Page 14 of Her Stepbrother Master
Beth dug in her purse and handed her a gold tube of lipstick. “Here,” she said. “Make yourself appealing.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the gold tube and pulled off the cap. The lipstick was bright red—bolder than Marilyn Monroe’s. “Gee, do you think this is too much?” she asked, but rubbed it over her lips before Beth could respond.
“No, you look sharp. Very sultry.”
She took a puff on the cigarette, looking at the stain her lips left behind. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, silly. It’s perfect. See?” Beth smeared the daring shade on her own lips, puckering them in an imaginary kiss.
LuAnn giggled and closed her eyes, leaning forward to imitate Beth’s pose. “Like this?”
“Yes, dahling, you look mahvelous.”
She dropped her cigarette and rubbed it out with her round-toed pump. “Thanks.” She gave the girl an air kiss. “Let’s go see if it works.”
She walked out from behind the restrooms toward the big tent where the animals were kept. The sky had clouded over and she was glad, now, that she’d kept Brad’s jacket.
“There you are.” His deep voice sounded behind her as he caught her elbow. His brows were lowered. “I’ve been looking for you. We need to get out of here before it rains. Come on,” he said, tugging her toward the parking lot.
It took her until they reached the motorcycle to realize what the hurry was. Duh. Of course it would be unpleasant to ride in the rain. She zipped the teddy bear he’d bought her inside the leather jacket as they hustled toward the motorcycle.
He picked up the helmet and began to slip it on, then stopped with a frown. “Have you been smoking?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, so?”
His lips flattened. “You’re too young to smoke.”
“I’m twenty years old,” she said, lifting her chin.
He put his arm around the front of her waist and turned her sideways to smack her backside. “You don’t need to try to look glamorous by smoking, LuAnn Walter.”
Her face flooded with heat at being swatted in public. She needed to dissuade him of this image he had of her, right away. Why couldn’t he see she had grown up and was ready to play at his speed? “Why shouldn’t I be able to smoke? You do.”
“Well, I’m an adult.” He grasped her chin is his fingers, holding her face captive. “Were you smoking to impress me?”
“What? No,” she said, but her protest came out too loud and shrill to sound true. She hadn’t been. Not really. But maybe wearing his leather jacket and seeing him smoking had made her want to accept that cigarette from Beth.
“The truth, little girl.”
She stamped her foot and tried to pull her chin away, but his fingers tightened. “I am not a little girl.”
“You are. You’re my little girl to watch over, remember? Listen to me, mouse. No more smoking. I’ll quit, too. I don’t want to be a bad influence on you.”
She rolled her eyes. He made her sound like a thirteen-year-old girl who still hero-worshipped him and copied everything he did. That wasn’t it. She smoked because she was a grown up, exercising her independence and pleasure.
He popped her butt again. “Do not roll your eyes at me, young lady, or I will bend you over this motorcycle seat and spank you in front of everyone at this carnival.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
He folded his arms across his chest and smirked. “Try me.”
She flushed and looked away. She didn’t want to cave in, but didn’t dare to test him.
He grasped her nape and pulled her close, so close she lost her breath when her breasts came in contact with his ribs. “Say, I promise I won’t smoke again, Daddy,” he rumbled.
Her sex contracted. She couldn’t decide if he was teasing by calling himself Daddy or if he really meant it. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
His lips were inches from hers and his slate blue eyes bored into her with an intensity that made her entire body flush with heat. “Say it, little girl, or I will punish you, right here and now.”
