Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
He got a text back. “Caleb is okay with Ian being reassigned. But he’s going to call you. Bastard obviously doesn’t believe me.”
“He’s just doing his job, Judd,” Beck told him.
“Why don’t we get you ready, baby girl,” Owen told her. “We’ll meet you all outside in ten minutes.”
Chloe felt dazed as Owen led her into her bedroom. At least Jonathan wasn’t there. She was still shocked that he’d given her today off.
That was so unlike him.
When she’d woken up and Owen hadn’t been there . . . well, she’d started to have doubts. She’d wondered if he’d meant any of the things he’d said.
But now, they were all here . . . asking her to go to the beach with them.
Something she’d been longing to do since she got here. That likely wasn’t a coincidence.
Caleb called her phone and she spoke quickly to him, reassuring him that she was fine with the guys going back on her security detail.
Lord, she hated being a hassle.
“What’s wrong?” Owen asked, cupping her face between his hands.
“What? Nothing. Why?” She tried to give him a fake smile. But his frown told her that she wasn’t fooling him.
“What’s your safeword?”
“Red. Why? What are you doing?” she asked as he took hold of her hands and led her to the bed.
“Bend over and put your hands on the mattress.”
“Uhh, what?”
“You keep lying to me. Not telling the truth about how you are feeling. And no matter how many times I tell you not to, you keep doing it. Which makes me think you’re not going to stop until you experience some consequences. You’re getting a spanking. So turn around, pull your pants and panties down, and spread your legs.”
“They’ll hear, though.”
Whoa. Was that the only thing she objected to? The fact that the others might hear her being spanked?
Shouldn’t she be objecting to the spanking itself?
He frowned. “You need to have a consequence for being naughty.”
“You really want to know what I’m thinking, don’t you?” She was so used to pushing her own thoughts and needs to the side. To doing what Jonathan wanted. To thinking how he told her to think.
When did she become just an extension of him?
She leaned her forehead against Owen’s chest. “I’m so lost, Owen. I don’t know who I am anymore.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “This is because of Jonathan, isn’t it?”
“I don’t want to talk about him.” She took a deep breath and looked up at him. “I’m sorry. Really. I will try not to do that anymore. I’m not used to people wanting to hear the truth from me.”
He frowned. “All right. This is the last time you get a pass, though. Next time, it’s ten and I won’t be going easy on you.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.
He turned her toward the wardrobe. “Find something suitable for the beach.”
To her shock, two heavy smacks landed on her ass. She had to hold back a squeal as she turned to glare at him.
His eyes were dark. But there was a hint of heat in their stormy gray depths. “That will show you I mean business.”
Ouch. She rubbed her bottom.
“No rubbing either. That’s part of the punishment.”
Damn it.
“What a meanie,” she muttered as she entered the closet.
“What was that?” he asked.
“Nothing, dear.”
He snorted as he followed her into the closet. “That’s what I thought. Because I know you wouldn’t be sassing me right now since I would have no problem spanking you. All sounds would be mostly muffled. Unless you scream really loudly.”
“No. Nope. I’m good. I’m not sassing you at all. Not me. Nuh-uh.” She searched through her clothes. What on earth could she wear to the beach? Oh wait. She did have a sundress.
It was long, but it would keep her cool. And it was the most relaxed thing she had brought with her.
She turned to look at Owen, who was watching her with interest.
“Um, can you give me a minute to get ready?”
“Why would I do that when I could stay here and watch you get naked?”
“I’m not getting naked. And I need some room.”
He didn’t look happy about it, but he stepped out to wait in the bedroom. She wondered what the others thought about him being in here. Did they know he’d spent last night with her?
Actually, who cared?
She was so used to worrying all the time about what Jonathan was thinking, but she was tired of it. Exhausted.
It didn’t matter what anyone else thought.
What mattered was that this was the first day she’d had off in years. And she wanted to spend it at the beach with a man who made her feel safe. And two other men that she felt drawn to.
She was just sad that Hux couldn’t join them.
Walking out, she glanced over at Owen, who was leaning against the wall, watching her with hungry eyes.