Daddy's Way

by Stella Moore

  Since his brother’s thoughts mirrored his own from earlier, James grinned and threw an arm around Bryant’s shoulder. “That does give me an advantage. But Shannon is smart, and I think this whole business scared the shit out of her. Hopefully enough for her to follow the rules without either of us threatening to whip her ass.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Look, why don’t you go on ahead of us to the house and make sure everything is set up. We’ll call when we’re leaving here.”

  The struggle was clear as day on Bryant’s face, but he eventually caved with a short, sharp nod. Rolling his eyes at his brother’s retreating back, James took a moment to consider his strategy before rejoining the girls in Shannon’s room.

  Relieved to find Shannon’s scowl had been replaced by a bright, if somewhat tired smile, James approached the bed. “How are you feeling, Shannon?”

  “Tired of being in bed.” Though her eyes had lost some of their sparkle, a familiar mischief filled them when she tilted her head to study him. “Come to lay down the law, Mr. Sexy?”

  Beside her, Olivia’s eyes widened, but she didn’t protest. After sending his girl a reassuring wink, he turned back to Shannon. “As a matter of fact, that’s exactly why I’m here. I am more than happy to have you stay with us as you recover, but while you’re there, you will do as you’re told.”

  The mischief in her eyes faded and she wrinkled her nose in a way that reminded him of Olivia when he’d given her a rule that wasn’t to her liking. “Like what?”

  “Mostly following the doctor’s orders. And I don’t want either of you leaving the house alone, even if it’s just for a walk around the block.”

  Shannon’s eye roll would have earned her a lengthy time-out if she’d been his. “But we have cops watching us constantly!”

  “And there’s no need to make their jobs any harder than they already are.” Seeing the struggle on her face, he softened. “I’m not trying to be an asshole, Shannon. I just want you both to be safe. You mean a lot to me and to Liv.”

  Olivia slipped her hand into Shannon’s. “Please, Shay. He wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t important.”

  “I know.” With a long, heavy sigh, Shannon nodded. “All right. I’ll be a good girl.”

  James had his doubts about her ability to keep that particular promise, but it would have to do. Besides, if she got out of hand, he knew just the person to call in for back up. Pleased with the plan, he went in search of someone who could let them know when they might be cut loose.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  It was nearly five by the time the hospital released Shannon to go home. She’d fallen asleep waiting, which worried Olivia more than the bruises still covering her face and neck. Shannon never napped, and she routinely thrived on less sleep than any other human Olivia knew.

  And now she was curled up on the bed in Olivia’s pretty little guest room. Seeing her friend resting on the same bed where she’d been so thoroughly used and pleasured the night before brought a rush of heat to her cheeks. Thank God she’d changed the sheets.

  “Liv? Why are you blushing like a tomato?”

  “No reason.” Clearing her throat, Olivia busied herself with putting away the clothes Shannon’s mom had packed for her.

  “Liar.” Shannon yawned and shifted positions, wincing a bit. “Come on, tell me. I need a distraction.”

  On the one hand, she wouldn’t normally tell anyone about her sex life. On the other hand, it was Shannon. And there was the whole Bryant angle. Keeping it from Shannon at this point just felt wrong.

  Abandoning her chore for the moment, she climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged beside Shannon. “Okay, I’m going to tell you but you have to promise me two things.”

  Eyes bright with curiosity, Shannon shifted to rest on her elbows. “What things?”

  “One, you won’t judge me. And two, you won’t let it change how you feel about Bryant.”

  “Bryant?” Shannon frowned. “What does he have to do with anything? And I don’t feel anything other than annoyance for him, so I don’t see why you care if that changes.”

  “Liar. You like him. And he likes you.” When Shannon just rolled her eyes, Olivia sighed and shook her head. “Fine. But just promise me, would you?”

  “Okay, okay, I promise.”

  Blowing out a breath, Olivia gathered her courage. “So, you know how James is my daddy?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, sometimes he likes to share.” At Shannon’s blank look, she felt her cheeks grow even hotter. “Me, Shay. He likes to share me. With other doms.”

