Conrad rubbed a hand awkwardly across the back of his neck. “Our omega wanted some ice cream. Who was I to say no to her? I’ve been with her the whole time she’s been out.”
“What if someone had taken you by surprise? There should be at least two of us with her when she’s out.”
“I’m not a prisoner,” I groaned. “And there are still guards all over the place.”
“Not all the guards have your best interests at heart.”
I prodded at another edge of the waffle bowl, breaking it off and submerging it in liquid ice cream. The guards were paid to protect me, so why wouldn’t they…
“Wait, does that mean they found the person who was communicating with Benjamin?” I asked.
He nodded. “A guard.”
Well, fuck.
I’d been hoping it would be someone like a maid or a landscaper—not one of the people who were directly responsible for my safety.
“Until we know what he told Benjamin and how many people are working with him, you’re still on bedroom arrest,” Mercer said firmly.
He took my sundae bowl from my hands and handed it to Conrad. I reached for it, a complaint on the tip of my tongue.
I didn’t get a chance to voice it.
Mercer hauled me up over his shoulder and I yelped. His hand patted my butt gently. “You know the rules were in place for your own safety, right?”
“But—”
“No buts. You didn’t listen. I know it wasn’t Conrad’s idea to have you leave the room, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, I’m not taking responsibility for this plan. Sorry, princess,” Conrad said.
“You’re always throwing me under the bus!” I complained.
“When it’s my idea, I’ll take the punishment. Until then…” He backed away. “I’m going to drop this ice cream off in the kitchen freezer. I have a feeling it’s going to be a while before you’re able to finish it.”
Mercer held me tight as he stalked down the side pathway and back to the main house. I smacked his back, trying to get him to let me down when we got inside, but he carried me all the way up the stairs and down the hall.
He tossed me on the bed when we got back into my room.
I was going to love and hate this punishment.
Maybe I should have stayed in my room and waited for him and West to come back, after all. The last punishment had been… something, to say the least. Pleasurable torture.
What was he going to do to me this time?
He didn’t have any toys here, so he couldn’t be too terrible, could he?
“Strip,” he ordered.
I hugged myself, my skin sensitive to the soft fabric of my sweater. Slick was wetting my panties already, but he wouldn’t take care of that.
Not until after the punishment.
Mercer lifted the bottom of his long sleeve shirt, peeling it up over his head and tossing it to the ground. His hands went to his belt buckle next, smoothly undoing it. I watched, transfixed, as he peeled his jeans down, leaving him in nothing but a pair of black underwear that hugged his bulge.
“I thought I told you to strip,” he said, crawling up onto the bed.
“I’m cold,” I claimed, hoping it might convince him to go easier with my punishment.
