Reunion (Hunter's Ridge Book 3) (16 page)

Lucy looked down the table to see Ettie giggling, her joy infectious as the family worked on the decorations. "No. How could it be, when men such as they make us so incredibly happy?"

Louisa gave her twin a hug and they worked together, making several bows before passing them to Franny and Bea to tie onto the wreaths.

"When can we cut down the tree, Lucas?" Ettie asked, not pausing for his answer as she turned to the twins. "We string popcorn and cranberries and put them on the tree. There are boxes of decorations in the attic, and we all sing carols and talk about past Christmases. It's one of my favorite nights of the year."

Lucas chuckled as he bent to kiss her cheek. "I think you forgot to mention the cookies and hot cider."

"Oh, yes, those are wonderful as well."

"Next week will be soon enough I think," Lucas said. "It is still almost two weeks until Christmas, and it is best not to cut the tree too soon." At her sigh, he patted her hand. "Don't fret, I promise we have a great deal to look forward to over the next few weeks. Let's take the time to enjoy each one, shall we?"

Two wreaths were hung on the double front doors; everyone agreeing that they looked quite festive. Another hung on the kitchen door. Edith was smiling and thanking the girls for their efforts, patting Frank and Lucas' arms when they reminded her that they had been the ones to cut the boughs. Bowls of greenery, holly leaves and berries decorated the surfaces of many tables, and garlands draped across doorways.

"It really is beginning to feel like Christmas," Lucas said after hanging the last one.

"They look beautiful, Papa," Lucy said, lifting onto her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

After dinner, they all gathered in the library and listened as Edward and Louisa talked about their trip.

"I enjoyed visiting Mr. Bedford the most," Louisa said, after Edward told of the donation the man had made to the less fortunate.

Deciding to share an early gift, Edward presented the box with the girls playing on the cover to the family. Squeals of delight were heard as the family opened the puzzle and began to work together. They'd only managed to complete half of the border before Molly arrived to announce it was bedtime.

Lucas and Edward chuckled as protests were given even as the girls rose and left the table. As Lucas accepted his youngest sister's kiss, he reached up and caressed her cheek.

"What?" she asked, her eyes shining.

"Nothing, I just want you to know I love you."

"I love you too." She gave him another kiss and then giggled. "I'm glad you do, because Mrs. Harris is coming tomorrow for my fittings. I can't wait to have my first ball gown finished."

"I remember," Lucas said, as he sighed dramatically. "Goodness knows the woman makes most of her salary off this family."

Franny's offer to forgo a new gown had him shaking his head and pulling her down onto his lap. "Absolutely not. You, my dear, are going to shine as you walk into the ballroom." When she looked away, he turned her face back to him. "There is nothing to fear, Franny. I'll be there, as will Frank and Edward. I promise, this time you will have a wonderful evening."

At her nod, he released her and watched as the two walked from the library. Lucy and Louisa had already gone with Molly for baths and bed. Frank and Bea had retired even earlier.

"You think she believes you?" Edward asked from where he was sitting, a newspaper on his lap.

"I pray she does," Lucas said. "It makes my blood boil to know she is more like a frightened little mouse than the self-assured young woman she used to be."

"Give her time. As you said, we'll all keep an eye on her."

"You keep your eyes on her. Mine will be on any man that takes a single step in her direction," Lucas growled.

Edward laughed. "You'd better have eyes in the back of your head then. Remember, Ettie will be there as well and I assure you, between the two, your head is going to be spinning."

"Believe me, it already is," Lucas said, as he thought about what he'd seen earlier. Though he and his sisters had grown up in a household where they'd often witnessed their own mother being treated as a much younger girl, he'd never even considered that one of her daughters might choose the same path. The knowledge that his shy little one had actually shown her nursery to Ettie had his mind churning. It wasn't long before he rose from his chair.

"I've got some things to discuss with Lucy. Feel free to enjoy another drink."

Edward stood as well. "No need. I'm sure Louisa is wondering if her Papa is going to continue the experiment tonight."

The men walked up the stairs.

