Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“We aren’t completely sure. It took me a while to find a therapist who was kink-friendly. Her therapist thinks that she likely feels safest when she’s Little. She’s so different when she’s Little. So happy. Sometimes, I wish she could stay that way all the time.”
“Does she ever slip into Little headspace other times?” he asked. “When she’s more aware?”
“Not exactly,” Rhodes said.
Ethan wanted to push him, but he could tell Rhodes was near the end of what he was willing to discuss with him about Cate.
“If I’d realized there was any possibility that she’d have a night terror last night, I wouldn’t have left her. But I’m grateful you were there.”
“So am I. I just want you to know that I’d never do anything to harm her or make her feel bad.”
Rhodes shot a look at Ethan. “Just as long as your interest in Cate is purely professional. I won’t have my sister upset.”
“That’s the last thing I want to do.”
However, he didn’t say anything about his interest not being purely professional. Because it wasn’t.
And that could become a problem.
Not just because it was his job to protect Rhodes and his sister.
Ethan hadn’t had a relationship in a long time. The last one ended a year ago.
Ethan had friends. He had work colleagues. He spent a lot of time at the club taking care of Littles.
However, no one got really close to him. No one delved deep into the real Ethan because he didn’t let them. In a way, he had his own barriers. They were just less obvious.
He could tell himself that he only cared about Cate because she needed some care. That he didn’t want to upset her. And that he was in charge of keeping her safe.
But the fact was . . . his interest in Cate was becoming more than that.
Which was alarming.
14
“What are we going to do? Rhodes! This is serious! It was clearly a threat against me!”
Great.
Samantha was here.
Just what her headache needed.
Cate shut down her laptop.
It wasn’t like she was getting anything done anyway. Her headache was relentless. And she needed to talk to Rhodes about what had happened last night.
Even though part of her was afraid to ask. She was scared that she’d gone into Little headspace with just Ethan here.
Had he noticed?
Well, it would be hard to miss.
She guessed she’d find out soon enough. No doubt he’d look at her like she’d lost her mind. Or perhaps he wouldn’t even talk to her.
Making her way to the living room, she squinted in pain as she watched Samantha pace up and down the living room. Her arms were up in the air, her face scrunched up.
Was she upset?
She looked and sounded upset.
“Samantha, honey, calm down,” Rhodes said, appearing from the kitchen with two bottles of water. “You’re getting yourself all upset.”
Yay! Go her. She had read the other woman correctly.
“Well, of course I’m upset!” she cried. “Some asshole threatened me.”
“What’s going on?” Cate asked, stepping forward into the living room. “Is everything all right?”
“No! Everything is not all right.”
“I know you’re scared, Samantha,” Rhodes said in a firm voice. “But that’s no reason to snap at Cate.”
Samantha turned to Rhodes, big tears dripping down her face. “You’re right. I’m just so worried that I’m lashing out without reason. And to the wrong person.” Samantha leaned against Rhodes, who wrapped his arms around her and spoke to her quietly.
“Cate?”
She startled, then looked over at Ethan. “Yes? I mean, hello. How are you?”
“I’m good, thank you.” He was smiling. Did he find her amusing? She wasn’t trying to be. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re kind of squinting.”
“Oh, I have a slight headache. All this noise doesn’t help.”
Unfortunately, as she said that, everything else went quiet.
“I’m sorry that my being threatened is hurting your head, Cate!” Samantha snapped.
Cate turned back to her, bewildered. “I didn’t say that. Did I?”
“No, you didn’t,” Ethan reassured her before glaring over at Samantha. “Come into the kitchen. I’ll find you some painkillers and explain what’s going on.”
“Yes, um, all right.” Cate wanted to run in the other direction. But she also wanted to know what was happening and Ethan didn’t seem to be looking at her like she’d lost her mind.
So perhaps she hadn’t gone into Little headspace last night. Maybe she’d just had a nightmare.
Besides, it seemed like there was something more important going on.
“What’s happened?” she asked as soon as they were farther away.
Rhodes and Samantha talked quietly with Seth before they all left the living room, disappearing into the house.
“Sit down at the kitchen island and I’ll get you a drink of water and some painkillers,” Ethan bossed.
She sat on her usual stool and watched as he grabbed some painkillers from the cupboard, placing them and a bottle of water in front of her.
“Take those, please.”
Hmm. He said please, but it didn’t sound like a request. Luckily, she wanted to get rid of this headache.