Uncharted Territory (The Compass Series Book 3) by Tamsen Parker

true?
    I’m standing in the middle of his playroom, finding it difficult to believe that any of this is really happening. The only reason I’m convinced I’m not dreaming is Rey’s sleek frame leaning up against the wall while Hunter inspects me, black crop in hand.
    “Feet further apart.” He emphasizes his words with light taps of the crop on the insides of my thighs. Holy…
    “Chin up, shoulders back, back arched.”
    Every instruction is punctuated by light taps on the offending body part, which translate into thrills of desire running from wherever he’s touched me straight to my crotch.
    “You’ll look so pretty when you’re gagged.” The thought nearly makes me perish. “I saw that shudder—you’ll like it.”
    Every inch of me is straining and ready. The tremor wasn’t one of fear. He’s standing close behind me, his breath hot on my shoulder as he trails kisses up to my ear, which he bites. I mewl and then gasp as I’m met by a sharp sting to my ass. Goddamn that hurt.
    “We’ll have fun practicing to be quiet later. Well, perhaps just I’ll enjoy that. But for now, I believe you’re overdue for punishment. Twelve strokes: three for not opening your mouth to me, four for not following instructions, and five for dropping the ‘sir’ at dinner. The next time you disobey, you’ll get six. Grab your ankles.”
    Holy. Shit. I don’t want to be caught out for this, too. I bend at the waist and grasp my ankles in my unsteady hands.
    “You’ll stay that way until we’re through or you’ll get an extra swat for each time you let go. Understood?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    I’m half-terrified, half-aroused beyond belief. Punishment. Consequences. Not that I haven’t felt the sting of a crop or the crack of a belt before, but this is entirely different. This isn’t Rey, showing me what the sensations feel like, making sure I wouldn’t be taken completely by surprise. Hunter strokes my lower back as he gives me instructions and it helps me stay still. Calms me.
    “You’ll count for me. I’m not going to ask for your silence—not yet. I’m not cruel. You have your safewords and you know how to use them. You will if this gets to be too much. Are you ready to start?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    I hear the crop before I feel it, but then… Shit. This is not sexy, this hurts like a—
    “One,” I remember to choke out, and then another stroke is landing. Fuck. “Two!”
    How Hunter thought I would ever let go of my ankles is a mystery; I’m hanging on for dear life, nails digging into my skin. On the third, tears start to rise and I’m quaking. But by the time I get to six, something extraordinary happens.
    The crop lands on my ass, but I don’t experience the blow as pain. I might describe it as…intensity? I’m not sure yet. I’m wondering if it’s a fluke when seven lands, but it’s the same. It’s at once a relief, but also disconcerting, especially when I recognize that Hunter’s set a different part of me on fire as well. Do I like this? Like that ? This is not the cute, romantic notion I had before we started, a giddy excitement at the idea of being spanked. It’s something deeper and darker, but oh so much better.
    When I cry “twelve,” the crop lands on the floor in front of my face and I stare at it. I’m waiting for further instructions, but they’re not forthcoming. I’m struggling not to move. Is this a test? If it is, I need to pass. Then Hunter’s hands are on me, his fingers running over the welts he’s raised, and I groan.
    “You’re all right, baby. On your knees, come with me.”
    My palms and shins sink into the plush carpet to follow Hunter’s beckoning fingers, not looking beyond his elegant hand. He shows me to a huge wrought iron bed and motions for me to climb up. “On your tummy.”
    I sink down not very far into the firm mattress and turn my head in the opposite direction from where Rey is still supervising in order to receive further instruction from