WITH ONLY A MINUTE to spare and Trent due to make his rounds any moment, Carly climbed onto the table in the middle of the shop and struck a pose—seated with her hands behind her, knees bent, chest out, imitating the chick on the mud flaps of an eighteen-wheeler. After no more than a second, she changed her mind. The thong bodysuit had been designed to show off a specific asset, one of her best in Carly's case, and here she was hiding it by sitting on it.

Glancing at the door to make sure Trent hadn’t arrived yet, she got to her knees and sat on her heels, with her ass to the door. Next, she aimed her chin over her shoulder and curved her lips downward in what she hoped was a pretty pout.

As she waited, doubts crept in.

Was she sexy enough? Or more sex kitten than seductress?

Moving again, she leaned forward, palms flat on the table, with her as-good-as-bare behind still pointed toward the door.

No, that was too much.

She twisted onto her side and propped on her hip, the line of her almost naked back except for the ruffle riding high above her bare ass where he would see it first thing.

All at once, she felt sick. Now, a million and one uncertainties swirled in her head. What if he didn’t care for a woman taking the lead and coming on to him? Some men, alpha men, were like that, weren’t they?

Shit! This was a mistake.

She scrambled off the table and was heading for the back door when she heard a noise and skidded to a halt on her stiletto heels.

“Carly?”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

She couldn’t go through with this. If he wasn’t interested, if Curt and Jana were both wrong, she’d have to quit and never see him again. But she’d changed her mind too late and now was trapped.

Coward that she was, she searched for a place to hide. The clothes racks were out—everything was too short, or too sheer. Oh, why couldn’t Monica sell ankle-length winter coats? The dressing rooms were out. In his place, they were the first place she’d check.

Her eyes darted around the store frantically, it suddenly dawned on her what to do. As quietly as she could in her spiked-heel shoes, she sprinted to the window. It was her only option.

Holding her breath and praying, for once, the doors wouldn’t make a racket, she opened them—soundlessly, praise be!—and climbed in. She had no sooner eased them closed when she heard him call her name again, sounding much closer.

He’d left the back room and entered the shop. He’d be searching now.

She glanced around her hiding spot. The footlights were off, and the display was shadowy and dark. If she stayed still, if he peeked in here, he might not see her. She moved on silent feet, a miracle considering her shoes, to the far side of one of the scantily dressed mannequins.

In her getup, she fit right in.

Quivering inside and hoping desperately for this nightmare plan gone wrong to end, she swallowed a gasp as the metal gate went up with a shriek.

Holy-freakin’-crap. She hadn’t locked it. She’d been too busy bickering with Jana.

She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and the shadowy outline of Trent’s body as he walked out into dimly lit mall corridor. Carly stared straight ahead, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. She counted off the seconds with the rapid beat of her heart pounding in her ears.

When the thud of footsteps sounded again, she still didn’t move, not until the gate screeched closed. Only then did she release the pent-up air from her lungs. He’d gone back inside. Thank heaven!

An odd tingle of awareness compelled her to glance left. When she did, she screamed.

There he stood, arms crossed over his chest, a furious expression on his handsome face.

Abort mission! Escape!! Her panicked mind screamed.

She whirled. This time when she opened the sliding doors, they stuck.

Dammit! Why now?

Heaving with all she had, she forced them open. When the shriek of metal sounded once more, she didn’t dare look back. She ran, dodging tables and sales racks, skirting around the perfume counter midway. Her eyes fixed on the stock room door while she fervently hoped she'd find her purse and keys on the table near the rear exit where she’d left them.

A few feet shy of her goal, and almost home free, his terrifying roar reverberated through the room. “Freeze!”

The obedient girl inside her wanted to stop immediately and do everything he said. The naughty one who’d hatched this hair-brained scheme screamed in her head, run, get the fuck out! With diverse parts warring inside her, she hesitated enough to lose her slight advantage.

A big hand curled around her upper arm and spun her around.

“What the fuck, Carly?” he shouted, only a decibel less than his previous roar. “I came through the unlocked door, you were nowhere to be found, and when I called your name, repeatedly, you didn't answer. I saw the unlocked gate and nearly lost my mind, only to find you hiding in the window display a second later. What game are you playing?”

She stared up at him, shaking. “I...um...”

His other hand caught her opposite arm, and he pulled her up onto her toes. “No lies. I want the truth.”

“I was planning a surprise.”

His eyes dipped down her front but came back to her face as he demanded, “For who, a boyfriend?”

“One I’d hoped would be.”

“Christ,” he bit out as he released her and walked away, his hands raking through his hair in agitation. He turned back, green eyes gleaming with fire and searing into her. “Where is he?”

“I... He’s...uh...”

“Obviously, he’s late. I didn’t see any male mannequins in the display with you.”

She closed her eyes, unable to bear the condemnation in his gaze.

“Look at me, Carly.”

Her eyes popped back open, finding him closer.

“How did you plan to get him inside the mall for your little rendezvous? The doors are locked.” He waved a hand at her nearly naked body. “Surely, you weren’t going to let him in one of the main doors in that.”

