Page 23 of Daddy's Claim
“Name your price.”
“No more spankings,” I answered without even giving it a second thought.
“Nice try, princess.” The hands on my ass tightened, and the possessive growl of his voice sent a bolt of electric need straight to my clit. “Nothing could make me promise to keep my hands off this perfect ass.”
“Perfect, huh?” Maybe it was ridiculous, but I couldn’t help but preen a little at the compliment.
“Don’t let it go to your head, little girl. It’s just as perfect covered in welts, and I guarantee it will look even better with my cock buried inside your tight little hole.”
Before I could overcome my shock enough to respond, he sighed and released my bottom to take my hand in his. “Time to face the music I guess.”
His grip was tighter than before, making me wonder if this time it was as much for his own comfort as it was to keep mefrom bolting. The thought put a little extra bounce in my step as we made our way back to the dining room.
“So itistrue!” A tiny woman with long curls that rivaled my own framing her round, furious face stomped over to us. Without a second of hesitation, she reached up and slapped my new husband in the back of the head.
And in that moment, I fell in love with my new mother-in-law. If I could get her on my side I’d be golden. Michael wouldn’t dare spank me if I threatened to tell his mama on him.
“How could you get married and not tell your mama, huh?” Hands fisted on her hips, she glared at Michael, righteous indignation rolling off her in waves. “How does that even happen?”
“Zia Scarlett…” Cole tried to intervene, but she turned and silenced him with a single look.
I needed to get her to teach me how to do that.
“I was going to call you, Ma, it only happened yesterday.”
Michael’s voice was the closest thing to a whine I’d heard from him, and I valiantly swallowed another giggle.
“So I’ve heard, but I still don’t understand.” Her gaze shifted to me, and her eyes narrowed. For a moment, I was certain I was about to be on the receiving end of the rest of her lecture until she gave a loud, startled cry. “And what did you do to this poor girl, Michael? Why is she crying?”
“She’s not crying, Ma.”
Bullshit.
“Why don’t we—”
“Well, she’s not now, because she is as strong as she is beautiful! My poor sweet girl. What did he do to you,bella?”
I put on the most defeated and dejected look I could, even went as far as letting my shoulders drop and letting my eyes fill with tears. Crying on command was a tool I’d used for years to get my way and I was absolutelygleefulto find it would stillcome in handy. With a pathetic sniffle, I wiped at the fresh wetness trickling down my cheek.
Scarlett turned on Mikey again and started smacking his arm. “I did not raise you to be a big bully, Michael DeCosta!”
Even though she was punctuating each word with a loud smack, he barely flinched. He couldn’t even give me the satisfaction of pretending it hurt just a little?
Asshole.
“Ma. Calm down or I’m going to call Dad.”
“You want to call your father and tell him why you got married in front of God and who knows who else, but didn’t bother to tell your Mama and Papa? Go ahead, I’ll wait.” Taking my hand, she pulled me away from Michael and over to the table where Adele was watching the entire event unfold with a politely blank expression. “Come with Mama,bella. Let’s sit down and watch your big bad husband get his ass handed to him. Cole, get me and…dio mio, I don’t even know your name,bella.”
“It’s Leonora, but I likebellajust fine,” I answered softly, deliberately keeping my voice sweet and submissive. “That’s what my mama called me before she passed.”
When I sniffled again, she shot Michael another deadly glare and he threw his hands in the air. It took everything inside of me not to burst out laughing at his obvious frustration. Scarlett was my new hero, and I vowed then and there to learn everything I possibly could from her.
“Michael, be a good boy and get us some coffee and then you and Cole should go do whatever it is you do so the grown-ups can talk. I want to get to know my new daughter without you getting in our business.”
“Fine. But don’t let the crocodile tears fool you. She’s not as fragile as she acts.”
With that, he stalked back to the kitchen and a fierce smile spread across Mama Scarlett’s face as she turned her attentionback to me. “We never are as delicate as they seem to think, are we,bella? Now, dry those tears and tell me how you came to be my new daughter-in-law.”