Page 39 of Having It All

It’s just as well. I don’t have a clue what I would have done if I’d burst into the room anyway. My luck, I’d have ended up with a punishment too.

Now Bri was forced to sit here not-so-patiently waiting for Lukus and Tiffany to return to brunch. At least the sounds of the spanking had stopped.

Rachel snapped her out of her train of thought with a quiet reassurance. “She’ll be fine with Master Lukus. He’ll never hurt her. Well, not really.” Her knowing smile confirmed she’d heard the spanking as well.

Brianna blushed when she realized how rude she’d been by basically ignoring Rachel. “Oh gosh. I’m so sorry. I’ve been a bit distracted. How rude of me.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I can just tell you’re worried, and you don’t need to be.”

Brianna took a deep breath as she contemplated Rachel’s helpful words. She remembered how even when Lukus was punishing her, she’d always known at her core he wouldn’t really hurt her. Not the way Jake had. She was comforted by her revelation.

“Thank you, Rachel, for reminding me. You’re right. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”

“Oh, I’m sure he does. You should have some bacon before Master Derek eats it all.”

She was passing the plate of bacon when Derek piped in, a grin on his face. “I heard that, little girl.”

Instead of looking worried, Rachel flashed a flirty smile at her husband and a surprised feeling of relief hit Brianna. It finally dawned on her she was relieved that even Derek and Rachel, whose relationship was pretty far to the hard-core end of the BDSM continuum, could still tease each other. Bri was still trying to figure out this whole new layer in her marriage and a small part of her had worried she’d never again be able to tease her husband for fear of a punishment.

Bri could sense his eyes on her. She glanced up to see Markus watching her from across the breakfast bar. As if sensing her unease, he flaunted one of his sexiest smiles to reassure her he was still the same man she married—just an enhanced, upgraded version. The warmth spreading across her bottom as she sat on the hard kitchen barstool was her proof the changes hadn’t just been a dream. The remaining tingle from his private punishment was an intimate connection, secretly linking them.

It was with great relief when Bri looked up to see Lukus and Tiffany rejoining the group, particularly since Lukus had his arm possessively draped across Tiffany’s shoulder. Tiffany had the serene look of a sated woman, and Bri knew she’d worried about nothing. In fact, she hasn’t seen Tiff ever looking quite this happy.

You go, girl. It’s about time you found your own someone special.

Once Lukus and Tiffany returned to their seats around the breakfast island, the group fell into an easy cadence of fun bantering over food and drinks. The pitcher of Bloody Marys was free-flowing and Brianna was feeling tipsy in no time.

Rachel pouted. “It’s not fair. I don’t even like to drink alcohol very often, but now that I can’t, it just seems restrictive. Can I have just a taste, Sir?”

Derek’s disapproval was swift. “Only if you don’t want to sit down on that beautiful ass of yours for a week. Absolutely not one drop of alcohol, little girl. Not until after the baby comes.”

Rachel could win an Academy Award for her performance of a naughty schoolgirl. Bri suspected her pouting was all part of the game that she and her dominant husband played as the petite brunette stomped her foot and crossed her arms across her chest in an exaggerated temper tantrum.

“That’s not fair, Daddy. Everyone else gets to drink but me. I’m the only one who has to miss out.”

“One more word from you and you’ll also be the only one getting a strapping over my knee. Add ten more to your count for your bedtime spanking. You better slow it down. You’re already up to twenty-five, and it’s not even noon yet. Now drink your milk like a good little girl.”

“Daaaadddddyyyyy.”

She may have been calling Derek her daddy, but the look on Rachel’s face was completely non-familial. In fact, it was more along the lines of feral lust. Most people may not have understood why Rachel was purposefully antagonizing her husband when it was clear her actions were going to lead to a strapping, but knowing firsthand the pleasure she got from a punishment helped Brianna understand the dynamics at play. She may not have seen herself dressing up as a naughty schoolgirl, but she suspected she just might have been antagonizing Markus in order to get her own bottom disciplined in the very near future.

Tiff stepped in as if to defuse the situation. “It’s okay, Rachel. I’ll drink your share for you today.” She was reaching for the almost empty pitcher when Lukus stopped her with his hand on hers.

“Absolutely not. You’ve had enough, baby.”

Bri almost choked on her own drink as she watched Tiffany’s face.

“Are you kidding me? I only had one. I think I know when I’ve had enough.”

The room was silent as they all waited to see how this showdown of wills was going to play out. Bri was putting her money on Lukus. His dark green eyes were stormy.

“Tiffany Lauren O’Sullivan. You’re going to be driving soon. You put one more drop in your mouth and I’ll be borrowing Derek’s strap.” Lightening the mood, he swung his glare at Brianna. “Maybe Brianna would like to get sassy again too and we can watch all three of you girls get your asses lit up this morning.” His smirk was annoyingly charming.

Bri grinned back. “I think I’ll pass, thank you.”

“Wise choice.”

Derek settled the debate on the Bloody Marys by polishing off the end of the pitcher as the conversation turned to the coming week.

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