Page 13

Juliet
I don’t know who Auntie Cat is, but I’m not sure I particularly care. Not with my body still humming from the incredible orgasm Jasper just bestowed upon me.
Turns out, the answer to all those “What if?” questions was basically “Holy shit, my brother is a fucking sex god.”
It’s enough for him to earn my cooperation as he unstraps me so he can finish dressing me for the day. The poofy dress he pulls over my head is a muted shade of lavender that issonot my color, but I don’t care. It fits surprisingly well, almost as if it was made for me.
Picking me up from the table, he settles me on his hip like an actual toddler and I wrap my arms and legs around him so I don’t fall. The jolt of fear is enough to dispel the haze around my brain, and as we walk, I become increasingly aware that there is something very, very wrong with my underwear.
It feels too thick, like I’m wearing an especially large pad, but that thickness is all over. Something about the sensation seemsfamiliar, like I should know exactly what’s wrong, but the truth remains just out of reach.
Wiggling in his arms as we approach the stairs, I tap the pacifier again. Jasper pauses, a frown tugging at his lips. “I already told you no, Juliet.”
It’s difficult to pout with the pacifier in my mouth, but I do my best, widening my eyes in a silent plea, and he sighs.
“If I take it out, do you promise to watch your language?”
I nod furiously and his eyes narrow.
“I am warning you right now, if you cannot behave yourself in front of your Auntie Cat, I will make you hold a whole bar of soap in your mouth while I paddle your bottom red. And I will let her watch. Am I understood, Juliet?”
Another nod, though a little less exuberant this time. Whoever this Auntie Cat person is, I don’t know her and the absolute last thing I want is to be punished in front of a complete stranger.
But I also don’t want to meet this stranger with a pacifier strapped to my mouth, so I’m willing to agree to his terms. For now.
“All right. Let me put you down so I can unstrap the pacifier. I don’t want to drop you.”
The moment my feet hit the hardwood floor, that logical, sane part of my brain I’ve been keeping at bay all morning finally takes over.
RUN!
Planting my palms on his chest, I shove, hard, and he stumbles backward. Without bothering to even take in the expression on his face, I turn and flee down the stairs. Unfortunately for me, I’m not wearing any shoes and the ruffled socks Jasper dressed me in give me no purchase on the slick wooden steps.
My feet fly out from under me and I slide down a few steps before I right myself again. But I can’t afford to slow down now. Even falling down the stairs is preferable to stopping and giving my brother time to catch up with me.
Heart pounding, I make it down the stairs without sliding again, and I nearly weep with relief when my stocking feet hit the marble entryway. I have no idea where I’m going to go, but despite what Jasper says, there has to besomeoneon this island willing to help me.
A frantic look around reveals the large, ornate front door and I head straight for it. But just as I’m about to wrench it open, the knob turns and a figure fills the doorway.
“Well, well, well, what have we here?”
Horror fills me, freezing me in place as I take in the tall, curvy figure. Her jet-black hair spills in a straight waterfall down her back, and a mischievous smile curves her lips.
I was wrong. Auntie Cat isn’t a stranger after all.
She’s Catharina Fucking Montgomery.
Jasper
My feet hit the entryway floor just as Catharina pushes open the front door. And even though I can’t see Juliet’s face, I can imagine the shock in her pretty blue eyes as Cat pauses in the doorway, a predatory smile on her lips.
“Well, well, well, what have we here?”
Juliet is frozen in place, her entire torso heaving with deep, shuddering breaths. Schooling my expression into stern lines, I step up behind her, clamping my hand down on her shoulder. “A very naughty little girl, it would seem.”
“I see that. It isn’t safe to run in the house, Juliet.”
Despite the scolding tone, Cat’s smile has only grown wider. And when her gaze shifts to me, there’s no mistaking the excitement dancing in her eyes. “Am I just in time for the show, then?”