“No, I expected him to meet me here.” She saw his gaze dip downward again, but it lingered this time. Hers followed, and she saw what he did, her hard nipples visible through the mesh.

“I’m sure he’ll want to kick himself for being late.”

“No, Trent.” She couldn’t let him go on believing there was another man. “You were right on time.”

A heartbeat of silence passed. “Come again?” he said in a gruff voice, a mere hint above a whisper.

“This whole messed-up plan was for you.” This time, she raked her hands through her hair, holding it at her crown for a moment, then let it fall, something she often did when upset. “I didn’t know how else to get through to you. It sounds crazy, I know, but I set this up to get your attention.”

“And scared the shit out of me in the process.”

“I’m sorry, that was unintentional.”

“Why were you in the window?”

She shook her head, closing her eyes again. “Does it matter, now?”

A long arm snaked around her waist and hauled her against his hard frame. Her nipples, already tight, brushed his shirt and grew tighter, and the front of her pussy, with only a thin layer of mesh covering it, rubbed against his fly. The sensations made her body hum, and the adrenaline rush of their hide-and-go-seek session of moments ago had her wired. Add to this, the excitement of being held in his arms for the first time, with very little on, a rush of wetness flooded her sex, and she was afraid she would come spontaneously on the spot at any moment.

Wouldn’t that be awesome; her humiliation would be complete.

Seemingly unaware of her heightened sexual state, Trent growled in an inflexible tone, “I want the whole truth.” He added more sharply, “And I want it now.”

This is what you wanted, isn’t it? A strong, confident, take-no-shit Alpha badass? You asked for it, Carly Ann. This is your chance. Put on your big girl panties, right now, and tell him all of it.

“I was posed on the table, only wearing what I am now, waiting for you. When I heard you come in the back and call for me, I panicked and hid in the display, hoping you wouldn’t find me.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. “You went to all this trouble and risk, but chickened out?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You could have told me how you felt.”

“You thought I was a kid, too young, too naïve. I wanted to prove I wasn’t with a sexy surprise seduction.” She buried her face in his chest and groaned. “Guess I proved the opposite.”

He set her back a bit, his hands bracketing her face, as he dipped his head close. “Baby, I like what I see.”

She blushed furiously. Of course he did, she was practically naked.

“I didn’t mean literally. Yes, I’m attracted to you and have been for a while, but Curt was right—and I know it was Curt who told you, he’s got a big mouth. But I’m a thirty-five-year-old man; you’re a college student in your early twenties. You’re just starting out, ready to explore the world, and I’ve seen things shocking enough to curl your toes.”

“But, Trent. I’m twenty-seven. Much as I hate to say it, that’s my late twenties.”

He stared down at her, saying nothing for several beats, his smooth dark brows furrowed together. “But you’re in school.”

“Grad school. I’m getting my MBA.”

He went silent again, for too long, so she went on.

“I’ve already got a degree in accounting, but a master’s opens doors. I do Monica’s books and have a few other accounts here at the mall, mostly the small boutiques.”

“You look twenty and could easily pass for younger. Before Curt told me you took classes at State, I thought I was getting hard for a high school girl.”

Not sure what else to say, she drawled out a hesitant, “Thank you?”

He went back to staring. A moment passed. Then he huffed a small laugh and swore under his breath, “Fuck me.”

Unsure, wondering if she should do or say something to lighten the mood, she for once followed Sherry’s advice and went for it. With a smile, she stated boldly, “Gee, that’s what I’d hoped you would do to me, but I’m game to be on top.”

He tossed his head back and laughed as he crushed her against his chest. This went on for a bit, but she didn’t mind, not when she could feel the tension seeping out of him. When he came down, at last, he dipped his chin, while smiling softly at her, and ran his thumb along her cheek and jaw.

She froze, his touch making her heart beat wildly in her chest.

“Eight years is still a lot, baby.”

Mm, baby. She liked that, too, but she didn’t care at all for what else he was saying.

“It isn’t so much of a difference, and you’re not exactly ancient, Trent. And, since I’ve been living on my own since I turned twenty-two, I haven’t been a kid for some time.”

“You certainly look grown up in this thing you have on.” He hooked a thumb beneath one of the thin spaghetti straps and tugged lightly. “What is this?”

“A thong bodysuit. It’s designer. This little wisp of nothingness is sweet, but it will take me a month of overtime to pay Monica back. I used to think the name of the store was sexy and referred to a few hot, whispered words. Now I know what it actually means.”

Apparently, he got stuck on one word and repeated it. “A thong, you say?” He eased away a step. “I didn’t notice the back.”

“You were chasing me!”

“I was pissed,” he replied, an edge to his tone. “Still not over it, babe, so you’d do well not to remind me. Turn around.”

“Trent...”

“Do it, Carly. I want to see how grown up you are all over.”

With heat scalding her face and coming to a simmer in other private places, she did as she was told. She planned to do a full circle, but he stopped her mid-turn. His hand ran the length of her spine, slowing at the small of her back. He fingered the ruffle before he splayed his fingers wide and swept them lightly over her bottom.

