“Of course it does,” he replied. “What’s the point of the foot, if it doesn’t make you do as I say?”
“You’re impossible.”
“You are not the first person to tell me that, surprisingly.”
Yeah. She wasn’t surprised at all.
“I want a shower, Wolfe. I can stand on my foot that long.”
“There’s no need for you to be standing on your foot when you can lie down. What’s the problem with a bath? I’ve already seen you naked. I’ve seen you touching yourself while you’re naked. How is a bath any worse?”
Oh. Dear. Lord.
Did he have to be so blunt?
It’s Wolfe. Of course he did.
“I want to wash my hair. I can’t do that properly in the bath. I can’t rinse the shampoo and conditioner out.”
“You can if I help you.”
“You want to help me?” That didn’t seem a very Wolfe thing to want to do.
“There’s nothing difficult about washing your hair, is there?”
“No. Not at all. I just . . . I didn’t realize you’d want to do that sort of thing.”
“You need help. I want to give you what you need. I’ll go run you the bath.”
She still thought she could take a shower, but she didn’t bother trying to argue with him. There just wasn’t much point. She knew he wouldn’t listen.
Returning, he lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom.
“You’re going to have to let me walk sometime,” she told him.
“Why?”
“Because . . . eventually I’ll need to go places without you.”
“Then Aleki or Caleb can carry you.”
“What about if I’m on my own?
“Why would you need to go anywhere on your own?”
All right. She wasn’t sure how she was having this conversation with him. He set her down on the counter then opened the cabinet beneath her, pulling out some bubble bath. Her eyes widened as she stared at the number of bottles in the cupboard. He started opening each one and sniffing them.
“Umm, how much bubble bath do you have? Caleb has been using the same one each day.”
He grunted. “I don’t like the scent of that one. So I got some more delivered. I figured we could try each one until I find the right one for you.”
“How I smell is important?” Well, obviously she didn’t want to stink. But she didn’t think that her scent would matter all that much to him.
“Yes. It is.” He finally held one up. “Jasmine. Let’s try this one.”
She shrugged. She liked the smell of jasmine. He poured some into the water and immediately bubbles started appearing. She clapped her hands excitedly.
He gave her a surprised look. “You like bubbles.”
“How can anyone not like bubbles? They’re so fun. Can I hop in now?”
“Not yet,” he warned. “I have to make sure it’s not too hot or cold.” He tested the water then turned off the tap. “It’s good.”
He helped her take off the T-shirt then lifted her up, carrying her to the bath and lowering her slowly. She sighed as she slid into the water.
“I’m sure I’ve got matching shampoo and conditioner in here.” He moved back to the cabinet, her eyes nearly dropped out of her head as she took in the bottles of stuff in there. Had he bought out half the store?
He turned around, carrying some bottles. “Gonna need something to rinse it out. Wait there.”
She hadn’t planned on going anywhere.
While he was gone, she washed herself and played with the bubbles. Bubbles were the best. When he returned, she was scooping them up with one hand and blowing them off. Her shoulders hunched as she waited for him to tell her that she was being silly.
William would have. Although she didn’t think she’d ever taken a bath with him around. She wouldn’t have been able to relax enough to enjoy it. That wasn’t a worry here. Even though she felt nervous having a bath in front of Wolfe, it was more of an excited nervousness.
Wolfe was constantly surprising her. He wasn’t a man you could easily predict. That was for certain.
“I stopped in the playroom and got a few things from the bathroom attached,” he told her. He was holding up a small baby’s bath. He tilted it so she could see some bath toys inside, along with a plastic mug that was obviously double-walled as it had little fish swimming in the glass.
“Want to play with some toys? You don’t have to,” he added after she didn’t say anything.
She did. She just wasn’t sure she’d feel comfortable enough. She glanced up at Wolfe, but there was no judgment. Just a calmness.
This was something he said he wanted too.
“Do you think it’s strange, a grown woman wanting to play with toys?”
His eyes narrowed. “I think a lot of things are strange. Telling someone they look good when they clearly don’t. Not telling someone to close their mouth when they’re eating because it’s disgusting. Having money that’s all one color. Pumpkin ice cream. What’s with that? Ice cream and vegetables are not meant to mix. Next thing you know, there will be spinach ice cream. Or brussels sprouts ice cream.”
“That is the only way you’d get me to eat brussels sprouts,” she told him.
He set the baby bath down. “They’re on the list.”
“Nuh-uh,” she told him. “No way. They’re yuck.”
“You’ll eat them.”
“Will not, Wolfie.” She was surprised that her Little side was pushing forward so easily.
“We’ll see. Just because something might not be considered normal, doesn’t make it wrong. Just look at me.”
She ducked her head. “Thanks, Wolfie.”
“Not sure I approve of that name, though.”
“Why not? I like it.”
“Aleki calls me Wolfie sometimes. We should have a name that’s just for you to use.”
She pouted. “Tell him to stop.”
Something flickered in his eyes that she almost thought could be amusement. “I will.”
He picked up the baby’s bath and dumped everything in. She squealed with laughter as it dropped, splashing water on her.
