Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
She tried to pull back, but he tightened his hold on her.
“Just stay where you are. I have you. Let me hold you. I need it.”
He needed it?
Oh, she hadn’t realized. Well, she wanted to give him what he needed. He always took care of her.
So she snuggled in and let him hold her.
Because he needed it.
And she just might need it too.
25
Tamsyn took Salem’s hand as he held it out to her.
He wrapped his hand firmly around hers.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d sat on his lap. But eventually, he’d gotten her dressed again and now they were going to get on with their shopping.
Longest shopping trip she’d ever been on.
Although it also might be the only shopping trip she’d ever been on. Well, that she could remember.
But he didn’t immediately walk out the door. Instead, he cupped her chin and tilted her face back. “Does that happen often?”
“Does what happen? Me getting my butt spanked? No, it doesn’t.”
“I find that surprising.”
She glared up at him as his lips twitched.
“But I actually meant the sub-drop. I wasn’t expecting it. You said you’d never played before, so I guess you’ve never experienced it in the past.”
Um.
Sub-drop.
“Was that the feeling like I was spinning without an anchor? Kind of falling into a pit without any way of getting out. And then you kind of dragged me out.”
“That’s what it felt like?”
“Um, yes.”
“Yeah, sub-drop can be felt in different ways by different people but that’s what I think is what you were feeling. So you’ve never had that before?”
She shook her head. She could honestly say that she hadn’t. But then she hadn’t really been in a situation before where she might experience sub-drop.
The closest she’d come was when Alexei had spanked her in the gym. But that had felt different. It had been over with almost before she’d known what was going on.
There was something different about being around each man and the way they affected her. And with Salem she felt more submissive, she guessed. He had that calm dominance that made her feel so secure. With Alexei, she felt a bit sassier. She knew Alexei would challenge and protect her. He wouldn’t let get her away with anything, but at the same time he’d been there, egging her on and supporting her.
And with Roman, well, he felt like home. A warm blanket, a hot chocolate with marshmallows, her favorite things in one person.
How had this happened so quickly?
Why did they all fill part of her soul in individual ways that altogether made her feel whole?
Had she been destined to need three of them?
“That’s something we need to watch for. I know it can be scary, but I need you to know that I will always take care of you. I would never leave you alone during a sub-drop. I will always help pull you back. Okay? Just know that you don’t have to try and hide what you’re going through.”
“I, um. All right. Do you think that might happen often?”
“I don’t know, baby. The fact you haven’t experienced it before, maybe not. Perhaps it was because this was your first real punishment with me? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s being here. Or that you were in Little headspace.”
“I’m not sure.”
“It doesn’t matter why, just that it happened and now I know to look out for it and can tell the others to be careful too. I always want you to be supported and looked after.”
Damn.
How did he get better and better?
However, she thought it was time for a change of topic. Before she blurted out something she didn’t want him to know.
“Let’s go shopping, Daddy!” She was forcing it a bit and she could tell he knew.
But he simply nodded and led her back out to their cart. He lifted her in and buckled the belt.
“Right. No getting out this time. Understand? Only Daddy is allowed to touch this belt.”
“You got it, Daddy!” She saluted him.
She was starting to feel more relaxed and as he pushed her through the store, she could feel herself slipping further into Little headspace.
They walked through a soft toy aisle and she gasped as she saw it.
It was perfect. So cute.
So handsome.
“What is it, Little one? What do you see?”
“That one! That one right there.”
He frowned as he glanced at the soft toys and reached for an elephant.
“No, no. Not that one. That one.”
“This one?” Next, he picked up a white rabbit.
“Uh-uh. There. Next to the rabbit.”
“Baby, you can’t be serious,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Um. Well. Because I think this one isn’t even meant to be on the shelf, it obviously had some manufacturing errors.” He grasped hold of the toy that was a mix of black, brown and white. It only had one ear and crooked eyes. And its fur was kind of flat in patches.