“Very sexy, and very grown up.”

She worked out at the gym a few days a week, but Christmas wasn’t far in the rearview, and she worried. At his touch and praise, she breathed out in relief. When she tried to turn and face him, wanting to ensure he understood everything, he held her still.

“I’m still pissed, Carly. It’s going to take a long while for me to get over the fear of finding the door open and you missing. I thought someone had taken you, and terrible scenarios with unthinkable outcomes ran through my head.”

“I’m sorry, Trent.”

“I appreciate the lengths you went to, baby, but playing games when it comes to your security is never acceptable.” On the tail end of this condemning truth, he bit out harshly, “Dammit.”

She twisted and peered back at him. “What?”

“When the silent alarm went off, I had Benson switch surveillance to your shop.”

Unsure what he was saying, she waited.

“This means the cameras have been fixed on the front door, and since it’s a corner unit, the side window, for the past twenty minutes.”

“He saw me as good as naked.”

Trent’s eyes dipped again, skimming over her mostly bare back and exposed butt before his frown returned. “Unfortunately, this is true.”

“Oh my god!” she cried in horror.

“It’s gonna be okay.”

“Easy for you to say, no one caught you bare assed and pretending to be a mannequin on camera. You probably have high definition monitors, don’t you?”

She needed no other answer than his silence to know that he did.

Mortified, she dropped her head onto the table with a thud. “I don’t care how hot it is in Calcutta. I’m moving there. Tomorrow.”

“Carly.” He slid his hand up her spine to the back of her neck and squeezed. “Benson will be discreet,” he assured her. “But I need to check in with him before he calls the police. I was supposed to give him an all-clear as soon as I checked things out.”

She nodded, and when he let go to make his call, rolled over, and sat up, her bottom resting on the edge of the table because she was afraid her trembling legs wouldn’t hold her.

The time flashed on his screen—well past 9:15.

“What about the motion detectors, Trent? Shouldn’t we let someone know we’re in here? And since they’ve probably gone off already, that it’s a false alarm?”

“No need. I did a system override when I came in.”

She blinked. “You can do that?”

He gave her a look which stated clearly, “me big bad security specialist, what do you think?” before he swiped his thumb over the screen and made his call. “This is Jacobs. We’re all clear here.”

He listened a moment, then his eyes shot to hers and he moved closer, a hand stroking up and down her arm. “Very funny, Mike. I’ll expect discretion.”

Carly groaned, fell forward, and face-planted into his chest.

“Yeah, I’ve never had a Valentine’s gift wrapped up so sweet. But let’s make this the last time I hear about you seeing my girl that way. Jacobs, out.”

She tipped her head back, smiling up at him, forgetting everything else. “Your girl?”

He brushed some stray hairs from her face then combed his fingers through the thickness at her temple, not stopping until he cradled the back of her head in his palm. “Yeah,” he whispered, sending a thrill shooting through her. The next moment, it turned into a wave of scary, arousing, delicious heat when he concluded. “My very naughty girl.”

A mix of confusing emotions whirled inside her, and her smile faded.

“You’ve got to admit, babe. This plan was jacked up.”

She nodded, unable to defend what she’d done because her plan had indeed failed epically.

He released her and moved back a full step. “I think your crime deserves a fitting punishment.”

She sucked in a breath. “What?”

“A spanking. Right here, right now. Before I lay you out on this table and make you my girl for real.” He extended his arm, palm up. “If you agree, take my hand, and we’ll get started.”

Her gaze dropped, and she stared at his palm, large enough to cover most of one cheek with a single swat. It looked hard, and Trent was strong. Undoubtedly, it would hurt. It was the point of a spanking, right? But the thought of his hands on her, touching her bare skin, soothing her with kisses and caresses—she hoped—when he was finished. 

Nervously, her tongue slipped out to wet her dry lips, at the same time desire dampened her thighs. “I haven’t ever been punished.”

“I won’t hurt you, Carly, not ever. You can trust me on this. But for scaring me the way you did and the risk you took. I could have been delayed. Then what? If the cops had shown up before me, they could have charged you with trespassing. I can only imagine what something of this nature would have done to your reputation.” He shook his head and blew out a breath slowly. “For that alone, your sweet ass will sting like it deserves to.”

The blazing anger of earlier was gone. In its place, a steely determination to see this through by making her behind pay the price. Surprisingly, her decision wasn’t hard to make.

She raised her hand and placed it in his. “I trust you, Trent.”

His warm fingers enveloped hers, her hand so much smaller than his, a good representation of the size disparity between them. But she wasn’t afraid, not of him or his strength, and when she gazed up at him through her tears and his image wavered, it was from regret over what she’d done. “I really am sorry.”

His face softened, and she didn’t blink, not wanting to miss how his eyes deepened to a darker even more beautiful green. He dropped her hand and used both of his to curl around the sides of her neck. His thumbs tipped her chin farther, and he angled her head just so for his kiss.

