Page 125 of Immortal Bastard

“Of course.” He chuckled. “I like the blue one. And Sister Abigail is a friend—to both of us. Her father is an elder on The Council. He lost his mate on the journey over and never recovered. He’s very protective of his daughter. She’s rarely permitted out of his sight, but he trusts her to come here on occasion because he knows me to be an honorable male.”

“Sounds…creepy. How old is she?”

“About my age.”

She scoffed, shaking the wrinkles out of the blue dress. “Why doesn’t she tell her dad to fuck off?” Her head snapped up and she froze. “Sorry. It was a slip.”

He sighed and crossed the room, taking the dress out of her hands and walking her to the dresser. “Because that’s not how it works here. Daughters heed their father’s rules and do as they’re told. This includes respecting elders and following the rules. Abigail is a good daughter who obeys her elders.” He turned her to face the dresser. “Place your hands there.”

“But she’s an adult now.”

“He’s still her father. Until she has a mate or a husband, his rules are final.” He tugged the pants loose and they fell to her ankles.

“What are you—Ouch! Christian!” She spun to face him. “Are you nuts?”

“That’s one. You have nine more.”

“It was eight last night!”

“You let one slip while thinking of Abby.”

“Stop calling her Abby!”

“Hands on the dresser, pintura.”

She backed up, protectively pressing her burning backside into the wooden drawers. “No.”

“You agreed to this.”

“I agreed to try. I kept my word. I tried. You can’t expect me to break a lifetime of bad habits in one day.”

“And I told you there would be consequences.” He turned her shoulders, guiding her hands back to the surface of the dresser. “We’ll see to this and be done with it.”

His hand came down again and her body stiffened. “What the—heck?” She spun and scowled at him, rubbing her sore…keister.

“Seems to be working already.”

She clenched her teeth. “Hit me again, and I’ll hit you back.”

“That’s not how this works.”

She backed away from him, careless of her nudity. “You’re Amish. Aren’t you supposed to be a pacifist?”

“We are pacifists, but we also believe in discipline. You’re not finished.”

“Oh, yes, I am.” Keeping her back to the wall, she circled away from him, using the copper bathtub to secure a safe distance.

“This is for your own good, pintura. The ache will remind you to mind your tongue.”

“Why do I need that when I have you reminding me every minute of the day. I already have one pain in the ass. I don’t need another.”

“That’s another one.”

“Christian, you’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to let you hit me.”

“You’ll feel at rest once it’s done.” He circled the tub and she mirrored his steps, never letting him get close enough to reach her.

She snatched the basket of dresses off the bed and threw it at him. “Stop following me!”

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