Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
She basically threw herself at him, the blanket slipping off her to land on the porch. She’d pick it up soon. Right now, she needed him to hold her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt more seen than when I’m with you, Daddy. Or protected. Or cared for. Yeah, you can be overwhelming at times, but I know that deep down, you’ll listen to me if it’s important.”
“I want to say yes . . .” he trailed off.
She slapped his shoulder.
“It would be all too easy to lose myself in you, though. To let you take over completely so that I never have to make another decision . . . and maybe that’s not the best thing for me.”
He was silent as he let her speak her thoughts out loud.
“When I’m in Little space, you’re in charge.”
“Yes.”
“But when I’m Big, I can give you control of some things, like when I orgasm.” The last part was whispered.
She felt his chest move and wondered if he was holding in his laughter.
“Yes.”
“But some things I need to decide for myself. Or . . . or at least talk them through with you?”
“That would be best. I need to know what is going on with you, even if you just need a sounding board. No secrets. No lies. No holding back.”
She hugged him tight. “I want to talk things out with you as long as you let me do that without trying to take over completely.”
“I will try.”
That was the best she could really hope for. And she knew that he meant what he said. He’d try. Maybe he wouldn’t always succeed. But wasn’t that what she did every day?
She tried.
Or she had. Before she’d lost the shop. Since then, she’d hidden herself away and existed.
But no more. Now, she wanted to start living again.
48
“Icould use a week of Little time,” she murmured.
“Then that’s what you’ll have.”
“I can’t. There’s too much going on. And I have a job. My boss will be angry if I don’t turn up to work.”
“I heard he’s very demanding.”
“Yes, very,” she agreed.
“Sexy, though.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“And intelligent,” he added.
“Yes.”
“The best-looking man you’ve ever met.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
He tickled her and she squealed. She loved this playful side of him, it seemed to be coming out more. Maybe . . . maybe she was helping him feel more at ease? Perhaps he felt safe to let out other sides of himself like she did?
She liked that thought.
“Reuben,” Alejandro called through the door.
Reuben sighed. “Back to reality. But I will ensure you get as much Little time as you need. Even if you come with me to work and spend time as Little Blossom.”
God. That sounded good.
But she still had a job to do, even if she was dating the boss.
Reuben moved her so she was sitting on his hip. She watched as Cairn walked out carrying her bag, handbag and another large bag. She guessed it belonged to Cammie since she walked out behind the big, quiet bodyguard.
Alejandro walked over to Reuben, glancing around. “No signs of the neighbors stirring?”
“No, nothing.”
How had Reuben been keeping an eye on the neighbors? She’d been unable to concentrate on anything but him.
“Good,” Alejandro replied. “Take them home. We’ll deal with this.”
“How?” she asked.
Alejandro grinned. “You’re cute, chica.”
Then he walked away.
“What . . . what just happened? Why didn’t he reply? Why did he smile and call me cute?”
“You are cute. And he’s lucky I know he’s in love with Cat,” Reuben grumbled as he carried her to his car. Cammie was already sitting in the back. Cairn stood by the car; the luggage had disappeared.
Was he standing guard? Or keeping Cammie from running?
“You can’t be jealous about your friend calling me cute,” she told him.
“Jealous? No, more like murderous.”
“Daddy!”
“If it was someone else,” he allowed as he reached the car. “And Alejandro thinks you’re cute because you thought you got to know how he’s going to deal with Eric.”
Oh.
She’d thought it was a reasonable question. “They can’t kill him.”
“It’s no less than he deserves.”
“Reuben,” she whispered. It wasn’t that she actually cared whether Eric lived or died. The guy was an asshole.
But she did care about Alejandro and his men getting into trouble.
“Don’t worry.”
Cairn opened the door, and Reuben placed her into the front seat and then buckled her in. Cairn shut the door and Reuben stopped to speak to him for a moment.
She turned, wincing as her stomach ached.
“Are you all right?” she asked Cammie.
The other woman just stared at her coldly. Okay, she guessed she was in shock or something. Faith understood that. It wasn’t every day that your husband turned into a raging lunatic.
Faith turned back around as Reuben got in. He shot her a look. She attempted to smile back at him.
“I don’t have my phone,” Cammie said. “That man in there took it.”