15
Brick took one look at Juliet and shook his head. “Nope.”
She paused at the bottom of the stairs and gave him a confused look. Then she glanced down at herself.
“Go change your shoes.”
Exasperation filled her face. She took another step down.
Lord, she was trouble.
But the very best kind.
He moved closer and clasped her around the waist to whisper in her ear. “We’re gonna be late if I have to take the time to spank your ass. Either way, you’re changing your shoes. Now, it’s your choice if you sit comfortably or not tonight.”
A tiny sound of irritation escaped her. It was weird, but he treasured each noise he managed to extract from her like they were expensive jewels.
Pulling back, she got out her phone to type him a message.
What’s wrong with them?
“They’re too high. You’ll trip in them and break your neck.”
Did she just . . . yep, she rolled her eyes at him.
“Three.”
She frowned.
Three what?
“I’m counting down. If I get to one and you haven’t started up those stairs, you’re in trouble.”
Her mouth opened in shock. He had to bite back a grin. Damn, he enjoyed playing with her. Although he wasn’t playing about the shoes. She wasn’t going out in them.
“Two.”
With a huff, she turned.
“And take the shoes off before you attempt to climb the stairs.”
Another huff. But she did as she was told. Satisfaction filled him. He had this under control. She absolutely knew who the boss was.
As she came back down the stairs, he realized that his assumptions were just that.
Because there she was, clutching at the banister as she took each step carefully, wearing black stilettos that had to be at least eight inches high.
She couldn’t even walk on them. With each step, she wobbled. Damn fool woman was about to fall and break her neck.
And she’d done the exact opposite of what he’d just told her to. Storming forward, he plucked her off the steps before she could even get to the bottom. Then he swung her over his shoulder.
She let out a squeal that had Elias and Sterling racing into the foyer.
“What’s going on?” Elias asked as he started back up the stairs.
“Someone needs new shoes,” he called back, smacking his hand on her ass as she tried to wiggle away from him. “And an attitude adjustment.”
She let out an outraged gasp that was drowned by the bark of laughter from below. She stiffened.