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  “I need to get back home, angel,” he said, sounding regretful. He stroked her cheek. “Are you okay?”

  “Well, my ass is on fire, but yeah,” she smiled, “I’m okay. Thanks, Bobby.”

  He kissed her on the lips and started to get dressed. Pulling out his wallet, he dropped a huge wad of cash on the dresser. “I probably have a grand with me now and I’ll bring you the rest tomorrow. I can meet you down at the salon in the afternoon.”

  The tears leaped into her eyes again. “You don’t need to. That will be enough to get them off my back. I have another seven hundred to add to that.”

  “Okay. Call me if it’s not.”

  She climbed out of bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry about calling you,” she whispered into his neck.

  He ran his hand down her back and patted her ass. “It’s over, baby. I punished you, we wiped the slate clean.” He held her by the nape and kissed her possessively. “And now that I know you’re really my girl,” he said, “there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

  She stared, wanting to ask him what he meant, but he had already turned to go. She listened to the sound of him leaving the apartment as she curled back into the luxurious bed.

  Now that I know you’re really my girl…

  What on earth could he mean by that? And why did it make her so happy to hear?

  * * * * *

  He woke wishing he had spent the night with Lexi. He meant what he’d said about doing anything for her. He had never known the high he could get from having a girl like Lexi submit to him.

  He’d had submissives before — pain sluts who liked it dirty. Or who liked it during sex, but couldn’t take the real punishment. And he’d had girls who didn’t want to submit to his authority, but took it because they wanted his money. Stacy had fallen into that category. She sulked and made a big deal out of most every spanking.

  But Lexi was so different. First of all, she was more than a sexy body — she had a brain and a real personality. She wasn’t the type to whore herself out for a luxury apartment. He should not be happy for her misfortune, but he knew if she hadn’t been desperate, she never would have given him the time of day.

  Perhaps she never would have known she liked a dominant lover. Because he had a feeling he was her first, and her body’s responses to his authority surprised her. But how would she feel about what happened last night in the light of day? Playful spanking was one thing, real punishment another. Just because she had accepted it at the time didn’t mean it would sit right with her later.

  Maybe he should have stayed the night.

  He hung around until his daughters were up, checking in with them about their plans for the day, then he took the additional cash Lexi needed to pay the whole debt off and headed over.

  When he walked in, he found her eating a bowl of cereal on the couch in her pajamas.

  “Good morning!” She jumped up in surprise to see him, gathering up her cereal bowl, coffee mug and another plate from the coffee table and rushing to the kitchen to wash up. He could tell her he didn’t mind a few dishes, but the sight of her scurrying around to please him turned him on.

  “I’m sorry —I didn’t expect to see you until this afternoon,” she said, returning to the living room and running her hands through her hair.

  “Yeah. I wanted to see you.”

  Her eyes rounded, as if startled. Or was it hopeful? Either way, he saw she cared. Just as seeing her rush to clean up pleased him, so did seeing the need in her eyes. She didn’t just want his money. She cared.

  “Last night was intense.”

  “Intense, yeah,” she breathed, stepping into his arms and resting her cheek against his chest.

  When he heard a sniff, he pulled her head away. “Are you crying?”

  “No,” she said, wiping her eye with the back of her hand. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “Come here,” he said, leading her to an armchair and pulling her into his lap.

  “It meant a lot to me that you accepted my punishment last night.” He ran his thumb along her cheek. “You took it so well. I’m proud of you, baby.”

  She met his eye finally, confusion evident. “So were you really mad?”

  He lifted a brow, turning stern. “What do you think?”

  “I don’t know!” she wailed, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m sorry,” she sniffed, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m not usually like this.”

  “Cry all you want,” he told her. “I gave the spanking, I can handle the tears.”

  * * * * *

  She hid her face in his neck. He rubbed slow circles over her back. “I was mad, yes,” he said, coaxing her head away from his shoulder and cupping her face. He sought her eyes with his gaze. She met it, but flushed.

  He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Something about her vulnerability prompted him to be completely honest with her. “But I also like to spank.”

  He studied her face, bracing for her reaction to his admission.

  “So... did it turn you on?” she asked.

  “No,” he answered. “Well, that’s not true. Yes, a lot of it did, but once it became challenging for you, it lost all sexiness.”

  “Challenging,” she repeated, her lips twisting into a wry grimace.

  He touched her cheek. “You took it very well, little girl.”

  She searched his face, as if needing more answers.

  “It didn’t turn me on, but it did erase all my irritation. And it bonded me to you. I meant it last night when I said there is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you. I loved the way you submitted to me for punishment.”

  “Did I really have a choice?”

  He shrugged. “Yeah. You always have a choice. You could walk out of here any time, sugar. You’re not my prisoner. But if you stay, you follow my rules. That’s our deal.”

  Chapter Six

  She took a deep breath. “There’s this part of me that keeps freaking out about everything. Like this is just one giant mind-fuck, and I’m playing right into your hands. Did you ever see 9½ Weeks?”

  “I thought it was pretty hot.”

