Reunion (Hunter's Ridge Book 3) (21 page)

He chuckled and bent down to whisper in her ear. "At least I didn't use a pair of your split ones." He gave her cheek a kiss and then whispered even more softly, "Or a nappy."

Lucy couldn't help but giggle as she added the apples to Lucas's basket before they walked through the gardens, admiring the others' efforts.

Edward had built the largest snowman, an old top hat adding to its height, a fluttering newspaper spread along the stick arms. Louisa's had everyone smiling, as she had created a pair of snow ladies—obviously representing her and her twin.

Franny had been very creative, her snow lady was not truly standing. Instead, she appeared to be sitting on the rock wall, looking down at the open book on her lap. Lucy thought it was just perfect. Ettie flung her hands wide when they rounded the corner to see hers. A small snow lady, the size of a child, was standing with upraised arms, a bough of evergreen hanging from her hands. In front of it stood a rather lopsided pile of snow decorated with bits of holly, red berries and bits of spruce stuck into the snow.

"Very cute," Lucas said, and chuckled. "I get the hint, Ettie. We'll look for a tree."

"Today?" Ettie asked eagerly.

"Not today, but soon. I promise."

Lucy thought her cleverness deserved to win—until the group turned the last corner to judge the next one.

Bea and Frank had worked together, and the entire group was silent as they gazed at the pair of snow people. Though not as adorned as some of the others, it wasn't what they were wearing that had the group in awe. It was the fact that, cradled between the two, supported by twigs that were representative of their arms, was a small bundle of snow wrapped in a blanket. Tiny black currants had been used as eyes, which appeared to be gazing up at the frozen couple.

"Beatrice… Frank?" Lucas said, turning from the scene to see his sister being held in Frank's arms.

"Yes," Bea said with a soft smile.

"You're going to be an uncle," Frank added, his own grin huge.

Shouts and cries filled the garden as the couple's announcement took hold. Bea was gathered into her brother's arms as he gently hugged her.

"You'll make a wonderful mother," he said, kissing her cheek. "I know our parents are looking down on you right now and smiling."

Bea returned his kiss, wiping a tear off her cheek before being surrounded by the others.

"Congratulations, Frank. We'll get that house finished as quickly as possible," Lucas went on, hugging his brother-in-law.

"We've got time," Frank said. "We were going to wait until Christmas to announce it but I've seen you giving your sister a few odd looks lately."

Lucas laughed and nodded. "Well, she has seemed more tired than usual, and a bit put off her food. Her choosing water over wine last night had me wondering. I couldn't be more pleased."

"I hope it's a girl," Ettie said. "I've got lots and lots of little dresses she can wear." At Frank's gasp of exaggerated horror, she giggled. "I guess a boy would be okay."

"Maybe it will be twins," Edward suggested, causing everyone to look at Lucy and Louisa, and Lucas to laugh at the true look of horror on Frank's face.

"Chin up, old man, twins can provide twice the fun."

"Twice the trouble you mean," Frank grumbled, then smiled as Louisa and Lucy giggled. "Of course, with this family, we won't want for help."

"I declare Bea and Frank the winners," Ettie said, surprising her brother.

"That is very unselfish and generous, Ettie," Lucas said, giving her a hug.

"They deserve it, because they are giving us all a prize," Ettie said, giving the snow family another look. "Besides, I'm sure that Bea is going to need to do a lot of shopping now that there's a baby coming."

Bea laughed, rubbing her tummy. "It will be several months, Ettie." At Ettie's sigh, Bea announced her choice as the winner. "However, I will need some more yarn. I want to make the baby a blanket, so if everyone agrees, shopping it is." While she and Frank returned to the house along with Franny, the others walked to the barn to distribute the carrots and apples.

"She's beautiful," Louisa cooed as she fed an apple to Delilah. "I can see why you love her so much."

"Yes, she is wonderful," Lucy agreed. "Samson is her husband. We have lots of horses, and even one that is expecting a baby." She paused, looking towards the stall where she had seen Diablo, her cheeks flushing as she looked up at her husband.

"Diablo has been returned to his own stall. I'll tell you just as I've told Lucy. Neither of you are to go to any of the barns without permission. Diablo is a stallion that doesn't care that you might think he's sweet, or wish to feed him a carrot. He's strictly off-limits, is that understood?"

