Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
T he next morning should have been awkward, but it wasn’t. Blade woke her up with a kiss. He even showered with her. Bonus, she’d gotten the shop opened on time.
“What’s that?” Her sister pointed to a red mark on Sapphire’s jawline. “Looks like stubble burn.”
“Just a new overly starched shirt.” Sapphire invented an excuse.
“Right. And you just did this?” Her sister pantomimed Sapphire rubbing her jaw awkwardly to hit that spot. Ellen laughed when her daughter tried that move as well.
“See, even Kinsley isn’t buying that. So, biker or some other guy?”
“Biker,” Sapphire said, appalled that her sister would think she could be interested in anyone while Blade was in her life.
“Hmm. I’m getting increasingly curious about this guy you’re seeing. You’re safe with him?”
“Give me Kinsley.” Sapphire lifted the toddler out of her mother’s arms. “He takes better care of me than any man ever has.”
“Perfect. I can’t wait to meet him.” Ellen kissed her daughter and zipped out the door before Kinsley could get upset.
“Want to help Aunt Sapphire with some boxes?” Sapphire bonked a couple of damaged jewelry boxes together, and Kinsley immediately reached for them.
“Mine!”
“They’re yours, little girl.”
She sat Kinsley in her playpen with the boxes and a few other fun toys. The toddler settled down quickly and had fun with the jewelry boxes. Sapphire had a feeling Kinsley would be artistic like her. The happy child babbled, keeping them both entertained.
The distraction couldn’t prevent Sapphire from thinking about the play with Blade in the shower and last night’s activities. Dragging her attention back to designing and stocking took repeated determination. Thank goodness the shop was busy. She hadn’t daydreamed too much when clients streamed in to browse.
The bells rang at the door, and Sapphire turned to see Remi and Carlee walk in. “Hi!”
“This is your shop? Is that your baby?” Carlee asked.
“My niece, Kinsley. She absolutely loves leather and chews on Blade every time he’s here with her.”
“Now that’s a mental picture,” Remi said with a laugh.
“Her real babysitter is off for a few days after having a child,” Sapphire shared. “Are you two out shopping today?”
“I remembered the cool earrings you had on, and Carlee thought she’d heard you saying something about this area. We chanced it and came here to explore,” Remi explained as she glanced around.
Her gaze focused on one display, and she pointed. “No way. Look at those, Carlee!”
“Aren’t those the coolest? Come on. You have to try on some things while you’re here,” Sapphire suggested.
The next few minutes sped by in a flurry of experimenting with necklaces and other pieces of jewelry. Dividing her attention as more customers came in, Sapphire flitted back and forth, helping everyone. She loved it when it was busy. Time flew past.
Both Carlee and Remi found some pieces they couldn’t live without. They brushed away Sapphire’s offer of a discount as she rang them up.
“We want you to stay in business for a very long while,” Remi told her.
“I don’t suppose you’d show us how to make something simple?” Carlee asked.
“You and Remi?” Sapphire questioned as she boxed up their purchases.
“Well, all the Littles at the MC. I know everyone would be excited,” Carlee answered.
“I could do that. Let me brainstorm about it. Would they prefer something for themselves or for the guys?” Sapphire asked.
“Oh, for the guys would be amazing. They’d never expect that,” Remi said excitedly. Carlee quickly echoed her decision.
“Okay. I’ll put my thinking cap on and experiment a bit. Blade mentioned me coming to dinner at the clubhouse. I’ll admit I’m nervous to be around so many new people,” Sapphire confessed.
“You’re going to love everyone. The guys look fierce, but…,” Remi started.
“We promised not to share with anyone that they’re really big softies,” Carlee finished for her. “Now, you’re in on the secret too. You can’t tell.”
“Oh, I’d never,” Sapphire promised. “Do you suppose their women will be okay with me?”
“For sure,” Carlee assured her confidently. “Really, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“As long as Blade doesn’t dump me after meeting my cousins on Sunday,” Sapphire told them.
“Blade can handle anyone,” Remi said with a grin.
“That sounds dangerous,” Sapphire said.
“Blade never comes unarmed. People are always worried about all those weapons. That’s not the most dangerous thing about Blade though,” Carlee shared.
