Huh. Seemed apt.
The cool water was soothing on her feet as they stepped in. When they were waist deep, he drew her close, pulling her with him out to the deep. Elias and Sterling were both swimming laps.
“Do you want to swim laps?” she whispered, not that they were paying her the slightest attention. In fact, they seemed to keep sharing these odd looks.
She wondered . . .
“Will you promise to stay in the shallow end if I do?”
A huff of breath escaped her. Then she pushed back away from him, catching him by surprise as she dove back then twisted under. She swam away in long, firm strokes that took her to the end of the pool. When she turned around, she found him standing right where she’d left him.
And he didn’t look happy.
Whoops.
He crooked a finger at her and she swam back slowly. When she got close, he grabbed her around the waist and drew her into him to whisper in her ear. “You’re lucky we’re not alone, Duchess. Or you’d pay for that stunt.”
A shiver ran through her.
“Point taken. You can swim just fine. I still don’t like the idea of you swimming without me.”
He was completely insane. But he took off to swim his own laps, moving through the water with ease even if he wasn’t a natural-looking swimmer like Sterling was. Brick kind of pounded through the water rather than gliding.
He still looked sexy as hell doing it.
Lord, she had it bad.
And then out walked Xavier.
He was wearing a pair of dark-green board shorts. His pale blue eyes caught hers as the sun glinted off his dark-blond hair. He wasn’t as tall or wide as Brick, but he was definitely all muscle. With his angelic looks and tanned, muscular body, he could have been on the cover of any romance novel, and it would have sold millions just for that reason.
Friend. Friend. Friend.
Immediately, she felt ill. She was disloyal. She was a terrible girlfriend. Forcing her gaze up to his face, she smiled and waved. Then she quickly turned to look at Brick. He was staring at her with a funny expression on his face.
She smiled at him.
Please don’t realize that I was staring at my best friend with lust.
She couldn’t stand to have him think she was like Linda.
Then Brick winked at her and the tension in her eased.
“Twink? Want your floaties and your ring?” Xavier asked her quietly, looking over at Elias and Sterling, who were swimming laps, then Brick who raised an eyebrow at the question.
“Just my mermaid,” she whispered when he leaned down.
He moved to the pool shed and came out with the huge mermaid floatie, throwing it into the pool.
“I should have known,” Brick said with a grin. “A mermaid would swim well.”
“Juliet’s an excellent swimmer,” Xavier said, slipping into the pool. “She could have been on the swim team at school.”
But she’d been too terrified to try out. To even get in the pool with other people.
Always a coward.
And yet, look at her now. Sure, she was covered up. But she was swimming with men she didn’t know that well.
And her best friend, who always made her feel safe. But who was also stirring her in ways that only Brick should.
She was so messed up.
“Want a hand up, Duchess?” Brick asked. Then he grabbed her by the waist, easily heaving her up into the air. Xavier grabbed the giant floating mermaid and held it steady as she climbed on. They were on either side of her. For a moment, her breath caught, wondering what it would be like if they could always be like this.
With her in the middle.
Stop being an idiot, Juliet. You’ve read too many ménage romances. That doesn’t happen in real life.
Then Xavier suddenly pushed the floatie hard, making her spin and squeal. She hung on for dear life as he boomed out a laugh. Jerk.
She tensed, wondering if Brick would snap at him. Overprotective didn’t cover that guy. But instead, she looked over to find him grinning at her.
Good Lord.
What if they decided that instead of being enemies, they could be partners in crime?
She wasn’t sure she would survive.
“Duchess, out of the pool now,” Brick said firmly.
He’d gotten out about an hour ago and dried off while watching her swim around and play. Xavier had stayed in a bit longer to play with her. It was easy to see they’d done this before. That they were good friends.
Xavier had gotten out about twenty minutes ago and gone to take a shower before dinner. Elias and Sterling were in the pool house getting dinner ready. He’d watched her and Xavier together with surprising ease.
Okay, he’d had to fight his jealousy a few times. He was only fucking human. But he hadn’t felt the urge to murder him, which he was pretty sure he’d do with any other fucker who made his girl smile like that.
Sure, he’d thought about murdering him. But he hadn’t done it. That was what counted, right?
Now he just had to get his little mermaid out of the water.
She had the audacity to shake her head at him.
Brat.
He moved to the side of the pool, hands on hips, and glared at her.
“It’s nearly dinner time, and you’ve been in there too long.”
She scrunched her nose and didn’t move.
Oh, for someone who was owed the rest of her spanking tonight, she was being quite bratty.
“Do you want to add to the spanking you have owing?”
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head again.
Stubborn. Brat.
“I’m going to count to three and you best be out by the time I finish. One.”
Her eyes went over his shoulder and widened. He could guess who was moving up behind him. Didn’t change anything. Xavier knew what she was. He didn’t know if the other guy was a Dom or not. That didn’t matter, it was obvious to Brick that he’d never taken a firm stance with her. Probably spoiled the little brat.
“Two.”
“There a problem?” the man behind him asked carefully.
