by Paloma Beck
“Well,” Paige stuttered a bit since she felt a bit off-kilter. Her original intent for this conversation would no longer work. “I’ve been invited to participate in the competition. It’s quite an honor. Only twelve representatives compete every three years.”
“I hear it’s known as the World Cup of Baking.” Donovan nodded.
“Yes. You’ve heard of it then?”
“I researched it when I knew you’d be going.” Paige could feel him nod again.
“So, I’m still able to go?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t…” Paige didn’t give Donovan time to finish his sentence before she turned and enveloped him in a hug.
“Mi Principessa, if this is the thanks I get, I might agree to more of these simple things.” Donovan was chuckling at her exuberance.
“I just thought it would be a battle. I thought you’d not want me to risk the exposure.”
“There will be security and, of course, I will travel with you. We can even make a stop to see my family while we’re overseas.”
Paige drew back to look at him again. He was incredible. She had so underestimated him. Her mate would give her everything she needed in this life to be fulfilled.
“Thank you.” Paige kissed Donovan, pouring into him all the tenderness bubbling inside her. He was already so much a part of her that she was kicking herself for spending so much time running from him.
“I love this, thank you. But now, woman, you will cook for me.” Donovan deepened his voice playfully, “Your mate is hungry. Feed me.”
Paige scampered off the bed to put on her robe. She caught sight of her sparkling diamond and emeralds on her finger and sighed at the memory of him giving her this gift. It may have not been a traditional engagement, but it was perfect for her.
Paige freshened up in the bathroom as Donovan yelled in, “your sisters will be here in an hour to help unpack your things. I’ll need to run up to the office then anyway just to check in.”
* * * *
“So…details, my sister, details,” Sadie said as she carried the final box into the kitchen. Most of Paige’s boxes ended up in this room. Besides her clothing, she didn’t own much else.
“There’s really nothing to tell,” Paige lied.
“You hold out for months because you’re determined to compete in this international baking game. Then suddenly you give in. Something happened,” Amelia demanded. Her anger was evident to Paige.
“Something happened and we want details.” Gracie sat perched on the bar stool ogling Paige’s engagement ring.
Paige just shrugged and returned to the task of emptying her box. “We had a heart-to-heart. I realized I’d been wrong to make him wait.”
“Oh no, you don’t. Your pride would never allow you to admit you were wrong,” Amelia insisted. “And stop moving so I can get a good look at that chunk on your finger.”
“You wouldn’t have lost your pride until…well, you know,” Gracie blushed furiously.
“Details, Paige, now,” encouraged Sadie.
“Maybe it was the ring that did it,” Amelia suggested.
“I’m not shallow, Amelia. He gave me the ring afterwards.”
“After what exactly?” Sadie would push until she got some information, so Paige decided to bargain with her nosy sisters.
“Okay. Look, if I give you some details, will you back off?” Paige knew she was blushing as badly as Gracie was.
“Fine.” Amelia seemed willing to accept this, though Paige suspected her sisters would question her again later.
“He…” Paige’s revelation was cut off when Layla entered the room with Stefan in tow.
“Are they badgering you for information on your mating? No way, sisters. You’ll understand when you go through it. It’s personal.” Layla walked over to Paige to hug her. It was something they didn’t do often, but Paige liked it. “However, if you need to talk through anything, I’m here for you.” Layla winked.
“Let’s talk about my recipes for the competition,” Paige suggested.
“Or we could discuss your Pronouncement.” Layla looked suspiciously like she was up to something.
“Why do we need to discuss that? I’m planning for that to take place after I return from Paris.”
“Well, as I was leaving, I might’ve heard Donovan and Madden discussing the timing of things. Your bond is stronger after the Pronouncement so it would be safer if…” Layla’s voice wandered off as she noticed Paige growing pale. “Sit, Paige. Come, sit down.”
“Whatever is wrong now? One second ago you were on top of the world.” Amelia seemed put out as she often was by extreme emotions.
