Swallowing hard, Althea's reply came out as barely a whisper. "Yes."
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
A startled cry tore from Althea's lips as Arthur's hand came down hard against her already sore backside.
"Louder," he ordered, his voice a velvet growl. "And you will address me as sir."
Althea's face burned. If there was any mercy in the gods, at least he couldn't see how humiliated she was.
She sucked in a shaky breath, forcing herself to obey.
"Yes, sir."
Arthur smirked triumphantly. "Well, well. Who would have guessed? Our holy knight—a masochist."
Althea pressed her lips together, refusing to take his bait.
His smirk widened. His palm smoothed over her reddened skin, slow and deliberate, tracing the curve of her trembling thighs.
Goosebumps erupted along her flesh. She shivered, betraying herself once again.