“Yes,” he replied.
Relief filled her. “Goody.” She rested her head on his shoulder and plopped the pacifier back in her mouth, sucking on it sleepily.
Both Aric and Tavi returned to playing their game and she settled in with her gentle-to-her giant.
This was the closest she’d ever been to bliss.
* * *
Kassim had to push down his irritation at being interrupted as he left the bedroom and stepped out into the main part of the plane. Judd was standing at attention. He muffled a sigh.
Did the other man never lighten up? Was this how Kassim appeared to others? Maybe it was. He’d always admired Judd’s dedication to his job. His preciseness. His need for rules and routine.
But now he could see how rigid he was too. He’d never wondered why Judd was the way he was before. Perhaps he should have.
“What is it, Judd?” he asked, forcing the annoyance from his voice. It wasn’t Judd’s fault that right now, all Kassim wanted was to be in that room with Pippa and his brothers. To soothe away the last bit of panic from her eyes and hold her tight. Sometimes he wished he was more like his brothers. More carefree. Well, Aric was. Tavi and Matek had their own issues. But Tavi had been far more relaxed these last few months, not as wound up. And Matek was completely taken by her.
“Prince Kassim, we cannot do our jobs properly if you will not listen to us,” Judd started.
Kassim held up his hand to pause him. “This is because we wouldn’t sit when there was turbulence?”
Do not get annoyed. He is just doing his job.
“Exactly, Your Majesty.”
How many times had he told the other man just to call him Kassim? Judd liked formalities.
“Judd, do you consider me a child?”
“No, Prince Kassim. But it is our job to ensure your safety.”
“Yes, and if there was a man standing there with a gun about to shoot me, I would allow you to do your job. But guarding me from turbulence is not your job.”
“I have to respectfully disagree. If something had happened to one of you on my watch, it would be on me.”
“Judd, you can’t take responsibility for our safety all the time. I could step out in front of a car and get run over, would that be your fault?”
“Yes.”
Okay, there was no reasoning with him that way.
“Judd, I need to speak to you about Pippa.”
Judd’s gaze moved to the door. “Yes?”
“Caleb informed you that Pippa is ours, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Protocol states that the royal bride is always guarded first.”
“Not over the first son, though.”
“With us, Pippa comes first,” he told the other man firmly.
“When will you announce her as the royal bride?”
His questions irritated Kassim and he wanted to tell him it was none of his business. But he had the right to ask.
“Eventually. Once Caleb and the others find who attacked her.”
Judd frowned. “Caleb said that you think she could have been attacked because of you. Are you saying someone knew about your intentions with her?”
“That’s the part that doesn’t make sense. We hadn’t told anyone. But perhaps she was attacked because she was my personal assistant. This time away will mean that she is safe from any threat while Caleb tracks down who harmed her.”
And when he found them, Kassim intended to show them exactly what happened to anyone who threatened someone who belonged to him.
“Remember, her safety is your priority.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
16
She had her own bedroom at the hotel.
Okay, so obviously she’d known this since she’d been the one to book the suite. She’d managed to get one with six bedrooms which meant the security team could stay here with them since they’d bunk up together or take the pull-out sofa.
So she had her own room.
But she didn’t want her own room. The past few nights, she’d slept in Kassim’s room. And she’d had a nap on the plane, pressed between Matek and Tavi with Aric lying along the bottom of the bed. Before they’d landed, she’d gotten back into her clothes. Thankfully, the landing had been smooth.
Now, she was staring at a gorgeous, huge bed that she was certain was amazingly comfortable and she didn’t want to be here.
The princes had all urged her to take this bedroom as it was the largest and had huge windows. It was around midnight in London right now, but she knew from the images online that this whole suite looked right out over Hyde Park.
“Poppet? What’s wrong?”
She jumped slightly at Aric’s voice. She realized her vision was blurred. Shit. She was crying. How embarrassing.
“Poppet? Hey, what is it?” Suddenly, she was drawn against Aric’s chest and he rocked her slowly back and forth. “What’s wrong? Don’t like the room? I can swap with you.”
“What? No. How could I not like the room? And I wouldn’t get upset over that.”
“No? Then what is it? Was Tavi mean to you? Want me to beat him up? I mean, it’s a huge sacrifice but if you give me ten kisses afterward, then I’ll do it.”
She leaned back to give him a suspicious look. “Right. And just where would you be expecting these kisses to go?”
“Why, Pippa.” He placed his hand on his chest dramatically. “Just what are you suggesting? I’m a good boy.”
“Uh-huh, I totally believe that.”
“Your belief in me is staggering.” He winked at her then leaned in to kiss her nose. “Now, what’s going on?”
She pressed her forehead to his chest with a groan. “It’s so silly, and I don’t want to tell you.”
“Are you worried there’s a monster under the bed?” he whispered.
She stiffened. “No! But now I am!” She wrapped herself around him tighter. Why would he ask her that?
“Hey, now. I wasn’t asking to scare you, I was just going to tell you that I’m an excellent monster hunter.”
