Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna let you pee on your own today because you’re still getting used to me. But eventually . . . everything.”
Something to look forward to.
But true to his word, he turned to leave.
“Can I go get my panties?”
“You can have them back when you leave. Call out when you’re finished.”
Right. After she peed and cleaned up, she tried to peek at her bottom in the mirror, but it was too high for her to get a look.
“Trying to see how red your bottom is?”
She squealed and looked up to find Grady staring at her in amusement. She pushed her dress down.
That wasn’t embarrassing or anything.
“I, um, yep.”
Grady stepped forward. “It looks pink. And beautiful. Come on, your milk is ready. Did you pee?”
She groaned and covered her face with her hands. “Yes.”
“Good girl.”
Reaching out, he took her hand from her face, then tugged her toward him. Grasping hold of her chin, he tilted her head back. “Damon said you want us to take control.”
“I . . . I . . .”
“That’s good, since that’s what I was planning on doing.” Then he cupped the sides of her face with his hands.
Would he kiss her now?
He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. Her forehead.
That was sweet. So sweet she closed her eyes to savor it.
“Come. Nap time. Your Daddy is waiting.”
He led her to the bedroom. She saw that the huge bed had some pillows in a U-shape in the middle. She gave Damon a surprised look.
“Brooks told us that you like to be surrounded when you sleep. So you don’t fall out of bed.”
Did he just?
“Crawl up into your nest, Twinkletoes,” Grady ordered before he lifted her onto the bed. “You ever been swaddled while you sleep?”
“Um, no.”
“We could try that,” Steele mused.
Holy heck. That sounded good. But she wasn’t quite ready for it.
Steele moved in beside her, pulling her up so she was resting against his chest. Then Grady handed him a travel mug. He held it to her lips while Grady sat down at her feet. He drew one into his lap and started massaging it.
Heaven.
“Her feet are slightly swollen,” Grady commented. “We need to watch that.”
Steele grunted. “We will.”
She drew her mouth away.
“Done, baby?” Steele asked.
She nodded and slid down into the bed as Grady got up so Steele could pull up the covers. The drapes were already pulled. They were a dark gray. The whole room was done in tones of gray and cream.
It was gorgeous and understated.
Suddenly, she remembered something. “I needs Slowly!”
“Slowly?” Steele asked.
“My sloth. He’s in my handbag. I can’ts sleep without him!”
“I’ll get him for you,” Grady told her.
“Snuggle down, baby. Grady will be back with him in a moment. Shall I tell you a story about a princess and her knight?”
“What’s about a princess and the ogre?” she teased.
“I do not look like an ogre, brat.”
“But you sounds like one.” She giggled as he tickled her.
“I can see I should have spanked you harder,” he grumbled.
“No, Daddy! That would be mean. You shouldn’t be mean to Effie. She’s far too cute to be spanked.”
“Effie is very cute. But there is no such thing as being too cute to be spanked.”
“Bummer,” she sighed.
“Here you are.”
She glanced over as Grady walked into the room, holding her handbag and Slowly.
“Slowly!” She reached for him, tucking him in against her. Suddenly, her Big brain interfered. “I needs my phone. In case Brooks calls.”
Grady nodded and handed it to Steele. He set it beside her. “You can answer it if it’s Brooks. But no going on the internet or playing games without Daddy or Grady’s permission.”
Grady frowned slightly but didn’t say anything. She slid her thumb into her mouth with a sigh. She really was tired.
“What’s this?” Steele asked, grabbing her arm. Drat, her sleeve had moved up at some stage.
He was studying the bruise on her arm. “What’s this bruise from?”
“Oh, that’s nothing.” She tried to lower her sleeve.
“Effie,” Steele said in a commanding voice. “Who gave you that bruise?”
“Nobody gave it to me.”
“Do I need to remind you that you’re not to lie to us,” Grady said in a stern voice. “Tell us. Now.”
“I gave it to myself, all right?”
They both stiffened, looking at each other.
“Not like that!” she said. “I don’t hurt myself. I was just . . . I was pinching myself. Because this job, it seemed too good to be true. A dream. So I would pinch myself to make sure I was awake. That’s all.”
“You will not do that anymore,” Steele said sternly. “I mean it. I will be checking your arm in a week’s time and if that bruise isn’t fading, you’ll be in trouble.”
Sheesh. They were so . . . intense.
“If you need to make sure that you’re awake, we’ll be happy to oblige,” Grady told her in a smooth voice.