“Apology accepted,” he patted the top of the barrel, “now lean over and let me check the height.”
Cassie backed off. “But you’ve accepted my apology. You can’t punish me now.”
Lifting one eyebrow, Dane pointed at the barrel. Her stomach roiled and her mouth dried. She didn’t want to do this, but maybe she should have thought before she raced into the brew house. Nervous, she chewed on her fingernails as she took a step toward the barrel.
“Lean over it,” Dane repeated.
Again, he spread her legs, but this time he tied a rope around her left ankle. After wrapping the loose end around the barrel, he attached it to her right leg.
She liked how he inserted a finger between the rope and her ankles, checking they weren’t too tight. Still fighting the inevitable, she tried to close her legs. There was no give in the rope and the knots held firm.
He rinsed the soil from the ginger, checking he removed every last bit then peeled the top half of the root. The smell made her think of bonfires and hot soup on winter nights. Only there was nothing comforting in the tapered end he’d just peeled.
His smile turned diabolical. “Lean over the barrel and press your breasts against the top.”
She shook her head as she realized his intentions. “I won’t.”
He placed his ginger on a spotlessly clean shelf and stood in front of her. Rather than argue, he pulled her in for a kiss. His lips dominated hers and his tongue slipped into her mouth, bossing hers.
Surrendering to his embrace, she kissed him back. He pulled her forward and stretched her arms over her head. “That I won’t has earned you half a dozen swats on the behind. Now, be a good girl and put your palms on the floor.”
As if doing yoga, she held the stretch and reached for the floor. He bound her wrists the way he had her feet. Bent over the barrel, she couldn’t close her legs, couldn’t move her arms. All she could do was accept his punishment.
He stroked her bare behind. “We agreed this was my night alone with you. I’d planned a romantic evening, but your behavior’s put paid to that. I promised you a spanking for your defiance. Are you ready, little human?”
She nodded, knowing the next half hour wouldn’t be pleasant.
Burying his fingers in her short curls, he forced her head up and stared into her eyes. “I need the words. Tell me what you did wrong and ask me to punish you for it.”
By now, she wished he’d get on with it. “I was foolhardy and put myself at risk. I swear not to do it again, but if I deserve punishment for fixing your broken valve, then please punish me, Sir.”
He released her hair and moved behind her. “Not the fulsome request I wanted, but yes, you do deserve punishing for it.”
Cassie shuddered. Bound over the beer barrel, she reveled in his mastery. Dane punished her because he cared about her, and she loved him for it. Her family had supported her, but as the oldest sibling, her parents had expected her to set an example. Dane and Eli accepted her, mistakes, imperfections, and all. There was something heady and wonderful about that.
Without warning, he brought his hand down hard on her rounded bottom. She screamed as the sound of his slap reverberated around the brew house. Hard as she tried to wriggle aside, her bonds held her too firmly.
He spanked both her sit spots in quick succession, so hard that tears filled her eyes. She wriggled her butt, trying to find some ease. His next two slaps landed on her the sensitive spots where her thighs met her bottom. She screamed and tensed, expecting him to hit her there again. Instead, he slapped her pussy.
Pain reverberated through her bones. As it rippled through her body, it morphed into sensual heat that left her breathless and needy. Her womb contracted. Cum squirted from her cunny and coated her thighs.
When Dane rubbed her cum over her anus, she tensed again. He leaned over her as he fingered her darkest hole. “One day, little human, I’m going to claim you here.”
As he spoke, he slid one finger inside her ass. She tensed at the intrusion. “No, please, don’t.”
He mantled his body around hers, so close his breath warmed the back of her neck and sent shivers down her spine. “This hole is mine, and when Eli and I claim you, I’ll fuck it hard.”
He slid his finger deeper, making her moan and pant. Her nipples pearled as she rubbed them against the top of the barrel. Her juices coated her pussy like hot honey that dripped onto her thighs. When he pulled his finger from her darkest hole, she moaned.
He chuckled. “You like that, little human? Enjoy it while you can, and remember, you brought this punishment on yourself.”