Trent claimed her lips, his tongue delving inside until she melted against him. The crush she’d nurtured as he’d held her at arm’s length, blossomed with his kiss, and a fullness invaded her chest. It could be from her heart thumping wildly, and how she gasped for air around his demanding mouth, but she sensed it was so much more.

When he raised his head, she was ready to be done with the punishment and get on with the forgiveness, so they could move past her incredible blunder of this evening and explore what else he’d promised.

Winded and slightly dizzy, her mind was busy working on a solution to their next problem. “So where do you want me? There are only tables out here. I could bend over one, but if you want me over your lap, the bench in the back room might be better, or the computer chair.”

His slow, tender smile was as intimate as his kisses. “You’re going to be good for me, aren’t you, Carly?”

“I want to be, Trent. So very much.” She laid a trembling hand against the side of his neck, her thumb aligned with his jaw, and said boldly, with a directness she’d withheld before tonight, “I’ve wanted you for a long time.”

“Same here, baby, but I was too blind to see what was in front of me, or too stubborn to accept it.” He took her hand once more and led her to the back of the store to one of the tables, not to the same one she’d posed on, but another, covered with neatly folded and stacked piles satin and lace. With a sweep of his arm, he sent the lot of it to the floor in a shower of color, and three-digit price tags. She would have protested the designer sacrilege at any other time.

With his long fingers firmly curled around her shoulders, he turned her to face the now empty table. “We’ll do this right here.”

He patted the surface with his hand, and it occurred to her the same hand would soon be doing the same to her backside, but with a good deal more energy and enthusiasm.

“Bend over. Grip the table edge and lay your cheek against the top.”

Not a request or a suggestion, his tone didn’t cajole or coax; it was an order plain and simple. Firmly given in his low voice, in what Carly recognized as the ever-present underlying authority of his tone, she didn’t hesitate and moved into position. It didn’t mean her heart wasn’t racing a mile a minute.

Before she settled, his hand met her backside and she jumped, but it wasn’t from a hard smack signaling the beginning of her punishment. Rather, the slow, sensual, delightful glide of his palm over his skin.

“Your outfit was made for this, I do believe.”

She answered in a whisper. “It’s European. I’ve heard this sort of thing goes on all the time over there.”

“It happens here, too, baby. You’ll soon be living proof.” He patted her lightly, and with his other hand firm on her lower back, resting right above the sweet, sexy black ruffle, he delivered the first swat.

The sound startled her more than the heat his hand left, and she flinched again, this time letting out a little yelp.

“Stay still for me, Carly, like my good girl.”

Those words sent shivers straight through her heart to her other intimate needy places and felt awesome.

Wanting to submit to this punishment, make up for her mistake, and hopefully start over with a clean slate with him. Her fingers curled around the table edge tighter. “Yes, Trent.”

His palm resumed its leisurely glide as he murmured, “I think when your bottom is presented for punishment this way, ‘sir’ is better suited to the occasion. Try again.”

“Yes, sir.” When she spoke the words, the tingles kicked up a notch, becoming currents of excitement, which shot through her and made the little hairs on her arms stand on end. Her nipples, hard the minute he touched her bare skin, grew painfully tight—the heat of passion hurts-so-good kind of tight—and more wetness tickled her pussy. The little strip of mesh, which was all that made up the thong of the bodysuit, had long since reached its threshold for absorbency. She felt the proof of her desire on her inner thighs. Why was the whole idea of being spanked by him, of calling him sir, of obeying his commands, so hot?

His hand came down again, on the same side. Then swatted her twice more, mirroring the sensation on the other cheek. Four more followed, all with a bit more zing than the first few. She counted eight in all before he stopped and rubbed over the tingling warmth he had created. While he did so, he hummed in approval.

“That should do nicely for a warm-up.”

The punishment began for real, after that, the intensity and heat at least twice where it had started, with swat after stinging swat applied to both sides alternately. He worked up over the crest of each cheek and moved down low, clipping the top of her thigh with his broad palm. The sting he mentioned she deserved for scaring him was soon in full burn.

After twenty, she lost count, along with the ability to stand still, her feet doing a little tap dance as her heels clicked against the floor.

“I’m sorry, Trent... Sir,” she called to him. “It was a dumb idea and a silly risk to take.” He didn’t let up, not yet, and tears welled in her eyes as the burn turned into a fiery ache. “And I’m sorry I scared you.” Her voice broke on a sob, not so much from any pain he’d created, but from the regret she felt. “I won’t do anything like it ever again. I swear.”

And with that, the spanking ended, whether because he’d reached some predetermined number or because he thought her contrite, she didn’t know. Possibly, he worried her behind might burst into flames from the firestorm of heat. His hand didn’t stop, however, and began lightly caressing and soothing the sting—which after a few moments felt very nice.

“A little challenge, Carly, and even a bit naughty I can handle, but tonight could have turned bad, quickly. I was scared out of my mind when I couldn’t find you and ready to call the cops when I saw the gate unlocked. It was only by chance I went outside and looked around first.”

