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)
She blinked up at him warily.
“Promise. I’ll get it for you, okay?”
She nodded slowly.
“That’s my good girl. You always have to let Daddy know if you need something. Otherwise how can I be the best Daddy in the world?”
He wasn’t sure if that was a smile or a grimace. But he’d take it.
Walking into the closet, he looked around. Where might a pacifier be?
He opened one drawer and spotted some really cute panties. Some had images of ladybugs on them. Others had polka dots or flowers. And there was a pair of thick panties, the kind that might be used as training pants. They had ruffles on the back.
The next drawer down held a set of ladybug pajamas. Those same ones she’d worn the other night. On top of them sat a pacifier.
Grabbing it, he walked back in to find her nearly asleep. After tucking her in tight, he slid her thumb from her mouth and replaced it with the pacifier. Then he turned off everything except her nightlight.
Should he leave?
The last thing she needed was to wake up and see him looming over her.
Only, she let out a small, distressed whimper as he stepped away.
Shit.
He hesitated for a moment until he saw the big armchair sitting in the corner of the room. Picking it up, he carried it over to the bed.
There was no way he was leaving her tonight.
34
Cate woke up feeling surprisingly good. She stretched. What was she wearing? And why couldn’t she remember going to bed last night?
Then she realized that she wasn’t alone.
Panic made her heart skip a beat until her brain caught up with her eyes.
Ethan.
Not a threat.
Ethan.
You like Ethan.
She did more than like Ethan. Last night, she’d kissed him. And he’d kissed her back.
And it had been amazing.
She knew it might seem silly to someone else to be so excited about a kiss. But that kiss had been spectacular, amazing, breath-taking.
And she wanted more.
Yep, turned out she was greedy when it came to kisses. Well, Ethan’s kisses.
But what had happened after that? How had she ended up in bed?
And why was Ethan sleeping on a chair in her room?
He looked really uncomfortable. He was as close as he could get without actually being in the bed with her. His head was at an angle and she winced as she thought of how sore his neck would be when he woke up.
Maybe you can give him a massage.
Oh. Oh! He’d massaged her last night.
Wow. She’d never experienced anything like that before. And she wanted more.
She was also greedy for massages.
Ethan was making her greedy for everything. Every new experience.
Except for nearly being run off the road.
Right. Her giddiness died away. How had she forgotten that?
Shit. Was that why Ethan was here? Because of that guy? Or was it . . . had she had a night terror?
Flashes came back to her. Ethan carrying her to bed in his arms, cradled to his chest while she sucked her thumb.
Her cheeks grew heated and that was when she realized she still had something in her mouth. She reached up and pulled out her pacifier.
When had she gotten that?
More flashes. Ethan sitting her on the counter. Brushing her teeth.
She didn’t usually remember her night terrors and slipping into Little headspace.
Now she was wondering if that had been a good thing.
Had he really placed her on the toilet?
She started to slide from the bed. Maybe she could sneak out of here without waking him.
And then what?
Are you going to run away just to avoid seeing him?
As she went to put her foot on the floor, she froze at the sound of his voice.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?” she asked.
“Getting out of bed until I get your dressing gown and slippers. It’s cold this morning.”
Guilt filled her. He’d been sitting in an armchair all night without a blanket covering him.
“You should get into the bed!” She lifted back the covers and he gaped at her.
Then she realized she’d just asked him to get into bed with her.
Hmm. That wasn’t that bad an idea was it?
God. What was happening to her? She’d gone from hating people touching her to wanting Ethan to come to bed with her.
“I, um . . . I just meant that you must be cold. Nothing else.”
“That’s too bad,” he murmured.
“It is?” Was she reading him right? Did he want to get into bed with her?
“Yeah. Been dreaming about that kiss we shared all night.”
Her eyes widened. “You . . . you have? Was it all right? I might need more practice.”
“We can practice all you like, baby.”
That was a very dangerous offer.
She already felt addicted to him.
“Just kissing?”
His eyes flared open. “Is there something else you want to practice?”
“Well, I haven’t done anything. Before now, I couldn’t imagine welcoming anyone’s touch, let alone . . .”