  “What?” Pushing up into a sitting position, Shannon stared at her, mouth open. “Are you kidding?”

  “Nope.”

  “Wow. And you’re okay with that?”

  “Okay with multiple orgasms and being so thoroughly used my bones feel like rubber?” Grinning, she gave Shannon’s arm a little shove. “I’ve learned to live with it.”

  “Holy crap. Wait.” Shannon’s eyes narrowed. “What does Bryant have to do with this?”

  “Oh. Ah... he’s the person we normally share with.”

  “So you get to have not just one, but both sexy Monroe brothers in your bed?” The corner of Shannon’s mouth lifted into a smirk. “Lucky bitch.”

  “You don’t think I’m like, slutty or anything?”

  “Please.” With a snort, Shannon laid down again, stretching out carefully on her back. “You’re so far from slutty. And even if you were, who cares? You do you, boo.”

  “And you promise not to hold it against Bryant?”

  Closing her eyes, Shannon sighed. “Look, Liv. I know you think there’s something there between me and Bryant, but there isn’t. He’s a daddy and I’m not looking for a daddy.”

  “But you want one.”

  Shannon’s eyes flew open again, then narrowed into slits. “What makes you say that?”

  Olivia shrugged. “You hide it better than I do, but I’ve seen the way you look at him. You like it when he’s bossy, and part of you wants to let him be the boss of you. You may have buried her deep beneath those layers of polish and sophistication, but your little is still there and she needs a daddy.”

  “She’s buried deep for a reason, Liv. Honestly, I don’t even know that she’s there anymore. I know I played some when I was in college but I don’t know that I’ve ever been a real little. I do know that I have zero interest in finding a daddy.”

  “Why don’t you think you’re really a little?”

  “Just drop it, Liv.”

  Olivia opened her mouth to argue, then snapped it shut again. “All right. But as soon as you’re feeling better, we’re talking about this.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  As much as she wanted to push, she’d promised to keep Shannon calm and as stress free as possible. “All right. You up for coming downstairs?”

  “I think I’m just going to rest for a bit.”

  Leaving was somehow harder than it had been in the hospital, but Olivia nodded and stood to go. She’d made it to the doorway when Shannon called her name.

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. I love you.”

  “I know. But thanks anyway.”

  Pulling the door shut behind her, Olivia closed her eyes and blew out a long, shaky breath. Once she felt a little steadier, she headed downstairs to where her husband was fixing dinner while Bryant sipped a glass of scotch and watched his brother cook.

  “I need to come over more often. I miss home-cooked meals.”

  “I see how it is.” Olivia sniffed dramatically, drawing the attention of the two men her way. “You just miss my Nonna’s chicken Alfredo, not me.”

  “Of course I miss you, brat. But your daddy’s cooking is a definite bonus.”

  “Eh, he does okay.” Giggling, she darted behind Bryant when James turned
away from the stove wielding a wooden spoon. “Kidding, Daddy!”

  “Hmm.” Tapping the spoon against his open palm, James sent her a wicked grin. “You can’t hide behind Bryant forever, little one. Did you get Shannon settled?”

  “Yeah. I asked if she wanted to come down for dinner but she said she wanted to rest.”

  “She needs to eat so her body has the energy to heal.” Bryant’s voice was gruff, but tinged with worry. “I can carry her down if she’s that worn out.”

  Stifling a giggle at the mental image of Bryant trying to carry Shannon down the stairs against her will, Olivia patted his shoulder. “I’ll take a plate up to her when she’s ready. I think this was all just a lot for her today. Emotionally as well as physically.”

  Bryant turned and studied her through narrowed eyes. “What did she say while you were up there?”

  “Nothing, really,” Olivia lied, ignoring the slight pang of guilt. “But I know her. She’s not used to needing anyone.”

  “Well, she needs to stop being so damn stubborn and let you help her.”

  “I don’t disagree.” With a shrug, Olivia moved to the wine fridge. “Daddy, may I have a glass of wine with dinner, please?”

