactly. There’s just one little thing we need to take care of.”

“What?”

As soon as a dominating look crossed his face, I attempted to push back, only to be tossed over the edge of the island. I squealed as he yanked my skirt up to my waist, using a single finger, sliding it under the thin elastic of my thong and ripping it away.

The constant sounds of the puppy barking made me giggle.

“You need another lesson in who you belong to. After all, I own you. My pet. My beautiful girl. The woman I adore.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Who said anything in life was fair?”

As he brought his hand down against my bottom, the smile crossing my face was unavoidable. With every hard strike, the heat almost immediately building across my ass cheeks as well as in my pussy, I’d never felt more like being home than at this moment.

“A bad girl who will need constant discipline,” he muttered then delivered four brutal smacks in a row.

“I’m a good girl. At least from what I heard from one big, mean Russian.”

“Mean, huh?” Nikolai peppered my bottom with one strike after another, leaving me breathless and aching.

“Yep. Really mean.”

He chuckled in his dark and evil tone, showering me with husky vibrations. “Then I guess you need to learn the rules.”

I closed my eyes, already aching from the pain dancing down the length of my body but I’d never felt so alive. I’d also never been so happy in my life. A new home. A sweet little puppy. And the man of my dreams. What could be better?

* * *

Two months later

“Mom. No…” I almost couldn’t get in a word edgewise. Huffing, I made faces as I turned off the engine, glaring at my watch. “Look, I’m fine. I swear I am.” I yanked off the seatbelt and grabbed my bookbag. “I know you’re worried, but I feelwonderful. Amazing in fact.” When I opened the door, the bright sunshine gave me a smile. I stepped out, closing the door to my brand new car and sighed. How could anything get any better?

I brushed my hand over my leather notebook, a recent present from the man I loved. I’d continued writing my poetry. Every time I read Nikolai something I’d penned, he’d become more insistent that I write a book. We would see. I had other things to contend with for a few months.

I struggled with my bookbag, tossing it over my shoulder as my mother continued expressing her concern. At least we were talking again on a regular basis. So many things had changed in my parents’ lives, including the fact my brother had been totally clean for almost three years. He’d enrolled in college, had a full time job making decent money, and he had a girlfriend. My mother had never been happier in her life.

Nikolai had told me everything he’d gone through in his efforts to avenge his father’s murder, including the fact he’d been forced to kill the man who’d helped him find a new life in the States. I’d been mesmerized, yet had trouble truly fathoming everything he’d been through. At least the demons hanging over him had subsided, leaving him to enjoy his new life. What we’d shared and built over the last two months had been incredible.

“I promise you that I’ll call you this weekend. I’ve got to get to class. I can’t miss the first day of my favorite class.” As she asked the question regarding which one was my favorite, I rolled my eyes. “Russian Literature.”

I heard her laughter and couldn’t help but smile. Things had changed significantly over the past three months. I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. “Yes, I love you too. I’ll talk to you soon.” I did my best scampering up the stairs to the auditorium.My God, the place was packed. I guess I wasn’t the only one interested in the course.

After taking a deep breath, I noticed Elizabeth waving at me from close to the front. It would seem she and Brandy saved me a seat. I had to laugh that they were sitting so close. Obviously, to get a bird’s-eye view of the hunky professor. I shifted the duffle in front of me as I approached. “Hi, guys.”

“Wow, you’re bright and chipper,” Brandy said as she jerked up from the seat to give me a hug. Then she stepped back, yanking on the bag in front of me. “Oh. My. God.”

Elizabeth squealed as her gaze drifted to my growing stomach. “You’ve been busy. Do you mind telling me what the hell you did over the summer?”

I couldn’t help but blush as I took my seat, dropping the bag then taking my time to retrieve my laptop. The moment I placed my hands on the surface, both girls gasped from seeing the diamond on my finger.

“Shit!” Brandy gulped. “You’re engaged and pregnant. You work fast.”