He stood her up, took her spot on the table, and pulled her into his lap. The hand that had so thoroughly tenderized her backside gently tipped up her chin. He gazed down at her with fiery intensity. “I don’t get off on dishing out punishments, baby. I’d rather have fun and do what feels good to us both. But I’m not opposed to giving one when it’s deserved. Tonight, you earned every swat and then some, but I went easy because it was your first time.”

Knowing he meant every word, she managed to choke back her cry of disbelief. Her butt sure didn’t feel as though he’d gone easy, especially with it rubbing across his jeans and pressed against the hard muscle of his thigh.

“If there’s another incident of this severity, where you are reckless or put yourself in jeopardy,” he continued in a stern, inflexible voice, “you’ll get double. Are we clear?”

“There won’t be. I learned my lesson tonight. No more surprises.”

“It wasn’t the surprise, sweetheart, but the poor execution.” He dipped his head, now so close, all she could see were the brilliant green of his eyes. His lips brushed hers while he spoke in a voice pitched lower than its usual husky depth. “The lingerie and the idea you’d put yourself out there, for me, says a lot. But I’d prefer we do this sort of thing somewhere private, without cameras and the risk of tripped silent alarms. Okay?”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered.

He kissed her, lightly, his touch warm and sweet. “Punishment is over, baby. You can call me, Trent.”

She hesitated a moment before putting herself out there again. “What if I like sir, sir?”

She felt his smile and saw it in the little lines bracketing his eyes. “That’s good, too. About the punishment.” He’d grown serious again. “Can you live with my brand of discipline? I don’t imagine we’ll have to resort to it often.”

“We won’t, not again.”

“I hope so, but if the situation warrants, it will happen again.” He leaned back so he had her full attention. “I’m used to being in command, and I prefer order and control in my life. With my unit, in my business, and I want it to a certain extent with the woman I’m with. Not that I want to direct every aspect of your life, but when I walked in here tonight, I didn’t have control, of you or the situation. This is a sticking point for me, Carly, and I need to know it’s the sort of relationship you want, too.”

“I earned this tonight, Trent. I know I did.” This got her a squeeze from his enveloping arms. “Despite this one isolated incident, I usually am a good girl, for real—always have been. In school, I got straight A’s and never once had detention. I’ve never had a speeding ticket, don’t jaywalk, and I pay all my bills on time. I haven’t ever had a late fee, not once. And I never, ever, fudge even a smidgeon on anyone’s taxes.” Her gaze caught his as she tried to express how she felt as earnestly as she could. “What I’m saying is, this was out of character for me, and since it’s not something that will ever be repeated, I can live with my bottom being held accountable for major screw-ups.”

She heard and felt the rush of his breath. He’d been worried she’d bail, and she’d just swept them away. He crushed her against his chest and they held one another for several long, silent, wonderful moments.

Trent was the first one stir. With his arms still tight around her, he turned his head, his lips trailing a line of kisses along her jaw, over her cheek. 

“You don’t know how happy you’ve made me, Carly. There’s just one thing in all you said that I’d change.” His hand slid down her back, and he ran his fingers along the ruffle at the upper crest of her cheeks. “This sexy one-piece wet dream. I hope this part, at least, will be repeated.”

“It’s designer.”

“It’s smoking hot on you, baby.”

“Thank you, honey, but I meant it’s pricy. We might have to reserve Monica’s stock for special occasions, or after I get out of school, because this wet dream cost two-hundred and eighty bucks.”

His head jerked back. “You are shitting me.”

“You don’t know me well enough to know, I wouldn’t “shit” you about lingerie.”

She smiled when he fingered the ruffle running along the low scooped neckline. Other than mesh, not a yard of it, and spaghetti straps, the approval in his eyes is what her money bought. And it was worth every penny, but she wanted more.

“Aside from the sexy undies, you mentioned fun and what feels good for both of us.” She couldn’t hold his eyes for the next part, though he’d seen almost all of her, including her bare ass bent over a table. Still, her shyness prevailed. “You’re a... um, exceptionally good kisser, Trent. I enjoyed the one... uh, just now, and those before.”

Why was it so hard to ask for what she wanted?

Her voice trailed off, and with heat radiating off her face in waves, it didn’t take a genius to know why. Far from slow himself, he came to her rescue. He nudged her chin up and said with his mouth hovering a mere fraction away, “Since you took your thirty swats so well, I think you’ve earned more of them.”

His mouth covered hers, warm with passion. His tongue traced over the seam of her lips, demanding entrance, and she opened eagerly.

Coils of desire chased away her shyness, as Trent fed hungrily. When one hand sank into her hair and fisted at the nape of her neck—something she was beginning to enjoy very much—the other slipped down to palm her still tingling bottom. Her breathless groan spoke more clearly than words how much she wanted him.

Unexpectedly, he stood and twisted, laying her on the table and lowering himself over top of her. It was like every fantasy she’d ever had. A commanding, powerful, breathtaking man, pressing her flat on her back, his hips between her spread thighs while he kissed his way down her body. And it only got better.

