Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair Read Free Book Online Page A

inside her.
    Wham. Just one buttock. Another blow on the other. And one smack across her upper thighs that made her scream.
    “I’m sorry,” she sobbed, looking at Sir, trying to get him to believe her. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble; I didn’t.”
    His eyes softened. “I know, little one.” He stood, walked toward the end of the table out of her sight. She whimpered. What was he going to do? No more, please, please, please.
    Something touched her bottom, and she cried out more in fear than pain.
    “Pink and tender. Poor kitten,” Sir said. His hands caressed her bottom, painful and yet almost exciting. The feeling of need edged back. “Release her. Punishment’s over.”
    A few people in the crowd groaned in disappointment but stopped suddenly as if their complaints had been cut off. The other master and his sub unstrapped her hands; someone undid her legs. Sir grasped her around the waist, lifted her to her feet, and held her steady until she found her balance. Her face was wet, and she wiped tears from her cheeks. Her insides seemed to be shaking harder than her legs.

    Club Shadowlands
    39
    “This time, deliver your apology on your knees, Jessica,” Sir instructed.
    Only his hand under her arm kept her from falling over as she clumsily knelt. She looked up at Master Smith and his slave. “I’m so, so sorry I interrupted. And that I didn’t read the rules.” Trembles made her voice shake. What if it wasn’t good enough? What if --
    Master Smith snorted a laugh. “Sounds repentant to me, Master Z. Apology accepted.”
    “Are you satisfied, Wendy?” Master Z asked.
    The little brunette nodded. “Yes, Sir.” Her eyes met Jessica’s with a hint of sympathy.
    Jessica let her head drop forward in relief. It was over. Her thighs were quivering so hard she wanted to just crumple onto the floor. Tears still dripped down her cheeks.
    She felt so lost.
    And then Sir bent and effortlessly lifted her into his arms. Head spinning like a tilt-o-whirl ride, she clutched his jacket.
    “Shhh, kitten, you’re all right,” he murmured, and something inside her relaxed. She felt his lips in her hair and knew she was safe.
    Zachary found an empty couch in the middle of the floor and settled into it, keeping her firmly in his arms. Guilt was a hard lump in his guts. Never had a kind gesture gone so wrong. He should have made her stay out in the cold entry with Ben, should never have let her into the club.
    Dammit, even with her being aroused, there had been no evading the pain or the shock of being spanked.
    He gentled his arms around her, settling her head against his chest. “All finished, little one.”
    She buried her head in his shoulder, choking back her sobs in a way that broke his heart. He could feel her trying to wall up her distress, but between Dom and sub, there should be no walls. She didn’t know that yet and wouldn’t for a time, even if she wanted to 40
    Cherise Sinclair
    walk this path. She wasn’t his sub, but he’d acted as her Dom for the punishment; aftercare was his responsibility.
    This was where he would start.
    He shifted her in his arms so he could tilt her head up and look into her eyes. “I have you, Jessica,” he said quietly. “Let it out.”
    Her emerald eyes blinked at him. She seemed almost shocked at his words -- had no one ever been there for her? -- and then tears welled anew. Her head dropped back on his shoulder, and he could feel her shudder with muffled sobs. Her choked words drifted up to him as his warmth and embrace seeped into her.
    “In front of people… It hurt… Nobody ever…” Her barriers fell, and she sobbed, shaking as hard as when she’d been chilled from the rain. Sensitive little one, a sheltered little pet. It only made him want her the more.
    He stroked her hair, murmured gently as she cried; he told her how brave she’d been, how wonderfully she’d apologized, how much he cherished her sharing with him. He praised her courage at trying to save