Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
“I think that under the grand scheme of things that we can forget about that, yes?”
“No.”
“But it’s a ridiculous rule!” she cried. “I don’t know why I can’t climb up and down the stairs on my own!”
“Because I said so.”
“How can someone who is so logical be so illogical?” she asked.
“It’s a gift.”
“Was that a joke?” she asked suspiciously.
“No. Was it supposed to be?” he deadpanned.
Hmm.
She wasn’t sure what was going on here, but he was acting very strange.
“So, you were going down the stairs on your own—”
“Which shouldn’t be a rule,” she interrupted.
“You hid and saw something you shouldn’t have.”
“I didn’t know what was going to happen!”
“I’m still talking,” he said firmly as he carried her up to her playroom.
That was an interesting choice for North. Sure, he’d created the playroom for her. But he didn’t usually play with her in here.
He set her down on the bed and stood in front of her.
“Also, you moved when I said to stay put.”
“I was in shock,” she grumbled. She didn’t like where this was headed.
“And you called yourself gross.”
“I was covered in vomit! I was gross! It’s not against the rules if it’s the truth.”
“It’s against the rules if it’s against the rules. Circumstances don’t matter.”
“Pretty sure they do matter,” she grumbled.
He walked off to the closet to find some clothes as she sat there, trembling slightly. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was cold or still in shock.
He returned with a onesie she hadn’t seen before. It had built-in feet and mittens and was a deep gray.
Wait.
“Is this a whale onesie?” she asked with wonder.
“Yes. Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it. Thanks, Northie!” She clapped her hands and he crouched, grabbing one of her feet to pull it on.
Then he frowned. “Your feet are freezing.”
“Are they? I didn’t even notice.”
“That is not good enough. We need to speak to a doctor about your circulation. Your toes are white. You should always wear socks and slippers inside.”
Yes, they’d had the socks conversation before. She rolled her eyes as he turned away.
“I saw that. We’ll add that to your list of naughtiness.”
“Saw what? And what list? I don’t have a list of naughtiness!” she protested.
“You do now. And that’s going on it,” he told her sternly as he returned with a pair of fluffy socks which he put on her feet before he drew on the onesie.
Holy monkey balls.
That was warm.
“My feet will roast.”
“I doubt that. They’re blocks of ice.” He stood her up so he could draw the onesie up. The towel was moved to one side and then she was fully encased in the whale onesie.
Oh.
That was so nice and warm.
Although she had noticed that he’d forgotten any underwear.
“You forgot my panties, Northie,” she told him.
“All the better to spank you, my Angel.”
Her mouth dropped open. “That was definitely a joke. Wasn’t it? Because you aren’t going to spank me!”
“Don’t be so sure!”
“I was just ill! Because I’ve been traumatized.”
Poor, poor Rex.
She still felt so sad about that. Did Rex have any family? He’d never mentioned anyone, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t.
“A spanking might be just what is needed to distract you.”
“A spanking is not a distraction. It’s punishment.”
“Which you’ve earned,” he said.
“Have not,” she protested. “I was in shock.”
He shook his head. “That’s not an excuse for disobedience and putting yourself down.”
Then he picked up a cushion and set it on the floor in front of the rocking chair.
“I’m going into the bathroom to get the hairdryer. Sit on the cushion to wait for me.”
She sat down and he disappeared, returning with a hairdryer. Then he sat behind her, drying her hair in waves. He didn’t stop too early or tell her that this was taking too long.
He just kept drying her hair until it was done. And then he picked up a hairbrush and braided it.
“You know how to braid hair?” she asked, surprised.
“I’ve had some practice.”
What did that mean?
“Oh, you’re really good at it.”
He finished and then lifted her up into his lap. He held her there, rocking back and forth on the chair.
“What . . . what are you doing?” she asked.
“I thought that I would rock you for a while,” he explained. “Do you not like this? I’ve seen Jared do it with you. Am I doing it wrong?”
“N-no, you’re doing it right.” Urgh, why was she back to stammering?
And how come her body was shaking?
He nodded. “How do you feel about being swaddled?”
“I don’t . . . I don’t know. Why?”
“I read that it can help when you are feeling upset, to get you to sleep and help you relax.” He stood and sat her on the rocking chair. Then he laid a blanket out on the bed.
Picking her up, he placed her in the middle of the blanket and tucked one side around and under her, before doing the same with the other side.