Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s just water,” Judd told her. “And you didn’t drink enough.”
“I don’t like water that much. Are you sure there’s no coffee?”
“There’s some here,” Owen said, turning with the coffee pot in his hand.
“No coffee unless she drinks more water,” Judd dictated.
“What?” She gaped at him.
“Shit. Seems harsh,” Owen said. “But fair.”
“How is that fair?”
“You’re getting dehydrated,” Judd said. “You run until you’re near collapse and you don’t drink enough water.”
“You can’t know that,” she huffed. It was true. But still . . . he couldn’t know for sure.
Right?
“Give me your hand,” Judd demanded.
“What?” she asked.
“Hand.”
She reached out with her hand to him and he turned it over, examining her fingers. “Pruney fingers.”
Owen leaned over the back of him, a cup of fresh coffee in hand. “You’re right. Didn’t notice her pruney fingers before.”
“It’s a sign of mild dehydration,” Judd offered. She tried to tug her hand away, but he had a firm hold on her.
“That’s not good,” Owen said. He pointed at her with his free hand. “You need to drink more water.”
She gaped at him. “I do not!”
“Yes, you do,” Judd said firmly.
“It’s a rule,” Owen said. “More water. Less coffee.”
Oh, she’d like to see him enforce that one. “I’ll drink as much coffee as I like.”
Judd whistled. “Someone’s asking for a spanking.”
32
“What’s going on?” Beck asked as he entered the room.
“These two have gone insane!” she said.
“So what’s new?” Beck reached out for a toothpick, only to have Judd slap his hand. “Ow! What was that for?”
“Those are for Chloe. She hasn’t finished yet.”
“I have,” she said.
“No. Eat more,” Judd demanded.
She heaved out a sigh but took the piece of cheese he offered. She had to admit that she kind of liked being fed by him.
“What’s going on?”
“She’s not drinking enough water,” Judd said. “And she’s being rather stubborn about it.”
“Me?” She gaped at him. “I’m stubborn? Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“You’re right, Judd.” Owen shook his head. “So stubborn.”
Beck let out a small huff of laughter.
Bastard.
She turned to glare at him. “I’m not dehydrated.”
“Pruney fingers don’t lie,” Judd said.
“And I don’t have pruney fingers!” She curled her fingers into her palms. Shit. Or did she? Did they look awful?
“Not sure she should drink any more coffee,” Judd said.
Oh hell no.
“Do not even think about touching my coffee.” She glared at him, watching as his eyes widened. “I will take your balls and shove them down your throat.”
“Hardcore,” Owen said. “Gotta admire that.”
Judd didn’t seem that impressed, though. He narrowed his gaze. “Your health is our responsibility. If you’re dehydrated, you could get dizzy, fall over, hit your head, and give yourself permanent brain damage.”
As he spoke, Owen grew tense. Crap. Great. Owen was going to take Judd’s words seriously.
“You’re exaggerating,” she said hastily.
“I don’t want you getting hurt,” Owen said.
“I’m not going to get hurt.”
“How about a compromise?” Beck suggested.
“What sort of compromise?” Judd asked suspiciously.
“You don’t touch my coffee, and I won’t rearrange your balls,” she growled.
“So vicious.” Owen’s gaze darkened with heat. “That’s sexy. I knew you were the one for us.”
He was nuts. But also . . . she seemed to kind of like that.
“Or,” Beck said, “you could drink more water and still have your coffee.”
“I suppose that would work,” Judd said. “But I want to see those fingers get less wrinkly.”
Jeez. Would he stop going on about her wrinkly fingers!
“Fine,” she gritted out.
“Just so you know that we’re not complete assholes, good girls get rewarded,” Beck said.
“Rewarded?”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded.
“With what?” she asked.
“Well, you’ll just have to wait to find out.” Beck lifted her off the stool and took her hand.
Don’t ask.
Do. Not. Ask.
“Do I want to know what naughty girls get?”
Crap. Seems she was a glutton for punishment.
He sent her a wicked look that she’d expect to see on Owen’s face. “Oh, Freckles, I think you know. But if you need a demonstration . . . I’ll be happy to show you.”
Holy. Heck.
Yep, that was not something she thought would come from Beck’s mouth.
“I’ll pass.”
He chuckled and led her into the bathroom. A deep tub was already filled with bubbles.
She clapped her hands before she could stop herself. “Goody!”
Whoa. It seemed that the more time she spent with these guys, the more her inhibitions disappeared. But the satisfied look on Beck’s face told her that he didn’t care.
That he liked her Little side.
She gave him a shy look, then glanced away not knowing what to say.
“Hey.” He turned her face back. “Look at me. That’s a good girl. Let me see those pretty baby blue eyes. God, you’re gorgeous.”
She wasn’t.
Especially right now. Her hair was probably a rat’s nest, and no doubt all of her make-up was smudged or had washed off. But the admiration in his eyes was real.
“Do you know that I feel privileged every time you show me a glimpse of your Little?”