Cait and the Devil by Annabel Joseph Read Free Book Online Page A

extent of his desire. He’d put her through enough for one afternoon.
    “How long will you hold me?” she asked, nestling her head into his neck so that he felt the wetness of her tears.
    Forever. As long as I possibly can. Which means I shouldn’t be holding you at all.
    “It’s getting late, Caitlyn,” he said. “We should return to the keep.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Cait slumped against his chest, enjoying the final moments of closeness with him. The rocking motion of the horse made her sore bottom smart anew with each step. Well, she had wanted his attention and she’d gotten it. Who knew when next she’d get it again? She was still considering if it had been worth it now that she’d had a taste of punishment over his lap. Devil indeed. It was an apt name for him, because her bottom hurt like the devil and his hand had given her pain like Beelzebub himself.
    It had hurt more than anything she’d ever experienced. Perhaps she’d led a protected life in her cottage in the woods but she’d never, ever been struck in anger, with the intention to inflict pain. Even now her bottom throbbed, felt twice its usual size. But afterward, to be cradled in his arms...that had made it all worthwhile.
    She could have snuggled against him for an eternity. Never mind that he had just spanked her so that she’d broken down in tears. It was all forgotten the moment he gathered her up in his arms and held her close. She had felt so lonely, so unwanted and bereft since Erma had died and circumstances had thrust her into the cold, wide world alone. It felt so amazing just to be held, just to be touched. Even if he’d only done it to get her down out of the tree, it was still the most wonderful moment she’d had in weeks.
    Even now, leaning back against him while they returned to the courtyard, she still basked in his comforting warmth. How on earth had she not realized how cold she’d become? She shifted to press back even closer to him. Her thighs rested on top of his, and her head nestled perfectly under his chin so that each time he moved she could feel it. Closer, closer still…
    “Enough.” His voice rumbled against her ear. His hands clamped down on her hips, holding them away from him. “Sit still.”
    “It hurts.”
    “I know. It’s supposed to. Now cease your squirming before everyone in town knows exactly what happened to you.”
    She blushed. Would they know? The townspeople threw many smiling glances their way. The earl and his new bride, how charming. Hopefully none of them realized what he’d just done to her. That would be too humiliating. She looked down at his rough, suntanned hands on the reins in front of her. How striking they were. She’d known almost no men in her sheltered existence, and been this close to no other man at all, not ever in her life. She’d never even imagined a man might touch her where he’d touched her, on her bare skin, on her bottom, that he might hit her there so mercilessly with stinging, burning slaps. She supposed this type of thing must go on between man and wife or he wouldn’t have done it so matter-of-factly to her.
    But for her, there was nothing matter-of-fact about it. It had been a traumatic day, and she was awfully upset over what he’d forced her to submit to. Although to be honest, she had asked to be punished. She had intentionally disobeyed him and been quite disrespectful at the same time. He had told her exactly what would happen. She’d disobeyed him anyway and reaped the consequences. So why did she feel more needful of him than ever? Why was she dismayed that they were almost to the keep?
    He dismounted in the courtyard and lifted her down. His expression remained darkened by a frown.
    “Are you still angry with me?” she asked.
    “No. But I’ve wasted the better part of the afternoon dealing with your disobedience. I have work to do. I want you to go to your room and stay there until dinner and think over your behavior today.”
    “Yes,