Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“No, it’s just me, I’m afraid,” he said lightly.
“Just you is more than enough.” She gave him a small smile.
His tension eased. Until he realized that she still appeared miserable. She was just trying to hide it. To make him feel better.
She bit her lower lip as she reached up to tug at her hair.
He tugged her hand away. “No.” Again, he kept his voice firm but kind. “That’s not happening anymore.”
She took a deep breath. “You’re very bossy. Very Dommy.”
“Dommy? Good.”
Her eyes widened. “I thought you didn’t want to be a Dom anymore. Well, a Daddy, I guess.”
“Apparently that was just me throwing a temper tantrum.”
Her lips twitched. “Did Jack tell you that?”
“Hmm. He did. Arsehole.”
She gave him a worried look. “It’s not . . . you’re not just doing it for me?”
“I am doing it for you.”
Her face fell.
“But I’m doing it for me as well. I’ve missed it. It’s a part of me that I’ve been neglecting, and frankly, for a long time the world has been gray for me. No joy. No fun. Not until a whirlwind of laughter and fun entered it.”
“Me?”
“Yes, sweetheart. You.” He bopped her nose.
She stared up at him in shock. Then she licked her lips and he groaned.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“I really want to kiss you.”
“Then why don’t you?”
His eyebrows rose before he rearranged her weight so he could hold her with one arm. Then he cupped her cheek with his hand and lightly kissed her lips.
“More,” she demanded.
“Not yet.”
“I want to say thank you,” she told him.
“For what, precious girl?” As far as he was concerned, he was the one who should be thanking her for giving him a chance.
“For sticking up for me with my family.”
“Those people are not your family.” He sat on the side of the bed with her on his lap, facing him. “If I know one thing, it’s that you don’t have to be loyal to people who treat you like shit even if they are related by blood. Understand?”
“Yeah. I do. I’ve tried for so many years and I just feel like I fail time and again.”
“They are the ones who failed you, precious girl.”
“You’re right.” She stared at him nervously.
“What is it?”
“Maybe it seems like I’m moving too fast . . . but I feel like I know you. Perhaps we haven’t spent as much time together, but something about you and me. It just feels like it was meant to be.”
“I know what you mean.” He brushed her hair back off her face. It was a mess as usual, but he liked it.
It was just who Maggie was.
“So what if . . . what if I wanted you to Top me right now? I think . . . I think I might need that. I can’t get everything out of my head. There’s so much to do.” Her hand reached up to her hair again.
“No.” He gave her hand another firm tug away. “You’re not doing that anymore.”
“I can’t . . . I can’t stop. How am I going to protect Indie? What if there was damage to the apartment I can’t afford to fix? The landlord will likely kick us out. And what about Uncle Willy? What if he needs me? If he can’t work, then I don’t have a job and I feel terrible about worrying about that while he’s not well, but it’s still a concern. And what about if I can’t move to Escana and that’s where the three of you live . . . ”
“That’s enough,” he told her sternly. “Look at me. Right at my eyes. That’s good. You have nothing to worry about right now.”
“I do!” she cried.
“You don’t. Right at this moment, you have no responsibilities. You have nowhere to be and no one to take care of. It’s all right to break sometimes, precious girl. You don’t always have to be the strong one. Even the strongest of us need someone to take over now and then. I want you to give me your trust. To let me take care of you.”
“And that’s what you want?” she asked.
“Always so worried about everyone else. You’re so sweet. This is exactly what I want,” he told her.
“I might go into Little headspace,” she warned him.
As if he cared about that. “Then that’s what you need to do.”
She let out a deep sigh. “All right. I want this. I want you. And I trust you.”
“Such a brave girl. My very good girl. I’m going to take excellent care of you. Now, you’re going to take a nice bubble bath.”
“Where are Ian and Jack?” she asked. “I thought they must have just stepped out, but they’ve been gone a while.”
“They’re out checking your apartment.”
“Oh no.” She attempted to get away down. “I should be with them.”
“What did I just tell you?” he said.