Epilogue
“Ican’t believe that four days have passed already, and we have to go home tomorrow. I’m going to miss this place.” She swung Reuben’s hand back and forth as they walked to their motel room.
Her parents had invited them to stay at her childhood home, but Reuben had politely declined.
“We can come back, baby,” he told her gently.
“Yeah. We can.” There was still some healing that needed to happen between her and her family. But they would get there.
Corn and camellias.
She was so happy, though. Not about the stuff with Matt. She still felt like a fool for not realizing what a terrible person he was.
But she was happy to be home.
“And we have to get back home in time for Juliet’s visit.” She was finally going to meet Juliet and her men in person.
Reuben nodded. “That’s true. Do you miss not having your shop? Not being able to grow your flowers?”
She frowned as she thought about that. “Sometimes I do.”
He stilled and turned her toward him. “I don’t like the idea of you being out of my sight. I like you working for me, so I know where you are at all times.”
That wasn’t exactly a revelation.
“I know.”
“But if you want to open a shop again, I’ll make it happen.”
Shock filled her. “You . . . you will?”
“Yes.” He cupped her face with his hands. “I want you to be happy, Blossom.”
“I know you do.”
“Of course, there would be rules.”
“Of course,” she said.
“You’d need to have a bodyguard. And I’d prefer you have the shop in my building.”
“Your building? Wouldn’t the rent would be astronomical? And I’d need store frontage on the ground level.”
“It is. But we can make it work. You do sleep with the owner, after all.”
“I do? Wait. You own the whole building?”
“Of course.”
She rolled her eyes at him as he turned to unlock their motel room.
“I can’t believe I didn’t know that. And, to be honest, I’m really dedicated to making this matchmaker site work. I don’t think I’d have time to open a shop too.”
Plus, it felt too soon.
“That’s what I thought you might say.”
He locked the door behind them, then stretched. “I can’t believe how many dishes you can make out of corn.”
They’d just been at her parents’ for dinner with her whole family.
“Mexican corn salad, roast corn, corn hash, corn and avocado salad, guacamole with corn?—”
He grabbed her, pressing his lips to hers. “All right, brat. I was there. I ate it all. I’m going to have to spend a month at the gym to burn it all off.”
“Do you think I can cook in your kitchen once we get home? Without insulting Anita?”
His face softened. “Of course you can.”
She grinned. “What were you talking to my dad about?”
“Investing in the farm.”
She froze in the process of pulling off her jacket. He helped her with it, putting it to one side before he started stripping her.
“You don’t know anything about farming.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary in order for me to invest money,” he commented as he put her clothes to one side. She stood there, naked, still staring at him as he stripped down to his boxers.
“But . . . but . . . you could lose it all. Farming isn’t a good investment.”
“I never invest anything I can’t afford to lose. I don’t expect to make money.”
“You’re doing it for me?” she asked as he grasped her chin, tilting her head back.
“Yeah, baby. I’m doing it for you.”
She threw her arms around him. “Thank you!”
“Don’t thank me, your dad is refusing to take it. Says he doesn’t take charity.”
“That sounds like him.” She smiled, happy tears welling in her eyes.
“I’ll work on him.”
If anyone could change her dad’s mind, it was Reuben.
“Now, I’ve checked and there’s only one other room that’s rented tonight and it’s at the far end, away from us.”
Um. Okay.
“You’re going to be loud tonight?” she teased.
“No, baby. You are.”
Reuben shouldn’t enjoy the way her mouth dropped.
But he did.
He even let those words sink in a bit before explaining what he meant.
“We have a punishment to take care of.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped back, her hands covering her bottom. “I don’t think we do.”
“Yes, we do. The night that those cops came to arrest Rafael. Were you told to stay at Alejandro’s house and wait?”
She gulped. “Um, yes.”
“And did you do that?”
“There were extenuating circumstances!”
He raised his eyebrows. “There were. But that doesn’t negate the fact that you were in danger, and I left you at Alejandro’s, thinking that you would be safe.”
She bit her lip. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh is right.” He sat on the bed and patted his lap. “Over you go.”
“But everything worked out all right in the end, Daddy.”
“Did it? You were kidnapped by a crazy person who would have killed you!”
“Yes, but he didn’t. Because of you. I mean, I could have grounds to punish you, Daddy, considering that you put yourself in danger.” She waggled a finger at him.
“Get your ass over my lap before I go grab my belt.”
Her eyes widened, and he’d never seen her move so fast. In fact, he had to grab her to stop her from whacking her cast against his cock. He helped her over his lap, arranging her so her legs and body were resting on the mattress.
Then he rubbed her ass. “You, baby girl, are the most precious thing in my world and you are never to put yourself in danger.”
He smacked his hand down on her ass without warning. He wanted this punishment to make an impression.
While he understood why she’d done what she had, he was still having nightmares over Darcy Rivers shooting at her.
He couldn’t ever lose her.
So, he spanked her until her ass grew red. Until she stopped wriggling around on his lap and lay there, sobbing.
“Good girl.” He rubbed her back as he praised her with soft words. “So beautiful. You’re such a brave girl to submit to Daddy’s discipline. Daddy just wants you to be safe. Because I need you in my life.”
“I know, Daddy.”
