Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
He huffed out a laugh.
“I’m sorry those kids were little assholes. I know what it’s like to be bullied and it’s awful. It starts to get to you. Eats away at your self-esteem and confidence. And it leaves lingering tendrils in your brain that follow you throughout your life.”
“You said the kids at school picked on you too,” he said.
“Yeah. I was always the kid that had clothes that didn’t fit right with holes in them.” She shrugged. “It wasn’t my fault, I get that. But I now worry a lot about what others think of me.”
“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. Inside and out. People can be nasty. But you and I . . . we’re survivors. And we’re strong. Understand?”
“Sometimes I don’t feel strong,” she whispered. “I have nightmares and doubts and everything piles on top of me.”
“That’s when you find me or one of the others. Lean on us. Understand? And I don’t think that you’re going to be sleeping alone anytime soon.”
“This is really what you want, Beck? Me?”
“More than anything. I want you with us. We’re going to show you how serious we are about you.”
“I’m serious about all of you, too. I really am.”
“I know you are.” He held out his arms, and she climbed into his lap.
Where she belonged.
A sense of safety and home filled her. Maybe she might have survived without them in her life. But it wouldn’t have been living.
“Hold me, Daddy Beck.”
“Always. You and me, Freckles,” he whispered. “We’re going to fight those voices. We’re going to conquer them. Because we’re warriors.”
“We are.”
Do it.
Be brave.
“I love you, Beck.” She tensed, waiting for what he might say in reply.
“Love you more than life, Chloe. My precious girl.”
For the first time, she thought she might just be strong enough to conquer the past.
With them helping her.
55
Hux woke up to find his girl staring at him.
What day of their Marjarsom was it? Like day eight or something. And she was slowly starting to trust in them. Just like they were doing the same with her.
“Hello, little darlin’. Aren’t you beautiful in the morning.”
“Hardly,” she snorted.
Oh no, he wasn’t having that. Leaning in, he kissed her. It was his day with her. Beck had his day, and she was definitely more at ease with him now. But today it was his turn. And he was determined to show her how much she meaned to him. He wanted to show her that he could be the man she needed. And a Daddy to her Little.
She suddenly drew back. “I probably have morning breath!” She slammed her hand over her mouth.
“Don’t want me to kiss your mouth . . . that’s okay. I can kiss you elsewhere.” He moved slowly, so she could object if she wanted. Reaching under the T-shirt she was wearing, he cupped her breast. He kissed down her neck.
“Oh. Ohhh,” she murmured.
God, she was gorgeous. He loved the sounds she made when he touched her. He drew the T-shirt up over her head, staring down at her.
Delicious.
Dropping his head, he lapped at her nipple before scraping his teeth over it. She arched up with a cry.
She liked that, did she?
He sucked the nipple into his mouth to soothe it. Then he moved to her other nipple, doing the same.
“Such a good girl for me. If I touch you, will I find that you’re wet for me? Do you want me?”
“Yes. Yes!”
He moved down and stripped off her panties before parting her legs so he could settle between them. He drew the lips of her pussy apart. God, yes, she was wet.
“This is all for me.” Satisfaction filled him. This right here was something he was good at.
Making his girl scream in pleasure.
He leaned in to lick her pussy.
Suddenly, she froze.
“Oh God! Wait, Hux! Stop!”
Shit. Fuck! Too quick, asshole.
He was reading everything all wrong. He sat up, worry flooding him. What was he thinking? Of course, she didn’t want sex with him yet.
“Little darlin’, I’m so sorry. I—”
“I need a shower first.” She bit her lip worriedly.
“Hey, stop that.” He ran his finger over her lip. “There’s nothing to stress about.” Was that really the problem? Or was she using it as an excuse? “And I really don’t care that you haven’t had a shower.”
“I do.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.
He knew that His Lordass had always wanted her to look and be perfect. But he wanted her to know she didn’t have to be that way with them.
Baby steps.
“That’s your only objection? That you haven’t showered? I wasn’t moving too fast? You can tell me if I was.”
She squirmed on the bed. “No, you weren’t moving too fast. I wanted you. A lot.”
“Well, if your only objection is not having showered, then I can help with that.”
Getting out of bed, he picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. Setting her down on the counter, he turned the shower on.