Paige dropped her head into her hands and worked to hold back her tears. “I knew this would happen. I knew it would interfere. I’m not going to be able to focus on what I need to do.”
“No, Paige. That’s what I was trying to tell you. I’m going to help. Eloise and Gemma are flying in. Mother will be too. We’re all gathering to pull it together so you can continue to focus on getting your recipes perfected before the competition,” Layla tried to explain, to comfort Paige, but she was just too stuck in the belief that something would go wrong.
“I’ve had enough unpacking for today. I’m going to take a bath now and try to relax. I really wanted to go back to the café tomorrow.” Paige got up and away from her sisters before she lost her control and cried in front of them. She needed to be alone.
* * * *
Paige sat on the edge of the tub. Donovan ached to reach out and touch her naked body, but the sadness emanating from her was nearly unbearable. He could feel it; the intensity was what drove him home. Stefan had informed him she’d talked with her sisters while they unpacked the kitchen and then she had retreated. Her sisters cleaned up a bit and were on their way out when Donovan arrived. He couldn’t help scowl at them. He’d left a perfectly happy mate and after being with them, she was sad.
Donovan drew on his healing powers, specifically the energy he radiated to calm those he healed. Slowly he felt her ease, her muscles relax, as she sat looking out the window over the large bathing tub. When she was calmer, he quietly walked to her, took her hand in his palm and kissed it. It was just a whisper to let her know he could feel her pain.
“Allow me to bathe you, Princess.” He wanted only to soothe her. He knew she wasn’t ready to talk. Over the years, her pride had prevented her from leaning on people so it would take time for her to learn she could rely on him. He could be patient as long as he could at least ease her pain.
“Please,” Paige spoke softly as she wove her fingers through his. She was willing to accept his help. Donovan knew that was a first step for them. He took comfort in that knowledge.
The bathroom suddenly filled with candlelight.
When Paige saw his eyes widen, she shrugged and explained his unasked question, “I can control the air. Since air breeds fire, it was easy to learn to control fire too.”
“I bet it’s helpful in the kitchen,” Donovan guessed.
Paige offered him a tiny smile, not quite reaching her eyes, but he’d take it.
“I enjoy creating things whether it’s these flames, the coffee at the café, or my pastries. There a beauty in bringing something into creation,” Paige explained. It was the most she’d talked about what drove her towards her success. As he suspected, it was more than her pride. She just needed to let go of that crutch. Her soul sin wasn’t holding her. She was holding her soul sin.
“I’ll draw your bath,” Donovan’s voice was rough with desire as he forced himself to turn from the beauty of her body and prepare her bath. He drew in deep breaths to steady himself, reminding himself to focus on her comfort and not his needs.
Paige sat quietly and watched him. How he wished he knew exactly what she was thinking. Donovan could sense the Acclimation process guiding her along swiftly into her new life with him. For women of the Magdalena Circle, the Acclimation was more difficult because they weren’t surrounded by the
ways of Valendite Breeds, especially with the Sinsters who had no brothers. They were unaccustomed to the drinking of blood, common-used powers of strength, and then there was the violence of his job. Yes, the Acclimation was going to be easier than he thought when she first asked for more time a few months back, but he wouldn’t fool himself into thinking there would be no setbacks.
Paige stroked his hair as she stood behind him and watched as the bubbles made a cloud in the oversized tub. “Will you join me?”
“I will let you bathe alone and go to prepare our evening meal. I didn’t want you to have to worry so the Santucci chef sent down a meal for us. You rest in the bath. It is the way it should be.” Donovan used the sacred benediction so often used by their ancestors.
“That’s nice. I’ll relax. I think I need this actually.” Paige took his hand for balance as she placed one perfectly painted toe into the water to test the temperature and followed with the firm placement of her foot. Once she shifted her weight, Donovan offered his other hand and guided her in. The bubbles settled around her, embracing her, and he watched longingly as Paige laid her body back and closed her eyes.
