Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
She licked those full lips, still staring at him.
“What I know for certain is that I’d really like to kiss you before I get back to work. You can take some time to settle in here. I’ll leave you a list of the local stores. Go to their websites and pick out some things to make this room special. Tonight, we can place a few orders. Tomorrow, I’ll go into town and pick everything up.”
She gasped. “I can’t do that. I’m afraid to use my credit cards. Someone could track me with them. Plus, I just got fired. I don’t have money for frivolous things.”
He pulled her even closer. “I do, CB. I’ll furnish this room. Not you. Keep your credit cards put away, but for the record, your old boss has obviously already found you. Your location is not a secret any longer.”
“How do you think he found me?”
“I’m not sure yet, Cuddle Bug. I’d like you to tell your story to the entire team this evening. It will help us decide what to do next. Okay?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Now, you ignored the important part,” he pointed out.
“What was that?” Her brow furrowed.
“Are you going to kiss me?”
She shook her head and giggled. “No. You’re going to kiss me.”
Thank God. Hawking leaned down as she tipped her head to one side and claimed her sweet lips with his own. She tasted sweet and tart, like…gummy bears?
When she made a little whimper and rose onto her toes, he deepened the kiss. She was made for him. He’d already known that, but this kiss confirmed everything. It was so much more intense than the one they’d exchanged this morning.
Before he could get too carried away, he broke the kiss. “What did you girls eat for lunch, CB?”
She giggled, her cheeks turning red. “Sadie brought sandwiches and apples.”
“And then?” he prompted.
“Uh, well, she might have also had gummy bears in her pocket, but I don’t think you should tell her Daddy.”
“Is that so?” He couldn’t keep from grinning. He loved everything about this exchange. He loved the fact that Celeste felt safe enough to let her Little out so totally in front of him. He loved that she knew she and Sadie had done something naughty. But most of all, he loved how she shifted her weight back and forth from one foot to the other. Being naughty made her fidget.
“You won’t tell him, will you?” she asked, her eyes wide again.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure Sadie pulled that stunt on purpose. You don’t have to worry about me outing her. She was hoping you would.”
Celeste gasped. “Why would she do that?”
He chuckled. “Because she’s been working really hard around here, and I’m sure she needs the release.”
Celeste frowned. “What release?”
“The one she’s going to get from Rocco when he finds out she ate gummy bears without permission.”
Her frown deepened.
Hawking slid his hand down to her bottom and gave it a pat. “A spanking, Little girl.”
She flinched adorably. “Really? Do Daddies really spank Little girls in real life? I thought that was only in books.”
He smiled at her naiveté. “Daddies definitely spank Little girls in real life, CB. Have you ever had a Daddy before?” He already suspected he knew the answer.
She shook her head. “No. I only realized I liked being Little from reading books. I’ve never told anyone before you.”
“You didn’t tell me, either. I figured it out because I have Little girl radar.”
She giggled again. “Are you going to spank me for eating gummy bears, too?”
He patted her cute bottom again. “No, Little girl. Not right now. We didn’t discuss any rules before you ate those gummy bears.”
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before releasing it. “But I knew it was naughty because Sadie told me,” she whispered.
He laughed. “Okay, Little girl. That sounds like a challenge.”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, Sir.”
He planted another kiss on her sweet lips. “How about if you call me Daddy?”
She swallowed hard. “I just met you yesterday, and I have a pile of problems you do not want to get involved with.” She started to pull away from him.
“Uh-uh, Little girl. Don’t try to wiggle free of me.” He held her tighter. “You know in your heart that it doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other, don’t you?” He lifted a brow.
She sighed. “Yes, Sir,” she murmured.
He lifted his brow higher.
She licked those pretty lips again. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Do you think I’d be a very good Daddy if I turned you away when you needed my help?”
“No, but—”
He shook his head and cut her off. “No buts, Little girl. As a Daddy, my job is to keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Okay, Daddy,” she whispered in the cutest Little voice he’d ever heard. His heart was so full.