Lexi

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Horse seemed nice, and I liked Gabby, but I was a wreck while I waited for Bubbles. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he intended to follow through, and the thought of him slicing someone’s dick off for retribution horrified me.

And yet, the knowledge he’d go to that extreme to keep me safe was also kind of a turn-on.

“You’re safe here, Lexi,” Gabby assured me for probably the tenth time, and she looked at Horse in consternation. “What haven’t you told me?”

He sighed and sat down beside me, so I was between the two of them. “When we left, Bubbles was waiting for someone to return from the store with styptic powder, so Fury wouldn’t bleed to death when Bubbles cut the asshole’s dick off.”

Gabby wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, fuck. No wonder you’re upset, but you have to know the club will do whatever it takes to protect someone once they’ve assured them of safety. Also, they know what they’re doing, so if they don’t mean to kill him, he’ll most likely live.”

Horse chuckled. “I don’t think you’re helping, Gabs. Also, just so I don’t forget to tell you later, I should let you know that Lexi’s sister works for us in the hotel in North Chatt. That’s how we ended up coming to her rescue — her sister called in a favor with Bubbles and Slick.”

Gabby hugged me a little tighter. “It’s good she could call in the favor. Are you and your sister close?”

“Yeah. Etta’s only a few years older than me, but she raised me more than our mama.”

“Some of the other ol’ladies might give you grief over that connection, but you won’t get any grief from me.”

I nodded. “I met Gen and Harmony earlier, but I don’t think Gen knows.”

“I love Gen like she’s my own sister, but she’s a prude about the workin’ girls.” She rubbed my back. “I hear Dozer’s truck. Let’s walk you out so they don’t all have to come in. I can tell you’re tired.”

First, it’d seemed Bubbles heard stuff I couldn’t, and now Gabby. Did I need to get my hearing tested?

Gonzo was driving, and Duke was in the passenger seat. A back door opened, Bubbles got out, and I thanked Gabby and Horse again before practically running to Bubbles. He picked me up and put me in the truck, thanked Horse and Gabby for taking care of me, and then he was back in the truck, checking my seat belt.

“I know how to fasten a seat belt,” I told him, my voice grumpier than I intended.

“You’re tired. We’ll get you home so you can sleep.”

Not my home. His home. But I didn’t correct him.

“I’ll patrol the neighborhood until daybreak,” Dozer told him. “Just to be safe.”

“Thanks, brother,” said Bubbles. “I was going to suggest we pull someone in, but if you’re up for it, I’ll sleep easier knowing you have my back.”

It’s only a ten or fifteen minute drive back to Bubbles’ house, but I guess I was more tired than I realized, because the next thing I knew, Bubbles was carrying me into his house. I woke up enough to realize it, but his arms were so warm and cozy, I dropped back off to sleep.

And awoke an unknown number of hours later in Bubbles’ bed, with his arms around me, his front to my back, and at least one part of him very awake.

I went stiff a split second, but forced myself to relax. My hips wanted to scoot back against his cock, but I concentrated on staying still despite the fact my blood pulsed into my clit and my heart raced. Fuck, but I wanted this man to take control of me.

But he’d said I had to ask for it, and I was mortified at the thought of asking again. It’d been hard enough to do it once.

“I know you’re awake.”

I took a deep breath and it turned into a yawn. I was awake, but still tired. “What time is it?”

“Close to noon. I have room darkening shades in here, and I pulled them before I went to sleep.”

“Were you serious about spanking me for the B?”

“Ordinarily, no, because creating rules for punishment after the deed’s been done ain’t exactly fair.” He sighed and rubbed his hand down my hair. “I worry you’ll make yet another B just to test me, so I kind of think we have to address the one you’ve already made.” He stroked my side. “After your shower, before breakfast. Not yet.”

I nodded and relaxed, when I hadn’t realized I was tense. I had time. I wanted to ask if he’d really cut the asshole’s dick off after I left, but I didn’t want to know for sure.

Almost as if he knew what I was thinking, Bubbles said, “This is who I am, Half-pint. I take care of problems. I won’t hurt you, but if you’re afraid of me, you can go back to your room.” He gave a deep, gruff chuckle. “Well, other than the spankin’, but that’s different.”