Stopping at her chest, Trent hooked the spaghetti straps with his thumbs and peeled the fine mesh down, baring her breasts. He treated her nipples to the swirling, lapping, suction of his mouth until she bowed beneath him, offering more. Wanting to be as close to him as she possibly could be, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his hips, and clung to him, reveling in the sensations his lips, tongue, and gently nipping teeth created.

He growled, a ravenous sound, moving from one breast to the other. He paused, hovering over a nipple, only to return for another taste before finally moving on, as if he hadn’t gotten nearly enough of her breasts, yet couldn’t wait to explore further.

As Trent kissed his way down her belly, she lost her grip on his shoulders. Her hands threaded into his hair, instead, combing through the soft, thick strands. When he reached the vee of her legs, and his palms spread her wider, she stilled in anticipation. He hooked the little band of material and moved it out of his way, and her fingers flexed on his scalp. But when he murmured, “Beautiful,” against her inner thigh, his breath washing warm against her wet flesh, her hands fisted because she needed something to hold on to while her world tilted on end.

If she caused him pain, he seemed not to notice, his lips so close his next words, “You’re drenched for me,” sent another rush of heat over her skin. He said nothing else as his thumbs drew her folds apart and he took hot possession. Carly cried out, and by reflex, her legs clamped around his head as his tongue slid through her slickness from her clit to her quivering entrance. With his fingers splayed above her knees, he pushed them wide, holding her still while he worked relentlessly.

“Trent,” she called raggedly, not sure if she meant for him to stop—it was too much and too good—or to give her more.

He seemed to know what she needed and moved back to the start, applying suction to her hard, aching nub as his long, broad finger glided into her. This was all it took to send her soaring.

Her blissful cries resonated through the empty store, as did her panting gasps for breath. After a few more long, leisurely licks, which sent shuddering aftershocks through her body, Trent retraced his path slowly. Leaving a trail of wet kisses on her mound, belly, and breasts, until he came even with her mouth and reclaimed it.

She was still breathless and shaky when he let her up for air.

He gazed down at her, eyes still blazing, but instead of the anger from before, they were radiant with the heat of his need for her.

“What do you say we go celebrate the rest of Valentine’s Day somewhere private?”

She could feel the hard length of his erection along her belly and wondered about the delay. Filled with a sudden uncertainty, she asked, “Why not here?”

“I want you, Carly.” He shifted above her, rotating his hips so there was no question of how much. “But the metal gate is open, as is the back door. Reeves is my relief and on duty by now. He’ll be by soon, if he’s not on his way here already. If he finds anything open, he won’t hesitate to come inside.”

She twisted her neck, staring at the door.

Trent caught her chin and brought her face back to his. “I can take a ribbing from my men, sweetheart, but I’d rather not have anyone else see you in something so sheer nothing is left to the imagination with your luscious ass still pink from my hand, or possibly hear your screams when I make you come. That’s for me and me only.”

“The last part might be worth all the rest.”

He bent to take another hard, quick kiss. “Maybe, but I’d still rather keep my woman to myself.”

How could she say no, when her man had put it so eloquently?

“Private celebration it is,” she declared with a broad grin.

He picked up a stray curl where it lay across her cheek and rubbed it between his fingers. His eyes grew darker as they shifted to her face and roamed her features. “We’ll go to my place; it’s not far. For a while now, I’ve dreamed about your gorgeous body laid out on my bed and all this hair spread in a red-gold fan across my pillows.”

“It sounds as though your dreams, like mine, are about to come true.”

“Baby,” he whispered, “you have no idea.”

Oh, my...

He didn’t elaborate further but stood, bringing her up with him and setting her back on her feet. “I’ll lock up,” he murmured, his lips brushing hers ever so briefly. “You get dressed.”

She didn’t object to his plan, not that it appeared open to debate as he strode swiftly toward the front, and she didn’t mind his bossiness at all. Not now, when he was seeing to her safety, or before when he’d been taking her to task for her colossal lapse in judgment. Would she do it all again, knowing the end result was a spanking, as well as an incredible, orally-induced orgasm?

Damn straight! It wasn’t as if she minded either one.

Although, his threat of double would surely make her rethink carrying out any hairbrained schemes in the future. Still, his style of bossy was hot. This is what she wanted, after all. A handsome-as-sin Alpha badass who could rock her world in bed. And he’d certainly done so, with skill and finesse.

She smiled, still humming with the after effects. And yeah, it was on a table so far, but if his mouth and fingers could do this to her on cold, hard Formica, it foreshadowed the indescribable pleasures awaiting her on soft sheets and from his... Well, other many parts than his fingers.

The clang of metal behind her had her hurrying to the back room.

As she got dressed, she smoothed her hands over her still tingling backside and gingerly pulled up her panties. The silky bikini briefs were full coverage compared to the thong, but the soft fabric abraded her butt a bit, and she winced.

Trent walked in and saw. “Tender?”

“A little.”

He raised a dark brow. “Good. The reminder will be something to keep my girl on the good side of naughty. But when we get to my place, I’ll see what I can do to soothe away the sting.”

The thought of a massage from his hands shifted the sting to a tingle and moved it from her backside to a much better place. She cleared her throat, but it didn’t help, her voice still sounding raspy when she replied, “I’d like that, Trent.”