“It has been a long day, Paige. Rest before we talk of what happened.”
* * * *
“You cannot expect us to wait for the Pronouncement through another full moon. My senses heighten. It will cause more damage than good to wait.” Donovan was exacerbated by Paige’s complaint about the Pronouncement being too soon. They had already waited months. The full moon had tormented him enough to know he would not go through it again without being mated. The only thing that would prevent the pain would be to complete their Mating, to receive their blessing from Mary Magdalene.
“But what about the competition? I need to prepare, to be focused. It will take place just three days following the Pronouncement.” Paige’s whining voice had the hairs on the back of Donovan’s neck standing on end. His patience was dwindling. They’d been discussing this now for two hours.
They had fallen into a comfortable pattern over the last few days, but that had involved very little talking. There was lots of great sex and plenty of delicious food, reminding Donovan that he was going to have to step up his workout routine if he was going to be spending this much time with his mate. Now it seemed his eating wasn’t the only thing he’d let get out of hand.
“It will all work out as it should. We will not wait.” Donovan gave his final word.
Apparently, Paige thought otherwise, as she added, “We will wait. I will plan a wonderful Pronouncement for March.” Her defiance and consternation was admirable, but this was non-negotiable.
“No, you will not, Principessa.”
Paige’s eyes shot up with his use of her nickname. She remembered how he’d once explained he saw it fitting when she was acting spoiled. He’d also been clear how he’d handle that behavior. She remembered. Donovan was pleased with the shiver that ran down his mate’s spine. Beautiful.
“You know as well as I do what you need. You’re spinning out of control. Clearly, you have been since Layla filled you in before I had a chance to talk with you the other day.” Donovan spoke as he moved towards her.
Paige continued to back up until she was wedged between him and the kitchen table. She licked her lips and looked up at him, then lowered her eyes. His Valendite Breed senses meant he could smell her arousal. She could deny it all she wanted but Donovan knew his dominance turned her on.
“Paige,” Donovan spoke her given name purposely knowing it would garner her attention quickly. “You remember I tend to use Princess when you’re acting like a spoiled one. I also told you what I would do when you acted that way.”
Paige nodded and kept her eyes lowered. He wondered what was going through her mind. The emotions he picked up were scattered and he couldn’t get a good read.
“I’ll let you choose. You can come to me and place yourself into position or I can place you across my lap again like a child.” Donovan watched for her response. She said nothing but he was determined to wait her out.
“What position?” Paige finally asked in a quiet voice.
“I’d like you to bend over the table here.”
“In the kitchen?” By her high-pitched response, he knew he’d shocked her. He suspected he’d do that often until they got used to one another.
“It’s the perfect place. There’s so many instruments to choose from,” Donovan teased. Paige’s shocked reaction was priceless as she stood looking at him with her lush little mouth simply held open.
Pulling herself together, she asked, “Can we talk about it instead? Maybe we could come to an agreement about the Pronouncement?” Paige was ready to bargain now. He didn’t think so.
“Too late, Princess. Let’s try it this way.” Donovan moved quickly. He lifted Paige up, placed her facing the table and bent forward, yanked down her skirt and walked away. “Do not move a muscle.”
Finding what he wanted in the second drawer he opened, Donovan returned to Paige and laid three spoons on the table in front of her. “Choose your favorite.”
* * * *
“You can’t be serious. You aren’t going to use that to spank me. Your hand was hard enough.” Paige complained in the whining voice Donovan was coming to despise. She knew this and was using it on purpose because he had royally pissed her off this time.
“You have to the count of five to choose. Or I choose. Want to know my favorite?”
She did, or maybe she didn’t want to know. She looked away from the instruments, tucking her head to the side, which only made him laugh.
“One,” Donovan started counting as he pulled her skirt down her legs in one rough tug.
Paige was not giving in. If she chose the spoon, it would be the same as giving permission. She was not going to give him permission to do this. It was barbaric.
