Page 90 of The Councilor

“Come here,” I told her.

She just shook her head slowly.

“I said. Come. Here.” I even pointed to the floor as I’d done the night before.

“Nope. Come catch me.”

If she honestly thought she could run from me, she was losing her mind. I tingled just hearing her laugh. It was damn good to see her playful. If the mysterious sharpshooter had caused any permanent mental or emotional damage, the fucker wouldwish I’d kill him. I allowed her to race down the stairs from the bedroom we shared.

Shared.

I still couldn’t get used to the thought.

After grabbing my main weapon, sliding it into my shoulder holster, only then did I go after her. She usually went outside, unable to keep from giving her position away. The fact she was being quiet, very quiet, almost had me reaching for my weapon.

When I couldn’t find her easily, my nerves pushed to a different level. “Raphaella. Don’t do this. I’m late.”

I didn’t want to elaborate on the fears continuing to rush through me. As a man not prone to them, it suddenly felt as if claws were wrapped around my throat. Jesus. Was this what falling hard for someone entailed?

The search would have been fun given a different place and time. Who was I kidding? I didn’t want her hiding from me under any circumstances.

I felt another rule coming on, one she might hate me for given her playfulness.

“Raphaella. I’m not kidding. I need to see you before I leave.”

The silence was starting to become deafening. Did she really think her bad behavior was going to endear me in the slightest?

Hell, everything about her usually did. I was just worried security wasn’t tight enough, which was ridiculous, but the bad feeling remained in the pit of my stomach.

I moved stealthily, tracking her through the house. When I started to get even more frustrated, I stopped in a location whereI had no doubt she could hear me. “If you don’t obey me like a good girl, I will take the time to punish you before I leave. You won’t like it.” Why was it that I had a grin on my face? If she didn’t learn certain rules were meant to be followed for a reason, anything could happen.

A single creaking sound was all I needed.

She’d been hiding in a room neither one of us had gone into, skirting by me with ease. I was having none of it, although I couldn’t keep a smile off my face. I managed to snag her arm almost as soon as she’d run into the living room, placing my foot on one of the bookshelves. It was fun to hear her joyful glee as I tossed her over my bent knee. There was no time to waste, including baring her bottom.

At least she was wearing thin shorts, which meant every time my hand connected to her rounded buttocks, she would feel it.

Hopefully painfully.

“Ouch. Ouch! What are you doing?” She was a strong girl, wiggling to the point she managed to fall off.

I scooped her up into the air before she had a chance to scramble away, placing her back in position. All I needed to do was press my arm across the small of her back to hold her in place. She continued to flail but wasn’t making any traction.

“You know the rules.” I allowed my voice to dip into a low tone.

“I was playing.”

“There are dangerous men out there. Did you forget about that?”

“Like you?” She was still half laughing, which meant she wasn’t taking this seriously.

I picked up the intensity, moving almost feverishly as I covered every inch of real estate. All the while, I couldn’t seem to stop grinning like some kid. Her defiance was adorable but worrisome. I had to remind myself of that.

She squirmed and moaned as I continued peppering her cheeks with one after the other. If I had the time, I’d spend much longer.

But the clock was ticking.

I finally righted her, noticing how flushed her face was. She was even more beautiful when she was flustered.

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