“Wolfie!”
“What?” He gave her an innocent look. She narrowed her gaze at him. Oh, he played a dangerous game.
He filled up the baby’s bath with fresh water in the bathroom sink. Then he set it down next to her and she struck. She scooped up water, splashing him right in the face.
He froze. Water dripped down his face. Over his glasses. Down his chin onto his shirt.
Uh-oh.
She sat there, staring at him.
He drew off his glasses and wiped them on the bottom of his shirt very, very slowly.
Oh shit. Now would probably be a good time to run, Vivi!
She grabbed the side of the bath, prepared to heave herself up.
“You try and you’re over my knee, and having wet skin will make it so much worse.”
She froze. Shit. Shit.
He put his glasses back on, then picked up the plastic mug with the swimming fishes. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t.
He splashed some water right in her face. She screeched.
“Wolfie, no! Bad Wolfie!” she cried. She tried to clear her eyes as he splashed her again.
“No, Wolfie! No!” She started laughing, unable to stop herself. Water went in her mouth as she tried to splash back. “Noooo!”
“What the hell is going on in here?” a big voice boomed.
She turned her face to the side. “Aleki, save me! Wolfie is being mean! He’s splashing me.”
“You started it,” Wolfe pointed out.
“One splash!” she pointed out. “Look at me, I’m all wet.”
She blushed as she realized what she’d said. Aleki’s eyebrows moved up and down. “If he’s gotten you all wet, then I’d say good job.”
“Aleki!” she protested with a pout. “Where’s Daddy? Daddy will be on my side.”
Caleb poked his head into the bathroom. “What’s going on in here? You okay, jelly bean?” She could drown in those eyes, let that calm confidence he wore like a cloak wrap her up in safety.
Everything in her life would be okay when he was around because he wouldn’t let anything or anyone harm her.
“Wolfie was splashing me.”
“Wolfie, huh?” Caleb’s face was filled with amusement.
“Look at me. I’m all wet!”
Caleb walked over and crouched by the bath. “These are cute toys. This one squirts. Look.” He ducked an octopus under the water and squeezed it, letting it fill with water. Then he drew it up and squirted it right in Wolfe’s face.
Her mouth dropped open. Then a laugh shook her as Wolfe narrowed his gaze at Caleb. “What the fuck?”
“Sorry. Was just demonstrating how the toy worked. You’re wet anyway.”
She started giggling as Caleb winked at her and rose. Wolfe grabbed a towel to dry himself off.
“We’ll leave you to your bath. Try to keep some water in the tub, huh?” Caleb said.
Aleki stared at her intently then he turned and left the room, calling back over his shoulder, “breakfast in forty minutes.”
Wolfe grumbled but walked over and knelt next to her.
“Truce?” she asked.
He gave a nod. “Let’s wash your hair. You need to eat breakfast.” He picked up the cup and filled it with clean water from the baby’s bath.
“What’s the baby’s bath for?” she asked curiously as she started playing with the toys.
“Oh, it’s for a doll. It came with a set including a stroller, cot, and highchair.”
“I didn’t see those yesterday.”
“They just arrived this morning.” He was working the shampoo through her hair and massaging her scalp. It was heaven.
She let out a moan, leaning back in the bath. “Oh God, your fingers are amazing.”
“I know,” he said with zero modesty.
“Do you give back massages?” Would it be too much touching for him?
He paused. “I’ve never given one. I could learn if you’d like it.”
“Only if you want to. I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“Being with you could never be uncomfortable. Not when it’s the only thing in my life I truly want.”
Jeez. He was killing her.
28
“Aleki, save me!” she cried, half-running, half-limping into the kitchen.
Aleki turned and grabbed hold of her, lifting her up into the air. He was wearing an apron and the scent of something baking filled the room.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I need you to hide me from Wolfie,” she told him.
“Why? What is he doing?”
“He’s just after me to take that awful vitamin.”
Aleki stared down at her then he relaxed. He shook his head as he lifted her, placing her on the counter. He put his hands on either side of her then leaned in so they were face-to-face. “You need to take your vitamin.”
She pouted. “But it’s so big. It’s horrible. I can barely swallow it.”
“I know of other big things you might need to swallow.” He gave her a teasing look. She whacked his chest.
“Genevieve Amelia,” Wolfe thundered.
She gasped and tried to hide herself behind Aleki’s bulk as Wolfe strode into the kitchen. “Princess!”
“Princess isn’t here!” she whispered. “Leave. Go find her.”
“Genevieve,” he said warningly. “Now is not the time. Get your naughty self out from behind Aleki.”
She sighed and peeped her head around Aleki’s shoulder. Wolfe gave her a stern look. “How did you get in here?”
“Umm, I walked?”
“Try again.”
“Obian said I could walk on my ankle.”
“He said walk not run,” Wolfe thundered. “You were running on your foot.”
She squirmed around on the counter.
“Uh-oh, someone’s in trouble,” sang Aleki, moving away to lean against the other counter.
What the hell?
“No fair! No ganging up on me!”