  She giggled. “Okay, so did I. But the message was that it was all wrong for her. And he was dangerous.”

  Bobby’s brows drew together. “Do you fear I’m a psychopath?”

  She hesitated, then shook her head. “No. I’m just confused. I’ve been mixed up all morning, that’s why you caught me sitting around in my pajamas. Part of me feels bad about screwing up and getting in trouble, and then another part is pissed that you came down on me so hard. And then still another part says none of it was real, it’s just the way you like to have sex. And then the last piece of me says who really cares what you do, you just gave me a thousand bucks. If you want to take a belt to my ass and you get us both off afterward, who am I to complain?”

  Bobby chuckled. “I don’t know, Lex. It is confusing. I like to be in charge of you. I like to punish — in the bedroom and for real. And real life spanking is hotter to me, even if it’s not in the moment. Does it make any sense to say that knowing you will submit to me in real life makes the sex steamier when we play?”

  She relaxed. Hearing him articulate his fetish comforted her. He understood his quirk and didn’t believe whipping his girlfriend with a belt for breaking rules was a God-given right afforded to men. Or even a normal, accepted behavior. He may be mafia, but knew the line he walked.

  He picked up her hand and interlaced his fingers over the tops of hers. “I know you like some part of it, too,” he murmured.

  She lifted their joined hands to her lips and kissed his fingers as her answer.

  “So you’re staying? You’re still my goomah?”

  “Did you bring any money?” she asked with mock greediness. “No, just kidding. Bad joke. I sort of hate myself for using you like this.”

  “I don’t hate myself for using you. At all,” he said, waggling his eyebrows in an apprec
iative leer. “And yes, I brought the money. Go get dressed and we’ll take it down to the salon together.”

  She surged from his lap at the order. “Do I have time for a quick shower?” she called over her shoulder as she padded to the bedroom.

  “Do what you need to do,” he said.

  She turned on the water and popped in the shower, making it quick, not wanting to keep him waiting. Their discussion had relieved the heaviness and confusion she’d felt all morning, and now as she shampooed her hair and shaved her legs, a new excitement bubbled up.

  When she stepped out of the shower, Bobby was sitting on the bathroom countertop, waiting.

  “Eek! You surprised me. I’m sorry, am I taking too long?”

  As usual, he looked casually elegant, his khaki slacks crisply ironed, the short-sleeved button-down square cut at the bottom to wear un-tucked. “No, I just wanted to watch,” he said, his eyes roving across her body.

  She dropped her towel to give him the full view. “I’m yours to ogle.”

  He grinned. “My cousin Joey just texted to say he has tickets to the Cubs game today. You want to head down to Wrigley Field after we stop by the salon?”

  She lit up, the idea of spending the afternoon with him appealing. “I’d love to! Oh wait,” she said, giving him a coy look over her shoulder as she headed out the door. “Why are you asking? I thought I was available to you anytime you demand, unless I’m working.”

  He lunged and caught her around the waist before she made it out the door. Hauling her back, he put one foot on the toilet and bent her over his knee, delivering a series of stinging smacks to her ass. “Are you really going to tell me how to do my job?”

  “No, sir!” she yelped.

  He stopped and rubbed away the sting, then craned his head around to inspect her backside. She had examined herself in the mirror that morning, fascinated with how quickly her butt recovered from punishment. Only a few red lines remained from her whipping.

  “How is your sweet little ass today?” he asked.

  She considered lying. She certainly didn’t want him to ever spank her harder than he had. But he seemed so good at reading her, he would probably know a fib when he heard it. “A little sting-y in places, but mostly fine,” she admitted.

  He turned her to face him, squeezing and kneading her ass. “Does it scare you to hear I can’t wait to spank you again?” he murmured.

  She swallowed. Her pussy said no, regardless of her reluctance to admit anything to her demanding lover.

  He released her and gave her ass a slap. “Go on and get ready.”

  “Yes, sir,” she laughed and went into the bedroom, pulling on a halter top and short cut-off jeans.

  “Mmm, mmm,” Bobby said when he saw her. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

  He drove her to the salon, and offered to come in with her, but she talked him into waiting in the car, knowing if she showed up with three thousand dollars in cash and a Sicilian-looking boyfriend, the owner would know she was in bed with the mafia. She debated depositing the money and writing a check, but she didn’t want to have to pay taxes on it, either. In the end, she just walked in and handed the money over without explaining why she paid in cash.

  When she got back in the car, she lunged for Bobby, leaning across the center console to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. She didn’t want to be the sort of greedy woman who used him for his money, but she couldn’t deny the gratitude and relief his assistance brought, which made him all the more attractive. She supposed there was some form of biological force at work there — male as provider.

  “Thank you,” she said when she sat back in her seat.

  Bobby looked smug, tweaking her nipple before he started the car and pulled out into traffic.

  The flash of a car right next to her window triggered her driving anxiety and she shrieked, jumping out of her skin.

  Bobby’s hand fell on her thigh. “I’m going to have my secretary set up that appointment for you. You’re using the phone scheduler, right?”