“No problem. Just a naughty girl who is going to find herself over my knee if I get to three and she’s still in the pool.”
Juliet’s mouth dropped open and Xavier stepped up next to him. “You can’t spank her.”
Brick turned and gave him an incredulous look. “Sure, I can.”
“No, you can’t.” Xavier gave him an angry look. “You’ll hurt her.”
“Yeah, a spanking hurts, but I’d never harm her.” Brick eyed the other man for a moment. “This is what she agreed to.”
Xavier’s face blanched. He looked like he’d been slapped. “There’s no way she agreed to you hurting her.”
Brick sucked in a breath. “Listen, asshole—”
Then she was out of the pool and between them, staring from one to the other, her face pleading with them. She looked about as scared as he’d ever seen her. That made him suck in a breath to calm himself.
This guy was just trying to protect his best friend.
He closed his eyes. “Look, if you’re not in the lifestyle, then I wouldn’t expect you to understand, but Juliet told me that you know she’s a Little. So, I thought you’d be more open-minded.”
When he opened his eyes, both of them were gaping up at him. What?
“I’m in the lifestyle,” Xavier gritted out. “I’ve been a Dominant for years. I know her. I know the lifestyle. And I know that she is too delicate and fragile for the harsher side of BDSM.”
“Listen, I’m not doing anything we didn’t sit down and talk about first,” Brick told him. “A spanking given as punishment to correct a behavior isn’t something I’d consider harsh. I’m not whipping her until she bleeds. She knows the rules. She agreed to them. And to be punished if she broke them. Besides, this is something she needs.”
Xavier sucked in a breath and stared down at Juliet. “Did he make y
ou agree to this?”
“Of course not,” she said in that husky voice. “I wanted this. Brick is right. I need it. I like having boundaries and rules.”
Xavier went so pale that Brick thought he might faint. He shook his head. “Juliet, I always thought . . . I mean . . .”
He scrubbed his hand over his face, and Brick almost felt sorry for him.
“Why did you never tell me?”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
But he didn’t seem to hear her. “I just didn’t think you’d want that. I thought it would scare you. That you couldn’t handle it.”
“Juliet isn’t as fragile as you all seem to think,” Brick told him, not unkindly. “I’ve seen the way people treat her. Like she might break with a hard word. But she’s stronger than people give her credit. She’s resilient. She’s a fighter. She’s also a brat who doesn’t listen well.” He gave her a stern look. He pointed at the house. “Upstairs. Shower. Then it’s dinner time.”
She hesitated, looking up at Xavier.
“One,” he said in a low voice.
With a huff, she stomped her foot and glared at him. “Daddy!”
“Two.”
“Such a darn bossy-boots.”
“Th—”
Spinning, she took off.
“No running,” he barked.
She slowed then turned as they both watched her. At the door, she turned and stuck her tongue out at him. Xavier sucked in a sharp breath.
“Damn brat,” Brick said with affection as she walked inside.
“I’ve never seen her act like that.” Xavier stared over at him with something that looked like shock. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her that sassy.”
“Like I said, she needs the boundaries and rules. They make her feel safe. Secure.”
“How did I never see any of this? How was I so blind?”
Brick wasn’t good at this sort of shit. Advice, emotional crap, he left that all to Elias.
“Maybe you didn’t want to see it,” he murmured. “Maybe you wanted to keep her in that box you assigned her. Because it was safe. It was what you both knew.”
Xavier shook his head, but Brick didn’t think it was in disagreement. “So, what you’re saying is I was a fucking coward.”
Yeah. Kind of.
Xavier sat at the table feeling kind of numb.
He’d been a complete idiot. A coward. A fool.
Even though Brick didn’t say any of those things to his face, they were all true.
How had he never known?
Because maybe Brick was right. He’d made assumptions about her.
Fuck. Fuck.
He’d known she was strong. But for some reason, he’d just decided she couldn’t take his darker side. That he wasn’t good enough for her.
So yeah, he was a fucking coward.
Suddenly, he noticed food filling the plate in front of him. Juliet was piling it high with grilled fish, fried potatoes, and coleslaw. Not unexpectedly, her plate held very little food.
Nothing much changed there.
“Enough, Twink,” he told her when she tried to fit more on. “I didn’t swim enough to burn through this many calories.”
She’d quickly showered and wore another long, black dress.
Which he fucking hated.
Why had he never encouraged her more? Helped her to stop hiding so much?
Fuck. He’d really been an idiot.
“You need to eat more, Duchess,” Brick said, putting more food on her plate as she wrinkled her nose, giving him a stubborn look.
Xavier nearly grinned. He hadn’t been the recipient of that look very often, mostly because he generally let her get her own way. In everything.
Christ. Yep. Idiot.
Because he wanted a brat who wore her hair in braids and held tea parties and held onto him so tight when she was scared or afraid. Who’d never give him instant obedience. Who’d never step foot in a club.
But his happiest memories over the last two years all involved the brat currently refusing to eat any of the fish. Her eyes were narrowed, and he knew that a tantrum was brewing.
