Daddy’s smile widens. “They can come for you if they want. But you’re mine now, and they’re going to have a hell of a fight on their hands if they think they can take you from me.”
I don’t want to feel this jumping, stuttering in my chest at his words. I want to feel fury, outrage, horror.
But I don’t. My heart literally leaps at the possessive growl of his voice, despite my mind screaming at me that we’re in danger. “I’m not yours,” I manage to choke out.
Chuckling softly, he leans down, his breath hot on my cheek. “Oh, but you are, little one. And it’s lucky for me you’re already dressed for the occasion.”
He can’t mean… “I amnotgoing to marry you.”
“Fight me all you want, my little runaway. It’s so much more fun that way.”
Fun. He thinks this isfun?
A softdinginterrupts the shocked fury bubbling in my veins, followed by the sensation of something being pulled from my bottom.
The only thing more shocking than this giant man’s declaration that he’s going to wed me, is the realization that I somehow forgot I had something shoved up my ass this whole time.
“Ninety-six-point-nine,” the other voice declares. “A little low, but not dangerously so. And I’m not seeing any signs of frostbite on her legs, but I’d like to check her arms and hands.”
Something almost like regret flashes across Daddy’s face. “Sorry, little one. Daddy just needs to get the blanket off you long enough for Uncle Ford to check you over and then you can have it back.”
I’m tempted to fight them, just for the principle of it, but the logical side of me wins out. Clearly “Uncle Ford” is some kind of medical professional, and I probably do need to get checked for frostbite.
Warm air kisses my skin as the blanket is pulled back and I turn my head to look up at the other man in the room with us. His eyes are that same dark brown, so dark they’re almost black, but his beard is much closer cropped than Daddy’s and even though they’re both huge, Uncle Ford isn’t built like a fucking redwood.
A kindness I hadn’t expected to see infuses his eyes as he gently takes my hand in his, twisting my arm this way and that. “How are you feeling, little one? Any stinging or pain?”
“Just in my ass,” I grumble, even though it’s a lie. I barely feel those swats from earlier, but I refuse to overlook the indignity of being spanked like a child.
A wry grin twists Uncle Ford’s mouth as he moves onto my other arm. “Unfortunately for you, that’s likely to be a regular occurrence. Your Daddy doesn’t tolerate naughtiness and he enjoys spanking naughty Little girls like yourself. I have a feeling you’re going to have a sore bottom more often than not.”
“He isnotmy father.”
“Never said I was,” the man called Daddy grunts. “A Daddy is a very different thing from a father.”
Turning my head again, I snarl up at him. “Well, whatever it is, it’s notyou.”
“We’ll see about that.”
But before I can respond, another new voice pierces the air.
“What thehellis going on here?”
CHAPTER 3
AXEL
Fuck.
I’d hoped to have at least a little while longer to get my Little one settled before Grayson showed up.
Bracing myself for the argument to come, I turn to face my sister, her face bright red and snowflakes melting in her hair.
“Were you outside? In this storm?” Worry turns my voice sharp, and behind me Colt groans. Gray might be our only sister, but she’s held her own with us from the day she was born and she heavily resents any implication to the contrary.
Eyes narrowing, Gray plants her hands on her hips and lets out a low growl to rival any of us. “Don’t try and change the subject, Axel. I was out with Bram getting more firewood and making sure the generator was ready to go. Thought we had at least another hour before it hit this hard.” Yanking her gloves from her hands, she gestures at the woman strapped to the table. “Then I come back inside and Dane tells me you’ve picked up a goddamn hitchhiker. And is she wearing awedding dress?”
“She wasn’t hitchhiking. Her car broke down in the snow and we rescued her. I couldn’t just leave her out there to freeze to death, Gray.”
