“That’s it,” I encouraged gently as I rubbed my hands up and down her back, petting her as I held her close. “Let it all out. You can cry. I’ve got you.”

Although the feel of her lithe body trembling against me made my heart twist, I knew this was what she needed. She’d been struggling with something for months, keeping me at a distance even when I fucked her. She hadn’t been letting me in. I knew deep in my bones that it wasn’t coming from a spiteful or malicious place, but for some reason she’d returned to old habits and drawn up her walls, locking down her emotions rather than trusting me with her vulnerability. It was long past time that I did this. And as much as the monster inside me relished breaking her down, I hated to see my wife broken and sobbing in my arms.

I held her for a long time, swallowing against the lump in my throat as she cried for an eternity. Eventually, her sobs quieted, and her breathing turned more even rather than coming in ragged gasps.

“Talk to me,” I ordered gently. “Trust me.”

She blinked, her gray eyes peeking up at me through long, wet lashes. “Of course I trust you,” she said, her voice raspy from crying. “I love you.”

I cuddled her closer. “And I love you. But you need to tell me what’s wrong. Now.” I added the last with a ring of command.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. “I’m scared I’m going to fail and let everyone down.”

“What do you mean? How could you possibly let anyone down? You’re strong and loving and perfect.”

She sniffled. “But what if I just can’t do it? I’m barely holding it together. I want to be a good mother, a good wife. But I’m just so tired. Most days, I feel like I have no clue what I’m doing. What if I mess everything up? What if I’m not a good mother? And how can I be a good mother when I have thoughts like this?”

I drew in a sharp breath. I’d never have imagined her anguished response. “You’re a wonderful mother,” I told her earnestly. “If anything, you’re overprotective. I was going to talk to you about that. You need to lean on me. Share some responsibilities. I’m not going to break our daughter.”

She blinked at me in surprise. “Of course I don’t think that. You’re so good and gentle with her.”

“Then why don’t you let me help you take care of her more?”

“Because I can’t let go. I feel so guilty even leaving her with the nanny to go to work. What if I’m neglecting her? I can’t… After what I went through with the Ames family, I can’t bear the thought of neglecting her. I never want her to experience that. I want her to feel loved and cherished all the time.”

“She will,” I promised. “She does.”

“How can you know that?” she asked, her small hands fisting in my shirt.

One corner of my lips ticked up in a wry smile. “Well, she’s not talking yet, so she can’t tell you how much she loves you. And I’m sure there will be some days in her teenage years when she thinks she hates you. But I know you’ll always be there for her. You won’t let her down. You won’t let any of us down. But you can’t keep going the way you have been. You need to learn to rely on me. I need you to rely on me. Do you know how powerless I’ve felt, watching you retreat into yourself and not knowing why? All I’ve ever wanted is to take care of you, and now I want to take care of our daughter, too. I need you to let me do that. You are my whole world. Tell me you’ll trust me. Tell me you won’t go through this alone.”

“But I have to be strong for our family,” she protested weakly. “I’m not sure if I can give up control anymore.”

I tilted my chin, fixing her with a stern stare. “Submitting to me does not make you weak,” I reminded her. “Letting go of your tension and worries through trusting me makes you stronger. And that trust you put in me makes me stronger. We’re better together. Perfect together. You’re exactly what I need, Claudia. Don’t you remember that?”

“Of course,” she breathed. “You’re what I need, too. I don’t know who I’d be without you.”

“Then let me take care of you. Let me take care of our family. You don’t have to shoulder all the burdens by yourself. I’m your Master, but I’m also your partner. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, Sean,” she said, her voice strengthening with conviction. “Yes, Master. I understand. I won’t shut you out again.” She traced the line of my jaw reverently. “I love you.”

“I love you too, little one,” I promised. “I’m going to fuck you now. I’m going to mark you. Are you ready for that?” I needed her permission. I’d promised I wouldn’t force myself on her, but I sensed a change between us. A rift had been healed, and everything was right again.

“Yes, Master. Please, fuck me.”

I groaned. How long had it been since she’d begged for my cock? I’d almost forgotten how sweet the plea sounded on her hot tongue.

I rolled her onto her back and settled my body over hers. I couldn’t bother taking the time to undress. I simply freed myself from my jeans and drove into her in one harsh thrust. She welcomed me, my cock sliding through her slick, puffy folds easily. We were a perfect fit, and she still gripped me tightly despite being relaxed from her orgasms. She moaned and arched into me, wrapping her legs around my hips so I could go deeper. Her inner muscles contracted around me, driving me to the point of madness. After being denied this sweet submissive for so long, I was on the edge of control. I gritted my teeth and forced back my pleasure. She’d come again before I branded her with my cum.

