Punishing for Pleasure Read Online Free PDF Page B

confided in her mother after the incident at Prairie Winds…well, she hadn’t really had any choice when her mom had walked into the dressing room while they’d been shopping and seen the bruises from her punishment. Oh yeah, that had been an interesting moment. Crap on a cracker, I didn’t think she was ever going to stop sobbing.
    She wasn’t sure exactly what her mom had told her father, but she was convinced it was a heavily diluted version of the truth. She’d never known her mother to lie, but she was an Olympic champion at spin. Meri had often thought her mom missed her calling, she should have been a political speechwriter…hell, the woman could make Judas look like a victim. Later that evening, her dad swirled his wine around in the heavy crystal goblet he held and looked at her thoughtfully for several torturous moments before tactfully cautioning her to guard her privacy and to avoid “that Mason tramp” at all costs. In the months that followed, Meri had noted the foundation had quietly pulled out of several projects they’d been working on in conjunction with Kelly’s family.
    Meri knew he was smoothing the way before she actually assumed complete control of the foundation and appreciated his efforts. Even though she was already the CEO, her dad was still the Chairman of the Board, and she relied heavily on his experience while earning her own. Thinking about her parents made her smile. They never did anything by half measure—they lived in the moment and each of those to the fullest. They were currently on a “cultural excursion” in Peru. Her mother had always been interested in the history and cultures of the people of Central and South America, so Meri hadn’t been surprised when she’d persuaded her doting husband to travel high into the Andes to explore the history of the Incas.
    She’d been happy to hand the microphone over to the next speaker, but she heard him re-introduce her so she pulled her thoughts back to the moment and smiled as she once again took center stage. They’d set aside a few minutes for photos and questions, but looking out over the sea of reporters, Meri had a sudden urge to bolt. There was an undercurrent of strange energy coursing through the group and she felt a shiver of anxiety work its way up her spine. She had always prided herself on her ability to judge people…or she had before dating John and befriending Kelly, now she wasn’t as sure of herself in that regard. It was that unease that had kept her from revealing her real name to Ash Moore and Dex Raines. Holy mother of God…j ust thinking about them makes my body sit up and take notice.
    As if her desire alone had wished them into existence, Meri caught the briefest glimpse of Dex standing in the dark shadows at her left. Her breath caught at the sight, and his stance was so confident, yet pulsing with questions. His feet were shoulder width apart, arms crossed over his broad chest, his head tipped ever so slightly to the side as if he was studying her. Oh, you can bet your sweet—soon to be very sore ass — he’s studying you, Merilee. Did you think he or Ash would be happy to find out the sub they’ve been playing with isn’t who they assumed she was? Although she had never actually lied to them, she hadn’t been particularly generous with information either. Sighing to herself in resignation, she glanced again and saw Ash had moved up alongside Dex. Wait…what happened to his arm? As if he’d read her mind, she saw his head shake ever so slightly as if telling her to not be concerned about something he considered inconsequential, but damn it, his arm was bandaged from his elbow to just above his wrist.
    Seeing the two of them poised along the side of the courtyard’s open area explained the strange movement she’d sensed in the crowd a few minutes earlier. Like rippling waves in water, people had stepped forward and then back, now she knew they’d been making way for the two large men to