He’d spoiled her to death. And he’d loved every minute.
He should have opened himself up. Should have been brave enough to recognize his feelings for her and tell her about his needs.
Now, it was too late.
“Duchess,” Brick said warningly. “You need to eat.”
And now, he found himself in the unenviable position of helping someone else learn how to take care of his girl. The job that had been his for so long that he hadn’t realized its worth.
He’d taken her for granted.
Ignored his feelings for her.
He probably deserved to lose her. Brick wasn’t exactly who he had imagined she would end up with. He was gruff, blunt, firm.
But maybe that was what she needed.
Except he couldn’t help but think she might need something from him as well. But that was wishful thinking. What could she need from him that she didn’t get from Brick?
“Duchess, damn it,” Brick said quietly. There was a note of frustration in his voice. And worry.
Because she wasn’t eating.
Well, even if she wasn’t his, this was something he could help with. The other two people at the table were engaged in a quiet conversation and not paying them any attention.
“She’s a nibbler,” he told Brick.
“What?”
He winced then, realizing the other man might not welcome his advice. He wasn’t sure he would be gracious about it if the tables were turned.
“Juliet is a nibbler. She can’t eat large meals three times a day. She has to eat small things through the day. She doesn’t like red meat much, but she’ll eat chicken and fish. She’ll eat most fruit, but she loves strawberries. And she prefers her veggies raw with ranch dressing.”
Brick stared at him, then frowned. He braced himself for the other man’s ire. But Brick turned to Juliet and raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell me.”
Hm, a day ago, hell a few hours ago, he would have taken umbrage at the other man’s tone with her. But now, he saw it more clearly. Her more clearly.
“That was naughty,” he murmured, before he thought about it.
Brick shot him a look, then to his surprise, the other man nodded. “It was. Duchess, if you don’t tell me things I need to know to take care of you, then you could get sick or hurt. You need to talk to me.”
“Communication isn’t her strong point.” He grimaced as Brick glared at him. “Sorry. I really am trying to help. Getting her to talk about some things is like pulling teeth. Her stomach gets sore with large meals. She’s usually pretty good at eating regularly, though, because she knows otherwise, Reuben will throw a fit and hire her a cook.”
He gave her a firm look and she squirmed.
“Also, her stomach is tied to her emotions, so if anything is upsetting her then she loses her appetite.”
Brick nodded. “Makes sense. So how often a day should she eat?”
“Six or seven smaller meals. However, she can eat more than she has right now without hurting her tummy.” Xavier gave her a firm look. “I’d say at least ten more bites.”
She scowled back at both of them.
“Brat, you heard what Xavier said. Ten more bites.”
Both men nodded together. And Xavier found that he was enjoying himself. Brick wasn’t the type of guy he’d normally be friends with. However, if he wanted to stay in her life, then he had to be friends with him as well.
Maybe it would be easier to walk away. To put distance between them.
The idea of doing that tied his stomach in knots, though.
Christ.
She leaned in towards them, shooting a glance at Elias and Sterling, but he swore those guys only had eyes for each other.
“Are you two ganging up on me?” she whispered.
He stiffened, worried about how Brick would take that. T
hen the other man surprised him by grinning.
“Maybe it takes two of us to rein you in, brat.”
Hell. Why did that feel so right?
Brick held Juliet in his arms after he finished spanking her. She was straddling his lap, her face pressed to his chest. She was wearing a nightgown tonight with a large mermaid on the front of it. The mermaid had a sequin tail.
It was sweet. He wished she felt comfortable enough to wear cute and colorful things all the time. Maybe one day he’d get her to that point.
Xavier had left soon after dinner. He’d given Juliet a brief hug which Brick had tolerated. Xavier had been quiet and thoughtful for most of the night, especially after he’d said that thing about it taking the two of them to look after her.
Why the fuck had he said that? It wasn’t true. He could take care of her on his own. Sure, he might not know her as well as Xavier.
The other guy was an idiot if he’d stopped himself from making a move because he thought she wasn’t ready or couldn’t handle him. Still, just because Brick didn’t need him to take care of his girl didn’t mean she didn’t need Xavier.
He waited for the anger. The jealousy. The need to rip the guy apart.
Weirdly, it didn’t come.
He rubbed her back. She was calming down. She’d begun crying almost as soon as he’d started smacking that glorious bottom, which had alarmed him so much that he’d paused to check she was all right. She’d told him she was fine.
Obviously, she’d just had some strong emotions that needed a release. He got that it was that way for some subs who held things deep inside them. They needed a way to let them free, a reason to let go of that control.
“They clear my head.”
“What does, Duchess?”
“The spankings. I get overwhelmed sometimes. My thoughts. The anxiety. The worries. The spankings help. They clear it all away. It’s so peaceful.”
Okay, he hadn’t realized that. His hand paused as he thought that through. But he couldn’t see how it was a bad thing.
“I’m glad it helps, baby girl. You know, if you ever need a spanking just to help clear your head, I can do that. You don’t have to be naughty and earn one.”
Her Daddies’ Saving Grace Page 25