Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“I’m forty. I’ve been looking for my Little girl for a long time. Something clicked inside me when I first met you, and I tried to figure out how to approach you without scaring you off. Meeting at Maniac Tats was perfect. It was neutral ground. I didn’t want you to be scared in your own home, thinking I was a creeper.”
“How do I know you’re not?”
“We spend time together and you let me prove to you that you can trust me.”
She considered his words. As long as he wasn’t going to murder her in her home, Valerie was safe. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up quickly to tap in a message.
All okay. Thanks.
“I’m glad you have people checking in on you. That was very smart, Little girl.”
“Oh, that was my boss. He wanted to make sure the publisher gave us an update on the printing problem that had cropped up.”
“Little girls who lie have to sit on pillows at their desks the next morning.”
Valerie stared at him. That shouldn’t have boosted her heart rate or made her squeeze her inner thighs together when she felt heat gathering between them. “You’d spank me?”
She slapped a hand over her mouth in horror that she’d actually said that out loud. “Sorry. Of course you wouldn’t.”
“You are definitely wrong about that. A red bottom helps many Littles think better,” he said, helping himself to another laden cracker.
“Can I get you something to drink?” She jumped to her feet, putting space between herself and her visitor.
“Water would be great, thank you,” he told her with a knowing look.
“I realized I have some beer from when my parents were here,” Valerie offered.
“I’d prefer to keep my head clear. Talking to you is important.”
Nodding, Valerie quickly fixed two glasses of water and carried them carefully to the sofa. Taking a seat on the other end of the long piece of furniture, she tried to act cool.
“Scoot down here so you can sample more of this delicious cheeseball you made, Cupcake. I promise I would never spank you before we have a serious conversation about punishments and rewards.”
“Rewards?” she echoed, casually moving closer to scatter a few more crackers on the platter.
“Of course. Do you like stickers?” he asked.
“I love them. I have some at my desk, and I add them to my calendar to make sure I don’t miss important deadlines.”
Grayson leaned slightly to the side to pull his wallet from one of his cargo pockets on the side of his pants. Opening it, he pulled out a small stack of vividly colored stickers. “I thought you might like these.”
Each one had a cute design and the words, My Daddy thought of me today.
“Umm, I don’t have a Daddy…”
“That’s my job. To show you that you’re mine.”
“How will I know if you think of me? Wait for psychic impulses to come my way?” she scoffed, unwilling to play along with him making fun of her.
Holding up one finger, Grayson replaced his wallet and pulled out his phone. He typed something and put it back away. A second later, her cell buzzed.
Valerie picked up her phone from the coffee table to look at the screen. Thinking of you makes me smile.
He plucked a sticker from the pile on her palm and removed the backing. “Can I put this on your shirt, Cupcake?”
“Yes,” she whispered and watched as he placed it chastely just below her collarbone. Pulling her chin in, Valerie checked out the new decoration on her shirt.
“I won’t always be able to respond immediately if you call or text but I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. I promise you’ll be on my mind, and I’ll let you know when I can.”
“O-Okay,” she answered, running her fingers over the decoration.
“Would you like to watch a cartoon or a short show?” he asked.
“You need to go soon?” she asked, sad he was already planning to leave.
“I don’t want to go. Spending time with you is very important. However, I know you need to get enough sleep to function tomorrow and it’s getting late. Choose a cartoon for us to watch, Little girl. Something that will help you unwind for bedtime. I’ll try to get here earlier tomorrow,” he promised.
“You’re coming back?”
“I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
She selected one of her favorites. Something with a bit of a mystery and a funny threat that couldn’t scare anyone. Valerie settled a bit closer to him on the couch so she could have another bite of the cheeseball.
Halfway through the show, Grayson wrapped his arm around her waist to tug her even closer. “I think I know who the culprit is. Do you?”
“It’s that funny guy that’s always hanging around,” she answered immediately.
“You don’t think it’s the museum owner?” he asked.