“I was so fucking mad at myself, I just wanted to forget,” Reyes said.
“Me too.”
“I thought joining the gang would help, but it made everything fucking worse.” He shook his head. “Just wanted you to know, I regret what happened. I thought about you all the time, man. How I lost my brother that night.”
They could probably never be what they once had been, but at least they had some closure now between them. Zeke gave him a whack on the back. They were silent for a long minute. Then Zeke took a step back. “Best get back to Eden.”
“Got your hands full there.”
“Yep.” Zeke grinned. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Glad life worked out for you, bro.”
“Is it good for you?” Zeke asked Reyes.
“Yeah. Except for this shit with Bartolli, it is.”
“It a coincidence you ended up living so close to me?” Zeke asked the question he’d been pondering for a while.
Reyes smiled. “Would you believe it fucking is? Came to Montana for a girl, stayed when I found the Iron Shadows and worked my way up in rank. Life works in strange ways sometimes. I will admit, that once I pulled my head out of my ass, I looked you up. It was a surprise to discover you lived so close. I kind of liked knowing we were close even if our lives took very different courses.”
He might never see Reyes again. But yeah, he kind of liked knowing he was close by too.
“Clint, what are we doing?”
She followed him down the passage to one of the empty bedrooms at the end of the hall. He turned at the closed door and turned to look back at her. A low hum of anxiety had settled in her gut. She couldn’t believe Zeke had gone to meet Reyes without her. Not that she thought Reyes was dangerous. Maybe that was naïve of her, but she didn’t believe he’d hurt Zeke. Still, she’d wanted to go as well. She’d argued that she needed to thank him in person for the tiara he’d sent her. She loved it.
Zeke had nearly had a coronary over it. Silly man. Reyes sending her a gift didn’t mean anything. Well, nothing more than he’d wanted to rile Zeke up.
She’d pushed to get out of hospital as quickly as possible, but Zeke hadn’t let her leave until she’d been properly discharged. They’d had several arguments about that, and she was now owed a spanking once they had moved into Zeke’s cabin.
He was having renovations done on his cabin to make it more accessible for her. He’d also bought a hot tub, and was turning his second bedroom into a special playroom for her.
“Look, I know I haven’t reacted terribly well to you and Zeke being together.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You bellowed like a bull for days.”
He grimaced. “Yeah, well, you’re my baby sister. No fucker is good enough for you.”
She grinned at him.
He shook his head. “I do like that you smile more. You seem really happy, sweetheart. And that’s all I want for you. So I’m going to try to stop being so hard-headed, as Charlotte accuses me of being.”
“I am happy, Clint. Zeke’s good for me.”
“Yeah. I see that now.” He frowned and crouched down, reaching for her hand. “I feel like I failed you all these years.”
She gaped at him. “What are you talking about? Clint, you and Kent are the best brothers a girl could hope for.”
“I never realized you felt so guilty over everything. That you felt like a burden. I should have done something. I would have, if I’d known.”
“Clint, no. It was something I had to work through myself. Besides, I happen to know that I take after my big brother in the hard-headed department.”
They grinned at each other.
“I love you, Eden.”
She smiled, blinking back tears. It wasn’t like Clint to be so open with his feeling with her. “I love you too, big bro.”
“And if Zeke ever does anything to hurt you, tell me and I’ll break the jerk. Taking away my baby sister, who the fuck does he think he is?”
She rolled her eyes. “We’re still going to be living on Sanctuary. We’re not going far.”
“Did you show her yet, you bastard?”
She glanced over her shoulder to find Kent striding down the passage. Clint straightened.
“You were supposed to wait for me.” Kent scowled at Clint.
“You’re late,” Clint barked.
“Two minutes! I’m two minutes late!” Kent leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Bet you can’t wait to move out, sweetheart.”
“Don’t see why Zeke can’t move in here. No reason to have his cabin renovated when Eden has everything she needs right here,” Clint grumbled.
She and Kent just rolled their eyes at each other.
“Let’s show her,” Kent said eagerly.
“All right. Sweetheart, remember when you got home from the hospital and you asked me to get rid of all your toys?”
She nodded sadly. “I wish I hadn’t now. I can remember that gorgeous dollhouse that I got for Christmas when I was seven.”
Clint opened the door and cleared his throat. “Well, you might be glad now that I didn’t listen to you.”
Kent pushed her chair into the room and she looked around in wonder at everything. There were boxes filled with dolls and their clothing and furniture. There stood her dollhouse. Next it was her dolls stroller and high chair. Tears dripped down her face in shock.
“You kept it all?”
“Yeah, ah, it was up in the attic all these years,” Clint told her. “I brought it all down a few days ago and Charlie washed everything.”
She picked up her favorite doll, Anna, and hugged her close. “I can’t believe you kept everything.”
Kent placed his hand on her shoulder with a light squeeze. “We knew you were hurting after mom and dad died. We all were. But Clint thought that one day you might want it back.”
“Actually, I figured you’d change your mind the next week and demand I bring it all back,” Clint told her.
