My body eventually stops fighting it, and I slump over the bench, letting Mikhail punish me however he wants to.

And just like that, he stops.

As I draw in a ragged breath, Mikhail walks back over to the wall and places the paddle back on its stand before returning to me. I hope Mikhail will end this soon. I’m not sure how much more I can take.

He gently touches my butt, causing me to hiss. “I know it hurts right now, but it will get better. This is a reminder—you are mine, Sofiya. And I think you want to be mine. So, stop fighting it. Now, I am going to show you what happens after I punish you.”

“What?” I whisper.

“I pleasure you.” He gets down on his knees and lowers his head down between my legs. I blush, knowing my butt is pressed up against his face, but Mikhail doesn’t seem to mind. He draws his tongue across my folds, making me gasp from the sudden pleasure that fills me. Mikhail’s hands grip my butt tighter, reminding me I’m still in pain, as he runs his tongue over my bundle of nerves. There, he flicks his tongue back and forth over my nub.

My hips press back against his face, seeking more friction. I’m embarrassed to say I love this. Mikhail is just as relentless with his tongue as with the paddle. He’s determined to wring pleasure from my body.

He pulls my hips back, drawing me across the bench, as he presses his tongue and lips against me harder. A soft moan leaves me, making me blush again. My husband just spanked me. With a paddle. I shouldn’t be moaning in pleasure right now … but I am. God, I am.

Mikhail hits that right spot on my nub and flicks his tongue back and forth over it, driving me crazy. My hips move at a faster rate. My hands press on the ground to steady me even though it’s pointless. I’m gone from the pleasure by now. Nothing can hold me back down.

I gasp when his fingers spread my cheeks, and he gently presses his finger against my back hole. He keeps his finger there as he pleasures me with his mouth.

The pleasure is building, building, building inside me …

Until I finally explode.

“Mikhail,” I gasp out as I come, my entire body trembling.

He makes a happy, low sound at the back of his throat that sends another spike of pleasure through me.

I slump against the bench, too spent even to move. Letting me go, Mikhail stands up. Even though my back is to him, I can feel him looking down at me.

“Pain and pleasure. Punishment and reward. You can stand up.”

I’m not sure I can, but I force myself to. My legs shake as I turn around to face him, and I see Mikhail open his arms wide for me. I don’t hesitate—I walk right into them and let him hold me.

“You’re forgiven,” he says into my hair. The tears hit me before I can stop them. They’re uncontrollable. Mikhail tightens his arms around me, holding me, protecting me, as I cry. His hand runs down the back of my head. I snuggle deeper into his arms and cling to his shirt, never wanting to let go again.

Mikhail fully and truly owns me now.

I will never leave him again.

“What happened in that room?” Mila asks after I join my sisters in Vik’s room.

“That’s between Mikhail and me.” I remain standing. I don’t think I’ll be able to sit down for days. “But everything is better between us. He’s forgiven me.”

Vik looks at me with curiosity in her eyes. “So, does that mean you’re safe now? With him?”

“I was always safe with him. I just … didn’t know it. But …” I sigh deeply. “He doesn’t want you guys here. He wants you to leave.”

“And go where?” Vik asks.

“You wanted to go back to New York.”

“I know. But that was before we were kidnapped by Andrei. That woke me up and made me realize we’re not safe on our own. We’re vulnerable. And trust me, I hate that we are. If I were born a man, I’d be ruling this world right now. But because I have a vagina, I will never have that. Mila and I will never be safe. If we return to New York, Boris will find us, and who knows what he’ll do? Worse than Andrei, possibly. So, where will we go that’s safe?”

“I don’t know.” I hate watching my sisters’ faces fall right before my eyes. I grab Mila’s hand. “But we’ll find a way. I promise. I will make sure you’re safe.”

“I trust you,” Mila says.

Vik huffs and stands up, limping with her cast. “So, you don’t trust me to keep you safe?’

“I never said that. But you said we’re vulnerable. Sofiya has a husband who can protect us. If anyone can keep us safe, it’s her.”

Vik turns her nose up at Mila. “You’ve always preferred Sofiya over me.”

Mila’s jaw drops.

“Enough,” I say. “Let’s not fight. Remember, I couldn’t keep any of us safe. I was kidnapped right along with you. It was you two who kept me safe. You went to Mikhail and got him for me.” I look right into Vik’s eyes. “So, thank you.”

Her eyes widen, her expression a little taken aback, but she nods. “You’re welcome. I know you might think I’m mean, but I would never let either of you die. Or … worse.”

The three of us share a look. We all know what’s worse than death, and it’s something a lot of women fear. Andrei could have done that to me today, but he didn’t, and I just hope Mikahil will always keep me safe so nothing like that can ever happen again.

“We have to stick together,” I say. “That’s the only way we’ll make this through. I’ll try talking to Mikhail again. I won't let you get hurt.”

After I leave my sisters, I get ready for bed. It’s been a long day between our escape attempt, Andrei, and Mikhail’s punishment. I have so much on my mind. I know one way I could save my sisters—give Mikhail my body completely.

I’m still hesitant because I know once I do, there’s no going back, and right now, I still have a barrier between us. It’s the only thing keeping me tied to my sense of self.

I’m naked in the closet as I pick out my pajamas when Mikhail enters the bedroom. He sets his sights directly on me, and goosebumps break out over my skin. I don’t think my body will ever stop responding to him.

He walks right up to me, grabs the clothes from my hands, and tosses them to the floor. “You don’t need to wear those to bed. I want access to you every moment of the night.”

I gulp.

“Sit down.” He nods at the plush seat in the middle of the closet. I do as he says, wincing as my sore butt touches the seat. “I need you again. Thinking about how I could have lost you has made me a possessive man.”

“You’ve always been possessive.”

He smirks. “I have.”

He kneels before me and grabs my legs, dragging my butt to the edge of the seat. I gasp as he spreads my legs wide and places my feet on the edge of the seat, leaving nothing to the imagination.

“Your body was made for me,” he growls as he swipes his finger up my folds. There isn’t a name for the sound that escapes me. He catches my eyes as he brings his lips back down to my sensitive nub. He licks over it again and again and again, his eyes never leaving mine. It doesn’t take long for my body to respond.

My hands slam against the seat behind me, catching myself. Mikhail runs his hands up and down my outer and inner thighs, helping me to relax. Without even thinking about it, my hips arch up to reach his mouth. They grind against him. I’m shameless, and I don’t care. It feels too good to care.

Mikhail slides his tongue inside me, moving it in and out. I moan, my head dropping back, and my eyes fluttering shut. The way he draws pleasure from my body is too much. I can’t take it. I can’t.