“I’m not afraid of you. Grossed out and a little horrified at the extremes you went to, but I get it, and I appreciate you doing what had to be done to keep me and my family safe. I’m glad my sister works for ya’ll. I feel better about her job, knowing she’ll be safe while she does it.”

“Do you have homework?”

“Just some reading, and I need to look over my notes. An hour, maybe two.”

“I’ll take you to class in the morning and then go to work, and I’ll pick you up when you get out.” He kissed the top of my head. “You should be able to start driving again in a few days, but I’d like to keep you here a few weeks — until Fury’s healed and had time to decide whether to take retribution or not. You’ll need to carry that three-eighty with you until we’re sure.”

“I can’t take it on school grounds.”

“You’ll have it in the glove compartment. Speaking of which, we won’t have to report your car stolen anymore, unless you just want a new one.”

I shook my head. “I like my car. It isn’t much, but it’s mine.”

He kissed the top of my head again. “It’s a dependable means of transportation with a kick-ass little engine and a respectable racing transmission. You’ve done well, Half-pint. You’re going to make an awesome hair person.”

I laughed. “Hair person?”

“Whatever the fuck they’re called. You’ll be great.”

“Stylist, colorist. I want to be known for giving people great colors.”

“I like your hair. It suits you.”

“You really aren’t going to… do anything unless I ask for it?”

“That’s the deal. No rush. Whenever you’re ready, and if you’re never ready, so be it.”

I sighed. “I should get in the shower. Are you going to tell my sister you spanked me?”

“I won’t volunteer it, but I won’t lie to her if it comes up.”

I repressed a sigh and got out of bed.

“Take jeans and a t-shirt into the bathroom with you. You can change into shorts afterwards, but you’re gonna want denim on that adorable ass. Come straight to my room when you leave the bathroom.” I nodded, but he said, “That isn’t how you acknowledge an order in this house.”

Fuck. He’d practically ordered me to call him ‘Sir’ once before and I’d avoided it, but something told me he wouldn’t let me get away with that again. Everything inside me tightened when I said, “Yes, Sir.” My clit throbbed, which was all kinds of wrong, and I turned and left as fast as I could without running.

I stayed in the shower way longer than necessary. I’d practically begged for this, but now I was worried. Would it really hurt? Did I want it to? Would I be disappointed or relieved if it didn’t? I couldn’t answer my own questions.

When I finally exited the bathroom with my damp hair in a bun at the back of my head, barefoot, in jeans and a thin tee without a bra, I was a nervous wreck. I’d forgotten to take the bra into the bathroom before my shower, and I didn’t have the nerve to stop off by my room and get it.

I crossed my arms over my chest before I entered his bedroom, and stopped a few steps inside the door. He’d brought a chair in from the deck, and was sitting on it, waiting. He wore jeans and no shirt, and his feet were also bare. My eyes focused on his huge-assed arms. His muscles had muscles. What the fuck had I gotten myself into?

“The purpose of today’s exercise is to demonstrate what can happen if you make low grades in the future, but it’s also about accepting that you need correction. I promised you I’d help make sure you make it out of school and into your dream job if you stay here, and this is one of the many ways I’ll work to keep that promise. For your part, it’s about understanding bad decisions and accepting the consequences so you’ll do better.” He stood. “Lean over and put your hands on the seat of the chair. Arch your back so your ass makes a good target. Offer yourself up for the spanking you feel you deserve.” He cupped my face in his hands. “You practically begged me for this, Half-pint. Show me you still want it. Show me you want me.”

I must’ve looked confused, because he added. “No, not that. You don’t get that unless you verbally ask for it, but I need to know you want me to correct you.”

I nodded, and he shook his head. “Everything’s verbal, Lexi. No nods when we’re like this. You know what to say.”

He held my gaze while I said, “Yes, Sir.” It felt as if electricity flowed between us, from those two simple words. His eyes were kind, but there was no doubt he’d taken control.

