“You’re always rescuing me.”
I rise, because I can’t sit close to her any longer. My dick makes it too uncomfortable. “Right. You’re going to sit cozy. I’m going to feed you. And in the morning, I’ll trek out to call for a tow. If the roads are good, I’ll take you home. I can try to text Gemma now, so she’s not worried.”
“Okay.” She sounds reluctant. “I texted her too. She won’t be worried.”
Something about her tone strikes me as off, but I don’t think too hard about it. After I’ve fired off the text, I serve her a bowl of beef stew and hover over her to make sure she eats. “You’re lucky I was here tonight,” I say, picking at my own stew. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if she’d been stuck up here alone.
“I heard you tell Gemma you'd be home for Christmas,” she blurts, and ducks her head.
I rock back on my heels, feeling amused that she eavesdropped on me, just like I do with her. I might go grocery shopping more than I need to, just to see her.
I take her bowl and hand her back the book to read while I wash up. I’m mopping up the wet spots where the snow melted on the floor when what Lainey said earlier lands.
I might not be book smart like Lainey, but I have my own brand of smarts. Lainey’s good at a lot of things, but lying isn’t one of them.
CHAPTER 4
Lainey
Joel looms over me.“You lied to me, Lainey.” He looks so stern. “Gemma isn’t in town for the holidays. She flew out to be with your parents.”
I swallow. I’ve spent the last few minutes trying to think up excuses and pretending to read.
He takes the book out of my hand and sets it aside. “What’s really going on here?”
“You said you’d be alone.” I knot my fingers together. “It’s Christmas.”
His brows slant down.
“No one should be alone on Christmas.” I resist the urge to squirm under his fierce stare.Be bold.“So I came up here.”
“You came up here,” he repeats slowly.
“I want to be with you.” And I put my hand on his leg. A tremor runs through me. Or maybe him. Or both of us.
“Fuck,” he breathes. “You did this on purpose.”
“I didn’t mean to break down. I was hoping to find the road.”
“You could have been hit by a car. Or gotten lost in the woods.” The tops of his cheeks flare red. He lets out a gust of air and motions sharply. “Stand up.”
I rise and he takes my place, immediately grabbing my hand to guide me down into his lap.
His lap.
“Wh-what?—”
“It seems my first lecture didn’t take hold. So I’m going to give it again… with a little reinforcement.”
“Reinforcement?”
“Oh, yes.” His hand skates up my back. “It’s time you learned your lesson. I promised you punishment, didn’t I?” When I don’t answer, he gives me a squeeze. “Isn’t that right?”
I nod.
“Use your words, babygirl.”
My face has to be bright red. I squeeze my thighs together. “Yes. That’s right.” I’m breathless and my heart’s galloping. I’m on Joel Adler’s lap, staring into stern blue eyes inches from mine. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but there’s no place I’d rather be. “You said you’d turn me over your knee.”
