Chapter 10
Reagan
It’s been a week, and I know what Tiago is doing. He’s not sly about it. He’s trying to wear me down, and it’s working, though I’m not ready to admit it.
The man is persistent. He picks me up every day from my house, drives me to the estate, and drags me into the daily fray with his family. He wants me to feel like I’m part of everything. He’s creating a new normal for me.
Tiago is the perfect combination of about ten attributes. He’s incredibly thoughtful and a total gentleman when picking me up, coming to the door, and exchanging pleasantries with my grandfather.
He opens doors, holds my hand, and checks in with me frequently to make sure I’m not thirsty or hungry. He encourages me to offer my opinion on every detail regarding the house and town. He treats me like I’m already a member of his family.
He also takes every opportunity to drag me into a quiet corner and kiss me until I’m breathless and needy.
At least once a day, he comes up with some reason why we need to go to his room—the blue one he moved into—where he ravishes me with his mouth and tongue, making it impossible to deny him anything.
I would have had sex with him at any point in the last week, but the man is unbending on that topic.
He won’t even take my shorts off. He likes to strip my shirt and bra off so he can ravage my breasts until I can’t think, and then he teases my pussy along the edges of my panties before palming me and grinding against my clit.
I’ve had more orgasms in the past week than in the previous year. The fact that he brings me home to sleep alone in my twin bed every night makes me constantly restless and horny.
I lie awake at night for a long time, tossing and turning. Every time I close my eyes, I picture him hovering over me with that sexy glint in his eyes. I’m so permanently turned-on that I’m sure I could make myself come without the vibrators I used to need.
I would do exactly that if it weren’t for the fact that the infuriating man reminds me every single night that my orgasms belong to him and that he will punish me if I touch myself.
The most maddening part is that I’ve started thinking about what it would be like for him to spank me. I get lost in my head, picturing myself over his lap, my butt naked, his palm on my pale globes.
There’s something seriously wrong with me.
Why do I crave such kinky acts? I’m pretty sure Claire gets spanked regularly.
Ryder gives her a look every time she cusses or sasses him.
He keeps some sort of tally, and he’s not secretive about it.
He enjoys making her blush in front of me by reprimanding her in his stern, commanding way.
It’s so damn hot when they banter that I practically need to fan myself. Plus, Tiago has caught me watching Claire and Ryder’s exchanges more than once. Every time, he smirks knowingly as though he can read my mind.
Claire and I are alone in the library this morning.
The men wouldn’t let either of us spend much time in here until a team of people wearing what looked like hazmat suits professionally sucked the layers of dust out of the room.
Ryder and Tiago also had the rolling ladders that extend to the top bookshelves serviced to ensure they were safe.
Finally, we’ve been permitted to spend some time in the library.
Both of us are excited. All three men are outside meeting with the landscapers, so we have some uninterrupted girl time together, which I’ve been looking forward to because I have a million questions to ask Claire while no one is listening.
As soon as we enter the room, Claire drops onto one end of a leather sofa and sighs. She sends a glare toward one of the ladders. “Even after getting those damn things inspected, Ryder won’t let me climb them.”
I giggle as I sit on the other end of the sofa, kick off my flip-flops, and pull my legs up under me. “Is this bossy, overbearing trait in their genes?”
Claire shrugs. “I assume so. I’ve never met anyone as demanding as them. Dallas is proving to be the same way, and he’s a cousin they haven’t had that much contact with for many years.”
I settle into the corner of the couch and wrap my arms around my knees. “I feel like my life is upside down. Nothing is recognizable since Tiago walked into my shop last week.”
“I went through the same thing with Ryder. He took over and left me spinning until I agreed to marry him.”
“Yes. How do they do that? I feel like he’s gradually wearing me down.”
Claire nods. “That’s his goal. These guys are intense. When they want something, they won’t accept no for an answer. How many times has he asked you to marry him?”
“About a hundred.” I groan. “How did you cave so quickly?”
