Page 52 of Daddy’s Hunted Bride

Murmurs of agreement echo around the table and we all join him, slinking one by one out of the den and into the hall. Unlike our Little ones, we all move in complete silence as we walk, a skill our father instilled in us and Axel has helped us perfect over the last twenty years.

A shadow on the stairs catches my eye, and I glance over to see Gray gliding down the steps. “I take it you heard them?” she asks as she reaches the bottom, amusement dancing on her lips.

“We did,” Bram confirms with a shake of his head. “Surprised they got passed you.”

“They didn’t. I heard them whispering and decided I’d let it play out, see what they got into.” Amusement gives way to wicked intent as her smile widens. “It’s been a couple days since I last had a naughty Little girl over my knee.”

And now she’s going to get her shot at four.

It’s a good day to be Auntie Gray.

With Gray in the mix, we move as one toward the kitchen just in time to see Josie pull an open bottle of wine from the fridge in triumph.

Beside me, Bram sighs. “Oh, bug. You aren’t going to sit comfortably for a very long time.”

From the kitchen comes Tabby’s worried voice. “I don’t know if we should. We’re going to be in so much trouble as it is.”

Seemingly taking that as his cue, Colt steps forward. “You are certainly right about that, little firecracker.”

CHAPTER 22

DANE

It’s actually kind of hilarious, watching all four of our babygirls freeze in place at the sound of Colt’s voice. Someone flips a light on, and they all throw their hands up like tiny vampires hiding from the sun.

Lifting my own hand to my face, I rub my palm over my beard, more to hide my laughter than for any other reason. As funny as the situation is to me, I know my brothers won’t appreciate me “undermining” them by laughing at our Little ones’ dramatics.

“Daddy!” Looking panicked, Tabby glances around before shoving the wine bottle behind her, as if we haven’t already seen it. “Wh-what are you doing down here?”

Arms crossed, Colt raises a brow at his babygirl. “We could ask you the same thing, little girl. Where are you supposed to be right now?”

Tears pool on Tabby’s lashes, and my heart does a little twist at how sad she looks. “Upstairs,” she whispers, so quietly I almost don’t hear her.

“Uh-huh. So why are you down here raiding Uncle Eli’s snacks and Auntie Gray’s wine?”

Four worried Little girls look around at each other. And in what I consider a completely predictable turn of events, it’s my own Little one who jumps to her feet, arms and legs spread as if she’s attempting to block her cousins from their Daddies’ wrath. “It was my idea! They didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Thank you for admitting that, little fox.” Excitement pulses through my veins as her gaze whips toward me, her eyes going wide as the color drains from her cheeks. “I will make sure your punishment takes that into account.”

“As for the rest of you.” Axel takes over, pinning all of our naughty Little girls with a stern glare. “All four of you are getting two spankings. One from your Auntie Gray and one from your Uncle Eli. And Lanie, what are the rules when another adult has to punish you?”

Nobody has even gotten spanked yet, and already Lanie’s bottom lip is trembling and her eyes are filled with tears. “I get a spankin’ from Daddy, too. But that’s not fair! That’s three whole spankin’s!”

“I think it’s very fair, actually. You all know the rules and you chose to break them. You snuck out of Auntie Gray’s room while she was sleeping, breaking the trust she put in you when she invited you to spend the night with her. And then you broke into Uncle Eli’s snack cabinet, which is something every single one of you knows is against the rules.”

Gaze dropping to the floor, Lanie hunches her shoulders. “We’re really sorry, Daddy.”

“I’m sure you are, little runaway. But that isn’t going to stop you from getting your bottoms spanked.” Stepping aside, he gestures to the gaggle of nervous-looking Littles. “Gray, Eli. They’re all yours.”

Gray looks over at Eli. “I’ll take one while you take one, and then we can switch?”

“Sounds good to me. Lanie and Josie first?”

“Yup.”

But my Little one isn’t having it. “No!” Eyes blazing, she spreads her arms and legs even wider somehow. “You can’t spank them! It was my idea, I’m the one who should be punished!”

“Dane,” Axel says quietly and I nod.