Page 53 of Ruin Me, Daddy

“Does the real spanking come with an orgasm?”

He couldn’t help but laugh at the hope in her voice. “No. And for the record, if I do have to punish you for anything while our guests are here, you will lose any chance of being allowed to come when they leave. So keep that in mind when Lottie inevitably tries to drag you into some kind of mischief.”

“You are so mean.”

“The meanest.” With another kiss, he released her and headed for the front door. Hushed voices greeted him from the other side, and just as he turned the knob, the sound of a hand connecting with a naughty bottom came through the wood.

When he opened the door, Lottie was clutching a bottle of wine in one hand and rubbing at her bottom with the other, her lips puffed out in a pout. Braden, who had been glaring at his bratty little sub, grinned when he spotted Ice. “Evening. I know we’re a bit early, but someone couldn’t wait a second longer.”

“You can’t promise me a girl’s night with half of my favorite band and expect me to wait!”

Laughing at both of them, Ice stepped aside and gestured for them to enter. “There are a few snacks out on the island, and pizzas should be here soon.”

“Oh, this place is gorgeous,” Lottie said with a lustful sigh as she stepped into the marble foyer. “Daddy, we should get a beach house.”

“Would that keep you and your friends from asking to run off to some tropical island every other weekend?”

A dimple flashed in her cheek when she grinned. “Maybe.”

“Then I’ll consider it.”

“Good enough. Silver!” With an excited squeal, Lottie went running straight for Silver, throwing her arms around her neck and bouncing in place. “Oh my god, you look gorgeous. How do you look so fucking perfect in a t-shirt and leggings?”

Pink blossomed on Silver’s cheeks. “Please, I look like a wreck next to you. Excuse me for a minute.”

Concern crept in at the strained sound of her voice, smothering the enjoyment he’d gotten at Lottie’s antics. “I’ll be back,” he murmured to Braden, who nodded silently as Ice slipped away to follow Silver to their bedroom.

He found her in the walk-in closet, frantically pawing at the clothes she’d insisted on hanging up when they’d brought her suitcase over from the hotel. She glanced over when he leaned against the doorframe, panic filling her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. You should have told me I wasn’t dressed right.”

“Baby, there’s nothing wrong with what you’re wearing.”

“Don’t lie to me, Elias!”

“Okay, woah.” Stepping into the closet, he grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face him. “First of all, I’m going to need you to take some deep breaths for me, baby. Can you do that?” When she inhaled through her nose, he rubbed the tops of her arms encouragingly. “Perfect. Just a few more of those.”

Once he felt some of the tension leave her shoulders, he smiled. “That’s a good girl. Now, what’s all this about you thinking you aren’t dressed right?”

Tears pooled on her lashes. “You said it was super casual, so I thought this was okay. But Lottie’s all dressed up and?—”

“Dressed up?” he asked, his confusion only growing. “She’s wearing jeans and a top.”

The look she sent him was the very definition of withering. “Those jeans cost more than most people make in a month. And the top is a close second. Don’t get me started on the shoes.”

“Baby, did it ever occur to you that maybe it’s Lottie’s definition of ‘casual’ that’s skewed and not ours?”

She blinked, then blinked again as if she couldn’t quite comprehend what he was saying. “Well… no, actually. It did not.”

“Okay, well, I’m telling you that girl wouldn’t know ‘casual wear’ if it hit her in the face. She’s lovely but she’s what most people might call high-maintenance. From what I’ve heard during my time at the club, she comes from money. Old money.”

“Oh. So you’re not embarrassed?”

“Why the fuck would I be embarrassed?”

“Because.” Pulling back, she gestured at her clothes. “I thought I’d misunderstood when you said it was ‘super casual’. I thought maybe I was supposed to be dressed more like Lottie. And the last thing I want to do is embarrass you in front of your friends.”

There was something there, deeper than just the words. Old wounds they didn’t have time to tend to right that second. So he tucked that information away for later as he slid his hands up to cup her face. “You listen to me, Amanda Sterling. Never once in my life have I been embarrassed by you. Got it?”

“You’d tell me if you were? Like, right away? You wouldn’t just keep it to yourself and then yell at me later?”

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