Coming soon! Ruined Hearts - An Excerpt

RUINED HEART
EXCERPT

“You sure do like to set the rules, don’t you?” he said, his voice filled with laughter. “Who’s the injured party here? You deserve twenty, but I’ll compromise at fifteen. No less, however, and that’s my final offer.”

Melissa felt the blood drain from her face. He sounded so matter of fact about it.

“You promise you will drop the charges against me if I cooperate?” He gave an infinitesimal nod. “Where would you like me? I mean, how do you plan to accomplish this punishment?”

He slowly removed his charcoal gray jacket and laid it across her pillows, then, rolling up his shirtsleeves, he sank down on the bed. Over the starched white shirt, his waistcoat was gray, matching the jacket. He appeared handsome and decidedly authoritarian, the sort of man ready and capable to deal out punishment. Lord, she hated this, but she’d take her punishment then leave this town far behind shortly thereafter.

With a smile, he slapped his thighs. “Right here, sweetheart.”

Melissa rose from the bench, hesitated a moment, then straightened her shoulders, ready to take her punishment—and rid herself quickly of this man once and for all, though she still couldn’t believe all he’d said about her brother. And, she’d never forget he’d killed him, either.

Reaching his side, Melissa bent and started stretching forward but straightened up, saying, “I’m not quite certain how to…”

Without a word, he slid his hand around her waist and tugged her forward until she found herself over his knee, bottom up, toes and fingertips touching the red-carpeted floor.

“Ah, perfect,” he said, one hand on her lower back. “Before we begin, you will be lectured first.”

Melissa rolled her eyes and sighed. “Aren’t you taking this patriarchal attitude a bit too far, Trent?”

“Not at all,” he said, punctuating his words with a sharp smack to her bottom.

“Oh!” she gasped, then stiffened as humiliation swept through her.

“Don’t tell me you felt that, not through all of your skirts. Impossible,” he said.

Her eye caught an ant running across the floor. Was that laughter she heard in his voice? “I felt it…barely,” she replied.

“I thought as much. Now, then, shall we get on with listing your misdeeds, which is why you’re in this position?”

“If you must.”

She lay there over his knee, and listened to him, his voice changing from humor to a serious tone. Blood rushed to her head. Just when she started to tell him to get on with it he did, the firm placement of his left hand on her back warning her that he was ready to deal out her punishment.

He smacked her bottom. Melissa smiled and thanked heaven for her winter weight gown, several layers of petticoats and drawers. After three smacks, she waited with growing anticipation for him to continue—to finish quickly, but he didn’t lay his hand on her again.

Silence, except for his smooth, calm breathing above her. Melissa lifted her head and glanced back at him. He wore an irritated expression. She guessed her total lack of penitence infuriated him.

“Obviously, I am not making an impression on you, am I?” he snapped, his face getting darker than a thundercloud.

She gave him what her mother called her impish smile. “Sorry, not much. Please continue. I’ve a coach to catch shortly.”