Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“What do you think?” Isla asked.
Marcus opened his eyes. He was lounging back in the huge tub with La-la sitting across from him.
“I’m thinking that you didn’t eat and then you nearly fainted.” He channeled his best Cullen look.
She squirmed, then raised her chin. “You ate so much chocolate and sugar you vomited.”
“Touché. We’re both naughty. If we had a Daddy, he’d probably spank us both.”
Instead of looking worried, Isla appeared thoughtful.
He sat up, staring at her. Bubbles filled the bath, covering them both. Eliot might look like a lumberjack who could fell trees with a single look, but he sure knew how to make a good bubble bath.
“You’re thinking about it.”
“What?”
“About being spanked. And you like the idea, don’t you?”
She couldn’t meet his gaze. A dead giveaway she was about to lie. “I do not. Why would I like the idea of being spanked?”
“Maybe because you’re thinking about him spanking you. Do you want that big hunk of teddy bear out there to spank you?”
“What? No!”
“I know you’re lying. Naughty, naughty.” He waggled a finger at her.
Her lower lip dropped out. “I’m not naughty.”
Oh, she was so cute. And when her Little started to peek out…
Irresistible.
“Did you not just lie to me? We don’t lie to each other, Isla.”
“I’m sorry.” She kept her gaze on the bubbles. “You’re right. I was thinking about him… about him spanking me.”
“And you liked the idea.”
“Yeah,” she whispered. She raised her gaze to his.
“Nothing wrong with that.”
A light flush flooded her cheeks, which he was certain had nothing to do with the heat of the bath. She still looked pale, though. He should be taking better care of her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m not taking good enough care of you.”
“Yes, you are. And we look after each other.”
“But you’re always taking care of me… especially when I get engrossed in work. I need to do better.”
“Marcus, no. You’re always there for me. You protect me. You make sure I have whatever I need. Most of all, you make me smile and laugh. I rarely smiled before I met you.”
He drew her over onto his lap so she was straddling him.
“Guess we do take care of one another.”
She cupped his face between her hands. “We do. We always will.” She kissed him lightly.
“Careful or the sea snake will come out to play.”
The smile that lit up her face had happiness filling him.
“Maybe I like sea snakes. Perhaps they’re my favorite animal.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t think you’re going to have time to play with him. Dinner will be here soon, and you’re eating some.” He raised an eyebrow at her.
She chewed her lip thoughtfully. “What do you think of his proposal?”
“That’s what I started asking you. Then you distracted me with all this talk of spankings and sea snakes.”
She lightly slapped his arm.
“Ouch. Easy there, girl. You’ve got a hell of a wallop on you.”
“Marcus,” she said chidingly. “Seriously.”
He leaned his head back with a sigh. “I don’t know whether it’s a good idea. What if we fall for him and he walks away? He’s not promising anything. Just to be our Daddy while we’re here. What if he’s not what he seems? What if he’s got a real mean streak? What if he takes away all my treats?”
Oh, the horror.
“You could use someone to make you cut down on the sweets.”
“Right, that’s it. Where’s my belt? I’m going to whoop your ass.”
She just laughed.
He was only half-joking. No one messed with a man and his chocolate.
“I don’t think he’s mean,” she said. “Or a terrible person. I think your–our–biggest issue would be guarding our hearts against him.”
Yeah, he thought so too.
“But if he can help me release my Little side and give you the holiday you want and need, then perhaps we should consider it.”
“I am having the holiday I want and need,” he told her firmly. “Because I’m with you.”
“But you could have more. And it’s kind of him to offer. I can understand how it’s not easy for him, either.”
Marcus nodded. Yeah, he got that too.
“I think we should say yes.”
“I understand why you don’t… wait, what?” he asked.
Isla was often wary of strangers. And that’s really what Eliot was. Although there was something about him that felt right. As though they’d known him for years.
Soul mates.
Yeah, that didn’t really happen. But if it did, he wondered if this was what it felt like.
“I think we should try. If that’s what you want. I won’t do anything that you don’t want. Nothing can come between us.” Worry filled her face, which he hated.
“And nothing ever will.”
“Promise?”
“Yep. Always. It’s you and me, La-la.”
A knock on the door made them both jump.
“Time to get out of the bath. The food is here.”
“Coming,” Marcus called. “All right, let’s do this.”
They wrapped their pinkies around each other’s. “Let’s do this. It’s going to be fun.”