He came up to her from behind, his arms encircling her waist, and, while he squeezed, which felt nice, he kissed her temple—even better. “Believe me, the pleasure of rubbing lotion on your gorgeous ass will be mine.”

“I’m starting to think you’re partial to this particular feature.”

“Hurry and get dressed, so I can get you home and demonstrate just how much I enjoy it.”

Smiling to herself, she didn’t bother taking off her stockings and pulled on her pants over them. After she put on her shoes, she looked for her purse. Trent had it in hand and was holding her coat open waiting to help her into it, both clear indications of how anxious he was to go.

After he armed the system and led her outside, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her into his side, and aimed them toward the mall exit. They were rounding the corner when they ran into Brian Reeves, the night guard, making his rounds.

He took in their closeness briefly and smiled. “About time you two woke up.” They stiffened, glancing at one another in surprise. Brian went on, without missing a beat. “You’re a lucky man, boss. Carly here is a great catch, and if you play your cards right, you can get her to do your books, and payroll.” He winked at her. “Trent sucks at it, especially when it comes to calculating overtime, which I’m on tonight.” He grinned at his boss, gave him a casual salute, then continued on his way.

As one, they turned to watch him go, his lively whistle carrying back to them over the sound of the fountain’s splash.

“Did everyone know about us, except us?” she asked in wonder.

“It appears so. I guess I should have listened to Curt. He told me the little redhead in the lingerie store had a crush on me weeks ago.”

“Me? What about you? Jana had you pegged the first night. She said you couldn’t keep your eyes off my ass.”

He chuckled. “She’d be right.” His palmed her bottom and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Your curvy backside got my attention, but what caught my eye and kept it was your hair.” With the other hand, he brushed her curls over her shoulders, and with a long easy stroke smoothed it down her back. When he reached the ends near her waist, he gathered them in his fist and wound the length around and around his wrist. Once coiled like a rope at her nape, he applied firm pressure leaving her no choice except to tip her head back. His compelling gaze locked onto hers and held it. “There’s so much of it, and the color is so beautiful sometimes I have to force myself to look away. Then I see you smile, something that brightens everyone’s day, or you laugh, and you’ve got this innate sweetness about you.” He bent and took her lips in a kiss just as sweet. “If the security gig falls through, remind me not to man the Guess Your Age booth at the carnival. I’m incredibly bad at it and will be destitute.”

She eased back a bit. “You could have asked me.”

“The textbooks threw me off, and I’ll be forever sorry I didn’t. Forgive me?”

“Yes,” she sighed without hesitating. That he could own up to his mistake made her love him even more, and she felt a sense of relief he wasn’t nearly as perfect as he seemed.

“My other mistake was being slow on the uptake with your flirting. I guess your sweet subtlety was lost on me at first. But there was something about you, call it attraction, or temptation, whatever it was, the more exposed I was to you, Carly, the more I got caught up in your spell.”

She leaned against him, her knees weak after melting a little more inside. “For a badass ex-Green Beret, you sure can be sweet.”

“I told you before, I’m a nice guy.” He gave her a slow wink, making her more melty and gooey inside.

After another kiss where sweet turned to sultry to sexy then steamy, he dragged his mouth from hers with a groan. “We need to keep walking, or Reeves will find us here on his next pass doing things which are neither sweet nor nice in a public mall.”

“We could go back to the store.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

She giggled as he started them forward again. They walked for a moment in silence before she broke it with a question.

“Tell me something. As a take-charge, former Green Beret officer, and spanking kind of man, would you have been put off if I hadn’t been so timid and instead, had come right out and asked you to jump my bones weeks ago?”

“Hm...good question. I guess I’m old-fashioned in that I think it’s up to the man to make the moves, but in your case, I might have made an exception. But we’ll never know, and it’s a moot point now. We’ll also never know if I would have passed on the spanking and simply fucked you the way I was tempted to do. Especially when you told me you were sorry, standing there dressed in your walking sin, barely-there designer undies—which cost a fucking mint—but you picked out for my pleasure. And with tears glistening in your pretty eyes.”

“You mean...?”

“Yep.”

“You wouldn’t have...?”

“Nope.”

“And my butt wouldn’t be on fire right now.”

He stopped, curled her into his front, his hands slipping down over both cheeks. “Is it bad?”

“Nope,” she mimicked his answer while snuggling into him.

“You enjoyed your spanking, didn’t you?”

She gave a noncommittal shrug.

“Carly.”

“I plead the fifth on the grounds it might get me swatted again, and I’m still a little tender...sir.”

He chuckled. “I was going to let you off easy until you suggested I use the bench in the back room.”

“So, you go all mushy with a few unshed tears.” She tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully, enjoying teasing him for a change. “Isn’t that interesting?”

His hands, still full of freshly chastised bottom, squeezed, and not in a tender soothing caress. It reawakened the sting and made her yelp.

“Don’t bank on me being a pushover, babe, or your backside might live to regret it.”