She sniffled and reached out for them both. Then knelt in front of her and hugged her between them.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You guys are the best brothers a girl could ever wish for.”
Epilogue
“Baby girl, where are you?”
Uh-oh. Daddy didn’t sound happy. Probably because she was supposed to in bed, napping, and instead she was hiding in the pantry, eating a bowl of ice cream.
She quickly licked the spoon and was busy trying to find a place to hide it and the dirty bowl when the pantry door opened.
“Shoot.”
Zeke stood there, hands on his hips, glaring down at her. “Just what do you think you are doing?”
“Um.” She wasn’t quite sure what to say considering the evidence of what she had been doing was in her hands.
“Is that ice cream, little girl?”
“Um.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be napping right now?” He reached in and grabbed hold of the arms of her wheelchair, pulling her out of the pantry.
Three months had passed since she’d been kidnapped by Bartolli. They hadn’t been the easiest three months. She’d spent time in therapy, talking through her issues. Sometimes, Zeke had joined her, other times her brothers had. They’d been amazing in helping her, though.
Zeke was her main support. She knew she could lean on him and he wouldn’t falter and she could do the same for him. He didn’t see her as weak or useless. He saw her as strong and beautiful and she thrived under his care.
He plucked the bowl from her hand. “I’m very disappointed in you, Eden Celine.”
“It was just a little ice cream, Daddy.”
“Are you allowed to help yourself to ice cream?”
“No.” She stuck her lower lip out, knowing where this was going.
“Did you ask me if you could have some?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you would have said no.”
“And why would tha
t be?”
Damn it. She hated his oh-so-patient voice. Made her feel even worse than if he’d yelled at her.
“Because you’re a meanie.”
“Excuse me?” He’d placed the bowl in the sink and folded his arms over his chest. He leaned his hip against the counter. “What did you just say? Because I know that my girl wouldn’t sass me after I caught her sneaking ice cream when she is meant to be taking a nap. My girl wouldn’t be that naughty, now would she?”
Well unless he had another girl. . .
She sighed. “I’m only supposed to have ice cream as a special treat. I still think that’s a silly rule.”
“You can think it’s a silly rule, but you still have to obey it.” He crouched down, placing his hands lightly on her thighs. “You are in so much trouble, princess.”
She was often in trouble. Following rules wasn’t really her thing. She shouldn’t be surprised that Zeke was stricter than her brothers. And he kept a far closer watch on her. There was very little she’d managed to get away with. And she seemed to often find herself with a red bottom because of it. Or in time-out, which was even worse.
“Sneaking out of bed during nap time.” He ticked off his fingers as he spoke. “Eating ice cream without permission.” Another finger. “Calling Daddy a meanie.”
Crap. She’d kind of hoped he hadn’t heard that. She should have known better.
“That’s three punishments you have earned. Have you got anything to say in your defense?”
“I love you, Daddy,” she said hopefully.
“Love you too, princess. But you’re still getting your butt spanked. And you’ll spend ten minutes in time-out. Then you’ll have a nap on your tummy with your bottom plugged.”
Oh. Fuck.
“Hope you enjoyed that ice cream, baby girl, because you’re not having any more for a week.” He stood as he said that and walked around to grab the handles of her chair. A whole week? He was worse than a meanie. He was a. . .a party pooper.
Okay, she needed better insults.
He wheeled her down the passage to her nursery. She slept in their bedroom every night, of course. But the nursery was used during the day for naps and playtime.
She actually loved the nursery. It was done in shades of pale yellow and forest green. In one corner was her play area, with her dollhouse, along with all her dolls and their accessories. She was so glad that Clint hadn’t gotten rid of everything.
The therapist she had been talking to was helping her come to understand that everything that had happened had been out of her control. And that she did deserve to be happy, to be loved. They’d also talked about the fact that after her parents died, she’d given up her childhood. She’d become an adult almost overnight. Now, she was taking back that chance to be a child again. With Zeke’s help. He’d been so much more patient than she would have imagined he’d be.
On the other side of the room was a double bed. The comforter pattern was a woodland scene and the wall behind the bed was painted forest green. It was soothing, but still fun and child-like. An oversized, stuffed bunny sat on the bed.
In the corner opposite the play area sat her time-out chair. She hated that thing. Zeke had ordered it online from the same place Jed got one for Daisy. She had to find a way of stopping these guys from talking to one another. They came up with too many ideas.
He stopped her chair then came around and picked her up. He still loved to carry her everywhere. Even though she now had everything she needed to move around more comfortably, he still preferred to pick her up and hold her against him.
Zeke placed her on the chair, which was facing the corner. Then he grabbed the back of her nightie tugging it up so her bare bottom was sitting on the cold, hard wood. Panties were now part of her past unless they were going out somewhere.
“Ten minutes, little girl. And I expect an apology when you’re finished, for calling Daddy a meanie.”
Why should she have to apologize if it was the truth? She managed not to ask that question out loud. Probably just as well, considering.