Dane moved in front of her, carved ginger in hand. Kneeling, he buried his hand in her hair and gently lifted her head, letting her get a good look. “Guess where this is going, my beautiful little slut. It will sting and burn, exactly the way the steam would have done if you’d got too close. Unlike the steam, this won’t do any lasting harm, but you won’t enjoy it.”
Releasing her hair, he moved behind her. Cassie moaned when he spread her butt cheeks. He chuckled. “You’ll be moaning for another reason soon. Relax your muscles or this will hurt more.”
She sniffled, too mortified to speak. She felt something press against her bottom hole and tried to wriggle away. Not that her bonds allowed her much movement. Naked and bound, she couldn’t fight him. Instead, she concentrated on her breathing and thought about rainbows or butterflies. It didn’t help.
The pressure on her bottom increased, and she felt the ginger plug slip inside her. The intrusion felt shameful and humiliating, but it didn’t burn as much as she’d expected. He pushed it so deep the entire peeled half slid inside her.
As her bottom hole closed around it, she whimpered, as much from embarrassment as from pain. Naked and bound with ginger sticking out her arse, she must look like the worse sort of slut.
He rubbed her bottom as if he meant to soothe the pain of her spanking. His massage grew rougher. Each time his fingers kneaded her butt cheeks, she jiggled beneath his hand. The ginger pressed against the delicate tissue inside her back passage, first stinging then burning like a blowtorch.
When he moved his hand, she danced in her bonds, trying to ease the pain in her bottom. The burning sensation built like flames licking a bonfire. When he reached between her legs and pinched her clit, she clenched her butt cheeks. “Take it out. Ow, ouch, ow, it feels like my bum’s burning on the inside.”
Her wriggles made him chuckle and pinch her clit again. She clenched her bottom hard. Heat spread from her butt to her toes. She’d rather take a spanking than endure this. Dane stayed unsympathetic and stern. “Better the ginger than a scalding. You’ll remember to look after yourself in future. We’re almost there, little one.”
The next time he reached between her legs, he slipped a second piece of ginger inside her vagina. She wriggled and clenched, a desperate moan coming from her throat. Ignoring her protests, he returned to tormenting her clit. The ginger essence on his fingers made it tingle.
Her every movement spread the burn in her bottom. She wanted to stay still and lessen the pain. Thanks to his clever fingers massaging her most personal places, she writhed in her bonds. Her every movement made her think of steam scalding her arse.
When he jiggled the ginger protruding from her ass, she clenched and shrieked. Heat shot through her, and she felt as though he held a blowtorch to her cunny. Sobs shook her shoulders, and she sniffed to stop her nose running. The worst part of her punishment was the way the ginger in her pussy set her libido burning as much as her bottom.
Dane tugged gently at her clit. “Did you know that ginger is an aphrodisiac? I’m going to enjoy watching those juices make your pussy lips swell. So, little slut, which turns you on the most? The pain or the pleasure?”
She panted and writhed but when she tried to answer, the heat in her bottom took her breath. She tried to ignore the desires burning in her pussy, but her body felt overheated—hungry for his dominance. So wet she felt certain h
er juices shone in the candlelight, she wanted this over and done. Maybe.
Her needs grew into a bonfire that heated her blood. She wriggled and thrashed, rubbing her aching clit against the barrel to find the relief she craved. The burning in her bottom grew more intense the longer the ginger stayed inside her.
A wanton part of her relished the desperate sensual need her punishment sparked in her cunny. Clearly enjoying the way pleasure and pain confused her body, he rubbed her behind. “Tell me why I’m punishing you, or I’ll push another piece of ginger in your arse.”
Chapter Twelve
“No more ginger,” Cassie screeched. She rubbed her cunny against the barrel Dane had bound her over, desperate to come. “I couldn’t stand it. I’m really, really sorry, Dane. I should have thought before I ran into the brew house. I didn’t mean to make you worry, and I’m sorry I upset you.”
He moved close again, pinching her clit and rubbing her bottom. “That’s my good girl. Another five minutes and the ginger in your bottom hole will lose its potency. I bet it’s not as intense now.”
She stilled a moment. “No, it’s not, but that doesn’t mean I like it.”
