shrugs. “When we were getting out of the car, I figured he could use the night off, so I sent him home and told him we’d take a cab.”
Double shit, and double trouble.
Luke’s hands lock onto his hips. He’s staring past her, his fiery gaze zoned in on me. “Tori, Lulu, let’s go.”
Nervous, I’m expecting Lulu to stand from her chair and go on some rant to Luke about how he has no right to be here. How I can do as I please. Give him a lecture on equality and woman power.
I’m surprised to find her lowering her gaze. Looking flustered, like a naughty girl; one who’s in trouble. She’s grabbing my elbow, tugging me toward him. “We’d better get moving.”
But I’m not going out that easily. I throw my hand on my hip. “What are you doing here, Luke?”
“Do you really need to ask, young lady?” He raises a brow so high, it makes my butt cheeks clench.
But I can’t back down. Not with Lulu watching. I toss my hair over my shoulder. “Last time I checked, overprotective boyfriends were not invited to Girls’ Night Out.”
He gives a low growl. “I’m going to count to three and if you’re not standing right here,” he points to the floor before him, “when I get to three, so help me I will put you right over my knee. Right now. Right here. One—”
My resolve dissolves. “Coming!” I scurry over to where he and Lulu stand, ignoring the look of surprise in her face.
Standing between us, Luke wraps one of his long arms around my waist, another around Lulu’s. He leads us out of the bar to the car he has waiting. The driver opens the door and Lulu scurries in. I climb in next, then Luke.
The door shuts.
Should I start explaining to him now, or wait till we’re alone?
The submissive cloud that momentarily wrapped around Lulu has dissipated into the night. She sits, sulking, arms crossed over her chest.
Is she... pouting?
She sniffs, “I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”
Luke growls, “It was after one in the morning. You two told me you’d be home by midnight. Midnight.”
She snaps, “What—do we turn into a pumpkin when the clock strikes twelve?”
I hold in a nervous giggle.
Staring over me, he gives her his dangerous daddy gaze. “No, but you could have the common decency to answer a call from a worried man, or better yet, give a call to tell me you’d be late. It’s common courtesy.”
To my surprise, she wilts beneath his gaze, muttering something unintelligible.
We arrive at her building. She gives me a quick goodbye hug, whispering in my ear, “Good luck with your caveman.”
I say, “Thanks. Good night.”
Leaning over me, Luke gives her a wave. “Bye now, Lulu. Be good.”
My friend’s cheeks turn pink. She closes the door.
We watch to make sure she gets into the building safely, then our driver pulls from the curve. We’re headed to my new home.
Where I’m in big trouble.
I know it for a fact, when Luke turns to me and says, “You’re in big trouble.” He settles back down in his seat. “And you’re not the only one who needs a firm hand. Your friend is in desperate need of a daddy. And a good hard spanking.”
Forgetting my own trouble, I snort, thinking of Lulu going head to head with a dom. “My man-hating friend? I highly doubt it. What makes you say that?”
He shakes his head. “I can spot them a mile away. Especially the ones like her, always touting off some feminist notion, telling other women what is acceptable in their relationships. Not realizing that true feminism means letting a woman choose what’s right for them—even if it means having a daddy.”
I argue, “But she despises men. I don’t see her being submissive to a man, let alone calling one Daddy and letting them... spank her.”
A dark chuckle escapes him as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. “She needs it. She’s longing for it. She wants nothing more than to put up a fight against a strong man and lose terribly. To have him take all her power away as he takes her into his arms.”
Better get the cuddles while I can. Nestling against him, I say, “Did you know that about me? When I first started working at the club.”
“You? You were the most desperate case I’d seen in a long time. I knew you were a baby girl from the moment I laid eyes on you. If I didn’t think