Erica “Ready?” “Yes.” But I wasn’t ready. Even before the sound of the whip cutting through the air could register in my mind, I felt the biting pain of it on my back as the whip left a burning trail on my flesh. My lips parted and an involuntary scream left my lips as I sucked in a lungful of air or tried to, but it seemed the pain travelling through my skin, deep into my flesh and settling in my bones wasn’t allowing me to do so. “Hush...” Antonio whispered into my ear, his big hand caressing my hair as his other hand curled around my waist. “Don’t let it consume you, let it be a part of you.” The back of his knuckles slid down my spine, making me arch my body, my breasts thrusting out. And I realised with not a little bit surprise that shook me, that my nîpples were hard against