“We’ll expect a full report when we see you at the clubhouse,” Remi said as she picked up her heavy bag of purchases. “Thank you for your beautiful work. I can’t wait to show Kade.”
“And Atlas,” Carlee added.
As the two women headed for the door, Carlee asked, “I’m trying to figure out what to wear first to flaunt these pieces.”
“Maybe nothing. That would get Atlas’s attention,” Remi suggested.
When the door closed, cutting off their giggles, Sapphire hugged herself. She enjoyed them so much. They were like her, only completely different. Now, she couldn’t wait to meet the others.
You just have to get through the barbecue.
Sapphire sobered at that reminder. She’d need to take something super delicious to distract everyone. Picking up the phone, she called the bakery just a few doors down and ordered a favorite dessert. Maybe an avalanche of whipped cream would smooth over the digs that her cousins constantly seemed to make.
“Relax, Blue Eyes. It’s going to be okay. I promise I won’t chew with my mouth open or double dip.”
“If they’re nasty, we never have to spend time with them again,” Sapphire promised.
“What I don’t understand is why you see them now if they’re this unpleasant?” Blade asked.
“Their mother was my dad’s twin. She was the sweetest woman on the planet. You know, one of those people you can’t believe is actually real because they are so good. She passed away in her twenties when my cousins were young. Everyone always excuses all the bad things they say because they lost their mother so early.”
“Seems to me your aunt is probably spinning in her grave. They’re so awful.”
Sapphire wanted to disagree but had to nod. “I don’t remember her a lot, but I think you’re right. She wouldn’t have approved.” She met his gaze directly and added, “It’s best just to ignore their comments. It’s not worth arguing with them.”
Blade pulled her close in a comforting hug before leaning back to tell her, “Sweetheart, I don’t care what they say about me. I’m a grown-ass man who carves attackers into small pieces. They can’t hurt me. What I won’t stand for is if they speak negatively about you. I will never allow that.”
“It’s okay, Blade. I really don’t want you to stand up for me.”
“It’s not okay. And that won’t happen. I won’t do anything unless they target you. Then, I’ll finish it.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Sapphire assured him. “I have thick skin.”
“Motorcycle or car?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Motorcycle.” She loved feeling the wind over her skin. Getting to the barbecue on the bike might be her only enjoyment during the entire visit. “Oh, but we have the trifle.”
“What’s a trifle?” he asked, appearing confused.
“It’s a layered dessert with cake, fruit, and whipped cream. Completely delicious.”
“That does sound good. Show me the dish. If you have a box the right size, we can strap it on the tail of the bike. Or we can take your car,” Blade reminded her.
In a few minutes, they’d located a hard-sided cooler where the trifle dish wrapped in a soft towel fit perfectly. With a few small ice packs slid underneath the elevated dish, it would travel safely.
“That works great. It will stay cool while it’s out on the table.” Sapphire cheered.
“Go put some jeans on under that dress, Little girl. If there’s an accident, I don’t want you to be unprotected.”
“That will look ridiculous, Blade.”
“Daddy,” he reminded her sternly. “I’ve seen skin ripped off by the gravel on the road. You’re not riding on my bike without coverage. You can shimmy off the jeans when we get there. No one will know.”
“Not happening.” Sapphire didn’t understand why she was choosing this issue to make her stand. Somehow it was important to her that Blade realized he didn’t get to order her around.
“Then we take your car.”
Sapphire picked up her keys from the kitchen counter, where she always organized them. She dropped them down the front of her dress. “I’m not driving. I’m riding on your bike.” When he looked at her with a steely glint in his brown eyes, she squared her shoulders.
Blade checked the clock before stalking forward. “I had hoped to treat you to a ride through the park this morning on the way to your parents’ home. Remember, you chose to use that extra time to redo your makeup.”
“My makeup?” she said dismissively. Was he blind? “I’m already done with that.”
Blade simply leaned over and lifted her over his shoulder. He strolled back to the couch and sat on one of the footrests. In a second, she was stretched over his hard thighs.
“What the h….”
Before she could finish that question, he’d flipped her dress up and pulled her panties down to her knees. Automatically, Sapphire struggled, kicking her legs and trying to roll away from him. Those bulging muscles she’d traced with her tongue last night controlled her attempts with ease.
