One corner of his mouth kicks up in a smirk. “You let Daddy worry about that. Open up, little one.”
I do as I’m told and part my lips and he slides the rubber tip into my mouth. Instinctively, I suck on it, and to my great surprise my anxiety over being naked in front of all thesestrangers immediately lessens. Curious, I suck at the tip again, and again, a strange feeling of calm coming over me the more I repeat the motion.
Movement from the corner of my eye draws my attention to the hallway where Uncle Bram has reappeared with a puffy-eyed Josie on his hip. He passes her off to one of the other brothers, a somewhat more slender but clearly not weaker version of Uncle Bram and my Daddy. Josie wraps her arms around our uncle’s neck, burying her face in his shoulder as he bounces her and makes soft, soothing little sounds.
Meanwhile, Uncle Bram is pulling a long length of pretty blue rope from his pocket. Holding out the rope, he kneels in front of me with a smile I’m sure is meant to be reassuring, but only serves to send my heart rate spiking again.
“Can you give me your wrists, little one?”
I glance up at Daddy, who nods encouragingly. Sucking harder on my pacifier for comfort, I slowly lift my hands, offering up my wrists for him to wrap the silky-soft rope around. Uncle Bram makes quick work of the rope, folding it over and over in an intricate pattern around my wrists, binding them tightly together before tying the tail ends into a pretty bow.
“We’re almost ready, little firecracker. You just need your something borrowed.”
That is apparently Auntie Gray’s cue, because she steps forward to slide the handle of her hairbrush between my clasped hands. For just a second, I would swear I see tears sparkling in her eyes before she blinks them away.
Then Daddy takes my arm and turns me to face another of my uncles standing at the opposite end of the living room past the couches that have been pushed aside for us, a large book in his hands. Music fills the air and my heart slams against my ribcage. Even though according to Daddy we’re already wed, the reality of it suddenly hits me.
I’m getting married. After today, I will be forever tied to the man next to me. The man who took advantage of my drunken state, spanked me into submission, and kidnapped me. Once we walk down this makeshift aisle, I will be his.
'Til death do we part.
CHAPTER 14
COLT
Beside me, my poor babygirl is practically vibrating with anxiety. Normally, I love the sweet fear of a naughty girl who knows she’s in trouble and that Daddy is going to spank her naughty bottom until she’s a sobbing, sorry mess.
But this is different. This is terror bordering on panic, and unlike my younger brother Dane I don’t relish the thought of my Little one being so scared of me she can hardly breathe.
I hurry us down the “aisle” to stand in front of Elias, and I turn to face my Little girl. “Eyes on me, Tabitha. Now.”
The sharp order does what I’d hoped it would and her eyes snap to me. Almost immediately, her breathing slows and her pupils shrink ever so slightly.
“Good girl. I want you to keep breathing nice and deep like that. Can you do that for Daddy or do you need a spanking to help you remember?”
It’s a gamble, threatening her with a punishment right now. But my instincts tell me it’s what she needs. That my dominance is what will help keep her grounded during the rest of theceremony. And when she nods slowly, I know it was the right move.
Taking her bound wrists in my hands, I give them a gentle squeeze and reward her with an approving smile. “You are such a very good girl, Tabitha Grace. Are you going to keep being a good girl for me while Uncle Eli walks us through our vows?”
Another slow nod, so I glance over at Eli and give him the go-ahead. Clearing his throat, Eli speaks, loud and clear for everyone gathered to hear.
“We are gathered here today to witness our brother, Colt Thorne, wed in holy matrimony to Tabitha Grace. Colt, do you take Tabitha to be your wife and your Little girl, to have and to hold, to cherish and to punish? Do you promise to protect her against any threat to her health, safety, or overall well-being? Do you promise to be the Daddy she needs, providing for all her needs, physically, mentally, and emotionally, as long as you both shall live?”
It surprises me to find a lump in my throat as I stare down into my babygirl’s startling gold eyes. “I do.”
“Excellent. As is our tradition, we shall forgo the bride’s vows since her mouth is otherwise occupied. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now claim your bride.”
Tabitha
There’s a ringing in my ears and my heart is pounding so hard I’m not sure how it hasn’t simply leapt right out of my chest. Isuck as hard as I can on my pacifier, desperate for that sense of calm from before but it’s like trying to bail out a sinking boat with a teaspoon.
I thought it would be over after the vows. Daddysaidit would be over after the vows. But Uncle Eli’s words make it sound like there’s something more to come.
You may now claim your bride.
What does that mean?
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this unexpected development when Daddy swings me up into his arms and carries me over to the long table behind Uncle Eli. Daddy bends down, laying me on the sleek wood with such care it almost seems as if he’s worried I might break. The cool, hard surface presses against my back and I try to focus on that sensation rather than everything happening around me.
