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“You might know it, but you’re definitely not embracing it.”
Julianna nibbled her lip and pondered my words. Long seconds later, she peered up at me. A blind man couldn’t miss the apprehension shimmering in her eyes. “What are you going to do to me?”
I paused and pursed my lips. Refusing to tip my hand, I chose my words carefully. “Provide you with a lasting reminder of the peace and serenity you’ve lost, girl.”
“Okay, but…how?”
The quiver of fear in her voice was like a knife to the heart. Due to my recent neglect, Julianna was light-years away from her submissive place.
“You’ll see,” I replied.
She didn’t say another word, simply cupped her hands in her lap and worried her thumbs together. A few minutes later, I turned into our driveway and pressed the remote to open the heavy, wrought-iron gate. After pulling down the drive, and into the garage, I helped Julianna from the SUV. Then I slid an arm around her and led her inside the house.
Pausing to reset the alarm, I noticed the living room was dark. I knew our nanny; Rhona Fergus had gone to bed.
“Go upstairs and check on the children. But don’t switch their monitors from Rhona’s room to ours yet, pet. I’ll take care of that before we go to bed,” I murmured, gazing into her troubled eyes while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Then change into your robe and meet me in the dungeon.”
“Yes, Master,” she whispered.
Before she could turn away, I cupped her nape and pressed a savage kiss to her lips.
“Don’t keep me waiting, pet.”
With a nervous nod, she raced up the stairs.
Dragging in a deep breath, I strode to the dungeon and began preparing for Julianna’s arrival.
Chapter 10
Julianna
By the time I reached the second floor landing, Mika’s heavy footsteps—echoing against the marble entryway—had faded to silence. Winded, not from climbing the stairs but from the apprehension pinging inside me, I struggled to catch my breath while my heart thundered in my chest. I had no clue what painful punishment Mika had in store for me. All I knew was I’d somehow lost my submission, or at least. locked it away.
Truth be told, I was eager to reclaim my place as Mika’s slave…just not through pain. The thought of him wielding his whip over the same throbbing welts from earlier, filled me with dread.
Don’t keep me waiting, pet.
As Mika’s edict rolled through my brain, I swallowed the ball of worry lodged in my throat and hurried down the hall to check on my babies.
The sight of Tristan, sound asleep on his side, clutching his favorite dinosaur, made my heart swell. It boggled my mind how quickly he was growing up. Kneeling beside his bed, I raked my fingers through his dark, curly hair and leaned in close.
“You’ll always be my baby,” I whispered, then pressed a feathery kiss to his soft, bronze-colored cheek.
Tiptoeing from his room, I strode across the hall and quietly padded inside Emilia’s room. My beautiful, rosy-cheeked princess was crashed on her back, hugging her stuffed, pink elephant. Easing to my knees beside her, I slid my pinky beneath her chubby little fingers.
When Emilia squeezed my digit, instinctively putting her faith and trust in me, tears stung my eyes. The momma lion within me roared, ready, willing, and able to protect her from any and all dangers in this world.
“Don’t worry, little one, Mommy will always keep you safe,” I murmured, lifting my other hand to caress her cheek.
As my words echoed in my ears, I paused and stared at my empty palm. Then glanced at Emilia’s pudgy little fingers still clinging to my pinky. Back and forth, I studied the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter and the golden link binding Mika and I that I had unintentionally severed.
The realization I’d not only ripped my submission from his hands but also stripped his Dominance away slammed me like a wrecking ball.
Heart shattering, I swiped at the tears streaming down my cheeks, then brushed a light kiss to Emilia’s forehead.
“Thank you for reminding me I need to let Daddy protect me, too,” I choked out softly.
Shook to the core, I launched to my feet, and hurried from her room.