“Two,” Donovan breathed right into her ear as he unhooked her bra beneath her shirt.
Paige shivered involuntarily. She also looked at the spoons and began weighing her options. If he was going to do this—and she was pretty sure he would—she might want to choose one that would hurt the least.
“I see you looking, Principessa,” Donovan breathed into her other ear as he grasped onto her bra straps and pulled. “Three. And I hope that wasn’t an important piece of clothing to you. I don’t think you’ll be wearing it again.”
He was baiting her to respond. Damn him. His fingers stroked along her sides until they tucked under her panties.
“Four.” Donovan rolled her panties down her legs and left them wrapped around her ankles. He stopped her when she tried to move her feet. “Nice to see you’re so eager but I want them right there.” Then her mate actually chuckled as if he were enjoying every minute of seeing her sweat.
Feeling vulnerable with her ass now sticking out, she needed to reclaim some control if this really had to happen. Weighing her options, she reached out and pulled the flexible rubber spoon from the group.
“Interesting choice. Not the one I would’ve chosen but I guess we’ll see what this feels like.” Donovan rubbed her bottom and it heated beneath his touch.
“Wh-what do you mean? Which would you have chosen?”
He reached for the wooden spoon. “This is the one I suspect would be most gentle but it seems you’re ready for more. Perhaps you believe you deserve this punishment after all.”
“No. Wait. I want the softest one. This one is soft. I use it in creams and whipped toppings.”
“But it has elasticity which means with one slap, it rebounds for a slight follow up sting,” Donovan had the nerve to grin at her. He used that one-sided sexy-as-sin look that made her think of the devil, a very sexy devil. “But at least I didn’t get to five. Then I might’ve chosen the slotted spoon and that wouldn’t have been any fun at all.” He paused before adding, “For you.”
“Donovan, wait please,” she pleaded.
“No more waiting, Princess.”
With her legs hanging off the tab
le and her toes just touching the floor, he had positioned her bottom perfectly for his use. How dare he do this again! She squirmed and then felt his large hand press down on her back. A flush rushed over her skin as he ran his other hand along her bottom and commanded, “Open your legs as wide as you can.”
Paige followed his directions but found that they didn’t open very far with her panties still around her ankles. Then just as he had done the first time he spanked her, Donovan wedged his long fingers between her thighs and into her damp folds. His fingers stroked along her folds. Paige could feel her core grow wetter and hotter. Damn her body for betraying her! She didn’t want him to know how turned on this made her. She squirmed as much as she could, shifting in hopes of getting some relief from his exploring fingers.
“No use hiding, Princess. You have been a naughty, naughty girl and I plan to supply incentive to be more considerate in your next decision.” Donovan tsked at her as if she’d done something wrong and, if possible, she flushed even more.
Donovan located Paige’s bundle of nerves at the top of her wet folds. Another shiver washed up her body as he circled it viciously. Her clit was on fire with blood rushing to it. She couldn’t think of anything more than, without a doubt she was going to cum any second. Yes, a few more flicks right there and she’d be flying.
Everything stopped. Donovan moved his hand away. She felt him shift and then felt the sting of the rubber against her ass. There must’ve been three smacks before Paige found her breath and screamed. This was far worse than his hand. She couldn’t do this. She needed him to stop. Squirming, Paige begged, “Please, Donovan, please. I can’t do this. Oh Goddess, it hurts. It hurts too much.” She was babbling and knew her face was a wreck of smudged makeup and tears.
Donovan rubbed circles over her reddened ass and Paige continued to cry as he cooed nonsense into her ear. He hadn’t let her up from her position but he was reassuring her at least. Once again, his fingers drew through her folds. She couldn’t believe she was still so wet but as soon as his fingers made contact with her clit, Paige was again so close to orgasm. The pain that was nearly unbearable a few minutes ago faded to the background as she chased her orgasm. Her body responded as it recognized her mate. Close, she was so close.
