A Hard Bargain Read Online Free Page A

should have listened. That must be it. I insulted him by offering him money. Still, it might be worth trying one more possibility.
    I invited a Dominant to scene with me, when the invitation should have come from him. I should have waited until I was asked.
    Again I hand him the phone, and once more he glances briefly at it before passing it back to me.
    “Last chance, girl. And just in case you’re in any doubt, you’re pissing me off and wasting my time. You have five seconds to start being honest with me and then I’m going to suspend you from that ring in the ceiling above your pretty but empty little head, strip you and take a strap to your delicious little arse until I do get the truth out of you. Am I making myself clear here?”
    He is, and I’m suitably terrified now, I nod. It was the money, had to be. And he’s not letting up. Unless I want my punishment to suddenly get a whole lot worse, I need to give him the honest answer he’s demanding. I take the phone again, and start to type.
    I offered you money if you’d agree to be my Dom, to train me.
    I hand back the phone, he glances at it, then his eyes flick back to me. This time he doesn’t fling it back at me.
    “Bingo.” His softly uttered word is more intimidating than any curse, insult or threat might have been. He looks at me, long and hard, his eyes quite glacial. “Now we’re getting somewhere at last. And why, girl, was that wrong? Why do you suppose that’s gotten you into such a lot of trouble?”
    I look up and shrug. His expression hardens, darkens. He thinks I’m being dismissive, defiant even, making light of this. Christ! I snatch the phone back from him, not especially submissive or polite, but I’m desperate now, and very, very scared. I have to make him understand. I start to tap out my message quickly, panicking, frantic.
    Please, I don’t know. I really don’t. I’m not being rude or difficult. Please don’t…
    Suddenly he reaches out, covers my hand with his and stops my frenetic tapping. “Look at me, girl.” His voice is soft now, he expects me to obey him, but his tone is more reassuring than intimidating.
    I lift my gaze, caught in those stormy gray eyes of his again. “I was angry for a moment and I’d no right to be. I insulted you and I threatened you. I’m sorry about that. It was my fault, not yours. I’ll always give you time to explain, to ask questions, to understand. You don’t need to be worried that not being able to speak to me will earn you a punishment. Lying to me will, evading my questions will. But if you’re telling me the truth, you’ve no need to be afraid of me.”
    Wide-eyed I place the phone on my lap and wait for him to explain further. He doesn’t. We sit, in silence, each of us waiting, for—what?
    “If you have a question for me please write it down.” Nicholas Hardisty breaks the silence. “If you don’t have any questions, then please just write down why offering me money was such a bad idea, why it got you banned from the club at first, and then brought you here for me to spank you instead. And, girl, please hurry up. We’re making a lot of progress, but I do want to be getting on with my evening. But first I intend to teach you a lesson you will not be forgetting. Ever.”
    I do have questions. Lots of questions. The problem is I’ve no idea at this precise moment just what they might be. So instead I settle for stabbing around in the dark again. I start to write.
    I insulted you. By offering to pay you .
    I hand back the phone.
    He glances at it, nods briefly. “Yes, that’s part of it. But I’m a big boy, I’d survive an insult from a little sub like you. That would’ve earned you a reprimand, maybe a spanking but nothing too heavy. But you’re here for a punishment beating. I’m going to really hurt you. Now why is that, do you suppose?” His voice is soft, quiet, but the core thread of determined steel is there, lacing his words.
    I offered you too much money.