Page 109 of The More the Merrier

I could not have been more surprised. “Good.” Shifting focus to Grant, I threw out a casual question, since we hadn’t explored dynamics yet. “What about you, Santa? Will you follow my simple rule as well?”

Grant’s left eye twitched. He hadn’t answered my earlier question, one I’d been lightly goading him about while I played pool. I could usually spot a submissive, or at least someone who could use some structure. Grant had been overworking himself for years, similar to what I’d been doing. I hadn’t asked about his activities in the bedroom, but pushing him against a wall and kissing his mouth definitely turned him on.

“I’m not a—”

He stopped talking when I held up my finger. “If you tell me one more time that you’re not a brat, I’ll take it as a challenge.”

“Prove it.”

Out of all the things that could have tumbled out of his handsome lips, I hadn’t expected that. I took my jacket off, setting it on one of the tables and smoothing the top of it, ensuring the leather wouldn’t crimp. Undoing the buttons of my black dress shirt, I folded and tucked each of the sleeves up. Kendall practically drooled as I advanced, and she casually looked over her shoulder at Grant. His eyes were locked on mine. He needed to get out of his own way, and if he couldn’t do it himself, I’d gladly sort him out.

“I think that’s very much a thing a brat would say,” Kendall piped up.

“Hm.” He touched her hip and tilted his head in my direction. “I bet Kendall has been thinking about us smacking her perky little butt all afternoon.”

As much as I wanted to bend each of them over a pool table and reduce them both to a babbling mess caught between pain and pleasure, he had a point. Kendall first. I would handle Grant later.

“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood, Santa.” I nodded. “Go on with your plan.”

“Take your sweater and your boots off, darling.” Grant motioned for her to comply.

Her eyes shined as she stared up at him, then she shot me a come hither look before turning completely to face him. “If you want me in less clothing, handsome, you better do something about it yourself.”

Grant lifted Kendall off the floor and advanced to the pool table. He set her on the edge and removed each of her boots and socks. Grabbing the hem of her sweater, he tugged it over her head and set it on the table next to her. Grant nimbly undid the button of her jeans, had her lift her hips, and stripped them off her legs. Setting them on top of her sweater, he ran his hands over her shoulders before flipping her around so she was kneeling on the table. He smacked his large palm across both of her bottom cheeks hard enough to make her squeal, and then he did it several more times.

Undeterred by her yelps, he landed a multitude of slaps against her lowest curves. I strode to the other side of our girl, running my hands over her arms and back while Grant spanked her. She seemed to enjoy what he was dishing out. Kendall moaned when he targeted the fuller part of her ass, pushing into each blow.

Grant paused, kneading his fingers into her thighs. “What do you say, sweet girl? One rule between us. You listen to what I tell you to do, just like Dalton.” Grant punctuated his statement with an additional smack on each of her upper thighs.

“Yes, but we don’t know each other that well,” she answered sweetly. It was important to have boundaries, and I was proud of her for acknowledging them.

“If you have limits I should know about, you tell me, otherwise part of my plan is to get you on the nice list this year. What do you say?”

Her playful teasing and bratty throw downs morphed into something else entirely. Kendall spun around and sat on her haunches. “I’ll listen, but I’ve treated everyone terribly. I’m not getting on the nice list, no matter what you or anyone else does.”

My heart nearly shattered at her declaration. I knew things had been bothering her for a while, and losing her dear father hurt her deeply. She watched him painfully fade from the hearty, happy man we all knew, to nothing but a shell ravaged by cancer. It was extra painful for someone in the medical field who always did their best to save lives. There was nothing the doctors could do by the time they found it.

Our small town rallied around her family, helping wherever we could, but it wasn’t enough. Kendall poured herself into work, likely to ignore the grief threatening to pop up at any moment. Her outward tantrums, poor behavior, and snappy attitude were a facade. She missed someone who had always been a strong supporter. Her mother and brother did their best while working through their own sorrow, but that wasn’t enough either. Then our friend Tanner was hurt at a party for his brother. Kendall was very close to Tanner, so the attack likely spiraled her panic. I wanted her to release all the emotions she’d buried inside for the past year while processing the rest of it. Then she could get on the path to healing.

If anyone could benefit from the balance and structure I could offer by becoming her Daddy, it was Kendall.

Grant stepped up to the plate nicely. I saw a glimpse of the stern and gentle handling he could provide, and it would certainly lend itself to our relationship. I firmly believed we were headed toward a relationship, and seeing the two of them interact cemented it.

Looping an arm around her shoulders, I kissed the top of her head. “We’ll help you, prancer. You owe it to yourself to at least try.”

“But why?” She gazed up at me, tears threatening to spill over her gorgeous blue-green eyes. “Everyone is fed up with my attitude. My behavior. It’s only a matter of time before I’m drinking myself stupid and getting written up at work.”

“I don’t want to see you spiral any further, darling. No more mean-girling yourself. We’ve got all night to convince you that you are worth our time.”

Something about my tone seemed to break through whatever barrier she’d been holding onto.

Huge tears rolled down her cheeks. I glanced over her head at Grant, who let out a long breath. He rubbed the back of her head as she sobbed. For several moments none of us spoke and nothing but the sounds of Kendall crying filled the room. Grant and I encouraged her to let it all out. I was sure his large palms delivered a sting when he spanked her, but it was the combination of his handling and my words that wormed into her heart.

After a few more minutes, she let out a shuddering breath.

“Let’s go to my house,” Grant announced. “We can finish the rest of this conversation there.” He cleared his throat, as if he wanted to say more. “It’s not the biggest place, but I’ve got two guest rooms if you want to stay.”

“Thank you, I’d really like that,” Kendall agreed, and reached for her clothing. Grant swiped the items away from her.

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