“Now, there’s one more part to your punishment. This is for all the times you were naughty while Daddy was taking care of you.”
“I was never naughty!”
“You don’t call getting out of bed without permission naughty?” he asked as he reached into the drawer by the bed for the things he’d put there earlier.
He opened the case holding the anal plug and lube applicator.
“Daddy! Don’t you think I’ve been punished enough?”
“No.”
“I don’t like that word,” she grumbled as he grabbed the tube of lube.
Parting her ass cheeks, he got her ready for the plug with his fingers after he’d spread the lube around. Slowly, he pushed her naughty girl plug into her ass.
“That’s a good girl. Now, Daddy wants you to kneel by the bed and bend over while you think about what you did.”
He helped her kneel next to the bed, pressing on her back until she bent over so her chest rested on the mattress and her ass was on display.
Gorgeous.
“Spread your legs, baby. That’s it. Good girl.” He moved to an armchair across the room, so he could stare at her.
He didn’t want her standing in the corner because of her low blood pressure. Although she seemed to be feeling better now that he’d taken over making sure she ate and drank more.
Satisfaction filled him as he stared at that pink ass with a plug peeking out.
She was his.
All his.
And she’d agreed to be his wife. After his proposal, she’d tried to ask him if he’d really meant it. He’d shut that down really quick.
Of course he’d meant it. She’d said yes. Now, she was his.
Forever.
Faith wondered how long she was going to have to kneel here. The plug was heavy in her bottom, stretching her, making her ready to . . . to take him?
Would he take her ass tonight?
She turned her head to study her engagement ring. She only took it off in the shower. And one morning, when she’d forgotten to put it back on afterward, Reuben had tilted her over the back of the armchair and smacked her ass.
“You’re so fucking beautiful. Stand up slowly. If you feel dizzy, sit down.”
She stood and turned to him.
He was sitting in the armchair like a king on his throne.
She wasn’t the gorgeous one. How could he look so powerful in just boxers?
He crooked a finger at her, then pointed at the floor between his feet. “Come here.”
Walking toward him, she took his hand and then kneeled between his legs. She could see his erection pressing against his boxers. Faith licked her lips.
“Do you want my dick in your mouth, baby?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to have to ask nicely. This is meant to be a punishment, after all.”
“Please, Sir. Let me suck your dick. Please. I need to taste you.”
“You may.” He helped her slide off his boxers and then she leaned forward to suck on him, using her good hand to grasp the base of the shaft as she licked along his length.
Then she took him deep, humming in happiness.
He tasted so damn good.
Faith wasn’t sure how long she sucked on his cock, but when he drew her away, she didn’t want to stop.
She tried to reach for him again, but he smacked her bottom.
“Behave, baby.”
“I always behave. Maybe I want to be naughty,” she said as he carried her to the bed and laid her on her back, spreading her legs.
“I think you’re naughty enough.” Leaning over her, he sucked on her breasts until she was writhing beneath him.
Then he worked his way lower and lower until he got to her pussy.
Holy. Heck. Balls.
Reuben knew exactly how to touch her to drive her wild. She writhed on the bed, wanting more. Needing it. Just as she was about to come, he drew back and rolled her onto her knees, stuffing a couple of pillows under her tummy for support.
“No, please!” she cried.
“Shh, baby, you’ll get to come soon.”
He slid the plug from her ass, and she moaned at the sensation. She felt so empty now. Reaching over, he grabbed something from the case lying on the bed.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“A lube applicator,” he told her as he kneeled behind her and parted her cheeks, sliding a thin tube inside her. “It will make sure you’re nice and ready to take me.”
As he drew it out, she could feel the lube inside her. Slippery and wet. It was an odd feeling.
“Take a deep breath, baby.” He moved in closer, the head of his dick brushing against her asshole. She breathed in deeply, letting it out as he slowly pushed himself inside her.
The burn was incredible, she was slowly being stretched. And yet, the further he pushed inside her, the more turned on she became. When he was settled inside her, he stilled, and they both breathed in and out heavily.
“Fuck, baby, please tell me you’re all right because you feel so damn good.”
“I’m good, Sir. Please, please, move.”
He drew out, then pushed back inside her. Slow and gentle. She drove her hips back, trying to get him to move faster.
Slap!
The side of her ass stung.
“Easy,” he growled. “I’m trying to go slow.”
“Please. Faster. I need you to go faster.”
“I’ll go at the pace I think is needed.”
Tears of need ran down her cheeks. But he gradually grew faster, pushing deep inside her. Faster. Deeper. Harder.
Yet, she needed so much more.
Then his hand slid around her, brushing her clit, and it didn’t take much until she was exploding. The orgasm was so hard and intense that she screamed. She was barely aware of him fucking her, of him yelling out his own release.
Her body shook from her release, and he slid free, gathering her close, resting her against his chest as he reached one hand down to cup her mound.
“Oh God,” she murmured.
“Too much? Baby, look at me. Are you all right?”
“Daddy, I’m absolutely perfect.”
He rolled her onto her back to kiss her. “You certainly are.”
After cleaning them both up, Reuben curled around her, holding her tight.
And before she drifted off, she felt his fingers press against her pulse point on her wrist.
Keeping her safe.
Always.