Doctor's Orders [The Martinis and Chocolate Book Club 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (15 page)

“I think I almost feel human this morning. Thank you for taking such good care of me last night. It was so wonderful to have someone to lean on. I’m not used to that.”

Nate pushed himself up also and flicked the bedside lamp on low.

“Good. Now we need to talk about your punishment.”

Brianne froze as Nate’s words penetrated her sleep-numbed brain.

“Punishment? What the hell have I done to be punished? I don’t deserve to be punished!”

Nate’s eyebrow quirked up in question.

“Are you sure? Did Sam and I both tell you to wait for us on the dock? Did we both tell you not to engage with Tami? You could have been hurt or killed. Tami might have had a weapon. I cannot allow you to take your safety for granted in this way. You need to stay safe so you can be there for Kade.”

Nate’s voice was soft but firm, and she felt a flush of anger at his reference to Kade.

“That’s a low blow, Nate. My number one priority is Kade and his safety.”

“Yes, his safety but not your own. You need to make your safety a priority, too. Kade and I want you to be around for a long time. I hope you want that also. You have given me no choice but to punish you.”

Brianne’s mouth hung open in amazement. Nate was totally serious. He was going to punish her for the harebrained move of boarding that boat without him or the police.
Wait
. Did she just admit it was harebrained?

Shit.
Yes, it was a stupid move
. Tami had been in a bikini, so she didn’t have any concealed weapons, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t have any on the boat. The sheer stupidity of what she had done suddenly hit her. She felt tears leaking from her eyes.

His fingers captured her chin and turned her to look into his soft blue eyes. He had a gentle smile on his face.

“What’s wrong, Brianne? This certainly isn’t the first punishment for you, and if I’m guessing correctly, it won’t be the last.”

She scrubbed her hands across her face.

“The sheer stupidity of what I did yesterday just hit me. Fuck. She could have had a gun or a knife. I could have been hurt. Who would take care of Kade? You should punish me. I fucking deserve it. Drive some sense into my head, Nate.”

“First of all, I would take care of Kade if anything happened to you. I love Kade like my own son. Secondly, the only thing I’m going to drive into you is my cock in a few minutes. I will decide your punishment later. But it is clear that you need me to make sure you don’t do this again. That’s why I have decided to marry you.”

Marry her?
His face appeared serious in the dim light. But he couldn’t be serious. He didn’t really want to get married. Did he?

“What do you say, Brianne? I think we should get married. Will you marry me and make us a family?”

Brianne swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. Her eyes blurred with tears.

“Nate, what are you doing? I know you don’t want to get married again. It’s okay. I don’t need to be your wife. I love you no matter what.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but she knew Nate had heard her from the grin that spread across his face.

“Who says I don’t want to get married? You’re not thinking about something stupid I said while I was getting divorced, are you? I want to marry you, Brianne. I love you. I want us to be a family. Will you marry me?”

Brianne smiled at Nate and nodded, only to have him quirk an eyebrow at her.

“What’s rule number one, Brianne?” His whisper was so soft, but she heard him clearly.
Oh yes, no nodding allowed.
He needed to hear her voice.

“Yes, Nate. Yes, I will marry you. I love you.” She launched herself at him. They were going to be a family, and she was going to be punished. Her body was already starting to become aroused at the thought.

“Um, about that punishment, Master…” She nipped at his bottom lip and let her hands slip down his torso to stroke his already-hard cock.

“Yes, little slave, your punishment starts now.” Nate grinned and pressed her back on the mattress, covering her body with his warm, solid weight. She gazed up into his handsome face and saw all the love she had dreamed of finding. Nate had been worth the wait.

THE END

WWW.LARAVALENTINE.NET

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ve been a dreamer my entire life. So, it was only natural to start writing down some of those stories that I have been dreaming about.

Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I fall in love with all of my characters. They are perfectly imperfect with the hopes, dreams, desires, and flaws that we all have. I want them to overcome obstacles and fear to get to their happily ever after. We all should. Everyone deserves their very own sexy happily ever after.

I grew up in the cold, but beautiful plains of Illinois. I now live in Central Florida with my handsome husband—who’s a real, native Floridian—and my son, whom I have dubbed “Louis the Sun King.” They claim to be supportive of all the time I spend on my laptop, but they may simply be resigned to my need to write.

When I am not working at my conservative day job or writing furiously, I enjoy relaxing with my family or curling up with a good book.

Also by Lara Valentine

Ménage Amour: Plenty, FL:
Plenty to Come

Available at

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