Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“You’re not a houseguest,” Spencer told her.
“You’re family,” Slade said quietly.
Oh. That filled her with warmth.
Rock glared at her hand like it offended him. “No hurting yourself.”
“I really didn’t, Rock,” she told him softly. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”
He nodded stiffly and got up, heading into the kitchen. Guilt filled her for upsetting him. She grasped hold of the spoon off Spencer and stirred her porridge.
Spencer leaned in. “He’s okay. He just feels guilty that you got hurt.”
“We all do,” Slade added. “But no one will harm you again. Not counting spankings of course.”
A spanking?
“I already told Spencer this! No one is spanking me!” She pointed at Slade with her spoon and a blob of porridge flew through the air, landing on his nose with a plop.
She stared at the blob in shock. Sheesh, if she’d been trying to hit him she wouldn’t have been able to.
Spencer let out a hoot of laughter and Rock’s mouth twitched as he walked back in and saw Slade.
“Eek!” she cried. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to.”
“That’s what makes it even funnier,” Spencer said, cracking up. “You should see your face.”
Slade glared at his friend, before swiping off the porridge and putting it in his mouth. He grimaced. “This stuff is disgusting. No wonder Indie isn’t eating it.”
Spencer sat up straight. “It is not! And it’s good for her.”
“It’s fine,” she said, stirring it again and taking a spoonful. “Yum-yum.”
Spencer turned to look at her and shook his head. “You’re lying.”
“Nope,” she said quickly. “I’m not.”
Spencer narrowed his gaze at her. “You are. Lying is breaking the rules. And breaking the rules gets your butt spanked.”
What the heck?
Why did they keep threatening to spank her?
And why do you like that idea so much?
Urgh.
She pushed her legs together, trying to pretend that she wasn’t turned on.
Bollocks.
She dropped her gaze before they could notice the heat in her eyes. So much for keeping her distance from these guys. It seemed like every time she attempted to put up a shield, they smashed it to smithereens.
Spencer cleared his throat. “Eat some more. You’re not eating enough. And ice cream at night doesn’t count. It will make you sick.”
“Sorry,” she whispered, forcing herself to look up.
“Easy,” Rock croaked.
“A bit of ice cream never hurt anyone,” Slade added.
Spencer shook his head. “I researched a suitable diet for a pregnant woman as well as what would help Indie heal faster. The list of approved meals and snacks are on the fridge and ice cream is not one.”
Indie gaped at Spencer who sat back, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at them all.
Reaching over, she placed her hand on his arm and squeezed it. “You did all that for me?”
He turned that bright blue gaze to her. “Of course I did. I’d do anything for you.” There was a hoarse note to his voice and she thought his eyes looked extra glossy. Then he blinked rapidly. “Excuse me. I’ve got to go and order some more groceries.”
She tightened her hold on him as he tried to get up. “Spencer?”
“Yeah?” he said, not looking at her.
Moving slowly, she leaned her face on his arm. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
He was still tense and she thought it wasn’t going to be enough. But then he relaxed and sighed.
“Like I said, Princess. Anything for you.”
31
Leaning down, Spencer kissed the top of her head. Then he turned, grasping hold of her chin and gently tilting her head back.
For a moment she actually thought he was going to kiss her.
But that was silly.
He simply stared down at her. “Why were you eating ice cream in the middle of the night? A craving? Or were you hungry?”
“I . . . both?” she replied.
“I wish you’d woken me up. I don’t like you wandering around on your own.”
Why? Her temper rose. “Why? Because you think I’d snoop around and steal something?”
She stood and her chair flung back, falling onto the floor.
Indie winced. Shit. She hoped that she hadn’t damaged it.
“Sorry!” she said, reaching down to pick it up. But somehow, Slade got there first. How had he moved so quickly?
And did they all think she was a snoop? Was she not allowed to have free rein of the penthouse?
Go numb.
She pulled that blanket around herself, drawing herself away from them mentally and emotionally.
Spencer picked the chair up, pushing it to one side. When Spencer stood, his face filled with . . . with devastation?
Shit.
She had to resist the urge to comfort him, keeping her face blank.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Spencer told her. “I never once thought you were spying on us. I know that . . . that . . . fucker forced you to let him in here and drugged you while he stole everything.”
Indie held onto her blanket of numbness. But just. Spencer looked so upset that her control was starting to slip.