"Yes, Uncle Lucas," Louisa said, having heard from her sister that she'd received quite a paddling for having paid Delilah an illicit visit. She had commiserated with her twin when she also learned that Lucy would be receiving far worse tomorrow.

"And Kitten," Lucas said, handing her another carrot, "remember, the foal isn't ours."

"I know, Papa, but you promised I can see it before the owner takes it away."

They fed the last of the treats to Bess, Louisa stating that Ettie's horse was also beautiful, before returning to the house to warm up, leaving the snow people to decorate the garden.

After dinner that evening, Ettie announced she needed to go upstairs to start making her shopping list and work on her Christmas presents. Bea and Frank were congratulated again as they retired early. Franny went with them, saying she had a few things to do herself. Lucy and Louisa sat at the table working on the jigsaw puzzle, their Papas reading newspapers in chairs across the room.

Fitting another piece, Lucy looked at her sister. "Are you glad you came? I mean, I am so glad you've come, but I got you into trouble the other day."

"You didn't get me into trouble, silly," Louisa assured her. "We were both guilty of disobeying Molly." She paused and shook her head. "It's still hard for me to believe how much Molly has changed. She's a real nanny now, just like Nanny Bremmer."

"I know. It took me a while as well, but by the time our train trip was over, I had almost forgotten she used to be my maid. Who knew she'd be able to handle a tawse with every bit as much expertise as Mrs. Bremmer?"

"That's because she used to help Nanny Bremmer with me once you came and Uncle Lucas knew he needed his own nanny."

Lucy snuck a glance towards the men. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

Louisa shook her head. "Not really. It's not as if I'm not used to making an atonement every week. Papa started requiring I have a weekly session even before you left Wintercrest."

"I didn't know that!"

"I suppose, since you weren't yet wed, it wasn't something Papa wished to share."

Another glance towards the men was made before Lucy leaned a bit closer to her twin. "Did it bother you when my Papa put me on my knees? I mean, when I had to make my penance after Nanny Molly punished us?"

Louisa's hand moved to cover her sister's. "No, Lucy. It's different now, easier even, knowing that this is something we share as well. I admit, I was a bit worried when you saw me making mine, but we both know our Papas share the same ideals. As for tomorrow, will your Papa punish you in your nursery, or his room?"

"Neither," Lucy whispered. "There's a room upstairs. It used to be the old nursery, the one Papa's mother used at times. That's where the crib you're using used to be. Papa had it changed into a-a parlor of sorts." She paused and felt her face heat. "Some of the furniture would be found in a parlor—but most, well, Papa had it specially made. I-I hope you don't think it is too awful."

"What are you little ones talking so seriously about?" Edward asked, causing both girls to give a start when they realized he had approached the table without their knowledge.

Lucy was trying to think up some response when her twin answered. "About our atonement tomorrow, Papa."

"Ah, I see," he said, moving to take one of the empty chairs after brushing her cheek with his lips. "I suppose that is to be expected. Do you have any questions you need answered?"

"No, Papa," Louisa said as Lucas joined them. "I was just telling Lucy that I've been presenting myself for atonement for months now. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable about tomorrow."

"That's considerate of you, Louisa," Lucas said. "I've asked Lucy to remember that even though we don't hide our dynamic, weekly atonement is something we keep private. Molly is the only other person who knows what takes place."

"I understand, Uncle Lucas," Louisa said, her own cheeks flushing a little. "I won't say anything to your sisters."

"I know you won't," Lucas assured her, as he fit a piece into the puzzle before lifting his eyes. "There is no need to worry. After services and luncheon, Nanny Molly will take you upstairs and prepare you before you go to the punishment parlor. I assure you that anything that occurs remains between the room's occupants. Now, your Papa told me that he requires you to spend some time in reflection before he joins you, and I want you to know that the same is required of Lucy." He looked up as Molly entered the room. "Ah, and another requirement is that Lucy retires earlier on Saturday evenings. She has a journal that needs to be completed before tomorrow."

Louisa smiled. "I do, as well."

Edward and Lucas looked at each other, both shaking their heads. "It seems as if we could be considered twins as well," Lucas mused.