She sat and tried not to fiddle or look behind her. She had a fair idea of what he was doing and watching him wouldn’t make it any easier.
Finally, she felt him come up beside her. He crouched down and she turned to look at him.
“I’m sorry I called you a meanie, Daddy,” she said contritely, hoping it meant he might go more lenient on her.
“Thank you, baby girl. You know I don’t withhold ice cream to be mean. Too much sugar isn’t good for my girl and I want her nice and healthy.”
She sighed. “I know. I was very naughty.”
“You were. You know you’re not allowed to leave the bed at naptime without permission.”
She didn’t often get an opportunity to sneak out of bed. Zeke usually worked from home while she napped in the afternoons, however today he’d had to go to a meeting.
“Your meeting was short.”
“I was in the middle of the meeting when the monitor alerted me that you were out of bed,” he told her.
“Oh.” She bit her lips. Whoops. “Sorry.”
“Kent wasn’t too impressed when I had to leave.”
“He’ll get over it,” she said confidently.
“You might have him wrapped around your little finger, but I still work for him, little miss.”
“Sorry, Daddy.” She gave him her best puppy dog eyes.
“You’ll be very sorry in a minute,” he said ominously, then he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and arranged her face down on his lap. She looked over and saw an anal plug and lube resting close to her face.
Damn it.
Her nightie, which she’d been wearing for her nap, was raised over her ass. He rubbed her ass then smacked his hand down on her butt. He hadn’t given her a number.
That wasn’t a good sign.
He spanked her ass. Slap. Slap. Slap.
She started to gasp, tears dripping down her face onto the bedspread below.
“Daddy, stop! Ow! It hurts!”
“It’s supposed to hurt, little girl. You were very naughty sneaking that ice cream without permission. Daddy wants you to get the message that that is not acceptable behavior.”
She was getting it. Her ass was hot and throbbing by now. A sob broke free.
“Daddy! Owie!”
He paused. Thank God. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
“That’s a nice, red ass. But not red enough. Ten more.”
“No!” she wailed.
But there was no stopping him. Five sharp, hard smacks landed on her left cheek. Then the right cheek got the same. By the time he finished and was lightly rubbing her lower back, she was a mess. The bedspread was soaked beneath her cheek and sitting today was going to be a real bitch.
A tissue appeared in front of her face and he gently cleaned the tears away then held it to her nose.
“Blow.”
She felt a lot better after her nose was cleared.
Then Zeke moved and the lube disappeared from her blurry sight.
Oh crap.
“Easy, baby girl. You need to relax for Daddy.”
She was trying. She took a deep breath then let it out slowly, trying to release the tension from her body. Her cheeks were parted and a wet finger prodded at her asshole. The cool lube made her shiver slightly, and then his finger started to penetrate her ass. She wasn’t sure she would ever get used to this. Part of her loved it. Another part of her was completely embarrassed.
“That’s my good girl, let Daddy in here. He’s going to stretch you so you can take your naughty girl plug. Then you’re going to have a nap with a hot, throbbing, plugged bottom.”
She groaned as he added a second finger. Jesus. Jesus. It felt so good.
He moved his fingers in and out of her ass. Stretching her like he’d said, almost to the point of pain. Then his fingers were removed and she felt the rubber tip of the plug pressing against
her back hole.
“Deep breath in. That’s it. Now out. Good girl. Very nice. There it is, settled nice and deep inside you. I’m sure you’ll be much better behaved now.”
Yeah, maybe for the moment.
But tomorrow was another day.
He moved out from under her then pulled the blankets down on the other side of the bed. Placing one knee on the bed, he put his arms underneath her body and shuffled her over. She turned her head to look at him.
He was staring down at her with a satisfied look on his face. “Damn, baby. I never thought I would be as lucky in my life to have you.”
Tears filled her eyes and he reached over to grab another tissue, gently wiping her cheeks.
He pulled the covers up over her then lay on the bed on his side, facing her. He ran a finger down the side of her face.
“My precious girl. My princess. My love. I promise that every day, I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure you have the most amazing life possible.”
She leaned up and kissed him gently. “I already do.”
I hope you all enjoyed Eden and Zeke’s story! Who’s next? Well, Macca and Gigi’s story is next in Warrior Daddy. And if you would like to read more about Reyes, Duke and the Iron Shadows then that series is coming in May!
Read on for the blurbs and to pre-order!
Warrior Daddy
Coming 18 March, 2020
Pre-order here
Blurb:
Things got off to a rocky start. . .
Accused of being a thief. Fired. Kicked out of her home. Gigi Raymond has the worst luck. Only this time her bad luck comes in the form of a tall, gorgeous, arrogant asshole. Alec McKenzie might be nice to look at but he definitely has a mean side.
He’s been called back into the past. . .
Macca has returned to Australia to say goodbye to his dying grandma. Grief and the past overrule his good judgment and he takes his bad mood out on someone who certainly doesn’t deserve it. Realizing his mistake, he seeks to rectify it. Only to find much more than he expected.
Daring Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 5) Page 20