Chapter 4
Holden
As he often did, he woke before his wife. Between his years in the military and his security work, his internal alarm was set to ‘ass-crack of dawn’ no matter the day of the week.
Beside him, Frankie was sprawled on her stomach, her hair a mess, the covers wrapped haphazardly around her, and her mouth hanging slightly open.
And she’d never looked more beautiful.
It was tempting to wake her up with his tongue in her delicious little pussy, but he had plans for his babygirl. Plans that certainly included pleasure, but more importantly included making sure she had plenty to eat before they left for the hotel.
So instead of indulging himself, he rolled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower and the rest of his morning routine.
Stepping out of the shower, he stared down at the bathroom scale he’d taken out of hiding at her therapist’s suggestion.
Learning to see her weight in black and white without letting it send her into a spiral was part of Frankie’s therapy.
But if she was spiraling, should he remove it again? Just until she was feeling better? Maybe until just after the wedding.
Or maybe he should leave it and start checking in with her more regularly to see how she was feeling about the number on the scale.
His instinct was to just wrap her up and hide her away from anything that could possibly hurt her.
But not only would his Frankie never put up with that kind of caveman attitude, he knew enough from her therapist and his to understand he could do more harm than good in the long run by trying to shield her.
Deciding to leave the scale for now and keep a closer eye on her in the coming weeks, he moved quietly through the bedroom, pulling on a pair of joggers and a t-shirt and grabbing her favorite robe from the closet.
Hanging it up in the bathroom along with a note, he headed downstairs to get everything ready for his babygirl.
Frankie
“Too early.”
Groaning at the obnoxious beeping of her alarm, Frankie reached for her phone and blindly hit the snooze button before burying her face back in her pillow. But the spell was broken, and as her mind slowly awoke, she was hit with the jolting awareness of what the day held.
Excitement zipped along her veins as she scrambled out of bed with an excited squeal and snatched up her phone. As she’d expected, Lottie had already texted the group chat a dozen times to make sure everyone was awake and getting ready.
Frankie
About to grab a shower and then I’m headed your way! LET’S GET YOU MARRIED!!!
Tossing her phone on the bed, she hurried toward the bathroom, slowing only when she spotted the hot-pink silk robe Holden had bought for her birthday.
Well, technically to make up for the birthday he’d missed out on when they’d been broken up, even though she’d been the one to end things.
The fact that he’d still wanted to celebrate her, despite how she’d hurt him, was just one of the million little things she loved about him.
Curious to see what he was up to, she plucked the sticky note from the lapel and scanned his neat handwriting.
Take a shower and come downstairs wearing nothing but this robe. Breakfast will be waiting for you.
The brat in her was tempted to defy him, just to see what would happen. But her ass still ached from his rough treatment the night before and, if she was being honest, she just wasn’t in the mood to test him. She was too excited about her best friend getting married to make trouble.
So she showered, taking the extra time to exfoliate and shave everywhere, and even doing a deep condition on her hair before wrapping herself in the robe.
She paused, her attention drifting to the scale beside the shower. For two weeks, she’d been weighing herself every day, desperate to see the numbers go down so that maybe, maybe she wouldn’t hate herself going down the aisle.
But weighing every day was one of those habits she was supposed to be breaking. Once a week was fine, encouraged even, but every day was a signal she was falling back into an unhealthy mindset.
Turning her back on the scale, she wrapped the robe more tightly around her and headed down toward the kitchen. Halfway there, the most delicious scent in the world hit her nostrils and she had to stop herself from moaning out loud.
Muffins.
Not too long after they’d married, Holden had discovered her weakness for homemade blueberry muffins, and he’d spent the next few months perfecting a recipe she couldn’t refuse.
Even on her worst days when she was the most in her head about her weight, Daddy’s muffins were the one thing she could never turn down.
Emotion clogged her throat and she had to blink back tears before she felt steady enough to finish her trek to the kitchen.
Where she found him, her Giant Silver Fox Daddy, standing in front of the stove wearing a black apron that read Chef Daddy in blocky white letters on the front.
It had been a gag gift she’d found while out shopping one day, and even though it was way too small for him to be very effective, he wore it whenever he cooked.
Another of those little things that made her heart beat double time whenever she looked at him.
Just like the glint in his eye when he glanced up the second she stepped foot in the kitchen. She swore he had some kind of Daddy radar, because it didn’t matter how quiet she was, he always just knew when she was close by.
That glint turned to a smolder as his gaze raked down her form. “Good girl. Take the robe off and have a seat at the table. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“I really don’t have time for that. We need to get going and head over to the hotel. Besides, Lottie got us a breakfast buffet, so I'll have plenty to eat there.”
One silvery brow raised, and she instinctively moved her hands behind her, as if that would somehow save her ass if he decided she needed a spanking.
“I’ve already spoken with Braden and let him know we’re going to be a bit later than planned.
And I know about the buffet. But I know you, and I know that even if you weren’t struggling you’d be too excited and distracted to eat.