“You already know the answer. It’s impossible not to. If he wasn’t so damn skilled with his mouth…”
I giggle. “ That must be genetic, too.”
Claire pulls her knees up, but when she leans forward against them, she winces.
“You okay?” I wonder if she got a recent spanking and her ass hurts.
She takes a deep breath and meets my gaze. “Promise you won’t tell anyone?”
Now I’m intrigued. And concerned. “Of course.”
“I haven’t taken a test yet, but I’m sure I’m pregnant. My boobs are so tender I can’t even touch them.”
“Oh.” I sit up taller. “Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah. I’m not surprised. Ryder kept me tied to the bed for three days after the wedding. He was so committed to getting me pregnant that he wouldn’t even pull out after we had sex.” She scrunches her face. “I’m oversharing. Sorry.”
I shake my head. “No worries. I don’t mind. If I agree to follow the same path, we’ll be sisters for the next sixty years. We’ll be living in this mansion for at least ten of them together. Oversharing isn’t going to exist.”
Claire giggles. “True. Does Tiago talk about getting you pregnant, too? Or is that just Ryder?”
“Non-stop,” I admit. “Not sure how I feel about it, but at least I don’t have to worry about having that discussion until I agree to marry him because the frustrating man won’t even take my shorts off until I say I do .”
Claire’s jaw drops. “Seriously? Ryder was the same way. He definitely took my shorts off. He made me sleep naked with him starting the day after we met, but he wouldn’t penetrate me with anything, not even his fingers.”
I hug my legs tighter. “I think it’s their way of getting us to cave. Keep us so horny we can’t think straight while dangling sex as a weapon to get us to agree.”
“Apparently.”
I glance down at my bare legs. “Mr. Bossy Pants ordered me never again to wear the shorts I had on when I first came here. He said they were too revealing. Little did he know I have several others just as revealing, so I wear them every day just to taunt him. It doesn’t make him back down on his no-sex mandate, but at least I know I frustrate him, too.
Don’t tell Tiago, but I love it when he gets all growly and possessive. It’s oddly hot.”
“I hear ya. Ryder is the same.”
“Do you mind if I ask you something?”
“Anything.” She giggles. “We’re practically sisters, remember?”
I chuckle. “True. Does he really spank you, or are they just blowing hot air every time they mention it?”
Claire shakes her head. “They’re not teasing. Ryder spanks me. Have you ever been spanked before? Sexually, I mean.”
“No. Never. How could I? The only boy I ever dated was Greg. I never let him get to second base, let alone spank me.” I shudder. “I know you’re a few years younger than me, but I assume since you dated Smith after high school, you at least have more experience than me.”
Claire’s face scrunches up again. “Lord, no. I never let Smith touch me. He just liked to make it seem like we were a couple. Even when we were dating, we weren’t really together.
I hated Smith touching me. That’s how I knew it was different with Ryder.
Every time he even got close to touching me, I melted for him.
I was drawn to him like a magnet from the first. My experience with Smith—the smarmy asshole—helped me recognize the difference. ”
I nod. I hadn’t known this much about Claire before. We were far apart enough in school to not run in the same groups. I really like her, and she’s far more mature than the average twenty-two-year-old.
“Does it hurt? Getting spanked?”
She grins. “Deliciously. I was skeptical at first. He talked about it so much that I couldn’t stop worrying. Finally, he showed me, and I got so horny that I nearly came from the spanking alone.”
I clench my thighs together. Thoughts of Tiago spanking me make me horny every time. I feel a lot better knowing I’m not alone. “Thanks. I’m not sure I can grasp it, but I appreciate you sharing. I feel less nervous.”
“Honestly, I try to do a few things every day that push him to the edge and make him itch to spank me. I get wet just watching him silently threaten me with his eyes.”
I smile and lean back, looking at the ceiling.
“On one hand, I can’t believe I would even consider marrying a man I’ve only known a week.
On the other, I’m so tired of him taking me home at night.
It’s oddly lonely when I’m in bed without him.
He’s like a leech that has latched onto me and won’t let go.
