Chapter 11 #2
“Actually it’s red and it says ‘Kiss the Cook’.” My “uncle’s” voice is a low grumble as he reaches for more of the hot dish in the center of the table. “Colt picked it up as a gag gift on one of his travels.”
“I did,” Colt says with another of his easy smiles. “It’s become something of a game. Eli puts it on and we all try to kiss him but he never lets us. He won’t even let Gray sneak in a smooch when he’s got the apron on.”
Snagging a roll from the basket in between us, Eli shakes it at me, and I can’t tell if his expression is actually stern or if he’s just playing the game. “And if you try, I’ll take a wooden spoon to your bottom, so no funny business, little Lanie.”
Lanie. There’s something about my new nickname that’s actually kind of sweet, even if it does sound weird.
But even as that thought crosses my mind, part of me recoils. Nothing about this is sweet, and I need to avoid going down that road. Once I start thinking of them as anything but my kidnappers, I run the risk of actually wanting to stay.
And I absolutely am not staying.
“My name is Melanie,” I snap, fear and anger making my voice sharp. “Not Lanie. Stop calling me that.”
A sharp sting explodes across my thigh and I jump.
Looking down, I see a large handprint spreading across my exposed skin and to my horror, tears fill my eyes.
Being stripped and spanked was humiliating enough, but there’s something about being swatted so casually in front of everyone that has me feeling like an actual child.
“Don’t be rude, Melanie,” Axel scolds, and the disapproval in his tone only adds to that “naughty Little girl” feeling that’s settled heavy in my chest. “Apologize to your Uncle Eli right now.”
Instinct tells me that refusing his order will only end up with me over his knee again, and even though it physically hurts to swallow the sarcastic response lodged in my throat, I make myself do so to avoid yet another humiliating punishment.
“Sorry,” I mumble, rubbing at the pink splotch spreading across my thigh.
A large hand grips mine, firmly pulling it away. “You look people in the eye when you apologize, little girl. So they know you mean it. Try again.”
I don’t mean it, but hopefully I can fake it enough to avoid a spanking.
Forcing my head up, I meet Eli’s dark gaze.
Unlike Axel’s, which always seem alive with some kind of emotion, Eli’s are…
not quite blank, but shielded, like he’s being very careful to keep what he’s feeling to himself.
It’s rather disconcerting and I have to resist the urge to squirm on Axel’s lap.
“Sorry, Uncle Eli. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
A hint of warmth infuses the brown as Eli smiles, just a fraction. “It’s all right, little one. I know today has been a lot. Perhaps you’re just tired.”
At that, his gaze shifts behind me, and he exchanges a meaningful look with Axel. And the next thing I know, I’m in Axel’s arms, looking down at my new “family”. Startled by the sudden change, I wrap my arms around his neck for balance as he addresses his siblings.
“Eli’s right. It’s been a big day for me and my Little one. I’m going to take her up to bed and I’ll see you all in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Lanie!”
“Sleep tight, little one.”
“Welcome to the family!”
Their well-wishes ring in my ears as Axel carries me upstairs to his room.
Unlike Auntie Gray’s bedroom, the furniture here is dark and heavy.
Almost forebodingly masculine. It is at least very clean, so I have to give him that.
Most of the men I know wouldn’t know how to keep house if their very lives depended on it.
But we don’t stop in his bedroom. Instead, he crosses to a closed door, which leads to another room, and my heart sinks at the sight of it.
Another nursery, just like Auntie Gray’s.
Carrying me to the pretty white crib, he lowers me down onto the soft mattress.
“You’ll sleep in here, but Daddy will have the baby monitor, so if you need anything just call for me.
” His lips curve as he strokes my cheek with something that feels almost like wonder.
“Daddy is so very happy to have found you, little one. Sleep tight, and no getting out of bed on your own. I’ll be right next door if you need me. ”
And with that, he grabs one of the monitors from the table beside the crib and heads back toward his bedroom.
A single nightlight in the shape of a hot air balloon illuminates the darkness when he switches off the overhead light and for a long while I sit in the dark, staring at that single glowing balloon.
That’s what I really need. A hot air balloon to come and whisk me away from this nightmare I’ve somehow stumbled into.
Eventually, sleep claims me. And in my dreams, the balloon comes and rescues me and for one bright, shining moment, hope swells inside me.
But then the man operating the balloon turns, his dark beard parting as he grins down at me.
“You didn’t think you were getting away from me that easily, did you, little one?”