"You going to share the results with me?" Lucas asked.

Edward slapped his friend on the back. "Eleanor wishes for unbiased reports. Do your own, and then we shall compare how our little ones enjoyed the experience."

Lucas chuckled and nodded as he paused outside his own door, watching as Edward flexed his wrists, as if loosening them in preparation of twirling a small whip. Opening his door, he pushed aside the desire to do the same—he had a more serious matter to discuss.

Lucy heard the door open and sat up, watching as her husband moved into the room. Though he'd assured her all was well, she wasn't surprised to see him appear far earlier than normal.

"Are you mad at me, Papa?" she asked quietly as he undressed.

"No, I'm not mad," he answered, laying the last of his clothing onto a chair before lifting the bedcovers to slip into the bed. Settling himself against the headboard, he patted his lap. "Come, Kitten, curl up with Papa."

She did so, snuggling onto his lap and laying her cheek against his bare chest.

His fingers began to stroke through her blonde curls, then moved to lift the charm of the necklace she always wore.

"My heart, my life, my love." His words were softly spoken as he kissed the golden kitten. "Those words and my vows bind me to you, Lucy. I loved you from the moment I saw you, and I will love you until the day I die. Never fear that you have or will ever do anything that breaks the bond of our vows, Kitten. No matter what life brings us, together we shall always make it through."

Though he had stated he wasn't mad, and his words reassured her that he wasn't, she could sense his unease in the tension of his body. "I'm sorry if showing Ettie my nursery was wrong. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Why now?" Lucas asked, his hand moving to cup her chin to lift her face to his. "You've been here for several months and never showed an inclination to share your nursery. In fact, I seem to recall a few times I had to redden your bottom when you refused to call your room by its true name."

Lucy knew he spoke the truth. Though Lucas had never once kept her role a secret, assuring her that his family and staff would accept her dual roles, she'd hurt him more than once with her refusal to openly accept the role of his little one. It seemed rather foolish now that she had shown Ettie her nursery and received nothing but positive words about that part of her role.

"Because she was hurt. She never said anything when Emmie came, but I know she wondered even then why I'd never invited her to my nursery. Louisa asked me why I kept it a secret and I realized that it wasn't really necessary." She paused, stroking his chest lightly. "I also realized that it wasn't right. I love having you for my Papa. I love it when you rock me and hold me, when you tell me a story and those times you feed me a bottle. Though I admit I was a bit frightened she'd think less of me, I'm more concerned about what you think. I don't want you to think I don't want you as my Papa, because I do. I want that very much."

He bent to kiss her softly, and just that tender touch against her lips had her nipples hardening inside her gown and her quim moistening. When he released her, she once again laid her cheek against his chest. "Papa, Louisa and I—um, we think that…"

"Ettie wants her own Papa?" Lucas offered, when she didn't complete her thought.

Her head snapped up and her mouth dropped open. "You know?"

Chuckling, he tightened his arms around her. "I suspect. I guess I never gave it much thought but now that I am, I realize Ettie has never put away her childhood toys. Franny gave them up long ago. It never even crossed my mind, not even when I saw the two of you in the library playing with your dolls. Maybe it is because I was used to seeing you and Louisa at play, or you and Emmie."

"How does a man know, Papa? I mean, how did you know that I would be happy as your little one? Do we look funny or something?"

His laugh filled the air around them, and when he looked down it was to see Lucy wasn't amused at his reaction. "No, Kitten, you don't look funny. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"I'm serious; how did you know when I didn't even know myself?"

He didn't answer right away. It was a question she'd often asked herself, and she truly wanted to hear his reply. "There is something in your eyes, Lucy, a light that glows when you are truly happy. I saw that light turn into fire whenever I chastised you, or when Edward had to discipline you. It's hard to explain, and yet, I just knew. There was never a question that you were a woman who was passionate and would find pleasure in intimate things. And yet, your soul shines through your eyes, shows in the blush on your cheeks, and pulses through your veins when you are cuddled." He paused and lifted her chin again. "And, your nipples turn into pebbles and your quim flows whenever your bare bottom is being roasted. All those signs tell me that though you might have found happiness in only a single role; being allowed to live two is what makes that happiness shine from you."

