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actually enjoying having her trapped in the tree at his mercy. He might keep her there all night only to look up at her expressive blue eyes and her red pouting mouth. He watched her lick apple juice from her lips.
    “Caitlyn,” he called up. “Throw me down an apple too, if you will. And one for my horse.”
    “Okay,” she said after a moment, wiping her mouth on her sleeve and her hands on her skirts. She looked around the fruit laden branches and selected a nice, ripe, shiny one. She tossed it down to him. He’d expected her to find the wormiest, most pocked one in the tree, but no, not Caitlyn. She threw down another for his horse and he caught it, strolling over to feed his stallion the treat. When he returned, he found her looking down for him anxiously. It touched him, how she sought him. She seemed to need him so desperately. Why? Why was his presence, his approval so important to her when he was only standing down here to dole out a punishment?
    And what on earth was he going to do with the girl? It became more obvious with each passing moment that she was elementally attractive to him. He looked down at the ground, frowning, then up at her again. He still held the apple, perfect and red, cradled in his hand.
    “Aren’t you hungry?” she asked.
    “No, I’m not hungry, Cait . I’m frustrated. I’m tired of waiting down here for you. I want you to come down before that branch breaks.”
    “If I come down, will you still punish me?”
    “Yes, I’m going to punish you. I’m growing more irritated by the moment, as a matter of fact.”
    “That’s why I don’t want to come down.”
    “Well, you should have considered the consequences before you tested me.”
    “I wish you would just hold me instead.”
    Her soft, wistfully spoken words took him aback. He bit into the apple, chewing slowly and thinking over what she’d just said.
    “ Cait —”
    “I wish you wanted me,” she said. “Because I wish you would hold me. I would like that much better than...being punished.”
    He sighed. He would have to put his hands on her sooner or later. He was only delaying the inevitable as it was.
    “Listen, Caitlyn. If you’ll come down at once and submit to the punishment you earned, then afterward, I’ll hold you as you wish.”
    She looked down at him, considering, the corners of her mouth drawn down in the most charming little frown.
    “And I caution you, I’m not normally one to bargain, especially not in situations like this. However, your honesty and openness has moved me. You have thirty seconds to decide what to do. After that my offer to hold you is withdrawn.”
    It was her turn to sigh. She looked down at him warily.
    “How much will it hurt?”
    “It’s a punishment, Cait . It’s not going to feel good.”
    “How long will it last?”
    “No more questions. Make your decision. Just remember, your punishment comes either way, so the best choice should be obvious. You have ten seconds left to decide.”
    With another soft sigh, she threw down her apple core and began to ease herself from the crook of the branch.
    “Be careful. Come slowly.” He instinctively positioned himself below her in case she should fall. When she was in arm’s reach of him, he took her waist in his hands and lifted her to the ground. Her arms came around his shoulders for balance and her face leaned close to his. He could smell the sweetness of apple on her lips, on her sticky hands.
    Reluctantly she met his gaze. “I’m sorry,” she said, fighting back tears. “I’m not usually so bad.”
    “Aren’t you, Cait ?” he replied skeptically.
    “Well,” she whispered, “I don’t want to be. I don’t want you to punish me.”
    He watched her hands as they clasped and unclasped in front of her. She looked up at him mournfully.
    “I just want you to...to like me. I don’t want you to be unhappy with me.” Two fat tears rolled down her cheeks and she stared at his hands while she sniffled under his