I’ve never unwrapped a better present. The red gown hates to leave her but I peel it off and make her step out of it. Her bra comes off next, and the matching panties. She’s still got her hands on my windowsill. I leave her new necklace on. Trace every jewel in the settings while she looks down at the yard, her breaths coming shallower by the second. Haley Constantine is perhaps the first person in the world who can’t get enough of me. This, despite that I’ve given her nothing.

I remain fully clothed, leaving her to find what she can for her naked body without turning around. Her skin is so fucking soft underneath my fingertips. Her abs tense at my touch but the rest of her seems ready to fall.

“No,” she answers. “You’re not.”

“I promised you’d pay for your disobedience in the car.”

She sucks in a breath. “Now?”

I listen. An old habit. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t lived here for some time—I’m a frequent enough visitor that I still know the sounds of the house. The individual floorboards outside. Music filters dully through the floor. I was going to wait. I was going to wait, and now, with all this adrenaline, with all this love—

I can’t. She’s done it. Splintered my self control.

I kick her legs apart and cover her mouth with one hand.

With the other, I reach between her legs.

She’s still wet from when I fucked her before, and wet with new desire. I would strap her if we had the time. It would be too loud. I can’t wait that long.

“Five,” I murmur in her ear. Haley’s eyes flutter closed. She knows better than to beg. The first slap between her legs makes her thighs shake. “That’s for going against my wishes on the ride over.” Another one. A cry against my palm. “For coming twice when I told you to come once.” Another one. “For looking so fucking beautiful in your gown that it hurts.” Two in a row, harder than all the others, and I catch Haley’s scream in my hand. “For being perfect.” Her chest heaves from the effort of suppressing her sobs. She’s not letting her tears fall, even now, because I told her not to. My cock strains against my pants. I stroke my fingers over her punished folds while she comes down. “You’re perfect, darling. You’re everything I need. You were so fucking brave in the ballroom. And brave now. I know it hurts.”

She nods, eyes on mine. A single tear falls to her cheek. She’s dripping onto my fingers.

“You need to be fucked again.”

Color floods into her cheeks. A silent, obedient nod.