Chapter 10

“Upstairs, in your room, and strip.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The indignant Hasiba was gone, lost somewhere on the road home. In her place was the nervous but respectful Hasiba.

As the bedroom door clicked shut and Hasiba began to remove her tunic, I reached for her hand. “I’m not going to maim you,” I said. “But I am going to punish you for breaking the rules. I’ll give you a safe word to use. If it’s too intense, say the word ‘red’ and I’ll stop. It doesn’t mean you’re off the hook, just that you can rest and finish at another time.”

Hasiba held my gaze as she stripped off her remaining clothing, trying to remain indignant. But soon the ire was gone, replaced by a small tear in the corner of her right eye. “Why, Hilary Baxter?”

“Because you broke the rules.”

She wouldn’t meet my gaze after that.

The bed was much too high to do this comfortably, so I pulled the desk chair over and sat down. “Lay your body over my knee,” I said.

“Yes, ma’am.” Hasiba sniffled, but did as I instructed.