Jasper raised his hand and froze. Everything she said was the God awful truth. He wasn't spanking her because of anything she'd done. She hadn't deceived him, hadn't lied. She never pretended to be anything other than what she was. No, he was spanking her because of what he'd done, fallen in love with her.
Her pain would not lessen his. If he took his belt to her as he intended, her screams echoing in his room would haunt him forever and it wouldn't change the ache in his chest or the fever in his blood. Worst of all, it wouldn't make her love him.
Pulling her from the bed, he moved her between his knees and held her close to his chest for many long moments. Jasper took off his shirt and used it to dry her face, avoiding looking into her accusing brown eyes as best he could. When her hiccups subsided, he turned her around and undid her dress, letting it drop to the floor. With gentle hands, he untied the red petticoat that marked her as surely as his hand had. Bending down, he removed her shoes.
Her corset came next until she stood before him clothed in only her black stockings and scarlet bottom. Rising, he pulled the few pins from her hair and smoothed the silky mass down her back. It almost, but not quite, hid his shame.
Turning her in his arms, he tipped her chin up and kissed her eyelids, cheeks and lips.
"I won't hurt you again tonight," he assured her in a whisper. "At least not on purpose, but I will take you in any way I want. It's a fair exchange, don't you think?"
Wide-eyed she shivered and nodded. He knew she was thinking about the money; he was thinking about his heart.
"Whatever I ask you to do, please don't fight me," he requested, nibbling on her shoulder. "For some reason I have a short fuse with you despite my best intentions."
"I won't," she promised. "I'm sorry I slapped you."
"You've paid for that," he assured her. "Now, be still and mind me." Lifting her onto the bed, he placed her in the middle. "Spread your arms and legs," he instructed. He could see the worry in her eyes, but she did exactly as he asked. Taking the soft ropes, he encircled her wrists and bound them to the headboard. "I won't bind your ankles unless I have to," he told her as his eyes took in the spectacular sight of her rapidly rising and falling breasts.
Lying beside her, he trailed his thumb across her bottom lip.
"Suck," he ordered. He barely surpressed a groan when she obeyed, drawing him into her mouth, her tongue wetting him before she sucked, tentatively at first and then with much more strength. Popping his digit free, he trailed it across her collarbone, tracing each hollow and vein until they led him to her breasts. "These are lovely, you know," he remarked as he stroked each one in turn. A few plucks of her berry nipples had them at attention and he bent to kiss them. Clementine arched into his mouth and he licked, but refused to suckle.
"Be still," he whispered before blowing gently on them. He nibbled, he nipped, licked and let his warm breath bathe them but he would not do what she wanted most. Her heels drummed against the bed, and still he teased. "Stop kicking your feet or I'll bind you," he warned, hiding his smile in a kiss to her ribcage.
He continued to torment her as his hand strayed lower, rubbing her abdomen right above her pelvis. Skirting her slit, he stroked her thighs until she snapped her legs together. Tsking, he rose and picked up the other ropes, securing her ankles to the corner posts of his bed. "I warned you," he scolded. "Now you'll behave won't you?"
"Yes," she cried, "only…"
"Only what?" he inquired resuming his place next to her.
"Nothing," she sniffed. "Forget I mentioned it."
"No, tell me. Was there something you wanted?"
"You know damn well I want you to suck my nipple you evil man," she hissed, her face flaming with embarrassment.
"You mean like this?" he asked before lowering his head and drawing her peak between his lips. Gradually he increased his suction, laving the tight bud until it lengthened in his mouth.
"Oh, God, yes," she cried out, arching her back and offering more.
"Maybe later," he laughed after releasing her with a nip. "Right now I want to play with this little pearl," he informed her, edging his long finger between her lower lips. "Yes, this definitely wants attention too and I'm more than happy to oblige," he crooned against her peak as he sought out her clit and circled it. "Let's see if you're still dry, my darling," he suggested, moving his hand lower and slowly probing her opening. "Oh yes, this is nice and slippery," he praised. "I'm definitely going to want to play here tonight," he sighed.
Even though she arched her hips invitingly, he abstained from entering her and ignored her sob of frustration. Moving back to her clit he tapped it firmly in reproach.
"Don't be a greedy little lady," he cautioned. "I'll get to everything in my own time, in my own way, even this," he informed her, slipping his hand beyond her pussy and pressing between her cheeks. "No, don't clench," he advised as he nestled deeper until he was firmly at her anal opening. I'd hate to have to spank you again tonight."
"You said you wouldn't hurt me again," she reminded him.