“Come for me, sub,” I ground out, rotating my hips against hers so I stimulated her clit. I reached between us and tweaked her nipples hard, pinching and twisting them in the way she liked best, giving her just the right amount of pain to heighten her pleasure. I wanted to claim her lips, but the desire to watch her beatific expression as she exploded was stronger.

Within seconds, she came apart under my hands. Her whole body began to tremble, and she threw her head back with a loud, wordless wail as she mindlessly moved her hips against mine, meeting my every possessive thrust.

I finally allowed myself to kiss her, crushing my lips against hers as her muscles rippled around me. I devoured the sound of her orgasm, allowing my own rough shout to vibrate against her tongue. My heat lashed into her, branding her deep inside. She might have forgotten that I owned every inch of her, but she’d never forget it again. Not after tonight.

“You’re mine,” I growled against her lips. “All mine.”

“Yes, Master,” she panted. “Yours.”

* * *

I whistled an idle tune as I prepared our breakfast, flipping the perfect omelet in the pan. I’d become the family chef over the last few years. Claudia meant well, but she’d always be a bit hopeless in the kitchen.

I didn’t mind. I liked taking care of her.

Fuck, I was so relieved that she’d finally accepted me again, that she was going to let me take care of her forever instead of trying to manage everything by herself. After our intense scene the night before, she’d been sweet and soft, cuddling close to me for hours as she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

She’d needed it badly. It was nearly ten o’clock in the morning, and she still wasn’t awake. I wanted to let her sleep longer, but I knew she wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t get us back to Serena soon. Claudia had her reservations about leaving our daughter for even a few hours, and I couldn’t deny that something felt hollow inside me without her near.

But I knew she’d be safe with Clayton for a little while longer, and I had more plans for my sub. She’d been very naughty, keeping things from me. After our passionate night, I knew she wouldn’t shut me out again, but she needed to know there were consequences for that kind of behavior.

“Hey,” she said, her voice raspy from sleep. “That smells good.”

I turned to find her standing in the doorway to the kitchen. She wore the sheer, long black robe I’d bought her for Christmas. She yawned and stretched, and her tight nipples pressed against the filmy material as her back arched.

My cock instantly stiffened, and it took everything in me to stop myself from striding across the room, grabbing her up in my arms, and fucking her hard against the wall.

Not yet, I reminded myself. There was something I needed to do first. If I were a vanilla man, I might feel guilty over my perverse plans. As it was, my dick throbbed in anticipation of her helpless cries.

“Come here,” I ordered, fixing her with my hardest stare.

She hesitated, her gorgeous eyes clouding with confusion. “Did I do something wrong?”

“You know you did.”

She swallowed hard. “We talked about this. I’m sorry. I won’t hide anything from you again.”

“I know you’re sorry,” I said, more gently. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to punish you. It’ll make you feel better, too.”

She pressed her lips together in an adorable pout. “I don’t think a punishment will make me feel better.”

“Yes, it will. It’ll allow you to let go of any guilt you feel about what happened. You know how this works.”

Her white teeth sank into her lower lip, and she looked away. “I do feel guilty,” she admitted.

“And I don’t want you to,” I said evenly. “Now, come over here.”

She glanced behind me, shifting nervously. “The eggs are burning,” she said in an obvious attempt to divert me.

I turned off the stove. “Fuck the eggs. I’ll make more.” I lifted my chin and stared her down, pointing at the tiled floor in front of me. “I gave you an order, sub. Here. Now.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes in a final show of defiance, but she moved gracefully toward me. She needed this as badly as I did, despite her efforts to pretend otherwise.

“I saw that,” I warned her. “Don’t get glib with me. It’ll make things worse.”

“I didn’t say anything,” she huffed, coming to a stop inches in front of me.

“You rolled your eyes at me,” I told her. “I won’t allow you to disrespect me when I’m in charge. You can give me a piece of your mind outside the bedroom, but this is my domain.”

“We’re in the kitchen.” She smirked.

My fingers threaded through her hair at her nape, tugging her head back. “Aren’t you a clever one?” I mused.

“Yes,” she said blandly. “I believe you told me I was clever just yesterday. Twice, if I recall correctly.”

I couldn’t help smiling at her, despite my best efforts to appear stern. “Definitely too smart for me,” I admitted. “How did I ever manage to tame you?”

“Tame me? You still haven’t.”

“No, I suppose I haven’t.” I gave her a wolfish grin. “It’s damn fun to try, though.”

Keeping my grip on her hair, I reached into the drawer beside me with my free hand and pulled out the innocuous wooden spoon I’d purchased just for this purpose. She gasped, her gray eyes going wide.

