Page 25 of The Devil’s Submission
Incredulous, he blinked at Eliza. “Did that just happen?”
She smiled hesitantly. “It did. I hope you aren’t angry at me for interfering, but Charlotte said your brother was a decent man, and he really does seem to be one.”
“Wait a minute. Excuse me? You were talking to Charlie?”
Eliza’s gaze locked on his, her cheeks turning pink. “Another decent person who loves you. You aren’t alone, Grayson, even if it sometimes feels like you are. And damn it, you can’t keep shoving people away so you won’t be hurt again. That shoves away the potential happiness, as well.”
Rubbing his jaw to buy a moment, Devil swallowed hard. “It was so good to see Peter. Thank you for doing that for me. I wish there was something I could do for you. Not your family, but you.”
“There is.”
“Name it, and it is yours. There is still time to go to Mayfair if you want to shop. Gowns, jewels, slippers, bonnets, whatever you want.”
“Bah. Not interested. What I want is something infinitely more rewarding.”
Devil considered. “A trip? Vienna is lovely this time of year. Or Rome.”
She took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening, like she was preparing for battle. “Actually, what I want is you. Upstairs, naked, and bent over. You require discipline, Grayson, and I have a brand new cane I am eager to try out.”
All the air whooshed from his lungs. “I beg your pardon?”
His ears had to be deceiving him. His wife had not just oh-so-casually said she wished to use a cane on him, had she?
“You heard me,” she said in a steely voice. Then she circled him, one hand caressing his backside, and he groaned, shuddering in anticipation as his cock hardened to stone. “Upstairs. Now.”
…
The leather of the corset was surprisingly soft and sensual against her skin, and the built-in stays cupped and pushed her breasts high, her nipples barely covered by the bodice. Her legs were bare, and she wore heeled slippers on her feet.
All in all, she felt very seductive. Powerful. Free.
Strolling out of the antechamber and into the main room, new slender cane in hand, Eliza paused to enjoy the sight of her naked husband on the four-poster bed. At the present time he lay flat on his stomach, his chin resting on his forearms, but as soon as she cleared her throat, he went straight up onto his hands and knees.
“Eliza,” he breathed, his green eyes glowing. “You look magnificent.”
The compliment warmed her to her toes, but this insubordination simply wouldn’t do.
Twirling the cane with a flick of her wrist, she slapped it hard on the bed a mere inch from his hand. “You may refer to me as…Lizzie. Now, get off the bed. I want you standing next to it, your hands braced on the left side post.”
A less keen observer might have missed the quiver of excitement he couldn’t quite suppress as he quickly obeyed her instruction. But he couldn’t hide the reaction of his cock; it was already hugely swollen and bobbing against his flat belly. “Yes, Lizzie.”
“And what is your word if you wish me to stop?”
Grayson stared at her in astonishment. Then as understanding dawned, with such love and overwhelming tenderness, she swallowed a lump in her throat. “Fire. Like the most wonderful woman in the world.”
“Very well. But before we begin, there is one more thing I must do.”
Smiling to herself, she reached into her bodice and pulled out the fifteen thousand pound bank draft he had written.
And she tore it to pieces.
“Lizzie! But…”
“This is not about money, Grayson. It is about pleasure. Happiness. Me being me, and you being you, and both of us being proud of it. Do you understand?”
He swallowed hard. “Yes, ma’am. I’m…I’m getting there.”
Nodding in approval, Eliza reached out and trailed the end of the cane along his skin. Slowly, gently, up and down, around in a circle, teasing his hair-roughened thighs and forearms, his smooth, muscled back. Without warning she struck, one quick, sharp blow across the back of his thigh.
