Page 57 of Lesson In Trust
“Nuh-uh.”
“I’m not takingnuh-uhas an answer. This is what’s happening, so pull your big girl panties on, remember what you’ve already overcome, and be the strong, brave woman we love and adore.”
The sulky pout she gave him tempted his sadistic side. Biting those lips until they were swollen and sensitive seemed like a damn good idea. “I’m not strong or brave.”
“Minx, you’ve taken on a sadist and a giant as your lovers. Men quite capable of breaking you in two. I think that qualifies you for strong, brave, and possibly crazy.” Because she was still trembling, he allowed himself the weakness of a kiss, slow and easy. “Pulling karate moves on Atticusdefinitelyfalls under those categories.”
“Can I pee first?” she whispered, her cheeks flushing.
“No.”
“But I need to—”
“Stop procrastinating.”
The pout deepened. “Yes, Daddy Eli.”
He let her slide to the floor, supporting her when she swayed. A little unsteady, she clutched his forearm until she was able to stand on her own. With a sad glance at him, then Evander, she trudged mournfully in Atticus’s direction, her chin on her chest.
“Good Dom, Bad Dom works well for us,” Evander murmured, stepping up beside him. “Did you ever think the women we shared before would lead to her?”
“I think they were just practice.” It wasn’t said with malice. He cherished the gift of submission from every submissive who’d chosen to offer it, but it was the truth; each time he and Evander had played with a sub, shared her between them, he believed it was preparation for dealing with this quirky, wounded little minx. “Are we pushing her too far, too fast?”
They watched her stop in front of the Avalon Master, well out of arm’s reach. Poor sub wasn’t aware of just how fast a man his size could move when he wanted to, especially one whose business was covert ops.
“She’ll let us know if we go too far. As for too fast…we haven’t hit top gear yet.” Evander tensed as Callie’s head lifted slowly. “Is Att going to be a hardass?”
Elias’s eyes narrowed as he sent his friend a dark look. The answer had best be no, he thought, his own muscles ready to spring him forward if Atticus decided to be an asshole. “I don’t know, is he? You know him better than I do.”
The imposing Master folded his arms across his T-shirt-clad chest and waited without saying a word. Beside him, Alicia wiggled her thumbs up in silent support, her eyes wide and somber.
It took some guts to stand before an oversized male in nothing but underwear, he mused. While he’d never been a woman in this particular situation, hehadfaced larger opponents while in a vulnerable state.
“The bigger question is whether she can keep her Little from seizing control.”
Before Evander finished the sentence, Callie thrust her shoulders back and mimicked Atticus’s stance. “You were mean.”
It wasn’t clear if the muscle twitching in the Dom’s cheek was an attempt at fighting back a smile or simple annoyance. “I’ll reprimand my sub however I please when she defies a direct order. Little girls don’t dictate to me, Calypso, even if you have your Daddies wrapped around your finger.”
Elias groaned. They’d specifically told Atticusnotto use her full name.
On cue, her back snapped into a rigid, unforgiving line. “Don’t call me that, ever.”
Oh yes, this apology was going so well. If she attacked Atticus a second time, he and Evander wouldn’t have any other option but to turn her ass candy-apple red. Once was forgivable, twice was a pattern that needed to be broken.
“It’s your given name, is it not?”
“Not by you.”
“Princess, go sit down. When Calypso loses her shit, I want you out of the damn way.” Using his elbow, Atticus gently pushed his wife away. “We can go a second round, Calypso. You’ll lose, and my belt is primed and ready for a bare ass.”
Powder keg, meet spark.
“I think he just pressed the detonation button,” Evander commented, proving his thoughts were running side by side with Eli’s. “We might need to consider desensitizing her to the belt issue. Properly. Reacting to someone this way in public would be disastrous.”
Eli frowned. “How would a situation like this come about in public?”
“There are some real jackasses around.”