Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
As they approached the elevator, she asked, “So you live here in the main building in an apartment on the top floor?”
“Yep. There are six of us and six apartments. Plus, the women four of my teammates have met and fallen in love with.”
That sounded so sweet. He could have said girlfriends or even bitches they were shacking up with. That’s what Boyd would have said. But Phoenix made it sound like the fifth floor was for fairytales.
What had given her that idea?
It was like he had an aura around him. It drew her in and made her feel cherished…even loved. Ridiculous. She didn’t even know his last name, and she’d just left her asshole of a boyfriend this morning.
He hadn’t really been a boyfriend in years, though. It wasn’t as though she’d had him inside her recently. She couldn’t even remember the last time they’d had sex. It certainly hadn’t been memorable.
Why the hell had she stayed so long? What an idiot. She flinched at the thought as Phoenix guided her into the elevator. What if he knew she’d thought of herself as an idiot?
Lyra clenched her legs together. The thought of him actually spanking her made her face heat and her panties dampen. You really need sleep.
Phoenix held his thumb up to a pad, and the elevator started ascending.
“That’s pretty high-tech.”
He smiled at her while still holding her hand. “I told you the top floor is secure. I’m not kidding. You won’t be able to get to it until Magnus programs your thumb to work on the pad.”
“Who’s Magnus?”
“One of my other teammates. You’ve met Caesar. You’ll meet the others and their girlfriends tomorrow.”
The elevator came to a stop, and when the doors opened, Phoenix led her out into what was essentially just a landing. He used his thumb again to open another door, and then they stepped into a large living room.
It was quiet. No one was around, and Lyra realized it was probably pretty late.
Phoenix guided her down a hallway, stopping at a door. He opened it and held his arm up so she could go under.
Lyra was still looking at all the doors, though. It took her a moment to turn and enter his apartment. “Why are there pictures of animals on four of the doors?” she whispered as he shut the door and locked it behind him.
He smiled. “The Littles made them. You can make one for our door, too, when you’re ready.”
“Littles?”
He stiffened for a second, or did she imagine it? “Yeah, my teammates’ girlfriends.”
Littles… Suddenly, Lyra froze as the pieces of this odd puzzle fell into place. “Little ones…” she muttered. “Are you a Daddy, Phoenix?”
He gave her a broad smile and relaxed his shoulders as if he were relieved she’d figured it out. “I am.”
“And all of your teammates are, too?”
He stepped closer to her but didn’t touch her. “Do you know what it means to be a Daddy, then, Lyra?”
“Sort of. One of the women I play with in my quartet is Little. She’s told me about it privately a few times. I think she calls her husband Daddy when they’re alone. I’ve heard her whisper it sometimes when she doesn’t think anyone is listening.”
Phoenix’s smile grew. “That makes my life easier.”
Lyra rubbed her arms. She wasn’t sure it made her life easier. She wasn’t at all certain how she felt about age play.
Liar. You’ve been jealous of Stacia ever since you found out she was Little.
Lyra drew in a slow breath, inhaling Phoenix’s masculine scent until she shivered. What she knew was that Stacia was the happiest person she’d ever met. Her Daddy doted on her. He took care of her in damn near every way. He made sure she ate during breaks. He brought her water. He kept a close eye on her even when they were practicing.
Lyra had seen him fix her hair one time when they hadn’t shut the dressing room door all the way. She’d heard the way he always spoke to her in soft tones. He loved her to pieces, so yes, Lyra had always been jealous of what they had, especially since Boyd was an asshole and had been for so long Lyra had forgotten what it had been like years ago when he’d still loved her.
Phoenix reached up and slowly stroked a finger across her forehead, catching a stray curl and tucking it behind her ear. “Whatever is making your face soften and giving you that look, you deserve to have that in your life, Lyra. I know we just met, but I want to be that man. I want to make you look like that all the time.”
“I don’t know…”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to know yet. I won’t rush you, Little one. All you need to do right now is let me tuck you in so you can sleep. Did you have dinner?”