"All right. I want a list of ten things you like about yourself or that you do well."
The eye roll she gave him would have earned her a trip over his knee under different circumstances. As it was, he had to settle for raising his eyebrow at her, and he was rewarded with a pretty blush.
"This is silly, Jason." When she tried to stand, he easily pushed her back down onto the chair.
"It's not silly. If you don't want to finish your assignment tonight, you can finish in the morning. But you will finish it, little girl."
Tilting her head back, she glared up at him with a defiance he'd only seen hints of before. "Or what?"
She was testing him, and he was perfectly fine with that. If she was comfortable testing him, she felt safe with him. It was a good start. "What would happen to your sisters if they disobeyed their Daddies?"
Her eyes widened slightly. And was he imagining the way they glazed over, just slightly? He didn't think he was, and it killed him not to act on it. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips. "They would get spanked," she whispered.
"Yes, they would. Very hard, on their bare bottoms, until they were very sorry little girls. But I'm not going to spank you."
There was more disappointment than relief in her eyes at his declaration, which amused him. "Why not?"
"You're tired. And you're emotional and not thinking straight. But the next time you want to test me, I'll be happy to warm your bottom for you."
It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "You talk as though I'm yours."
Octavius had been right, though Jason would be damned if he'd ever admit it to him. "You've been mine since the moment I met you, Evelyn Berkshire. And someday, probably soon, I'll have you kicking and crying over my knee as I paddle your bottom. But for tonight, if you want to defy me, I'll have to find another way to convince you to follow instructions."
"Like what?" she asked, her voice breathless and throaty.
Ignoring the need clawing at him, he tapped her slightly upturned nose. "I happen to know Luca made sure the fridge was stocked with plenty of ginger. A nice chunk of ginger in a naughty girl's bottom is a very effective way to improve her behavior. Do you know why?"
Her adorable nose wrinkled slightly. "I imagine it burns."
"It does. Would you like to find out for yourself?"
"No, sir."
"I didn't think so. Ten things you like about yourself or that you're good at. Take as long as you need."
Chapter 4
Sighing, Evelyn picked up her pen and stared at the blank paper in front of her. What was she good at? Planning parties, but after tonight, she wasn't sure she wanted to plan another as long as she lived. Everything she'd been raised to do felt so superficial when stacked next to her sisters and the men they loved. Teagan was a detective, and she literally saved lives. Ro was a lawyer, and even though she didn't practice much, she often took cases pro bono. Not to mention the child she'd rescued last year and the fact that she and Octavius were working toward adopting a child. And the men had all been SEALs, for crying out loud.
And then there was her. A trust fund baby they'd all had to rescue from an abusive situation because she was too damn weak to save herself.
The sob burst out of her, and Jason was there in an instant, swooping her up and settling her on his lap. "Shhh. What's wrong,tesoro?"
"I c-can't do this! I'm weak and ridiculous, and there's nothing I like about who I am anymore!"
"You can do it, and you will." His voice was still kind, but there was a hardness to it she rarely heard from him. "You are neither weak nor ridiculous. You are, however, testing my resolve not to spank you tonight."
"You don't understand, Jason." Exhausted from her long night and the emotions currently swirling inside of her, she let her head drop to his shoulder as he gently rocked her. "All of you have these important jobs, and you're all just amazing people. All I'm good for is looking pretty and planning parties."
"Tesoro, you are so much more than that." He chuckled. "Although, you are very good at looking pretty."
The teasing tone brought a reluctant smile to her face. "Can I put that as my first thing, then?"
"Sure. We'll start with the obvious." Reaching around her, he picked up the pad and pen. "The most beautiful woman in the world," he said as he wrote.
"I have two identical sisters," she pointed out, jabbing him lightly in the stomach with her elbow. "Which means, at best, it's a three-way tie."
"I can tell you apart. Even with the hair." He gave her hair a gentle tug. "And I make the rules, so I get to say if you're the prettiest or not. Next item. You're fluent in five languages, plus that 'smattering of Mandarin'. So you're obviously smart."