"Baby, I swear I'm serious. I didn't mention it in the interview because my lawyer advises against that sort of thing. With my kind of money, he's afraid of what lunatics would call and beg me to take their children for a price, not to mention the threats that could ensue. It's just wiser to keep things vague during interviews. Something you probably know more about than I do," he says against my forehead.
I sob harder while wrapping my arms around his neck, and he kisses my forehead as his hold on me tightens.
"I love you," I murmur against his chest.
"Your punishment can wait until we get back home," Maverick says from behind Dane, interrupting our moment.
"Punishment?" I ask, peeking out from beside Dane's arm.
"Tickle torture," Corbin says with a shrug.
My eyes grow wide as I squirm. It may sound immature, but damn, it's terrible.
"I said I'm sorry," I whimper.
I hate it when they hold me down and tickle me. I laugh until I cry, and I'm sore for days. Last time I almost pissed myself. This time Dane will help them, and I may actually piss myself. I'd die of embarrassment.
"Too late," Kode chirps, moving beside Maverick who's grinning mischievously.
"What if I baked you a cake?" I ask hopefully.
"Can't bribe us," Dale says with a dismissive wave. "Get packed. We're taking you home tomorrow. We've got a room here for tonight."
"Wait. I have to stay for the production," I object, hoping to delay the punishment.
Filming could take at least a year if—
"Nope. Producer was fucking ecstatic when we talked to him about taking you home. Ran into him when we were heading up. Nice guy. Maverick recognized him from the internet. We've been stalking your book/movie deal. You'll also be punished for not telling us about that. Prepare to be tossed into Mom's pool," Kode says mildly, the same dark humor glinting in his eyes.
“I can’t swim,” I quickly remind him, knowing he wouldn’t do anything to—
“Shallow end,” he adds, killing my hope. “And I think you’re old enough to learn to swim.”
Ah hell. Elizabeth keeps her pool too cold. I'm not even sure how she manages to do it, but I hate that damn pool. I’ve only ever put my toes in it, and even that was terrible. I’m sure as hell not learning to swim in there. I’m already terrified of the water. Frigid water is a double threat.
"And you're really going to be punished if we find out you didn't make us look like total studs in your books," Corbin adds, a taunting smile on his face.
Crap. The books.
"I... uh—"
"Get some rest," Dale says with his uncharacteristically wicked grin. "You'll need it."
One by one, they all hug me, whispering their threats of tickle torture and cold-as-ice water dunking as they press a kiss to my cheek. Everyone chuckles as they filter out, and Dane's arms come back around me just as the door shuts behind them.
"You can't keep hiding stuff from me. Promise me you'll never do it again. Secrets only tear people apart," he says before brushing his lips against mine.
"I promise," I whisper, entranced by his simple, soft touch. "Promise you won't help them punish me?"
I peek up, giving him my most innocent expression, and he chuckles. "I won't be helping them punish you. I have my own punishment in mind."
Really wish that didn't sound so dirty. I've read too many books.
"Oh?" I ask, running my finger down his chest and enjoying the way his breath hitches.
He catches my hand, and kisses it, then he takes my left hand in his to pull it up to his lips, repeating the kiss on it. His lips then find mine, and I melt against him as he plays with my hand. It takes me a second to realize that he just put something on my finger. I pull back from the kiss to investigate when the foreign feeling finally registers.
When a raindrop diamond stares at me, I'm pretty sure my heart gives up trying to find an actual rhythm and just beats whenever it thinks about it. It's the most perfect ring I've ever seen. It's like someone designed this ring just for me, and Dane found it.