Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
They were insane.
Charlie’s sigh didn’t give me much to go on but I hoped he realized how crazy it was. “Alright. But Daddy didn’t mind that I was dramatic. He thinks I’m cute.”
Well, the good thing was that he realized that.
The bad thing was that I was still Daddy, not Master.
How far off the rails had they shoved us?
Austin huffed, still glaring at me. “I should hope not. He needs to be nice to you.”
Charlie’s groan had me wanting to laugh, but that didn’t seem like a good idea with Austin still being slightly off his rocker. “But Austin, if he’s too nice, he won’t spank me…or do…other things…”
What other things?
Nope. Not what I should be focused on at the moment. The main takeaway seemed to be that I shouldn’t be too nice. What did that mean to him, though? Too careful with him? That seemed like the most logical answer and was reinforced by Austin’s sigh.
“Alright, I understand and I’ll try to be tolerant. But if you cry, all bets are off.” Austin wasn’t looking at any of it logically at the moment, and I wasn’t sure that would change any time soon. So I decided I would never spank Charlie at the club.
Nope.
I wasn’t going to risk that no matter how much he begged.
Spankings were for home and sweet cuddles were at the club.
“Oh, Austin.” Charlie was smart enough to see the flaws in Austin’s words faster than Austin had, I could see that in his eyes, but he just nodded and kissed his protector’s cheek. “Thank you for being worried about me.”
Making Charlie feel cared for and safe would never be a bad thing, but I had to remind myself of that a few times as Austin dragged out getting one more cuddle from Charlie. When he was down to just glaring at me and actually let Charlie step away, I’d mostly gotten it through my head.
“Thank you for checking on him, Austin.” Getting out in front of that seemed like the best plan and took the wind out of his sails.
But I refused to thank the tattletale who’d called for backup just because Charlie had been pouting because I wouldn’t grope him in the car.
Frowning at me, Austin gave a curt nod. “You’re welcome.”
The slightly barked-out response had me wanting to smile, but I kept a perfectly done blank face as he whirled around to head back into the club. When the drama queen and his gown were safely far away from us, I held out my hand to a slightly embarrassed and now nervous Charlie.
Fuck.
“You ready, sweetie?” I honestly wasn’t sure what he’d say, so I was relieved when he hurried back to me and took my hand.
“Yes, Daddy.” I was getting utter innocence projected up at me, but I couldn’t tell what that meant.
Was it a habit?
His default state?
Pushing my questions to the back of my head, I gave him a quick peck and squeezed his hand. “Good boy.”
I did my best to radiate calm and show him that nothing had changed as we headed toward the inner door. It seemed to have his stress going back down but all his frustration and pouting had completely faded. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I had no idea what that meant as I led him through the club and to our room.
He was still quiet and well-behaved as I shut the door, ignoring everything else in the room but Charlie and the chair, and pulled him in for a hug. Thankfully, he curled into me as I leaned back against the door.
Starting from scratch would’ve been beyond frustrating, so I was glad to feel him press himself against me and sigh. “Oh, Daddy.”
I couldn’t help chuckling as I kissed his head. “It’s a very nice thing that they were worried about you and that Austin came to check on you.”
He sighed again, burying his head against my chest. “But Daddy, that was…and he…ugh.”
Still chuckling, I nodded. “Yep, that’s what was going through my head too.”
“You’re not mad?” His muffled voice was hard to read, but he didn’t sound overly worried, just curious.
“Well, I’m not going to ask how the tattletale is doing anymore when I come into the club, but I’m not mad.” That got a giggle from him, so I played up the drama a bit. “And I’m going to be very careful not to run into Austin in a dark alley anytime soon.”
When Charlie stopped giggling and seemed to have gone from hiding to snuggling, I lifted him up and carried him over to the chair.
That had him wrapping his arms and legs around me like a monkey. “Daddy.”
“Silly boy.” Kissing his head as I sat down, I couldn’t help teasing him. “A silly boy who got us in trouble with his pouting.”