A slow grin spreads across my husband’s face.
“That sounds like an excellent plan.”
CHAPTER 10
JUNIPER
What istakingthem so long?
Every minute they’re locked in there feels like an eternity. I take some solace in the fact they aren’t screaming at each other, but it doesn’t help as much as I’d like.
Maybe I should go. Just walk away and let them repair the giant hole I’ve blown in their marriage.
The thought of walking away from them rips at my heart. But I owe it to them. If I’d had any idea…
It doesn’t matter. The damage is done and it’s all my fault. With one last longing look toward the car, I begin my walk back toward the zoo entrance. Maybe I can still salvagesomethingof this day.
“Juniper Skye!”
I don’t even have time to turn back around at the sound of my name before Daddy’s hand wraps around my arm and pain explodes across my bottom.
Oh my god. He didnotjust spank me. Inpublic. Where anyone could see.
A needy ache blossoms between my thighs even as he continues to swat my bottom while he walks me back toward the car.
“When Daddy tells you to stay by the car, you stay by the car. Am I understood, little girl?”
“Yes, Daddy!” I cry as I dance in place, trying to escape his heavy hand.
Stopping the spanking, he points to the SUV. “Get your bottom in that car right now.”
Sniffling back tears of pain and humiliation, I scurry to climb up into the car, settling back in the middle of the bench seat beside Mommy.
“Poor baby,” she croons, fake pity dripping from her voice. “Did Daddy spank your bottom, little June-bug?”
“Uh-huh.” I give an extra pathetic sniffle, hoping it might earn me some sympathy. “He spanked me really hard!”
Slender fingers grip my chin, forcing my head up to meet my Mommy’s dark eyes. “And why did Daddy spank you, Juniper?”
It hits me then that they’ve both been referring to Sebastian as my Daddy. Hope explodes behind my ribcage, making it hard to breathe.
“Because I walked away from the car,” I whisper.
“That’s right. And what did Daddy say would happen if you stepped more than two feet from our vehicle?”
Sniffling, I drop my gaze, but a nudge from my Mommy forces me to look back up at her. “He said I’d get a spankin’ from both of you.”
“That’s right, princess.” Her grip on my chin tightens. “You wanted a Mommyanda Daddy? You’ve got us. But that means we make the rules and you obey. And what happens when my naughty girl breaks her Mommy’s rules?”
The need inside me is burning so hot I wonder how it doesn’t simply immolate me right here and now. “I get p-punished.”
“Mmhmm. Come here, little girl.”
All the blood seems to drain from my face. “You’re gonna spank mehere?” I squeak.
“Or we could go home,” Daddy says from behind me, the deep rumble of his voice sending a shiver up my spine. “But if we do that, then we won’t be coming back to the zoo. Your choice, little gremlin.”
Home. My heart trips on the word. Does he mean to their house?
