Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 100680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“I still think that I should help out.”
“You might think that you don’t help out, but that’s not true. You make me laugh, you make me happy, and that means more to Regent than you paying your way.”
“Oh.” That was actually really sweet.
“Of course, now I need to spank your ass.”
“What?” She gaped at him.
“Afraid so.” He lifted her off him and then got up, grabbing her hand to tug her out of the room and up the stairs.
“You are not spanking me for trying to give Regent money.”
“I have to. It’s the Malone way.”
“Maxim!”
He grinned at her as he tugged her into his bedroom. “Regent is expecting it.”
“That’s . . . that’s ridiculous!”
He drew her over to the bed, then he sat and arranged her over his lap.
“You cannot spank me for this!”
“No?” He drew her bottoms down, along with her panties, baring her ass.
“No!”
“I still owe you a spanking for putting yourself in danger.”
“I helped save you.”
“You still put yourself in danger. And you put yourself down. So let’s get your ass red so my brother knows you’ve learned your lesson. And so I know you’ve learned your lesson.”
He slapped his hand down on her ass and she let out a small cry. She kind of thought he might be joking. That he’d stop after a couple and get down to other business.
But he didn’t.
Oh no, he definitely meant business. His hand slapped down on her bottom until it was hot and sore. Throbbing. Until she was kicking and cursing him.
But she didn’t stop him by saying her safeword. Because she knew there was a part of him that needed to make his point. And that point was that he wanted her safe.
Always.
And she liked knowing that he wanted her to be safe.
So she let him spank her. And then she let him hold her until she stopped crying.
After that, she let him give her three orgasms for making her cry before she let him fuck her.
And all of it, other than the spanking, was glorious.
Later that night, after another round of him fucking her, he tucked her into his chest and held her tight.
“You took my back.”
“What?” she asked.
“You took my back when I needed it. You’re loyal, sweet, kind, funny. Do you want me for me?”
“Of course I do!”
“My perfect girl.”
That was when she remembered him telling her about what he was looking for in a woman.
And she fell asleep with a smile on her face.
EPILOGUE
Ten months later . . .
Aston stared into the mirror, brushing out an imaginary wrinkle in her dress.
This wasn’t the sort of dress she was used to wearing. While there had been a lot of changes for her over this last year, some things were more difficult to change than others.
She and Maxim had continued to live with Regent for a few months until she’d found the most gorgeous house about three blocks away.
And seven months ago, they’d moved into that beautiful house with a turret and a wide front porch.
It was more beautiful than anything she thought she’d ever deserve. But according to Maxim, she deserved the world. So she’d let him give her this. And the best thing was, Victor and Gracen had decided to move out and into their own place. Which was only three doors down.
She’d even found a job she liked. It was actually for one of Dayton’s competitors. He’d bombarded her with job offers until she’d agreed to a trial run. She’d been working for him for six months now.
Life with Maxim was amazing. He was still ridiculously overprotective and demanding. But sometimes, she liked his demanding ways.
And she tried to never take for granted the fact that he loved her.
She ran her hand over her blonde hair. She’d gone back to her original color with Maxim’s gentle coaxing.
She’d become more comfortable with wearing her hair down or dressing in clothes that didn’t cover her from neck to toes. Mostly because she now felt safe and cared for with Maxim. But sometimes, she still grew nervous and wanted to fall back on her armor.
Like right now.
Because she was about to go downstairs in this gorgeous dress that revealed a whole lot of skin and walk down the aisle in front of a bunch of people, a lot of whom she didn’t know.
Gracen and Victor were getting married at the Malone mansion today, and for some reason, Gracen had wanted Aston to be one of her bridesmaids along with her best friend, Sammy.
And so Aston was dressed in a silky blue dress with spaghetti straps that was tight around her chest and waist, then flared out. It was flattering and beautiful.
The door opened and she jumped, looking over as Maxim entered.
“I’m not sure you’re meant to be in here!”
He grinned. “Pretty sure that only matters if you’re the bride, baby.”