I’m so used to it that I miss him when I’m not with him. ”
“I get it and can empathize. I can’t tell you what to do, but I never expected something this wonderful to happen to me. I’ve never been happier. I couldn’t rationalize not taking the plunge. Why would I wait? I knew it was right. Nothing has ever felt more right to me.”
I lower my head. “You look happy.” I smile and wink. “And now I know why you’re glowing.”
She draws in a deep breath. “I hope I’m ready for this. Why don’t you hurry up and marry Tiago so we can be pregnant together?”
I shudder. Do I want to be pregnant? A week ago, I would have said hell no. But that was before.
Before this dominant, bossy, demanding man swooped into my life and took over every part of it. I’m lucky he lets me go to the bathroom alone. I bet he won’t after I agree to marry him.
Every day, Tiago consumes me. It’s like he surrounds me until I can’t quite breathe and don’t even want to. Then, I feel this tremendous letdown when I climb into bed alone.
Even crazier, I can picture myself living here in this mansion with all these people.
More of them are going to arrive. There’s no telling how many.
When I lie in bed at night, I visualize that huge kitchen filled with laughter and banter.
All these dominant men ordering the women around as if they’re cavemen.
In a way, they are. But they’re also softies. Growly, bossy softies who would do anything for any of us. Tiago may demand I not wear my skimpy shorts in town, but he would move a mountain for me. He won’t let me drive alone at night, but that’s because he’s got a thing for safety.
The man wants to spank me, and I know it’s because it will make me so horny I won’t be able to focus. He loves the fact that he can drive my arousal through the roof, and he loves controlling it.
How could I turn down an offer like this?
“What does your grandfather think about all this?” Claire asks.
I groan. “He loves Tiago. In fact, he told me last night he’s not a prude. I could stay over here if I wanted. It was so embarrassing.”
Claire giggles. “That’s sweet. What did you say?”
“I told him Tiago has some old-fashioned ideas and won’t touch me before we’re married. Now my grandfather thinks he’s a god.”
Claire’s giggles turn to laughter. “These men are slick. Ryder won over my parents in five seconds, too.”
Voices in the hallway make me twist my head just as the three men enter the library.
Dallas drops down into an armchair. Ryder scoops Claire off the couch, takes her spot, and settles her on his lap. Tiago sits next to me and pulls me against his side. He kisses me. “Did you girls catalog any books?”
“You didn’t give us time. We haven’t started yet.”
Ryder chuckles. “I figured if we left you two alone for a while, you’d sit and talk.” He glances at Claire. “Did you tell her?”
Claire’s face turns bright red. “Tell her what?”
I purse my lips and hold my breath.
Ryder glances at me and back at Claire. He smirks. “You did tell her. When were you planning to tell me?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Dallas asks.
Tiago has a similar smirk that matches his brother’s.
He knows Claire is pregnant, too. Either the two of them discussed it, or Tiago is observant.
I’m not surprised Ryder figured it out. He’s a smart guy.
He started banging his wife two weeks ago with no protection. It’s not shocking that she’s pregnant.
Ryder laughs as he lowers his palm to her stomach. “I’m feeling pretty smug that I probably managed to knock you up on our wedding night.”
She sighs and bats at his hand. “I haven’t even taken a test, you neanderthal.”
He kisses her neck. “Yeah, but you know. We don’t need a test.”
She tries to scowl at him, but it comes off just looking funny. “How the hell do you know, Mr. Smarty Pants?”
“Your tits have been sore for two days, and you wince every time I touch your nipples. Plus, you’ve been really tired. Care to deny any of that?”
“You’re infuriating.” Her words don’t match her actions, though. She settles into him, letting him surround her with his arms.
“I should spank you for telling Reagan first,” he says against the top of her head.
“Yeah, you probably should,” she taunts.
Dallas shoves to standing. “You are the sappiest people I’ve ever met. I’m going to go find a snack.”
“You’ll be sappy, too, when you meet the right woman,” Tiago calls over his shoulder as Dallas flees the room.