Reaching around her, he ran his finger through her cunt then slipped it between her lips. “See how wet your figging has made you. You might say you don’t like it, but your body says otherwise. Taste your juices. Aren’t they delicious when they’re tinged with fresh ginger?”
After licking his finger clean, she gave a pleasured moan. “Mmm... Sticky, sweet, and spicy.”
Pulling her bottom cheeks apart, he removed the ginger sticking out of her arse. His seeing her like this filled her with shame.
Releasing her wrists, he helped her straighten up. The movement sent residual sparks of heat nipping at her sensitized bottom hole. She sniffed but said nothing as he massaged her wrists. He placed them on the top of the barrel and kissed the back of her neck. “You did good, my beautiful little slut. I hope you behave as well when Eli punishes you tomorrow.”
Cassie’s jaw dropped. Dane shoving that ginger up her arse was enough, wasn’t it? Then again, her father had always called her hothead. When she’d rushed into the brew house, she’d acted without thinking. “I’m so sorry, but wasn’t the ginger punishment enough? Do we have to tell Eli?”
Dane frowned as he cradled her against his chest and carried her outside. “Never try to play one of us off against the other. Besides, Eli won’t hurt you, but he might make you wish he had. Another week, little one, and you can make your choice.” A low growl rumbled around his chest. “But you better choose us. You’re ours, whatever the stupid pack rules say.”
She snuggled into his arms. “I’m sick of waiting. Can’t I choose you to father my babies now?”
He scooped up her clothes and wrapped a soft blanket around her. “I wish, but you haven’t met all the pack yet. Some of my father’s lieutenants are on a diplomatic mission to the Black Cardinal pack. They’ll be home in three or four days. Meanwhile, stay out of trouble, and try not to fall out with Elena.”
That last bit was easier said than done. Elena resented having a human houseguest foisted on her. Whenever she could, she reminded Cassie she was a breeder, not a potential mate. Her new socks vanished one day only to reappear the next. The next day, she found her laundry basket at the far end of the overgrown garden. Someone had scattered her underwear over the bushes like Christmas baubles.
Despite Elena having commandeered a house well away from most of the pack, Michael’s sister, Sable dropped by daily. Like Elena, she made no secret of her dislike of Cassie. It was like living in a sorority house filled with mean girls. Keeping her misgiving to herself, Cassie settled in Dane’s arms.
He carried her to a small wrought-iron table and two chairs he must have brought earlier. Rather than release her, he cradled her in his arms and rocked her like a baby. “Take a nap if you need to.”
She closed her eyes, enjoying his preternatural warmth. Her eyes drifted shut, and exhausted by the night’s events, she dozed in his arms. When she woke, the moon glowed with soft silver light and stars dotted the sky. “What time is it?”
He rose to his feet and deposited her in the other chair. “Time you ate something. Sit while I unpack our picnic.”
Cassie’s tummy rumbled at the array of quiches, sausage rolls, and smoked fish. She reached out to fill her plate, but Dane pushed her hand away. Tugging her onto his lap, he hand-fed her until she shook her head. “Any more and I’ll burst.”
They sat a while, talking of nothing and enjoying the stars. The cool air made Cassie glad of the blanket he’d wrapped around her. Shrugging it off to get dressed set her shivering. Tonight had been wonderful, but going home to Elena’s barbed comments and pointed looks didn’t thrill her. At least it was only for another few days, then she’d choose Dane and Eli.
Dane walked her home, but when he leaned in to kiss her goodnight, the door flew open and Elena shot out. “If I’m babysitting you, you should be home at a decent time.”
Dane growled. His fierce scowl would have crushed any other wolf, but Elena glowered right back. She finally backed off when a second growl rumbled around Dane’s chest. Pulling Cassie into his arms, Dane kissed her long and hard. “Goodnight, sweetheart. Ignore Elena’s outburst. She’s jealous that the plagues left her unable to make babies.”
Cassie felt as though her world revolved around her womb, but she’d never expected someone to hate her for it. “Goodnight, Dane. Thank you for a lovely picnic.”
He was still chuckling at her guarded farewell as he walked away.
