Bunny and the Beast(Divine Creek Ranch 22)(24)

Mona had joined them by this point, and the shocked look on her face was priceless before she turned her wide brown eyes on Joseph as if to say, “Save her!”

Samson cleared his throat. And then cleared it again. Then looked at Joseph. “My understanding from Cecilia is that the wee pest is your guest. You deal with her?”

“Rest assured I will, my friend.”

Bunny scrunched her nose up at Samson and then waggled her derriere at him, as if daring him, but with a Dom’s self-control, Samson just grinned at the bait and then raised his eyebrows at Joseph and lowered his chin in a gesture that clearly stated, “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”

“Bunny,” Joseph stated in a censorious tone. “Of all the Doms you could’ve tweaked in this place, you had to go and pick—”

Bunny scoffed. “The worst one? The one with no sense of humor at all? It’s not as if I tried to put ribbons in his hair, although it is long and pretty—” She zipped her lips when he frowned. “Okay, I’ll apologize for poking the bear. Sheesh, he needs to grow a sense of humor.”

Even though she didn’t recognize it, he heard Samson’s wheezing laughter as he walked back to the bar.

“No, you need to grow a sense of self-preservation. The only reason you’re not tied to a spanking bench right now, with him on the end of a paddle, is because he knows you’re new to the club and the scene. But when we’re done, you will apologize to him.”

Mona’s and Randall’s jaws dropped when Bunny made a raspberry sound and crossed her arms over her chest. “I thought he was amused.”

He probably was, fiammetta, as am I. “He will be when you make a proper apology to him, one that doesn’t include waggling your ass at him.”

“Phooey.”

Randall’s face was flushed, and Joseph saw the rise and fall of suppressed laughter in his shoulders and chest. “Good luck with that one,” he said as he threaded his hands into Mona’s hair and they turned to go.

“No, stay. You can both watch.”

Bunny followed him over to the display of paddles on the wall and tugged at his coat sleeve. “What happens now? I said I was sorry…sort of.”

He smiled down at her flushed face, unable to hide his enjoyment as her predicament sank in for her. “You still have consequences, though. Hmm…should I use the square wooden paddle or the leather one?” Running his fingers over the smooth leather, he turned to her when she tugged at his sleeve again. “Not trying to get out of your punishment, are you?”

She didn’t look away to see if others were around. She just shook her head. “You’re really going to spank me?” She sounded a little breathless, and understanding dawned on Joseph.

The little minx.

“Yes, fiammetta. You’ve been a naughty brat, and it’s time for comeuppance. I think for your first time I’ll go easy on you.”

“Oh good. Why am I not very reassured?”

“Your cheekiness is duly noted. Take off your shoes, shirt, camisole…and jeans.”

She was already unbuttoning her shirt, but her jaw dropped when he mentioned her jeans. When her mouth stayed open, he tipped it closed, grinning at her. “On behalf of all the Hazelle House sadists, I’m happy to give you your first spanking.”

“You’re a sadist, too? Crap, of course you are. Damn it.”

Over his shoulder, he saw Mona blink her eyes in surprise, but then she smiled at him and nodded, as if to say, “Met your match there, haven’t you?”

Joseph turned to Randall and pointed at Mona. “I think my sub is a bad influence on yours. Deal with her, or we’ll have a mutiny on our hands.” Given Bunny’s heightened state, he thought she might not have realized he’d referred to her as his, but he couldn’t take it back now. The look in Randall’s eyes told him it had registered with his friend, though.

Mona made a face that reminded him of Bunny, and Joseph didn’t bother restraining his laughter when he heard a loud pop from their general location.

“Ouch!”

Bunny turned to look but wisely didn’t say anything to Randall. “I have to take my pants off? My butt…my butt is…” She let out a soft, worried sound. “I have dimples, Sir.”

With a sigh, Joseph took her by her upper arms and turned her so they had a little privacy. “If it were up to me, you and I would not be having this discussion. I believe the parameters I set and the instructions about etiquette I gave you were clear about approaching Doms and respecting their boundaries.”

“He looked so lonesome and sweet sitting by himself. I wanted to see him smile,” she whispered earnestly.