“You’ve got a sweet spot, honey, but never would I mistake you for a pushover. I like that about you.” Carly pressed closer, encircling his waist with both arms as she leaned into him, her head resting against his chest. “I also like how you held me accountable.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth, worried it for a moment in uncertainty, then apparently decided to go for it. Her jaw tipped up sharply, and her eyes locked on his. “Can I tell you something?”

“Anything.”

“It sounds kind of out there coming from a grown woman who’ll soon have a master’s degree.”

“Nothing is out of bounds between us. You can trust me with whatever it is, baby. I’ll keep it and you safe.”

The sweetness of his words made her smile. “You are a nice guy, you know, for a badass.”

“Carly...”

“I want to be your good girl, Trent,” she blurted out. “But when I’m not, and go off halfcocked as I did tonight... I mean goodness gracious. I was posed practically naked in the window of the store where I work. I also gave your surveillance man an eyeful. He probably recorded every embarrassing second.”

“He’s erased it by now, and if he hasn’t, I’ll break his fingers.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“No. Benson’s an ex-marine. He’s an honorable man, and he’s married. He wouldn’t want video of his woman—naked or otherwise—getting out and will respect the fact I don’t either.”

“That’s a relief, but back to my point. I agreed earlier, but emotions were high. I wanted to make it clear I’m fully on board with your need for discipline. And I want you to, uh, well... spank me, if I ever go a little nutty like this again.”

“Do you want kids?”

She blinked, completely startled. She’d given him carte blanche to paddle her ass when naughty, and he’d changed the subject. “Um... What?”

“Just answer.”

“Well, yes, don’t you?

“I want three.”

A sigh of relief escaped her. “I hadn’t thought of a number; three is a good, though. I came from a family with four.”

“What about wild oats? Are you done sowing yours?”

“I don’t... Trent.” She frowned, no idea where he was going with these random questions. “Are you all right?”

“Never better. But I’ll be more so when you answer me.”

“I don’t think I know what wild oats are, let alone how to sew them.”

“Adventure. When you’re done with school, do you want to be free for a while, to go out and find thrills around every corner before you settle down? Or are you ready to start the life you want to lead?”

She giggled, unable to help it. “I’m an accountant, Trent. We’re not known for wild oats and thrills, and we’re hardly the life of the party. You get that, right?”

“Baby,” he drawled, an edge in his tone.

“Um, okay. You want an answer.” She paused a moment, to think before she asked with all seriousness, “Can’t I do both, be adventurous and, at the same time, start my life with you?”

When he didn’t respond, she panicked. Had she said too much or jumped the gun with talk of lifetimes? They’d had sex for the first time tonight and, so far, only oral. Now, here they were talking about forever. He’d come late to the decision she could be his one. Carly had weeks, perhaps months longer to get this right in her head. She didn’t want to scare him off with this kind of talk, even when he’d been the one to start it.

Quickly, she amended her statement. “If we eventually go in that direction, I mean.”

But Trent didn’t appear put off by it at all, and his handsome face grew more so when, with an irresistibly devastating grin, he crushed her against his chest and held her tight then rocked them side to side.

He soon began to shake, and she heard a rumble in his chest a moment before his laughter broke free.

“Trent, honey. You’re freaking me out here.” She also had a problem with getting serious fast. “And you’re cutting off my air.”

He released her so quickly she staggered back, but his hands were there to steady her as they moved up her arms. She read both amusement and arousal on his face as he brushed her hair over her shoulders, and slid his hands, splayed wide, slowly down the length of her spine. It felt wonderful, his hands on her always did, but she still didn’t know what was going on.

“Don’t be freaked, baby. I’m happy, that’s all.”

“I’m glad, but your questions threw me.”

He drew her close again. “I’ve been through a lot. During my twelve-year stint in the Army, I saw a lot, too—both at war and during peace—and I learned life is too short to waste on bullshit. On this special night made for love and romance, when we finally got our heads out of our asses—”

She snorted. “Be still my heart. That’s sooo romantic.”

Both feet left the ground as he hugged her close and cut off what else she might have said. “I have a firm idea in mind of the woman who will make me happy, and I’ve waited a long time to find her. Now that I have, I’m going for it. It might seem too quick for you, and I’ll understand that, but to me, the two of us, together, starting the life both of us want, seems right.”

She felt the same way and told him so through a mist of tears. “There’s no seems about it. I’ve known all along you are the one for me.”

After another passion-filled kiss, he set her on her feet and got them moving again. “Good, then let’s get out of here. I want you naked in my bed. This time it’s your turn to rock my world.”

She beamed up at him. With every word, he proved what she’d known in her heart all along, Trent was her one. “I can do that, honey, no problem. But if you want to rock mine at the same time, I’m game.”

He leaned down, and his husky voice rumbled next to her ear. “You came within seconds of my finger sliding inside you, Carly. Me rocking your world was never in doubt.”

She swatted his arm for his supreme arrogance, and he laughed. But when the happy sound echoed down the corridor and off the high ceiling, she decided this was something she really liked about him, and joined in, with her own softer feminine laughter.