“What? You can’t deny she’s cute. Not my fault if the law says you have to talk to cute baby animals in an annoying baby voice.”
Bea is crouched down scratching behind Daisy’s ear and they huff a laugh at Siobhan’s antics, then grin up at us. “She’s adorable, Sage.”
“Please bring her every week,” Siobhan says. She’s now criss-cross in the grass with Daisy searching for a snack in her loose braid.
I grin, happy my new friends are so accepting of my less-than-normal pet.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Brooks
It’s Sunday, and Sage is currently out in the community garden with Daisy and her new friends. I’m glad she has them, truly, but I’m also itching for some time with my pack. Riley and Vee are both at work, which has left me… wandering.
I sigh as I slouch inside, tired from trimming the bushes along the side of the house, then start opening kitchen cabinets in search of a lunch idea. Just as I’m finishing up a pathetic excuse for a sandwich, the front door swings open.
Riley stomps in—not even bothering to take their shoes off—and collapses onto a stool with a huff.
I pause my chewing as I eye them, taking in their slumped but somehow tense posture, glaring blue eyes, and pouty lower lip. I gulp, swallowing my half-chewed mouthful.
“What’s up, Ri?”
They huff and shove a stack of napkins away from them, then lean back and petulantly cross their arms over their chest. Both my eyebrows go up, and I slowly set the last couple bites of my sandwich down.
“Just bored,” they finally say, glancing at me before flicking their eyes up to the ceiling.
“Bored…” I dust my hands off while my mind starts spinning with possibilities.
“Mhm.”
They kick one leg out, then start bouncing their other knee and shaking the entire counter. Feigning nonchalance?
“Anything I can do to help with that?”
I round the kitchen island to the same side as them, then lean against it, inches away from them. Riley’s mouth twists to the side as they roll their eyes.
“Hmm,” I say, lowering my voice as I lean down to their ear. “I’m thinking the answer to that question… is ‘yes, please alpha.’”
Riley’s fresh lemon scent spikes around us, and I hold in a grin as I straighten. This little brat…
“You would,” Riley grumbles under their breath.
Perfect.
“You looking for a spanking, little beta?”
“You looking to spank me, alpha daddy?”
Riley’s eyes dart to mine and hold, daring me. I return his gaze, slowly bending down to his eye level and closing the distance between us. Riley’s eyes widen the closer I get, but he doesn’t back down. No, my feisty beta loves to push his alpha’s buttons.
“Oh yes, Riley. I’d love nothing more.”
Riley’s mouth drops open as his arms fall to his sides and he sputters for a moment, perhaps not having expected such a blunt response from me. I grin, then lean around them and prop my hands against the counter, caging them in.
“You think you can handle me?” I say, all too aware of our size difference.
Riley scoffs. “Oh, I can handle you. The question is, canyouhandleme?”
My grin feels feral as their words settle between us. Fighting words. Challenging words. Before either of us can second guess it, I’m scooping Riley up and throwing them over my shoulder, marching us both into my bedroom. I don’t bother closing the door, and as I drop Riley down onto my bed, I snag the waistband of his pants and rip them down his legs as he falls.
