God, I’m such a fucking asshole. Sloane deserves so much better. She deserves someone who loves her exactly as she is, without wishing she could be something else.
Someone else.
Choking on my own guilt, I manage to finish my shower and stumble back to my bed. And promise myself that as soon as I get home, I’ll send Mia on her way and never, ever think of her again.
Sloane
Ethan doesn’t respondto my last text of me and Mia cuddling together on the couch. If I know my husband, he’s trying to figure out what kind of game I’m playing by sending him those pictures.
I could tell him. Put him out of his misery and just be honest about what I want. From him, from Mia.
But that really isn’t a conversation to be had over text. And, if I’m being brutally honest with myself, there is a small, petty part of me that’s enjoying the thought of him tormenting himself with various imagined scenarios about what kind of mischief I’m getting up to with his babygirl.
No.
Ourbabygirl.
Because the sweet bundle snuggled up beside me on the couch is very muchmybabygirl. Ethan just doesn’t know it yet.
The movie ends and I pick up the remote to turn the tv off. Beside me, Mia lets out a low whine of protest.
“Can’t we watch another movie? Please, Mommy?”
I swear if I live a hundred years, I’ll never tire of the way she calls me Mommy. “No, baby. It’s time for bed. We can watch another movie tomorrow if you’re a good girl.”
Crossing her arms beneath her pert breasts, she flops back against the couch. “It’s too early for bed. Onlybabiesgo to bed this early.”
“And you are a baby. You aremybaby.”
Pink infuses her cheeks as she slides down further on the cushion. “Nuh-uh.”
“Mia Grace.” I put as much steel as I can behind the words, which isn’t much considering all I can think of is how cute she looks when she gets all sulky like this. “If you are not up off this couch by the count of three, you will be going to bed with a red-hot bottom. One.”
She hesitates, perfect white teeth worrying at her full bottom lip as she peeks up at me through her lashes.
“Two…” I drag the second count out several long beats, but she still doesn’t move.
“Little girl, you are about to be in big trouble. Thr?—”
But before I can finish the final count, she’s up off the couch, eyes wild as she dances in place. “I’m up, I’m up!”
“Hmm.” Rising from the couch, I grip her chin between my fingers, savoring the way her eyes go even rounder and her breath catches at the move. “You cut it very close there, little girl. Maybe my naughty girl needs her bottom warmed anyway.”
“No, Mommy, I don’t! I don’t!” Her voice pitches up to a whine, but there’s a hint of excitement in her hazel eyes that has my own blood heating in my veins.
“I’ll make you a deal, babygirl.” Dropping my voice to a low purr, I dip my head until our lips are just a breath apart. “Mommy is going to take you upstairs to her bed. And if you’re a very good girl and eat Mommy’s pussy very, very well, Imightlet you go to bed without a spanking. Deal?”
She inhales sharply, and when she speaks, her voice is soft, breathless.
“Deal.”
CHAPTER 8
MIA
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
What am I doing?
