Chapter 58 Punishment Time

Chapter 58 Punishment Time
~LIAM.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry, but you're not allowed in there."
The voice was sharp and feminine, imperious with a hint of insecurity. When I looked up, a woman stood blocking the backstage door: glittering heels, a too-tight corset shoving large fake boobs toward her chin, a thong, and long dark hair spilling over one shoulder. Her lips were pursed.
Of course. Of course, I couldn't just walk in.
I stopped, sizing her up. She had that look: authority rooted in a sense of importance, not respect. The type who thrived on the belief that power was hers to control.
Her eyes briefly scanned me, lingering a bit too long on my chest and arms. There it was, the crack in the armor.
Glancing around, I searched for any sign of a bouncer, but there was none in sight.
Interesting.
"Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair, letting the irritation in my tone bleed through, "he's not here yet?"
She looked at me, confused. "Who?"
"The bouncer," I said smoothly. "My cousin. He's usually here by now." I gave a tired chuckle. "Guess he's running fucking late again. That's just like him."
"Nathan's your cousin?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Nathan is. Came looking for him. Figured I'd say hi before things get hectic. But I swear, the guy's always late. Unreliable as hell."
She laughed, her demeanor softening. "Wow... Nathan never mentioned he had a sexy cousin."
Giving her a half-smile, I played along. "That's because he probably didn't want you all throwing yourselves at me. Smart move."
She giggled. "I'm Rose."
"Liam," I replied, letting my voice drop just a touch. "And for the record, Rose... Nathan never told me that The Velvet Fang was full of goddesses either."
She blushed, a light laugh escaping her lips. "Stop it."
"Nah, I mean it," I scooted closer, my voice lowering to a murmur. "But you shouldn't be standing here doing a bouncer's job. Doesn't suit you. Let me take it from here. I'll watch the door till he shows."
"You would?" Her eyes widened slightly.
"Of course," I said smoothly. "An angel like you shouldn't be guarding doors. I'll make sure Nathan hears about this injustice."
She laughed again, tucking a strand behind her ear. "Alright, sexy cousin. I'll hold you to that."
"Go do your thing, Rose. I've got this."
Turning, she walked through the door, still smiling. "Thanks, Liam. You're a lifesaver."
As soon as I was sure she was far enough, I moved quickly and slipped inside.
Backstage was dimly lit, with chatter filling the air as dancers gathered around vanities, getting ready. I spotted Rose again, chatting with two other women, distracted.
Keeping my head low, I moved quietly down the hallway, my pulse hammering in my chest. Just a few more steps, then I saw it, 
"RED."
Big, bold letters in the center of the last door.
Gotcha.
I pushed the door open without knocking, and there she was, half naked. Her bare back was to me, but she turned fast when she heard the door. "What the f-can't you-" She froze, eyes widening. "Liam?!"
I closed the door behind me. "Hey, doll."
"How the fuck did you get in here?"
She grabbed the top of her outfit and pressed it to her chest, her hands trembling slightly. A laugh rumbled deep in my chest.
"Oh, so now you want to be modest?"
Glaring at me, she suddenly bolted for the corner, dropping to the floor beside a velvet chair. I stepped forward on instinct, only to freeze when I saw the taser in her hand.
"Back off," she said firmly, though I could hear the edge of panic beneath it. "Come any closer and I swear to God, I'll tase your ass."
I laughed again as I stepped closer, but she backed away, still gripping the taser tightly like a lifeline.
"Why so jumpy now?" I asked. "Out there, you were all smiles, putting on a show. Grinding your ass on that boy's face like you couldn't wait to be touched."
Her eyes slanted, but she stayed silent.
"Don't come any closer, Liam," she said at last, her voice tight as her back bumped against the vanity. "Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone?"
It was my turn to ignore her now, stopping just a few inches away, my eyes never leaving her pretty green ones as she clicked the taser on, and the sharp crack of electricity filled the air.
"I'm not scared of you," Her hands shook slightly but she still held her ground. "Take one more step and I'll do it. I'm not bluffing."
I looked her dead in the eye, my anger still simmering, but curiosity crept in; I wanted to see if she'd actually go through with it. So I stepped forward. 
And true to her words, she lunged. But I was faster.
The taser clattered to the ground, followed by the top of her outfit as I grabbed her, twisting her around swiftly. I pinned her wrists with one hand, swept the makeup brushes and scattered powders off the vanity with the other, and pressed her face down against it. Her body tensed beneath me, her back arched, cheeks flushed, whether from fury or shame, I couldn't tell.
"Four years really did toughen you up, huh?"
"Let me go, you asshole!" she snarled, struggling beneath me. "I swear, I'll scream."
"Go ahead. Scream. Maybe by the time someone gets here, they'll find me spanking the slut right out of you."
Her body stiffened, muscles tensing beneath me.
"You think you can just act however you want, flaunting yourself like you did out there?" I whispered. "You don't get to do that and not face the consequences."
She flinched at my words, confirming I'd struck a nerve.
"You're insane," she spat. "Get off me. Now."
But I didn't, because all I could see was the same ass she'd grinded into that boy's lap, now perfectly arched beneath me in that sheer bottom piece.
"You want to be treated like a brat?" I slowly slid my hand over her back, tracing the curve of her spine. "Then I'll treat you like one."
She let out a muffled protest as I yanked down her shorts, baring her ass in a thin thong to the cool air. "You're going to learn that actions have consequences, Scarlett."
Her breath grew shallow, and I felt the shift in the air, the power tipping in my favor. Her resistance only stoked the fire within me, driving me to take even more control.
I brought my palm down hard against her right cheek, drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.
"That's one."
She tensed but stayed silent.
"Count," I growled.
Still nothing. So I struck again, this time landing it on her left cheek, hard enough to leave a red handprint blooming on her pale skin.
"Two," she hissed, her teeth grinding together.
A grim smile tugged at my lips. "Good girl. You're going to take twenty. And if you miss one... we start over."
I felt her shoulders tense, the fight simmering within her. She wanted to scream, to claw her way free, but I knew she couldn't. The real battle had only just begun.
I raised my hand again.