“What’s going on in here? Aric? You’re supposed to be letting Pippa sleep, she barely napped on the plane. She has to be exhausted.” Tavi stepped into the room, scolding his brother. He moved to her, placing his hand on her back. “Little one? What’s wrong? You’re trembling.”
“Aric said there’s a monster under the bed,” she cried. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was tired, or just needed comforting and didn’t know how to ask for it, but her Little had risen up.
That’s how she found herself attempting to climb Aric while grabbing for Tavi at the same time.
“He’s here, I can hear him,” she said dramatically.
“Aric, why would you tell her that?” Tavi snapped.
“It was a joke,” Aric replied frantically. “I didn’t know she’d take it seriously. She wasn’t in Little headspace.”
“You’ve got to stop with the jokes.”
“You’ve got to get the monster!” she cried out as the door to her room slammed open and she screeched in fear, burying her face into Aric’s chest. Suddenly, the room was filled with men all demanding to know what was wrong. Over it all Kassim’s voice rang out, calming them.
“Quiet.”
She glanced up hesitantly, looking around. Matek was standing next to her, gazing down at her, his chest heaving. Kassim was closer to the door and around them fanned Beta team.
Oh, buckets of slime balls. This was embarrassing.
“What is going on?” Kassim asked.
“Prince Kassim, you need to come with me while we find the threat. Owen, take the Princes Matek, Aric and Tavi and their woman,” Judd demanded.
“Their woman? Are you serious right now!” she snapped at him. “Last time I make your favorite cupcakes for your birthday.”
To her shock, Judd’s cheeks turned red. “Uh, your . . . ma’am, I . . .”
She puffed out a breath.
“There is no threat,”
Tavi said. “Aric was playing another joke.”
She cringed as everyone turned to stare at Aric. Shoot. He was taking the full blame. It wasn’t really his fault that her Little reared up right then and caused this chaos.
“It’s not—” she started to say.
“I’m sorry everyone,” Aric interjected. “Joke gone wrong. You can all go back to what you were doing.”
At a nod from Kassim, Beta team filed out. Judd actually sent her an apologetic look. She’d forgive him. Eventually. But only after a batch of sardine and pickle cupcakes. She had no idea how to make them, but she’d figure it out.
Kassim closed the door behind them, leaving her with the four princes. Kassim turned his gaze to Aric. “Explain.”
She winced. Drat. “It’s not Aric’s fault, it’s mine.”
Kassim raised an eyebrow. “So you were just screaming for the fun of it?”
Tavi sighed. “Aric told her that there was a monster under the bed, for some reason only known to him.”
She waited for Kassim to give her an irritated look or scold her for wasting his time. Sure, Aric might have mentioned the monster under the bed, but he hadn’t expected her reaction. Which was way over the top. Shame filled her as she waited for Kassim’s censure.
Instead, his gaze flashed as it moved to Aric. Matek stepped forward and plucked her out of Aric’s arms, holding her on his hip.
Slightly weird. It wasn’t a position most men could hold her in. But Matek was so big that it worked.
And her Little liked it. A lot.
She wondered if other Littles felt like they had two parts to them. Their adult side and their Little side. She’d never asked Vivi if she did. Or if it was more seamless for her. Did most people slip easily in and out or did it take more coaxing to bring their Little out? It felt like the more time she spent around these men, the more easily her Little side rose up. Before, she had to be in her playroom. Where she felt safe.
Maybe it’s because they make you feel safe.
Hmm, well, that would make sense.
“Explain,” Kassim ordered.
“Kassim, it’s really not Aric’s fault,” she said, then closed her mouth as Kassim sent her a look.
“I will speak to you in a moment,” Kassim told her sternly.
Okay. Shutting her mouth right now. She mimed a zip across her mouth then locked it and threw away the key.
All of them stared at her. Tavi shook his head, but she saw a slight smile on his face. She leaned into Matek.
“You can put me down if I’m too heavy.”
He just shot her a firm look. His lips were pressed together. He looked a bit pissed.
“Nice to see zipping your lips lasted for a whole two seconds,” Tavi pointed dryly.
Oh, drat. She’d never had a problem at staying quiet before.
“It’s all your fault,” she muttered.
“What is my fault?” Tavi asked.
“Not yours. All of you. You make me just say stuff.”
Kassim let out a huff of breath. “We could hope that you would talk more to us.”
“I talk all the time.”
“Not about the serious things. When it comes to feelings, emotions you’re nearly as closed off as Matek.”
“Matty isn’t closed off. He’s just quiet.” She looked up at the man in question and smiled at him. “He doesn’t need to talk, I understand him. He’s my gentle giant.” She leaned her head against his chest and then her thumb slid into her mouth. Hmm, that was a new development. She’d never sucked her thumb before. But the mood she was in right now, it felt right.
“Only for you,” Aric told her.
Matek stiffened and she frowned at Aric, pulling her thumb from her mouth to pat Matek’s chest. “Don’t you worry about what anyone else says, Matty. I like that you’re just mine.”
Matek grunted. She knew that meant he liked being hers. It was good that she now spoke caveman.
“Someone want to explain what happened in here just now?” Kassim asked.
Well, this whole thing had backfired on him.