“Don’t you dare,” she protested, but there was a husky quality to her tone that belied her defiance.

“Shhh.” I hushed her and pressed the spoon to her lips, allowing her to feel the slightly rough quality of the wood. It hadn’t been polished to a high shine, and it would make her sensitive nerve endings dance as I grazed it over her skin.

She went completely silent, although her lips parted to draw in a sharp breath.

“Good girl,” I praised, moving the spoon down to trace the column of her throat with the cool edge. I paused between her breasts, then used it to part the light fabric of her robe. When her creamy flesh was exposed, I lightly slapped her breasts, one after the other in quick succession. The blows weren’t hard enough to be truly painful; just enough to elicit a light sting.

She tried to move away, but I kept her in my thrall with my firm grip on her hair. I stared into her eyes for long, intense moments, watching as she submitted. Her gaze softened, her breathing evened out. I recognized the signs of surrender, and I grinned in satisfaction. Her eyes dropped to the cruel curve of my lips, and she licked her own. The sight of her tongue was too hot to resist, and I brought my mouth down on hers to sample her sweet flavor. She moaned and melted against me. I held her close, kissing her hard until I felt her knees sag.

Taking advantage of her vulnerable state, I broke the kiss and gripped her hips, turning her away from me and guiding her over the kitchen table. She tried to push up on her hands, but I rested my palm between her shoulders, holding her down. She moaned as her tight nipples pressed against the cool, smooth wooden table.

I didn’t give her a moment to collect herself. I wanted her like this: hot and needy. And ready to be punished.

Keeping her pinned, I grasped her robe in my free hand and flipped it up over her lower back, exposing her bare ass. My good girl hadn’t put on any panties. I let out a low, pleased growl.

“Was my little sub planning on getting fucked by her Master this morning?”

She arched her back and spread her legs, offering her wet cunt to me. “Yes. Please, Master. Fuck me.”

“Oh, I plan to. But not yet. You will receive your pleasure when you’re thoroughly contrite. Then you’ll get your reward.”

She whimpered and squirmed beneath my hand, but her legs spread wider, betraying her secret desire to be punished. She craved my discipline as badly as I needed to correct her.

I’d happily see to her needs.

A satisfying crack echoed through the kitchen when the first blow landed, followed by a shocked shout that made my cock throb. Fuck, the sound of her helpless surrender under my hands was perversely sweet. Once, I would have felt guilt over how much pleasure I found in it, but not with Claudia. Not with my sweet sub, my wife. She completed me in a way I never would have imagined possible.

“Tell me you’re sorry,” I ordered, my voice low and rough with lust. I delivered another stinging blow, and a pretty pink flush bloomed on her creamy skin.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped out.

I continued to torment her, delivering a flurry of sharp hits until her gorgeous ass glowed red. She shrieked and squirmed, but her pussy lips glistened with arousal.

“What are you sorry for?” I asked. “Tell me what you did wrong.”

I paused, allowing her to gasp in the air she needed to answer. “I… I tried to hide from you. I was struggling, and I wouldn’t tell you why. I tried to handle everything by myself.”

I tenderly rubbed her sore flesh, loving the feel of her heat against my fingertips. She shuddered and moaned, torn between pain and ecstasy.

“Tell me you won’t do it again. Tell me you’ll trust me to take care of you.”

“I won’t,” she promised. “I trust you, Master.”

I continued to caress her. “Good girl. Doesn’t that feel better?”

“Yes,” she groaned. “Thank you.”

I chuckled. “Are you thanking me for punishing you?” I hadn’t expected this depth of submission. It went straight to my head, intoxicating me.

“Yes,” she said, not remotely embarrassed. “Now, please fuck me, Master.”

She wiggled her reddened ass, and I lost all control. I couldn’t resist her any longer, not when she begged for my cock and called me Master.

Needing to feel her skin against mine, I stripped off my shirt and boxers. I needed her bare, too. Impatient, I grasped the silky material of her robe and ripped it apart, exposing the curve of her arched back.

“Hey!” she gasped. “I liked that.”

I smacked her ass, and she cried out. “I’ll buy you another one. Hell, I’ll buy you ten. Whatever you want, sweet sub.”

Grasping her hips in a harsh grip, I drove into her wet and waiting cunt. Her body ceded to mine, welcoming me.

Fuck, she was perfect. Everything was right again, as it should be. I had her submission and her love, her promise to trust me and rely on me. I might always be in charge sexually, but we were truly partners in life: two halves of a whole. My sub, my wife, was blissfully happy. It was all I needed to make my world complete.