* * *
The following morning, Cassie left early, both to finish the second water filter and avoid Elena. Her work took her to the castle grounds to see it situated near the reopened well. Her spine stiffened, and she lifted her chin as Sable stalked toward her. “I hate you for getting Michael banished to the Silver Shadow Pack.”
Despite Sable’s vitriol, Cassie tried to explain. “You’ve got it all wrong. His lies almost got me recaptured by vampires.”
Sable’s lips curled. “You’re a cheap whore who’s making a play for the alpha’s sons, not that they give a damn. Eli’s a player who chases everything in a skirt—pathetic humans included. Dane’s so cold he never feels a thing.”
Turning on her heel, Sable stalked off. Neither she nor her brother had any right to diss Dane or hurl accusations at Eli. Cassie loved them both. Knowing they might find their Lycan soulmate one day left her bruised inside.
As Cassie strolled back to the brewery, she decided Sable had a mean streak and an ax to grind. She must know that Cassie hadn’t encouraged her brother. And the things she’d said about Dane and Eli were as ridiculous as they were heartless.
Thoughts of tonight with Eli had her chewing her fingernails. She’d no idea what he’d say or do, but she trusted him not to push her too far. Unable to face an evening meal, she arrived at the brew house early. Eli was already waiting for her, but he couldn’t resist teasing as he held the door open. “Welcome to my Dungeon of Doom.”
Cheeks pale, Cassie shook her head. “I’m not going in there. Dane punished me last night. Surely that’s enough?”
He sobered in an instant. “All that’s inside is some rope, princess. How do you feel about me tying you up? I swear I won’t hurt you, but I will remind you to take care of yourself. The double jeopardy rule humans had doesn’t apply when we could have lost you.”
Tension flowed out of Cassie’s shoulders. “Tying me up? After the way the vampires treated me, I should hate it, but it’s different with you and Dane. You both make me feel safe and cared for. I haven’t felt so treasured since the plagues hit.”
He took her hand and led her inside. “Good. I don’t want my best girl scared of me.”
He locked the door then helped her out of her dungarees. Trusting him completely, she pulled her t-shirt over her head. She hated that she’d made him worry about her welfare, but she liked that he cared enough to chastis
e her. Her actions had been rash at best, stupid at worst, and she’d do whatever it took to make things right.
Unfastening her bra, she let it flutter to the floor. When she stepped out of her panties, she blushed. Standing naked before her fully clothed werewolf left her self-conscious and shy.
“Give me your wrists,” Eli commanded.
Last night with Dane had sent her libido spiraling out of control. Now Eli brought her here to punish her. She should hate this, but she’d never felt so loved or cared for.
Feeling like a sensual temptress, she extended both arms toward him. He wound rope around them and fashioned some fancy knot work that held her motionless. She did wonder why he’d left twenty feet of rope pooled on the floor, though.
He slid a finger between the rope and her skin, checking he hadn’t bound her too tightly. “Pretty bonds for a beautiful woman.”
Taking the free end of the rope, he led her deeper into the brew house. Her pulse raced in an excited samba beat and she added a Latin-American wiggle to her walk. He tossed the rope over a low beam. Pulling it tight, he forced her arms above her head and secured the end to a hook on the wall.
Cassie’s cunny tingled. She felt helpless but excited, trusting him not to hurt her. He stood back, studying the curves and crannies of her body before claiming her lips with his. That brief kiss made her crave more.
When he moved behind her, Cassie twisted around, trying to see what he intended. He landed a gentle slap on her behind. “Eyes forward, princess.”
Pouting, she straightened up and stared straight ahead. She heard the rustle of fabric, then her world went black as he fastened a scarf over her eyes. The ends swung behind her, teasing her back and sending excited tingles down her spine.
Eli pulled her so close her back pressed against his chest. His fingers slid around her, teasing her breasts and stroking her nipples. His touch felt wonderful and possessive, so sensual that she moaned.
Moving in front of her, he trailed his fingers around her waist. She whimpered when he dropped tender kisses around her lips, wondering where he’d kiss her next. Her breathing turned fast and shallow, and she jiggled in anticipation. Finally, he buried his hands in her short curls and pulled her lips against his.
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