I bent over, put my hands on the chair’s seat, and arched my back. Heated blood pulsed to my clit. My pussy ached for him to rip my jeans off and sink into me. My nipples hardened and craved his fingers around them. Or his lips. Fuck, but I had it bad.

“Three licks, but if you move the lick doesn’t count. It’ll hurt. It’s supposed to. Be thankful for the jeans today, because you won’t get them again.”

My stomach sank into my feet when he began unfastening his belt. He’d said a spanking! I’d thought he would use his hands, not his belt! I stood and shook my head, but he didn’t stop taking it off. “I’ll be disappointed if you don’t bend over and take your medicine after asking for it, Half-pint.”

“Your hand! I didn’t mean your belt!”

“This is how I give spankings. Bend over.”

He didn’t seem angry, but he wasn’t going to change his mind, either.

My feet wanted to run away, but I forced myself to bend back over and push my butt into the air again. I could survive three licks.

I jumped a little when the heat of his hand rested on my back, barely above my butt. “Stay put or it won’t count. Three licks and it’ll be over — I’ll hold you until you calm down, and then we’ll get breakfast.”

I expected it to hurt, but I wasn’t expecting it to feel as if a line of fire had been emblazoned on my ass. The jolt of both the sound and blistering pain had me in shock at first, and I froze. No breathing, no sound. I’m not sure my heart even beat for a few seconds.

And then I came up from the chair, grabbed my ass, and screamed louder than I’d have ever believed possible. Tears filled my eyes and threatened to spill over. I couldn’t stop screaming, even though I’d run out of breath and had to refill my lungs several times.

When I finally stopped dancing around and my shouting subsided, he calmly said, “That one doesn’t count, sweetheart. Let’s try it again.”

“But it hurt!”

“It’s a spanking. What did you expect?”

He was so damned calm about it, I wanted to shake him.

“I can’t take three more of those!”

After a good twenty seconds of silence, he said. “Sit and think about it. I need to walk out on the deck and make a phone call. I don’t expect to be gone longer than three to five minutes. You’ll let me know what you’ve decided when I return. Should we continue, it’s possible you’ll have some slight bruising on your ass, but you won’t be injured. It’s correction that you asked for. This is who I am, but I’m always fair about it. You won’t be spanked unless you deserve it. This is a taste. If you aren’t up for it, it’s good we know now.”

He turned to walk out, but stopped when he reached the door, and spoke again without turning to look at me. “Fun spankings are an entirely different animal, but you don’t get one without the other. I’m a package deal.”

I stared at the empty door when he was gone. Why the hell hadn’t I known to ask for a fun spanking?

I made a whole lot of decisions while I sat and waited for him to return. The biggest decision was that I wanted Bubbles — lock, stock, and barrel. I wanted the whole package. I wanted to sleep in his bed. I wanted to eat breakfast with him.

And I wanted him inside me worse than I’d ever wanted anyone. I was more than a little worried about the fact he’d expect anal, but someone would eventually force the issue.

When he returned, instead of telling him any of this, I turned around and assumed the position once again — and planted my feet with the hopes I could keep from moving.

The first strike hurt just as bad as the earlier one, and I danced and screamed and nearly cried, but I kept my hands on the chair and didn’t come up.

When I was still, he caressed my bottom and felt along the lines of fire.

“I’m proud of you. That was one.”

He didn’t make me wait long for the next, and I recovered a little faster from it, though I’m certain it hurt just as much. He kind of helped me cheat after the third, because he stepped closer and held me down when I’d have come up, but it was all seamless, so once I was down for about five seconds, he picked me up, cradled me in his arms, and sat in the chair with me in his lap, in his arms.

I bawled my eyes out not just because it had hurt, but because it was over and he was taking care of me. He made me his by holding me and comforting me, and no man had ever done it before. Etta had comforted me more times than I could count, and my foster mom had on the few occasions I’d cried while I lived with her. That was it. I couldn’t even remember mama ever holding me while I cried.

I fell the rest of the way in love with him in that moment, and in my head, he felt the same. It was as if whatever walls had been between us came crashing down, and I belonged to him now, whether we’d talked about it or not.

Even though we hadn’t even kissed, I was his more surely than if we’d been having sex for months.