Whack!
She froze at the stinging swat of his hand on her bottom. It landed again. And again, before she could react. “Stop! You can’t spank me!”
“If you’re not quiet, your neighbors are going to realize exactly what’s happening in here,” Blade said softly, as he continued to pepper her tender flesh.
“Stop it, Blade.”
“Daddy. You’re upset and worried about the barbecue. A reminder of who’s in charge will help erase some of that apprehension. You need to trust that I will take care of you.”
Struggling to free herself from his powerful hold, Sapphire heard the keys drop out of her dress to the floor. She glared at them. Her bottom felt like it was on fire. He never spanked the same spot twice in a row but spread her punishment over her entire bottom and even down over the tops of her thighs.
The worst thing was the spanking aroused her. It wasn’t right to be turned on by his control. She’d always read those spanking scenes in her books with fascination mingled with dread. Sapphire understood now. This was the worst and the best mixed together.
Tears prickled under her eyelids. She tried to blink them away, but the stinging swats kept encouraging her to cry. “Damn it, Blade. Fuck you!”
“We definitely don’t have an hour to make love this morning. That ‘I’ve just orgasmed so many times’ look on your face won’t have a chance to disappear. Unless you want to walk into the barbecue and have everyone know exactly where my cock has enjoyed spending time.”
That made her think for a minute. Did she really have a “just screwed” expression? One extra firm spank pushed that distraction from her mind. Unable to process anything other than experience his punishment, Sapphire drooped over his lap as tears tumbled to the carpet.
“Who’s in charge, Little girl?”
“Daddy.”
“Who’s going to keep you safe?”
“Daddy.”
Blade rubbed his palm over her bottom. His smoothing hand eased the sting away from her skin and replaced it with a heated burn. “You took your spanking well, Blue Eyes.”
She shook her head, denying that statement. Sapphire heard his low chuckle before he scooped her into his arms and cradled her to him. She hissed at the feel of his rough jeans against her hot bottom. “That hurt.”
“Yes. You needed something to get your attention.”
“I didn’t like that,” she spat.
“If you promise to be a good girl, I’ll change that,” Blade said, running his fingers over the slight mound between her thighs.
She froze, anticipating what he’d find. He can’t know! She’d become wet the moment that first stinging swat had landed. Surely, that wasn’t right. Squirming, she tried to free herself.
Just like before, he held her in place easily. “Shh. It’s okay, Little girl. I love that you are so responsive. Having your Daddy take control is arousing, isn’t it?” He ran his fingers down the crease of her pussy. “Spread your legs, Sapphire. Let Daddy make everything better.”
She couldn’t refuse him. It was as if he could read her mind. Slowly, she obeyed and moved her thighs apart.
His fingers immediately rewarded her, exploring her pink folds. “So wet, Little girl.”
She felt her face warm and knew she was blushing. He kissed her cheek.
“Such an enchanting Little.”
Already, he’d memorized ways to please her. Stroking her clit softly before sliding two fingers into her pussy, Blade pushed her arousal higher and higher. He sought that small patch inside her that made her gasp and tapped lightly on it until she squirmed with need.
“Please,” fell from her lips.
“Come, Little girl. Soak my hand with your juices,” he ordered, squeezing her punished bottom with his free hand.
Seconds later, she climaxed with a loud moan. Her body clamped down on the fingers playing inside her. Zings of pleasure buffeted her until she melted against his chest.
Blade rocked her gently. “Good girl. Do you feel better?”
“Yes. But my butt still stings.”
“Reminders from spankings are good. That will help you remember who’s in charge,” he said wisely. “Ready to go get cleaned up?”
When she nodded, he stood and carried her into the bathroom. “Hold your dress up, Little girl.”
Blade wet a washcloth and wiped her juices from her skin. The soft terry cloth rasped across her sensitized flesh. Torn between embarrassment and happiness, she enjoyed his attentions and appreciated the fresh panties he helped her step into.
“Go put on jeans,” he reminded her.
She hesitated for a split second, and he smacked her bottom.
“Jeans.”
She ran to her closet to find a pair.