He tried to muster up outrage at the violation. But all he felt was a grudging admiration for her boldness. That — and a stirring in his cock. She’d been furious, glaring at him when he worked the salisis into her ass. Then she started moaning and threw herself at him. Wanting more. Demanding more. He’d obliged, brought her to — what had she called it? Gratification. By the time she finished panting and writhing against him, it had taken every ounce of his self-control not to toss her on the sand and take her then and there.
He remembered feeling weak afterward. Then nothing — until he was roused by hands roaming over his body. He’d been half-conscious, but his cock had woken enough to demand attention. Especially after the little spitfire did to him what no woman had ever dared to do before. Did she think she was saving his life? Or was she simply trying to get back at him for doing it to her?
Ayron stomped to the pool, scrubbed the last traces of salisis off his skin. Then he dressed and grabbed the torch. Cursing, he set off after her, his anger growing with every step. The little fool must know she wouldn’t get far. Yet she persisted in trying to run away.Look what happened when she took off out of the cave. She‘ll be the death of both of us.
He’d always wondered if he’d been too soft with Naia. To be fair, she’d never given him reason to punish her harshly. She’d been gentle. Compliant. His mate hadn’t had the fiery spirit he’d seen in Eva’s prize.
In deference to her delicate nature, he’d never spanked Naia properly, like the other men of the Tryb did to their mates. The few times he punished her, she’d been so contrite, crying and begging his forgiveness, that he’d ended up cuddling her after only a few whacks. Then she’d slide to her knees, take his cock in her mouth, and please him the way she knew he loved.
If I’d been more firm with her, spanked her more often, she wouldn’t have ignored me and gone off alone with Judah after I told her not to.She’d still be alive.
The thought popped unbidden into his mind, adding to his resolve. He vowed to start out right with this one when he caught up with her. Show her who was master. If any woman deserved a good spanking, this troublesome female surely did.
***
Lexi turned left, snatching up the scrap of cloth she’d dropped to find her way back. She clutched the precious bundle of herbs she’d recovered, hoping she’d get back before Ayron woke. Hoping he’d suffered no lasting harm. She didn’t know how important the herbal drink was to their healing. But without it her thirst was nearly unbearable and it felt as though a beast was gnawing at her belly.
When she spied a dim glow in the distance, she thought it was the torch she’d left burning back in the grotto. But it was too soon. By her count, she had three more turns to go. The glow got brighter, and she heard a shout.
Lexi took off running, made another left turn — and came face to face with Ayron.
“You’re alive!”
He grabbed her by the arm. “Yes, I’m alive. But you weren’t going to be. Where in the name of all the gods did you think you were going? Haven’t you learned you can’t survive out there all alone?”
“But I…”
He never gave her time to finish. Ayron yanked the torch out of her hand and shoved it into a crevice along with his own. Then he dropped onto a nearby rock and pulled her facedown over his lap. His hand cracked down on her naked bottom.
“I’ll teach you not to run away,” he growled.
“Stop it! I was only…”
Another harsh whack took her breath away.
“I don’t care what you thought you were doing. You willnever…never…neverleave my side again without permission. Do you understand?”
He emphasized his words with stern swats. Lexi thought he’d spanked her hard when she’d refused to take off the cylerian. But that had been nothing compared to the thrashing he was intent on delivering. His palm connected with her bare bottom again. She heard thecrackthen hissed as the pain took hold, searing her tender skin with another lick of fire.
It was every bit as bad as the searing rays of the sun had been. Worse because she couldn’t escape into darkness, couldn’t cloak herself to stop the agony. Every attempt she made to explain seemed to fuel his outrage, earning her more fierce whacks. She struggled to get away. But when her body wiggled against the rock-hard bulge under his garment, it seemed to make him even angrier.
“Oh, no. You won’t be using that sweet little pussy to change my mind! Not this time. You’re getting the spanking you deserve. The spanking I should have given you long ago…”
His words died off, echoing down the stone walls of the passage. Suddenly, he stood up, shoving her off his lap. Lexi fell to her knees. She huddled there, trying not to burst into tears. Afraid to do anything that might inflame his anger even more. She didn’t think she could endure one more whack on her aching bottom.
Ayron stood with his back to her, chest heaving. If he wasn’t such a hardass, she’d have thought he was racked with sobs. After what seemed like forever, he reached up, grabbed the two torches, and headed back the way he’d come.
“Let’s go,” he barked, never meeting her eyes.
She managed to find her voice. “Wait. I need the light. The herbs…” She scrabbled on the ground, desperate to find the bundle that had gotten her into so much trouble.
He whirled around. “Herbs?” he snapped. “What are you talking about?”
“The herbs,” she sniffed, swiping a hand across her eyes. “The ones we need for the drink. I dropped them in the passage. I had to go back and find them. See? Here they are.” She held up a grayish-green bundle.
“That’s why you left?” He held one of the torches out, throwing his body into the shadows. Lexi shielded her eyes from the blinding glare, unable to see the expression on his face.
“We need them. I was afraid you’d…we’d die if we didn’t have the drink.”
