Ruthless King

Did he know how long it had been since she’d come from fingers that weren’t her own? It was a crime to tease her like this.

“Nooo, give me the spanking instead. Please.”

Amusement filled his face and she noticed how much more relaxed he looked. Had she done that?

Huh. Maybe being edged was an okay price to pay if it meant he looked at her like that.

“Poor baby. And just so you know, you’re not allowed to touch yourself.”

“What kind of diabolical, mean thing is that to tell me?”

This time, his lips actually twitched.

“Although it’s not like you’d know if I touched myself,” she added.

“I’d know. I know everything.”

Damn it. She totally believed him.

“Now, my sweet girl, I have to go to work. What are you going to do today?”

“Hmm? Oh, I thought I might work on my writing. I mean, I know I’m probably not very good?—”

“Stop, Jilly,” he said firmly.

“What?” she asked, staring up at him. He’d caught her working on her plot yesterday, so she told him about her small hobby.

“I won’t have you talking badly about yourself.”

“But it might be bad. You haven’t read it.”

“Then I’ll read it. Tonight.”

“You can’t read my work!” she wailed.

His eyes widened. Probably because she was acting like a crazy person. And she knew she was acting crazy, but she couldn’t help it.

This was her writing . . . it was her baby. She couldn’t let him read it. What if he hated it?

That would crush her.

“No, no, no, you can’t read it!”

“Baby, hush. It’s all right.” He cupped her chin, tilting her head back. “What’s wrong?”

“You . . . I . . . what if you don’t like it? What if it really is terrible?”

“I know I’m going to like it.”

“You can’t know that,” she said, shaking her head.

“I do. But if you’re not ready to show me, that’s fine.”

Her breathing came easier. She was acting like a lunatic.

“Sorry,” she said.

“No need to apologize, my sweet girl. You’ll know when the time is right to show me. Now, I want you to make sure you get plenty of rest. Have a nap this afternoon.”