Excerpt of Love of Her Lives by Sharon Clare

"Shaking his hands off into the sink he turned, freed from his previous inclination for self–discipline. He could smile like the devil too. "You‘re all hell–fire this morning, aren‘t you? Well now, lass, you asked for it."

A wee scream escaped her as she dodged him and bolted toward the sitting room, knocking over a chair on her way around the couch. He righted the chair and came after her.

They stood on opposite sides of the three–seater. Her eyes flared wild with excitement, her chest rose and fell rapidly. Feet spread, knees bent, she was ready to dash around the furniture.

A laugh squeaked out of her. "You may be strong, but I‘m fast. You‘ll never catch me, warrior."

Calum vaulted over the couch and caught her around the waist as she took off.

"That was not fair." She tried to pry loose his grip.

"Twas as fair as sudsing an innocent man."

As he lifted her off her feet, her scream came out tangled in laughter.

"Thought you were fast," he teased.

She dug her teeth into his arm, just hard enough to hurt. He didn‘t let go. "Ah now, that‘s just nasty."

He dropped to the seat of the couch pulling her down on top. Beth misread his intent and relaxed her struggle. He gripped her tightly in his lap, smiled like the lust–filled warrior he was, and then lowered his mouth toward hers. His woman went limp. It was all he needed. Two seconds later Beth was flipped over his knee.

"You barbarian. Let me go." She twisted and dug her teeth into the side of his leg.

"Bloody hell,? he yelled, shaking her loose. He held her head against the couch so she couldn‘t get him with those teeth. "I‘ll not let you go until I‘ve delivered that spanking you asked for." He had her pinned solidly; her arms caught between his legs, her sweet behind at his mercy.

"If you‘d like to see the sun rise tomorrow I‘d suggest you let me go," she warned.

But Beth wasn‘t struggling with any heart. The woman was fully piqued, and Calum was completely with her in that sense.

He cupped her buttock in one hand. "Sorry, lass, keep in mind that discipline is a burden for the punisher. It‘s not nice to bite, you wee hellion."

"You bullshitter, you‘re loving this. You keep in mind, Mister–Caveman–Mentality, I will retaliate when you least expect it."

"Ah, I‘ve no doubt you will." He kept his tone amused. "And thanks for the warning.

I‘ll be sure to consider your threat as I dole out a fair punishment."

She let out one hearty cry of frustration.

He slipped his hand down between her thighs—he couldn‘t help it. Sweet mercy, she was warm in there. She went utterly still. "What are you doing?"

"You know, this didn‘t have to come to violence." He slid his hand over the tight denim, down her leg to fondle the back of her knee. Too much material there, so he ran his fingers back up her thigh.

"Calum, let me go."

"Och, I‘m not nearly finished with you. It‘s been a long while since I‘ve had a woman in this position." He circled over her buttock again, enjoying her sweet, round bum. The muscles in his legs contracted. "I‘ll have to take some time to consider how many strokes are fair." With the tips of his fingers, he ran back and forth at the uppermost part of her leg where it met those engaging curves.

A muffled moan sounded from below, bringing a smile to his lips.

"And this material is fairly thick." He followed the seam in a slow, deep exploration.

"What do you think fair—ten good wallops?"

She answered with a gasp.

He dove down deeper, rolling his thumb over her sensitive nub, once then twice, before sliding back up.

Another gasp.

"Ah, good," he purred. "You‘re cooperating. Sure to go in your favour—seven strokes then."

"Calum . . ." she said weakly.

He would deliver strokes, long sensual strokes. This was his favourite pastime. He could draw those gasps out for hours. Or that sharp inhale. How many of those could he extract? They‘d always responded differently to each other over lifetimes, but respond,they did. What did this Bethia crave?

He felt his own craving come on strong.

Then it hit him. Since when did he have the will of a mouse?