Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Hey.” She responded as if they were about to go on a first awkward date. She even fidgeted, tucking her hair behind her ear. She looked amazing. Not because she was dressed up and primped with makeup and heels and perfect hair. Nope. Because she wasn’t.
Lark was wearing exactly what he would hope for an evening at home. Black leggings and an oversized light-blue T-shirt. She had bare feet, and her thick hair was pulled up on top of her head in a ponytail. Perfect.
And yet she looked anything but comfortable.
He followed her into her kitchen and set the pizza on the counter, watching her closely.
She didn’t make eye contact with him, and if he didn’t know any better, he would assume she was afraid to be alone with him.
Suddenly, he froze, staring at her as she opened the fridge while speaking over her shoulder. “What would you like to drink?”
He ignored her question. All of his focus was on the realization he finally saw staring him in the face. Lark didn’t want to be alone with him.
Wyatt stared at her sexy backside. What the hell?
“Lark. Forget the drinks for a moment, kitten. Come here.”
She flinched before releasing the door. It slowly shut on its own as she turned to face him, not advancing. “What’s wrong?” she asked without meeting his gaze.
“Little girl, come here.” He used a stern voice, knowing it was the first time he’d spoken to her with that tone. It was also the first time he’d so blatantly referred to her as a Little girl. It was fitting.
She took a deep breath and lifted her gaze.
He lifted both brows. There were three feet between them. She wasn’t closing the distance. He was certain beyond a shadow of a doubt now that he was right. It made her nervous as fuck to be alone with him. But why?
“Lark…” he warned. “I’m not going to tell you again.”
Finally, she pursed her lips and shuffled toward him slowly, gaze down.
When she was close enough to touch, he reached out and cupped her face, tipping her head back to force her to meet his gaze. He wanted to pull her into his arms and erase this awkwardness with his touch, but it didn’t seem prudent at the moment.
“We need to talk,” he informed her.
“About what?” she asked nonchalantly.
“About why you get nervous when I’m in your home,” he stated blatantly.
She gulped. “I don’t get nervous.” Her gaze darted to the left.
“Lark Adams,” he began in a firm Daddy voice. “Don’t lie to me. I know we haven’t discussed the specific dynamics of our relationship in a few weeks. That’s my fault. I wanted to give you time to get to know me and vice versa, but we’ve seen each other every single day for weeks. Even on the days when it doesn’t fit into our schedules, we’ve made time to meet in a parking lot at your office or at the police station for a few minutes.”
She stiffened.
He narrowed his gaze. “Talk to me. Right now. When we’re in public, you’re free and happy and light. When I bring you home and come into your house, you stiffen up as if… Fuck. As if you think I might pressure you to take this relationship further than you’re ready for.”
Dammit. That’s it.
Holy hell. How had he not thought of this sooner? “Lark? Surely you’re not scared of me. You can’t possibly think I would do anything you weren’t ready for. Or… Jesus, maybe you don’t even see me that way. Maybe you’re holding me at arm’s length because you see me as a friend and not a lover.”
Wyatt’s nerves went through the roof. Fuck. Just fuck.
Lark’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “No. That’s not it.”
He blew out a breath. “Okay, if that’s not it, what then?”
She looked away.
“Lark. Kitten.” He stroked her cheek. “I have half a mind to take you over my knee and spank your sweet bottom, Little girl. Whether or not you’re ready to hear it, you are my Little girl. I am your Daddy. And as your Daddy, I don’t like the fact that you’re not telling me something, especially if it’s something important. And it definitely is.”
He prayed he wasn’t making things worse, but it seemed like she needed a firm Daddy right about now.
She fidgeted, wringing her hands in front of her.
“Maybe that’s what you need, kitten,” he said in a softer tone. “A good spanking.”
She shuddered. “No one has ever spanked me before,” she whispered.
He stepped closer, needing to close the few inches between them. She was so vulnerable right now. Whatever was bothering her needed to come out. One way or another.
“Lark, if you don’t see me as your lover and your Daddy, tell me. I need to know.”
A tear slid from her eye, and Wyatt’s heart nearly stopped. But she shook her head. “That’s not it. I promise. I do see you that way. I’m scared about the idea of being your Little girl, and I don’t fully understand what that looks like or how it will work, but I want it.”