  She exhaled and nodded, the tension in her shoulders easing.

  Bobby somehow managed to find parking close to the stadium and they picked up tickets from Will Call. When he led them to their seats, a good-looking Italian man and beautiful young woman stood up. The woman wore a baby carrier in the front and a tiny baby head peeked out the top of it.

  “Joey, you brought the family!” Bobby exclaimed with surprise.

  She stiffened, wondering if her appearance with Bobby in front of the woman would cause trouble with his wife at home.

  * * * * *

  He shook Joey’s hand. “Hi Sophie,” he said, kissing her on the cheeks. He touched the baby’s head. “It’s great to see you out and about, Sadie,” he cooed, leaning down to see her big eyes. Sophie bounced up and down and the baby smiled at him.

  “Aw, she likes you!”

  “Of course she likes me, she knows I’m family,” he grinned. “Sophie, Joey, this is Lexi.”

  Lexi stood back, looking slightly uncomfortable, which didn’t seem to fit her personality. But then, she thought he was married, so she probably worried about what they would think. Well, Sophie may clue her in on the truth, but he could handle that. He hadn’t lied. He never told her he was married, and he didn’t wear a ring. He couldn’t help it if she’d made a false assumption.

  Lexi shook their hands and they settled into the stadium seats, the men sitting beside each other, with the women on the outside.

  “Well, they’re getting the hits they need, if they can only get some pitching,” Joey said.

  “Yeah, they’ve got the starting pitching, if they can only get some relief. They blew another save last night — it’s the tenth one they’ve blown this month.”

  Sophie pulled the baby out of the carrier and draped the fabric over her shoulder, pulling up her shirt to nurse.

  “Don’t look at my wife’s breasts,” Joey warned.

  He grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He dropped a hand onto Lexi’s bare thigh. stroking her soft skin.

  When the little one finished nursing, Joey took her from Sophie, holding her to his shoulder and patting her back. Despite the newness of the baby and it being his first, Joey looked comfortable handling her.

  “So how is fatherhood? What do the two of you do all day, just sit around and stare at your little princess?”

  Sophie laughed. “Pretty much. Joey made me quit work five months into the pregnancy, and now that he’s semi-retired, we’re home a lot. This is an exciting outing for me.”

  Lexi leaned forward, finally relaxed enough to join the conversation. “What did you do before you quit?”

  “Massage therapist,” she said.

  “Ooh, you’re a lucky man, Joey,” Lexi said, flashing her beautiful smile.

  “I’m blessed,” Joey said, sounding truly religious about it as he gazed at his wife.

  “Sophie, may I hold her?” Bobby asked, leaning across Joey to look at her. “I’m good with babies, I promise.”

  Sophie smiled. “Sure.”

  Joey carefully transferred the little bundle to him and he laid her on her back on his lap, cradling her tiny head in his palms, staring at her miniature features. It had been so long since his girls were babies, but the wonder and awe of being a new parent flooded back as if it were yesterday.

  “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” he asked.

  Lexi murmured in assent.

  Little Sadie looked straight into his eyes, her mouth tugging into a lopsided smile.

  “Thank you for the smile,” he whispered. To Lexi, he said, “It’s like looking into the eyes of God, isn’t it?”

  When she didn’t answer, he looked up to see her staring at him with a strange look.

  “Do you want children?”

  Pain flickered across her face. “I used to. I just haven’t been... in the right situation to think about it.”

  He realized he shouldn’t have asked. They were not i
n the sort of dating situation that warranted discussing future desires for children, and it obviously pained her. He had no interest in remarrying or starting a new family, although the thought of Lexi’s belly swollen with his child did ignite a sort of masculine pride.

  He picked up the baby and inhaled the smell of her, kissing the top of her peach-fuzzed head before handing her back to Joey.

  Lexi remained relatively quiet for the rest of the game. He tried to tease her out of it, but this problem was not one he could easily fix for her.

  * * * * *

  True to his word, Bobby’s secretary scheduled an appointment for her with the EMDR therapist, as well as an appointment for a massage at a studio nearby. When she texted him to say thanks he replied, I take care of my girl.

  His girl. The words produced bittersweet feelings. The depth of her feelings for him had grown, which had begun to pain her.

  Bobby Manghini was not an available man. He had a wife and kids. And no amount of wishing he would stare at a baby they made together with the same reverence she saw in him at the baseball game would make it happen.

  This relationship was purely business — he took care of her and she made herself available. Nothing more. Nothing less. The sooner she got back on her feet and could walk away the better.

  That evening, as she finished up her last client, the door swung open and his dark figure crossed the frame.

  Her heart double-pumped, adrenaline erasing the weariness of working on her feet all day. The receptionist had gone home for the day and she and her client were the only other people in the salon. She beamed a smile at him and held up her finger to indicate she would be done in a minute.

  He nodded, leaning up against the wall, his arms folded across his chest.

  “Do you know him?” her client asked nervously.

  She grinned. He did appear dangerous, the way he chose to stand rather than sit, as if he were waiting to rough her up.