Lucy accepted another kiss, her mind swirling with all he'd said. Everything was the truth, and yet she still didn't know how a man knew. "I know that men, um, who want to have a child/bride can seek them from special schools like Miss Summers'," she admitted, "but Louisa and I were never in such a place."

Lucas sighed and patted her hip. "It helps when another man who is both a Papa and a husband can see that special something, and shares his thoughts with one like himself. Your own father saw those signs in Louisa and shared that knowledge with Edward. Your Uncle Edward saw those traits in you and shared them with me. But even if he hadn't, if I'd met you somewhere outside Wintercrest Manor, I would have known how incredibly special you are. I guess I can't explain it any better than that. Maybe there is an invisible glow, a cloak if you will, that surrounds women wishing to submit, to serve as little ones, that only men such as I can see. I only know that I'm grateful to have been blessed with you and that you knew deep down inside what it is you were searching for—even if you didn't care to admit it."

She knew he was speaking of the night she'd chosen him instead of Charles Lloyds. Charles would have given her his love and a life of contentment. Lucas had told her Charles had since not only married, but he'd also found his own little one. He was Claudia's Papa as well. Though Lucy was extremely pleased to hear that, she knew she'd made the right choice. Lucas gave her far more than contentment; he gave her the strength she needed to submit and accept far more than she'd ever imagined.

"Do you see that glow around Ettie?" she asked.

"It's different with Henrietta," he said softly. "She's my little sister. I've always seen her as little, as a girl rather than as a woman."

"But she is a woman, Papa. She deserves to be just as happy as I am."

He sighed and nodded. "I know, little one. Believe me, I wish nothing more than to have both she and Franny find men that will treat them as they deserve. But I need time to consider all of this. Perhaps we are both wrong, and Ettie will be happy to set aside childish things when she finds herself being courted." When Lucy opened her mouth to speak, his finger gently moved to caress her lip. "No more tonight. Just know that I'm thinking about it and that I promise to consider everything. And one more thing, Kitten. I do not want you to discuss—much less give Ettie a tour of—the room upstairs. A nursery is one thing, a room used for punishment that is shared only between a man and his wife, a Papa and his little one, is strictly off-limits. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Papa." She wasn't surprised when he told her to lift her arms so her nightgown could be removed. Though they'd made love several times that afternoon, an unexpected and yet wonderful surprise after her shortened nap, she could feel his erection beneath her bottom.

"It's time for Papa to love his own little one," he said as he laid her onto her back. His mouth descended upon hers once more before moving to her taut nipples.

Her back arched as she pressed her breast into his mouth, her breath coming faster as he reapplied the nipple clamps he'd introduced her to that afternoon. Capturing her hands, he pinned them above her head. "Spread your legs, Kitten," he ordered. Once she had, he moved between them, his thick cockhead sliding up and down the crease of her sex, causing her to whimper in her need to be filled. He moved the tip to her opening and his eyes caught hers. "You are glowing, little one. What do you suppose that means?"

"It means I wish to submit to you, Papa," she moaned, and gasped as he began to push inside her body.

"How do little ones submit, Kitten?"

"In all ways, Papa, in all ways."

Submit she did, offering herself to him to do with as he willed. He brought her to the edge again and again, denying her the journey into bliss as he fucked her cunny, removing his cock every time she drew near her culmination. She suckled his cock, her tongue dancing along his shaft, her throat accepting his length time and time again. She cried out in soft whimpers as he spanked her, lifting her legs high to allow him to color her bottom a dusky pink before reaching for the pot of lubricant.

He didn't place her on her hands and knees this time. Instead, he pushed her legs to her chest, her breasts framed between them, her nipples aching in the clamps, her clit burning between the teeth of the third clamp he had ordered from Eleanor. As his fingers drove into her bottom-hole, scissoring to stretch her, she continued to submit, her hands clutching the sheets as he positioned himself.