Aric sighed, ready to face his brothers’ wrath. Somehow it had gone from him comforting their girl, and joking with her about monsters, to this.
Damn it.
Why wouldn’t he think first before speaking? It was his biggest downfall. Kassim had often accused him of not taking things seriously enough. But when it came to their girl, he just wanted to make her smile. To ease some of her worry.
“When I came into the room to check on Pippa, she was nearly in tears,” he explained.
“So I asked her if she was all right, if someone had hurt her or was she worried about a monster being under the bed,” he explained.
Tavi groaned. “Aric.”
“I know, I know. It was a stupid thing to say. She suddenly got scared about there being a real monster under the bed and then you were all in here.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was being silly.”
“No,” Aric told her, stepping forward to rub her back. “I just wanted to pretend to be a monster hunter and put a smile back on your face. I’m sorry, Poppet.” He kissed her forehead, taking in her scent.
“What were you crying about, tamiya?” Kassim asked.
She let out a deep breath. “It was silly.”
“Nothing is silly when it comes to your care.” Aric ran a finger down her cheek. He couldn’t get enough of her soft skin. “Tell us.”
“I think I’m just tired and emotional. But I didn’t want to be in here alone.”
“You didn’t want to sleep by yourself?” Tavi asked.
“No. I know it was stupid—”
“Hush,” Aric told her. “It wasn’t stupid.”
“He is right, tamiya,” Kassim added. “There is nothing stupid about you or your needs.” He walked closer and Aric stepped back to give him room. “What is unacceptable is that you were standing in here, in tears, when you have four men who would give anything to not only comfort you, but sleep here with you. What you should have done instead of standing here, lost and alone, was come to find one of us. Understand?”
“Yes, Sir.” Pleasure lit up her face.
“Good girl.” Kassim ran a thumb over her lower lip. “Now, it is the middle of the night and far too late for a little girl to be up.”
“It’s nearly morning back home.”
“Yes, but you barely slept on the plane, which means you’ve been up for far too many hours. And you must try to acclimatize to the time difference. Aric, you will get her pajamas and pacifier, in case she wants it. Matek, you will take care of any monsters under the bed. Tavi, you will take her into the bathroom and get her ready for bed. You’re all to sleep in here with her tonight.”
Aric watched as she reached out to grab Kassim’s hand. He knew that she didn’t like that he’d left himself out of that. What she didn’t know is while Kassim would share her with them, he wouldn’t ever be in the same bed or likely take her with the three of them. His ability to share only went so far.
He was also likely going to work before getting a few hours of sleep. He barely slept, barely ever stopped working. Aric hoped that their girl could get his oldest brother to relax more.
“You’re not sleeping?” she asked Kassim.
“No, tamiya. I don’t sleep much and I have to prepare for this meeting. Get some sleep. Aric is taking you shopping tomorrow and you’ll need your energy.”
Aric snorted. He had that right. He intended to spoil their girl within an inch of her life.
He’d make this up to her. What girl could resist shopping?
17
After delivering his orders, Kassim disappeared.
Tavi took her hand and led her into the bathroom. Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her onto the counter. She was always shocked at the way they casually carried her around. As though she weighed nothing.
She watched as Tavi opened her toilet bag, which was yellow and covered in Batman symbo
ls. Because she had an obsession. He drew out her yellow toothbrush.
“I can do that.” She reached for her stuff, only to have her hand gently smacked.
“Uh-uh, I’m taking care of you. Now, open up.”
“Are you . . . you’re not really going to brush my teeth?”
He raised one eyebrow.
Okay, then. Seemed like he was.
“I’ve got to learn to do that eyebrow thing,” she muttered. “It’s like it’s got some sort of special power.”
“Is that so?” he murmured. “And what sort of power is that? Does it make your insides heat? Does it make you want to instantly obey me?”
She snorted, although that was close to the truth. It definitely made her rethink whatever she’d been about to do or say. “You wish, buddy.”
“That’s Daddy to you. Or Tavi.” The way he moved, the way he spoke, it was so elegant. Although that word felt wrong too. Everything about him was smooth. She bet he never tripped over his own feet or spilled his coffee down his front or snorted juice out of his nose.
Yes, that really did happen once. Not her finest moment, that was for sure.
“Now, open.” That was his Dom voice. She opened her mouth, letting him brush her teeth before rinsing. It was weird, but kind of sweet, too.
The door to the bathroom opened and Aric carried in a pair of blue and white striped pajamas.
“Are these men’s pajamas?” Aric grumbled.
She shrugged. “They’re comfy.”
“We’re buying you more pajamas tomorrow.”
“I’m sure you’ll be buying her more of everything,” Tavi murmured as he wet a cloth and started gently washing her face.
Oh, that was so nice. Especially when he wiped her neck then both her hands. It was soothing. A wave of exhaustion ran over her, making her sway where she sat.
“Poor Poppet, so tired. She’s gone to the toilet?”
“Not yet,” Tavi replied. “Let’s get her stripped and into these pajamas then she can go before getting into bed.”
“You don’t need to strip me,” she squeaked, reaching for her top to prevent them from pulling it off her.
Claimed by her Daddies Page 24