Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Sadie closed her eyes and pursed her lips, trying not to moan as he divided her hair into three sections and efficiently braided it down her back. When he was finished, he tied it off with the band. “There.”
He set his hands on her shoulders and slid them to her biceps. Both her shoulders and her arms were bare because the sundress only had spaghetti straps. Rocco helped her back to her feet and turned her around.
She stood too close to him. She was between his legs. His hands rested on her biceps. Every breath filled her lungs with his scent. Outdoors. Pine. Fresh air. She suspected he always smelled like that, even after a shower. It was heady, and she had to force herself not to step even closer.
“Better?” he asked.
She frowned. What was he referring to?
He reached for her braid and gave it a slight tug.
“Oh, uh, yes. Thank you, Sir.” She swallowed and cocked her head to one side. “Do I work for you?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t know who I work for, Sadie. I was hoping you would tell me.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, feeling silly. “I guess I don’t know either.” She’d taken this job without questioning much.
“I guess we’re even then.”
“I guess so.”
Rocco reached for the chair behind her and pulled it closer so it hit the back of her legs. A second later, he lifted her by the hips and settled her in it himself without a word.
He leaned one elbow on the table next to him and casually bent his head to one side to rest it on his palm. His intense gaze never wavered. “How long have you known you were Little, Sadie?”
His question was so blunt it took her by surprise. Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out. No one had ever confronted her so directly. In fact, she’d never had a conversation about her Little side with a soul outside of the club she’d belonged to years ago in what seemed like another life.
He set his free hand on top of hers, making her realize she had fisted them together in her lap and was twisting her fingers around. “Take a deep breath, Little one. You’re safe with me. I promise.”
She’d heard that before.
Absolutely nothing about Rocco was reminiscent of Lance though. They shared not a single similarity.
“Answer me, sweetheart.” He had the most amazing way of issuing a command in a tone that softened the order.
“I don’t know. Since I was a teenager.”
“Have you had a Daddy before?”
She bit into her lip and slowly nodded. He was dragging emotions out of her. Emotions she’d rather not share.
Rocco released her hands and sat up straighter to cup her face. His touch was welcome. She craved it like a woman dying of thirst. Like someone who had spent years stuffing her true self deep down and ignoring it.
Rocco Thompson had stripped all her defenses away in seconds and burrowed his way inside. He had the power to destroy her.
“How long ago?” he asked without waiting for an answer.
“Ten years.”
His eyes widened. “You haven’t had a caregiver in ten years?”
“No, Sir,” she whispered. Why did that embarrass her? It shouldn’t.
“What happened to that relationship, Little one?”
She shuddered and looked away.
“Sadie…”
“He wasn’t a good man. I left.”
“Okay. We can talk about that more, later.”
She found herself tipping her cheek into his palm.
Oh my God. What are you doing, Sadie?
Shaking some sense into herself, she jumped to her feet and pushed the chair back, nearly stumbling and falling on her butt.
Rocco leaned forward and steadied her with a hand on her wrist.
“I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I should get back to work.”
He didn’t release her wrist though. “Okay, Little one, but look at me first.”
She drew in a breath and faced him.
“Don’t panic. I won’t tell a soul. I can sense something bad happened to you in the past. I’m sorry. I hate when bad Daddies take advantage of Little girls. It’s unconscionable. I know you don’t know me, but I promise you I’m not like that man.”
“I can’t…” She swallowed and forced herself to continue. “I need this job. I can’t, uh…”
He nodded. “Okay, Little one. Don’t panic. I won’t do anything to upset your job. I’m a patient man. I may not have a single clue what this resort is all about or why I’m here, and I suspect you don’t either, but I need you to know one thing, Sadie.”
She held her breath. She didn’t blink as she continued to stare at him as if there was no way to stop it or stop his next words.
“You’re mine, Little one.”
Chapter Four
Rocco couldn’t believe what was happening here. This had not been his intention when he’d remained in this room and waited for her. He’d definitely waited for her, knowing she would seek him out while the others went upstairs.