The Darkland by Kathryn Le Veque Read Free Book Online Page B

side entrance that led into the castle,
still, she refused to recant her words. Just inside the door lay a cool, vacant
corridor and he let go of her arm. The moment he fixed her with his stone-gray
gaze, however, apprehension began to simmer.
    He did not waste any
time. Planting himself on a stone seat jutting from the wall, he yanked Mara
over his knee and tossed up her skirts. Furious, not to mention terrified, Mara
twisted and shrieked as he brought his gigantic palm to bear on her bottom not
once, but twice. Listening to her yelp, he paused briefly, his hand hovering
above her reddened bum.
    "I told you what
would happen with your next infraction," he growled. "No more
unbridled words, no more rebellion. Do you understand me?"
    She did not answer him,
struggling to remove herself from his lap. He spanked her again and her
resistance waned.
    "Answer me. Do you
understand?"
    She was breathing
heavily against his thighs; he could feel her.  "Beat me if you must, Sir
Kirk, but I will never surrender to your tyranny. Especially when I speak the
truth!"
    He swatted her again,
not quite as hard, for her buttocks were becoming terribly red. Tender, white,
heart-shaped buttocks he would have much rather sank his teeth into than strike
with his hand.
    "Correct or no, you
will listen to me and you will obey." He suddenly put her skirts down,
flipping her onto her back. Cradling her as if she was a very large infant, he
wagged a grim finger in her face. "We will not have this conversation
again. I spanked you in punishment for your actions, but hear me now as I
explain the rules you will live by here at Anchorsholme. There will be no more
impolite behavior, no more disobedience. You will present the model of a
perfect lady or you will answer to me as you just have. Is this clear?"
    Mara's eyes were wide,
staring into orbs of cold steel. He was holding her tightly and had she not
been so unbalanced, she might have allowed herself to experience the sensation.
But she could only gaze back at him, into the face that Micheline had called
handsome. And she suddenly found herself willing to admit, for the very first
time, that Micheline had been right. He was handsome.
    "It... it is,"
she heard herself whisper, hardly believing that she was giving in so easily.
But she couldn't seem to control her submission, a submission accompanied by a
weakening warmth. The longer he glared at her, the more powerful the warmth
became.
    "Good." He,
too, could hardly believe she had surrendered as easily as she had. In fact, it
was too good to believe. "If I need to pound out another rhythm on your
buttocks to underscore my point, then I shall be happy to do so."
    Mara shook her head
weakly, unable to tear herself away from his incredible eyes. Beautiful eyes,
she found herself thinking. Beautiful eyes of a beautiful, powerful man who
wasn't intimidated by her in the least. And mayhap that was a good thing.
    "No need, my
lord." Her voice was sweet, faint, as he had once remembered thinking on
the day she had nearly thrown herself from the window. "I understand
perfectly, although I cannot guarantee the lesson will be immediately."
    He cocked an eyebrow,
his thoughts turning from spanking her buttocks to the wonderful warmth of her
in his arms. "What does this mean?"
    Mara swallowed,
realizing his grip on her had tightened. As much as the new sensation enticed
her, it was also frightening. Frightening that a man she had sworn to hate
could create such havoc in her naive, stubborn mind.
    "Would you mind
letting me stand?" she asked.
    He obliged, aware that
he liked her much better in his arms. Mara straightened her surcoat before
fixing him in the eye, far calmer than she had been when they had entered the
deserted corridor.
    "It means that old
habits die hard," she said frankly. "I am used to speaking my mind,
Sir Kirk, and...."
    "Kirk."
    "Beg pardon, my
lord?"
    "You will call me
simply Kirk," he said without a hint of warmth. "Now continue."
    Mara looked