“And no trying to use one of us against the other.” Aleki waggled a finger at her. “I’m not going to hide you if you’ve been naughty and earned a punishment.”
Her mouth gaped open. “Punishment?”
“Yep, punishment,” Wolfe said smugly, crossing his arms over his chest.
Aleki mimicked him. This was totally uncalled for.
“Nobody is punishing me. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Wolfe stalked towards her. Her heart raced, her mouth going dry. “You were told you are allowed to walk carefully on your foot. Not to run. You were told to wait while I got your vitamin. Instead, you took off to hide behind Aleki. And you tried to use him to hide you.”
“But none of that is against the rules.”
“It’s all against the rules,” Wolfe countered.
She glanced at Aleki, he looked partly amused and partly turned-on. Really? Didn’t seem like she was getting any help there.
“But Wolfie, what if I took the vitamin now and promised not to walk on my foot for the rest of the afternoon?” She batted her eyelids for good measure.
“You’re now calling him Wolfie? That’s my name for him,” Aleki protested.
“I stole it,” she said, unapologetically. After all, he was siding with Wolfe against her.
“You can’t use it anymore,” Wolfe told him with a great deal of satisfaction.
“Why can’t I use it anymore?”
“Because it’s her special name for me. It’s what her Little likes to call me.”
Aleki studied her, a strangely intense look on his face. “Her Little, huh?”
“She seems to slip out more and more lately. Is that all right?” she asked.
“Of course it is,” Wolfe said. “Enough procrastination.” Wolfe pointed at her. “You’re getting your butt spanked.”
“Nooo,” she groaned. He wasn’t really going to, right? They’d talked about it a lot but that was just talk. Wasn’t it?
They weren’t really going to spank her.
Wolfe lifted her off the counter and carried her to a chair around the big dining table. Where was Caleb? Surely, he’d save her.
Maybe she was playing them off against one another. That probably wasn’t a good thing in this sort of relationship. But how was she to know? She hadn’t been in a healthy relationship since she’d broken up with Aleki. And now she was in a relationship with three men. Three very different men.
But then Wolfe drew out a chair and sat her on it. She relaxed slightly. Maybe he was just all talk and no action. Maybe they all were.
For some reason, that didn’t make her feel any better.
Crouching, he grabbed her sore foot gently, examining it. “It’s swollen.”
“It was always slightly swollen.”
“It’s more swollen than it was before.”
Shoot. He might be right.
“If you don’t take care of it, then your recovery is going to slow down,” he scolded.
She knew this. And now she was starting to feel like an idiot.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I was just playing around.”
“And you didn’t want to take your vitamin,” Aleki added.
She sighed. “They’re horrible. They’re huge and they taste awful.”
“All right, I’ll order some suppository ones instead. They’re probably better for you anyway,” Wolfe said. “Apparently they absorb better.”
“What?” she squeaked. “No! Fine. I’ll take the damn horse pills.”
Wolfe eyed her. “Without argument.”
Damn man had managed to corner her nicely. “Without argument.”
Wolfe grabbed the bottle of vitamins from his pocket and opened them while Aleki filled a glass of water. She took the pill and swallowed it wi
th a grimace.
“All right, I’ve taken the vitamin. Can I go now?”
“No,” Wolfe told her. “We still have your spanking to take care of.”
“What? No!”
Wolfe studied her with confusion. “Did you forget? How did she forget?” He looked up at Aleki. “Do you think she has some short-term memory damage?”
“She didn’t forget,” Aleki told him. “She thought you were joking.”
“Me? Why would she think I would joke?”
“God knows. You never joke.”
“Especially not when it comes to your health and safety,” Wolfe told her.
“You can’t spank me. I didn’t know!” she cried as he pulled out another chair and sat. He drew her over to sit on his lap.
“You didn’t know you were supposed to wait for him?” Aleki asked, almost gently. “Or that you weren’t to run on your foot?”
Okay, so she had known those two parts.
“But I don’t want a spanking,” she cried.
Wolfe stiffened. “If you are worried that I will take it too far and harm you, then Aleki can punish you.”
What? No. That wasn’t what she meant. She trusted Wolfe. This was a sign of trust, though, wasn’t it? Knowing that he wouldn’t go too far.
“I trust you,” she said. “I’m just nervous. I haven’t really been spanked. Ever.”
“You trust us not to hurt you? To respect your safeword?” Aleki reached out and took hold of her chin.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“You know that it was naughty, what you did?” Aleki asked.
“I know.”
“And you agreed to consequences when the rules were broken?”
“Yes.”
“Then over Wolfe’s knee you go.”
She looked at Wolfe then held out her hand. He helped her stand. “I’d never harm you, princess. If you’re too frightened, then I’ll choose another punishment.”
“Like what?”
“Writing lines and a time-out.”
Well, that sounded like no fun. And as though it would take longer than the spanking. Did she almost feel disappointed that he was changing his mind? How weird was that?
“No,” Aleki said. “Spank her. She needs to get this first time over with or she’ll keep stressing. She also needs to know that we’ll do what we say.”
Ruled by her Daddies Page 26