I heard such disappointment in his voice that I cringed, feeling very much the bad little girl. I could barely think straight, had no idea how or even if I should apologize again. He'd turned my world upside down in less than twenty-four hours.
"I'm going to spank you long and hard and you will wear the plug. If you disobey me one more time, you will remain naked. Period."
I believed him but instead of feeling anger or trepidation, I felt a wave of lust. No. No!
As his hand came down on my naked bottom, moving from one side to the other, I was humiliated at being treated like some stupid child. "Stop!"
"I'm not going to stop until you learn your lesson. Lies will get you killed. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
Shivering, I grasped the back of the couch as the spanking continued, every smack harder than the one before. Heat built up quickly, the pain biting. He was furious although controlled, his entire body rigid. Whatever he'd gone through or heard had taken him to another level of private hell.
"I won't lie to you," I insisted.
"No. I don't think you will." Lorenzo pressed his hand on the small of my back, striking me against my upper thighs.
I bit back any cries, knowing that I could have been the cause for whatever he'd been through. I was mortified at the thought, shaking from the realization. I didn't want him hurt. I didn't fight him as he smacked me long and hard, the burn and anguish something I did deserve, at least this time.
When he seemed satisfied, he released his hold, dragging the tips of his fingers down my spine. I could hear his ragged breathing, knew he was suffering from whatever he'd endured.
He exhaled in an exaggerated manner then rose from the couch, walking toward the fireplace mantel.
I adjusted my pants, wincing when I eased back down onto the cushions.
"Axel knew who you were. Didn't he?"
The admittance was difficult.
"Yes."
Another hiss escaped his mouth. "How?"
"I honestly don't know unless Lucas told him."
"And why would he do that?"
"That's what I've asked myself a dozen times," I insisted.
"Not good enough. When did you know he was aware of who you were?" His look was pointed. "When?"
"When he spouted my name, telling me that he would hunt me down."
Lorenzo slammed his hand against the wall, cursing under his breath. "That would have saved us some trouble, Sierra. I would have made different decisions."
"You already thought he would figure it out anyway."
"Yeah? Well, had I known before..." He didn't bother finishing his sentence.
And I wasn't going to ask him to. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? You have no idea what could have happened. We're not finished with your punishment. I don't ask much from you. I'm trying to keep you alive. Axel wants you dead badly and I honestly don't think it has entirely to do with the fact you witnessed a murder. He thinks of himself as invincible."
"Then why?"
"Revenge."
"I haven't done anything to him. I didn't publish a single word yet, as if I have anything to share anyway."
"Where is your story?"
"I hadn't written it yet. I'd made a few notes on the office computer, but everything I'd collected was... in my house," I said, realizing that was likely destroyed as well.
"I'm going to find out what the hell is going on. You're going to write down everything you know about Axel that you can remember."
"All right," I whispered.
He shifted his glance in my direction again, his mouth twisting. "One more question and I want the truth. Did you park your car where you said it was?"
"Yeah, of course I did. Why would I lie about something like that?" What was he getting at?
"While I am fully aware that vehicles are stolen at all hours within this city, my gut tells me someone wanted it to disappear."
"I... I don't understand. I parked it in a safe area near the bar. Why would someone target my car?"
"Good question. There's something going on that I don't like. Damn it."
When he sat down on the couch, I longed to reach out and touch him, to try to find out what had occurred. The man was so damn private. I shrank back against the couch, my mind reeling. Lucas was the only person who could have told Axel anything about me. But why would he betray me?
Unless everything Lucas had said was a ploy.