So you’re going to have breakfast before you go. ”
“I can’t be late, Holden. My best friend is getting married.”
“You won’t be late for the wedding. According to the schedule you personally made up for everyone, the hair and makeup people won’t even be there for another hour after you’re scheduled to arrive, and you aren’t on the list to start the process for another two hours after that. Sit, Francesca.”
So much for her plan to be a good girl. Crossing her arms, she glared up at him. “I’m going to eat, but I’m not going to be late.”
“I understand this is a big day for you, baby. But you are my top priority, not the wedding. And I want to make sure that you not only have a healthy breakfast, but you don’t skip out on any meals the rest of the day.
I had planned something fun to help you remember, but if you’d rather have a welted bottom and a plug covered in ginger oil as a reminder instead, I can easily pivot. ”
The last thing she wanted was to walk down the aisle with a plug in her ass. “You’re being ridiculous. But fine.”
She reached for the belt on her robe, but was stopped by his hand covering hers. And when his other hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look up into his dark, concerned eyes, her stomach immediately twisted with guilt.
“Is it really going to upset you this much to be twenty minutes later than planned getting to the hotel?”
“I’m just worried about Lottie. I don’t want her freaking out because I’m not there. I’m her matron of honor, Holden.”
“Would you feel better if I let you call her?”
Relief loosened the knots in her stomach. “Much.”
“Okay then. Go ahead and call her, and if she absolutely needs you there at seven, then I will happily adjust my plans.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry, I know you think I’m being ridiculous, but I can’t just abandon Lottie on her wedding day.”
A smile curved his lips. “I don’t think you’re being ridiculous, baby. But as I said, you are my top priority, today and every day. No matter what else is going on around us, that never changes. Got it?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“Good girl. Stand right here and call Lottie while I finish up.”
Pulling her phone from the pocket of her robe, Frankie hit the button to dial Lottie’s number.
“Frankie? Is everything okay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, Lottie-baby. Just calling to check in and see if you’ll be okay if I get there closer to seven-thirty than seven.”
“Oh. Of course. The hair and makeup people won’t be here until eight and the other girls won’t be getting here that early, either. Is everything okay though?”
“It is. Holden made breakfast and apparently just grabbing a muffin on my way out the door isn’t an option.”
“Oooh, did he make his famous blueberry muffins?”
“Yeah.”
“Then bring me one of those when you come and you can get here as late as you want. Okay, well, not too late because we both know it’s only a matter of time before I start to freak out and I’m going to need my matron of honor.”
“No later than seven-thirty, I promise.”
“See you then! And don’t forget my muffin.”
Ending the call, she set the phone on the table and untied the belt on her robe. “You’re lucky Lottie is the understanding sort.”
“Is that so?”
There was an undercurrent of danger in his voice, the kind that had her pausing with her robe half off, her heart slamming against her ribcage.
But she’d never been one to back down from a fight, at least where he was concerned, so she jerked her chin up as she let the robe fall to the floor. “It is so.”
“Hmm. As it happens, I am very lucky.” Carrying a plate piled high with eggs, fruit, and the muffins she adored, he set it on the table in front of her empty chair before turning to pull her into his arms. “But it has nothing to do with Lottie.”
His lips, surprisingly soft and gentle, settled over hers. Without even thinking about it, she sank into the kiss with a sigh as her mind emptied of everything that wasn’t him.
By the time he lifted his head again, it felt a bit like she was floating on air, and all she could manage was a sloppy grin. “Mmm. Maybe I’m the lucky one.”
Laughter vibrated in his chest as he brushed another kiss over her lips. “You are indeed very lucky I’m in such a forgiving mood this morning. Feet apart, hands behind your head.”
Not wanting to push her luck any more than she already had, she shifted into position, curiosity welling inside her as she watched him move around the kitchen.
But then he moved out of her line of sight, and she huffed softly at not being able to see him anymore. Then nearly jumped out of her skin when his soft laughter caressed her ear. “Patience, little siren. Daddy has something very special planned for you this morning.”
Moving to stand in front of her again, he kept his eyes locked on hers as he knelt in front of her, a wicked grin stretched across his face. “I told you I had something planned to remind you to eat today. But that’s not the only reason I chose this.”
He pushed something round inside her, but it wasn’t until a long, slender piece of rubber pressed gently against her clit that she realized what he’d done. “I can’t wear a vibrator to my best friend’s wedding!”
“You can, and you will.” Pressing a soft kiss to her stomach, he rose to his feet again, gripping her chin tightly. “Because if you remove this for any other reason than to use the bathroom, you will not be allowed to come again for a week. Am I understood, little girl?”
Oh, shit. He was Very Serious about this. Swallowing hard against the sudden dryness in her throat, she nodded. “Y-yes, Daddy.”
“Good. Sit.”
When she stepped toward her chair, her pussy automatically clenched around the thing inside her and she had to bite her lip against a moan of pleasure. Hurrying over to the chair with small, scurrying steps, she lowered herself onto the hard wood.
“All right, little siren. Time for breakfast.”