“You can say it however often you want, but you have plenty of uncles in this house, and then your Auntie Gray. And if you fail to address any of them properly, Daddy will spank your bottom again, right in front of them.” Leaving her to chew over that bit of information, I reach for the mug Colt brought home from his most recent trip down to New Orleans. It’s the most colorful of the bunch, much like the city itself, bright pink with dancing alligators wrapped around the cup. “What about this one? It’s perfect for a pretty Little girl.”
Again her cheeks flush at being called pretty and she nods. “I like pink.”
Good to know. I tuck that information in the back of my mind as I pull down mugs for myself and Gray. While my sister pours the hot chocolate into the mugs, I get the mini marshmallows down and pluck a small handful from the bag to dump into the mugs.
But when I glance over, Melanie’s bottom lip has puffed out and her brows are furrowed. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“You said I could have marshmallows.”
“I did. And I gave you marshmallows.”
“No, you’reteasingme with marshmallows. There’s only like three!”
There are certainly more than three marshmallows in the mug. I’m just about to tell her that what’s in her mug is more than enough sugar for one Little girl when Gray reaches across me to scoop some more out of the bag.
“Don’t be so stingy, Ax. Give the girl some marshmallows.”
Smug is the only way to describe my Little girl as her Auntie Gray dumps more sugary goodness into her mug. “Thank you, Auntie Gray.”
“You’re welcome, little one.” Handing me a cup of my own, Gray pins her with a look much more reminiscent of the sister I know and love. “But don’t go getting any ideas. I’m only giving you more marshmallows because your Daddy is notoriously stingy with them. I wouldn’t normally help you get around his rules.”
“I understand,” Melanie chirps, so sweet and bright it instantly has the hairs on the back of my neck raising with suspicion.
“Good. Now, you two go get settled at the big table. I’m going to let the others know we’re ready.”
“Ready for what?” Melanie asks.
A smile curves Gray’s lips. “To meet the rest of the family.”
CHAPTER 6
MELANIE
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when Auntie Gray said I’d be meeting the rest of the family, but it certainly wasn’t to find myself surrounded by giant, muscular men who all look like they could rip a pine tree out of the ground with their bare hands and not even break a sweat. I feel almost comically small compared to them, and even though Axel is the only one out of the bunch who’s actuallyhurtme, I find myself pressing my body closer to his for the protection some part of me instinctively knows he’ll provide.
Because even if he did spank me and wash my mouth out with soap and tease me with the most unbearable pleasure I’ve ever felt, something inside me says he’ll protect me from actual harm.
Or maybe I’m just that fucking gullible.
“Shh. You’re all right, little one.” Holding me close, he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “No one here is going to hurt you.”
“He did,” I grumble, glaring at a man seated further down the table. The one who strapped me to a table and shoved a thermometer up my ass.
“Uncle Ford didn’t hurt you, Melanie. He helped Daddy take your temperature to make sure you weren’t sick after being out in the cold for so long.”
Lifting his own steaming mug, Ford grins, quick and boyish. “Can’t blame you for being pissed about it, though. I wouldn’t want to have that kind of thing sprung on me, either.”
Another man settles beside Ford, but where Ford’s expression remains open and welcoming, this man seems almost… foreboding. His long hair is pulled back in a slick ponytail and his thick arms, like Axel’s, are covered in tattoos. “You’re looking better than you were when Axel brought you home. Care to tell us what the hell you were doing out in the middle of this storm wearing next to nothing?”
“Elias.” Axel’s voice is sharp, scolding. “Be nice.”
Mr. Ponytail rolls his eyes. “Iambeing nice.”
Someone drops down in one of the seats to our right, halfway down the table. A bit more slender than the others, but still gigantic and no less intimidating, he shrugs. “In his defense, this is him being nice.”
Behind me, Axel’s chest rumbles with a literal growl. “Not helping, Colt.”
“Never claimed I was here to help you.” Tilting his head to the side, Colt studies me with unnervingly sharp eyes. The same dark brown as Axel’s, they seem to see straight through to the very center of who I am. “And he raises a good question. Whatwasshe doing out there, clearly not dressed for the weather? What was the plan, sweetheart?”
