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“Good girl. Here we go.”
The nozzle slides from my bottom and I clench my muscles for all I’m worth as Daddy guides me down to the toilet.
My humiliation is more of a concept now. A vague idea, hovering in the back of my mind that I’m too tired, too defeated to actually cling to as I relieve myself. Something wet slips down the tip of my nose and I realize I’m crying.
Another realization creeps into my mind as I sit there, utterly debasing myself in front of my stepbrother and this supposed doctor. I’d thought earlier that Jasper had broken me with the paddling in his office. That he’d taken me as far as my mind and spirit and body could possibly go.
But I realize now, he hasn’t even gotten started.
Chapter Fifteen
Jasper
My little princess sleeps the entire ride home, so I make sure not to disturb her as I carry her into the house. Richard greets us at the door, a sympathetic smile on his lips as he looks down at the sleeping woman in my arms.
“She’s rather precious like this,” he says with a quiet laugh.
“Isn’t she? I think she’ll probably be in a much sweeter mood after that visit to Doctor D. At least for a bit.”
“The contractors are in her nursery, so it will be a bit noisy up there for a while. I’ve set up the playpen in your office if you’d like to let her nap there instead.”
Gratitude swells in my chest as I pivot to head for my office. “Thank you, Richard. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Nonsense. Just doing my job.”
“Yeah, well, I’m the boss so if I say you’re a lifesaver then you’re a lifesaver. Deal with it.”
“Fair enough.”
Pausing beside the wooden pen filled with blankets and pillows and toys, I lower Juliet to the nest Richard has made forher. She whimpers in her sleep, her brows drawing together, and we both hold our breath for fear of waking her up. But almost immediately she settles again, and I watch in fascination as she curls onto her side and slides her thumb into her mouth.
Has she always done that? Or is it merely a side effect of her regression?
Beside me, Richard shifts, pulling something from his pocket. Leaning down, he gently pries her thumb from her mouth and slips a pacifier between her lips. It’s teal, her favorite color, with a silver and diamond tiara charm affixed to the front.
“Alice will never forgive us if we let her suck her thumb and mess up her teeth,” he whispers, a grin stretching across his face as he straightens.
“Thank you, friend. No offense, but your wife scares me a bit.”
“None taken. She scares me a bit, as well, and that’s just how she likes it. Which is why I took the liberty of making your Little one an appointment to see her next week.”
I’m not sure how Juliet will feel about a trip to the dentist, but it’s a necessary evil. And perhaps since she knows Alice, it won’t be quite as traumatic as our visit with Doctor D. “Thank you, again. I’m going to see if I can get some work done while she naps. Would you mind checking in with the others, to ensure everyone is ready for tonight?”
“Of course.” He hesitates, just a beat, but it’s enough to have my internal radar pinging. “You should know, Mr. Stone has mentioned some concerns about you claiming her so soon.”
“I’m not surprised. Juliet didn’t exactly make a good impression on him this morning. I’ll give him a call.”
“Very well. And I’ll handle the rest. Oh, and a few packages arrived while you were out. I assumed, given the names, they were for tonight so I took the liberty of delivering them to your room.”
“What would I do without you, Richard?”
“Probably end up lost and wandering the wilderness somewhere. Something to keep in mind when you’re writing my bonus check this year.”
“Smug bastard,” I respond with a laugh, and his echoes in return as he closes the door behind him. Leaving me alone with my little princess.
It’s tempting to simply sit and watch her sleep, but apparently I have fences to mend, so I take my seat at my desk and put a call through to Maxwell.
His stony expression fills the screen a moment later. “Richard told you my concerns, I take it.”