"That, or just Papas who learned from the very best," Edward said, and as Louisa stood and bent to kiss his cheek, Lucy was doing the same to her Papa.

"Good night, ladies. We'll be up in a while."

"Good night," the girls chorused, each taking one of Molly's hands. Though atonement would not really take place for hours yet, the ritual was already beginning.

Once upstairs, they were taken into Lucy's nursery after Louisa had gone to Edward's room to get her journal. The twins sat quietly at Lucy's desk, writing without speaking, confessing naughtiness and acknowledging the need for the expected atonement.

Lucy sighed as she marked a spot at the bottom of the last page, the skin of her bottom crawling for an instant, as if it knew the harsh price to be extracted tomorrow. Closing her book, she handed it to Molly. As Louisa finished her own entry, Lucy was changed into her nightgown, the thin fabric doing nothing to conceal her puckered nipples or the fact that she wore nothing underneath. Once Louisa was dressed in a similar gown, the two hugged each other and wished sweet dreams as Molly first tucked Lucy into the big bed across the hall before tucking Louisa into Edward's bed.

"Sweet dreams, little one."

"Thank you, Nanny Molly," Louisa said. "I'm glad you are here. Nanny Bremmer was right, you make a wonderful Nanny."

"Thank you, Louisa. That is high praise indeed. I'm very pleased to be here as well. I love both you and your sister." Molly bent to kiss her cheek. "Even when it is necessary to punish you, I hope you understand that it is done with love."

"We know, and we love you too."

Molly smiled as she heard Louisa give a soft sigh as she turned onto her side to stare at the fire, exactly as Lucy did every evening. "Your Papa will be up soon," she said, echoing the same words she'd said to Lucy, before she turned and left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.

Despite the exercise of the afternoon, Lucy was still awake when Lucas entered the room a few hours later. After he joined her in the bed and pulled her into his arms, he brushed his lips across hers. "Feeling a bit easier about tomorrow?"

"Yes, Papa. It will be a little strange, but Uncle Edward punished us together many times. Louisa even said that it was a bit easier, knowing that she wouldn't be alone."

"Everything will be fine, Kitten. Now, if you don't have any more questions or concerns about tomorrow, perhaps I can relax you enough that you can find your rest." He removed her gown and spent the next several minutes just stroking her softly, his lips nibbling at her own, and then at the sensitive skin of her neck. Her body responded, her nipples peaking, her quim flooding as his fingers began to stroke her nether lips.

"Open for me," he instructed softly, guiding her onto her back as he prepared to move down the bed.

"May I suckle you, Papa?" she asked, her tongue sliding along her bottom lip even as she moved her legs apart. Lucas gave his answer as he positioned her to lie on top of him, her thighs pressed open as he brought her sex to his mouth, his tongue taking long, slow licks from her puckered flower to her clit. She moaned as she opened her mouth and took him inside, her tongue returning the pleasure.

Soft moans filled the air as they made love, Lucy attempting to pull away when the tip of his tongue began to press inside her flower. A sharp swat on her buttock made her moan again, her cries muffled by the cock in her mouth as soft swat after soft swat was delivered, his tongue fucking her tight passage. Every nerve ending in her body sang as he pleasured her by demanding she allow him to take her as he desired. Her cheeks hollowed in and out as she suckled, her tongue swiping across the tip to collect and swallow the clear drops of his pre-cum

When she came, she could feel her muscles contracting; society's taboo forgotten as she convulsed around his thrusting tongue.

"Good girl," Lucas praised, giving her bottom-flower a final broad stroke of his tongue before he spoke again. "Now, Kitten, come again. I want to taste your sweet cream as you swallow mine."

She concentrated on providing him pleasure, taking him deeper and deeper, swallowing the head of his cock and allowing several inches of his shaft to follow. She worked the muscles of her throat in order to allow him to feel each ripple, her tongue licking the hardness, her hand cupping his testicles where they pressed against her lips. Feeling him stiffen, she gently squeezed his balls, rolling them, and as she felt them draw up, she also felt his teeth close around her clittie, tugging sharply. She jerked and flooded his mouth with her cream as he spurted repeatedly, his seed sliding down her throat. By the time she released him, his cock softening in her hands, she was breathing hard, her body continuing to spasm with pleasure.