Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“I guess you’re right. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me. I bet you wish you had another assignment.”
“No way, Juni. Come on,” he waved her through the room to an adjoining door.
She walked in to see a burst of colors. “Wow! This is amazing. I love blue.”
“Good. If you hated it, I was going to be very sorry I’d started decorating in here. You have a blue car and fifty percent of your outfits on social media are a shade of blue.”
“You researched me?” she asked.
“I did. I wanted you to feel at home here.”
“It’s lovely. Thank you.”
She glanced around the room, taking in the pieces of furniture—the daybed, an oversized rocking chair, a dresser, a bookshelf, and a large trunk. Juniper wandered over to sit in the rocking chair. She leaned back and tried it out. “I like this. It’s a bit weird.”
Magnus approached and scooped her out of the chair before taking her spot with Juniper balanced on his lap. “Not weird. Everything was made to take care of a Little girl.”
With a flash of insight, everything made sense. “Oh! That daybed is for a Little girl. And the chest is filled with toys. Are those stuffed animals on the shelf?”
“Yes, Little girl. Tell me about the books you’ve read.”
Swallowing hard, Juniper looked up at him. “I don’t think I can.”
“You can tell me anything. Shall I go first and tell you about my plans for this room?”
She nodded quickly. Surely, their thoughts wouldn’t be the same. Then she could switch hers to be less—intimate.
“I’ve had two Littles in my care before. One while in college and one in my mid-twenties. Each time, I knew going into the relationship that it wasn’t meant to last. They did, too.”
“How did you find each other?”
“One in a history class and the other at an adult club. The first relationship developed slowly, the second quickly. Both ended amicably. We weren’t the right combination to survive long term.”
“You knew that from the beginning?”
“Yes. Just as I know that this time is different.”
“You think we’re right to be together for a long time?” Juniper asked, fascinated.
“Yes. You and I click together, at least for me. I have no doubt you’re the one I’ve always searched for,” he stated firmly.
Impulsively, Juniper leaned in to press her lips against his. His mouth moved against hers gently and tenderly, wooing her. It was as if he felt like they had all the time in the world. He wasn’t going anywhere and only wanted to be with her.
Feelings grew inside her, and she deepened the kiss. Without hesitation, he tasted her. His kiss was so good that she hoped it would never end. As emotions swirled inside her, Juniper shivered against him. Magnus wrapped his arms around her to warm and protect her. Everything around them seemed to disappear.
Juniper leaned back slightly and reached for the brim of his cap. She hesitated, waiting to see how he would react. He simply brushed the hair from her face and waited. She tipped his hat up and removed it, revealing his features completely to the light.
“Oh,” escaped from her mouth as she stared at the handsome man in front of her.
She didn’t know what she’d expected. Some type of scar or disfigurement, maybe. Instead, she found deep brown eyes that held a world-weary look set in a chiseled face. His features were compelling and mesmerizing. It was a face you wouldn’t forget.
“Hi,” she whispered, treasuring his trust in letting her see him without the shield he maintained for everyone else.
“Hi, Little girl. When you’re ready, I’d like you to call me Daddy.”
“Daddy?” she echoed, feeling like that was a huge step to take. She knew she couldn’t do that until her mind processed the depth of their commitment on the same level as her heart.
“When you’re ready, Little girl,” he assured her, leaning in to recapture her mouth.
This time, as he kissed her, Juniper ran her fingers through his military short hair. She loved the feel of the buzzcut prickling her fingertips. Dipping her tongue into his mouth, she savored his flavor. Juniper hadn’t kissed a lot of men, but this stood out. His taste was addictive.
Deciding to press her luck, she tugged his shirt upward to run her fingertips over his abdomen. She traced hard ridges of muscle. He had to live in the gym.
A flash of the basement ricocheted into her mind. She could envision him working out while keeping his eyes on the monitors. Magnus would take his commitment to keeping everyone safe very seriously.
She stroked a hand higher up his chest. His muscles bunched under her fingertips, and she knew he was holding himself back to let her explore. Smiling against his lips, she loved that her touch tempted him.
“I think you’re playing with your Daddy,” Magnus growled.