Page 38 of Britain

“You don’t have a Porsche.” I smirk and don’t miss him flipping me off—with a smile on his face, of course.

We work silently to finish the job, and he pulls the car out while I go take care of the bill with the owner of the Prius. My phone vibrates in the pocket of my coveralls. I pull it out and feel my cheeks heat up when I read it.

Silas: After that little stunt this morning I want you waiting in your bra and panties in the position you did yesterday. Understand?

Sweat dots my brow, my heart races, and an ache starts deep in my belly.

Britain: Yes. What are you going to do?

I get nothing back from him. Yikes. The chime over the door goes off and I look up, smiling when I see Silas’s sister walk in. “Hi, Heather.” I walk around the counter to greet her, and she surprises me by hugging me.

“Hey, sorry to just pop by, but I saw my brother’s car and thought he might be here.”

“We actually switched cars today. He’s got my Chevelle and I took his Porsche. I think he’s mad because I may or may not have peeled out of his parking garage. I couldn’t help it—that SUV’s got some serious horsepower.”

Heather laughs and shakes her head at me. “I’m sure he’ll be okay.” She looks behind me and freezes. Her cheeks turn a deep shade of pink. I look behind me and find Marcus standing in the doorway, staring at Heather.

“This is my brother, Marcus—Marcus, this is Heather. She’s Silas’s sister.”

It’s like a movie, and honestly, I feel my eyes burn as I watch Marcus walk toward her. His eyes don’t leave Heather’s. When he reaches her, she holds out her hand. “Nice t-to meet you.”

“You too.” He grabs Heather’s hand and they disappear outside.

“Who was that?” I turn and find my dad standing behind the counter.

I walk behind the counter and stand next to him. “That’s Heather, Silas’s sister. Is it bad that I want to tell him to leave her alone? If he breaks her heart, that could ruin things for me and her brother.”

Dad walks to the front window, peering out into the parking lot. “Come here,” he tells me. “I know your brother has been the love ’em and leave ’em type, but look at this.”

I stand staring out the window at two people who look like they’ve just won some cosmic lottery. My heart races as I watch the two of them, talking like they’ve known each other forever. I watch as my brother takes her phone and types something before handing it back. He walks Heather to her car, and then Marcus waits as she pulls out of the parking lot. My eyes follow him as he walks back to the bay doors.

I smile up at my dad. “That was…intense.”

He wraps his arm around my shoulders. “That’s how it was with your mom. We were just too young the first time—we weren’t ready. When we got back together, it was effortless, and the way she loved you like you were her natural daughter just solidified my feelings. Hell, I don’t think I ever stopped loving her.”

It should hurt that he never seemed to love my real mom, but knowing what I do about the past, I’m not really surprised.

Dad turns me to him. “You’re glowing.”

“Am I?”

“You are, but are you sure you should be staying with him?” He smiles down at me. “You can’t blame me for asking.”

Dad kisses my forehead and then heads into the back, and I get back to work.

When I pull into the parking garage of Silas’s place, I see he’s not home. I let myself inside, locking the door behind me before heading upstairs, stripping down to my bra and panties. My pulse races as I hurry into the bathroom to brush my teeth and brush my hair out before braiding it. I step out of the bathroom and move to the top of the stairs. Turning my back to them, I get down on my knees.

I close my eyes and take some deep breaths. Nervous anticipation fills me, because I have no idea what kind of punishment he has in mind. I’ve read books where the punishment was a spanking. Is that what he’s planning for me?

An unknown amount of time goes by when I hear keys in the door. My heart races as his footsteps echo across his wood floors. He walks up the stairs and moves around until he’s in front of me. I stare at his shoes while I will myself not to look up at him.

Silas squats down in front of me and tips my face up to look at him. I can’t read the expression on his face, and I swallow the lump in my throat. “Do you know how lucky I feel to see you waiting for me, and doing it so beautifully? You take my breath away.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He strokes my cheek. “Stand up.” Silas takes my hand and helps me to my feet. He leads me to his bed. “Do you know why you’re being punished?”

“Because I peeled out while driving your SUV?”

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