  “Yes,” James answered, lifting a spoon to his lips to taste the sauce. “Go ahead and open a bottle. Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes.”

  When she carried the bottle to the table, Bryant gave her an indulgent smile. Whiskey always put him in an affectionate mood. “I need a well-mannered little girl like our Livvy.”

  Olivia glanced over at James, and they both burst into laughter. “Sure you do.” Letting him see her exaggerated eye roll, she placed the bottle of wine on the table.

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It means,” she replied teasingly, “sometimes what we think we want isn’t what we need.”

  She’d half-expected the slightly-more-than-playful swat he landed on her ass, but the shock of pain made her yelp all the same. “Ow! What was that for?”

  “Being cryptic. What are you trying to say, brat?”

  With another eye roll, she pulled the corkscrew from the drawer and went to work opening the wine. “Look, I love you. And you enjoy playing with me. But I’d bore you to tears inside a week.”

  “You would not.”

  “Yes, I would. Wouldn’t I, James?”

  From across the kitchen, James chuckled. “I’m afraid so, little brother.”

  “You like brats,” Olivia continued, pulling wineglasses from the cabinet. “And I enjoy being a brat for you, when you’re here. But someone like me isn’t going to give you what you’re looking for on a regular basis.”

  Bryant scowled into his empty whiskey glass. “Maybe I’m ready to settle down with someone I can just enjoy instead of someone I have to tame.”

  Olivia let the subject drop with a noncommittal hum and focused on setting the table. Bryant, seemingly content to let it go for now, addressed the elephant in the room as they sat down to eat. “So, how do we make sure this doesn’t happen to Liv?”

  She felt herself pale, but James reached over and squeezed her hand, lending her some of his strength. “I already have a shadow at every showing. I don’t drive myself anywhere, and I have cops watching me almost constantly. What more can we possibly do?”

  Tapping his fingers on the tabletop, Bryant considered her. “Maybe you could do some more office work and less in person. Take some of the administrative stuff off of James’s plate, let him do the showings.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  James ran a hand over her hair, resting his hand at the nape of her neck. “Livvy, we’re just discussing options.”

  Crossing her arms, she leaned back in her chair, glaring at Bryant. “Well, it’s not an option. You’re asking me to give up my career!”

  “Stop being melodramatic, Liv,” Bryant scolded. “Nobody wants you to give up anything.”

  “Fuck you, Bryant.”

  She’d always heard the phrase ‘the silence was deafening’ but she’d never realized how true the saying was until that moment. Neither of the men at the table with her spoke a word, but their disapproval practically roared in her ears.

  The apology couldn’t leave her mouth fast enough. “I’m sorry, Bryant. I didn’t mean it.”

  “Apology accepted,” he said, but she could still see the muscles in his jaw working as he reined in his temper.

  Tears burned behind her eyelids but she managed to blink them back. “I really am sorry.”

  His expression softened. “I forgive you, sweetheart. I think all of our emotions are running high.”

  Grateful for his understanding, she sent him a watery smile before tucking into her pasta. The men continued to discuss ‘options’ for keeping her safe, but she mostly tuned them out.

  “James, why don’t you take Liv up to bed. I’ll clean up.” Without waiting for an answer, Bryant stood and began gathering dishes from the table.

  “I can do that,” Olivia protested, hopping up to help him.

  But as soon as she was on her feet, her daddy took her hand and pulled her toward the stairs. “Thanks, Bry,” he called behind him as he guided her up the steps.

  “James, that was rude! Bryant is a guest.”

  Letting out an uncharacteristic snort, James shook his head. “Bryant is family. And you and I need to talk.”

  Her stomach dropped at the word ‘talk.’ “What kind of talk?”

  “Just a talk, little one.”

  When they came to the guest bedroom, she slowed, but the silent tug on her hand propelled her forward.

  “I should check on Shannon,” she protested, glancing over her shoulder at the door.

  “Livvy, she’s fine.” Opening the door to their bedroom, he ushered her inside. “Change into your PJs and brush your teeth.”

  “James, I have things to do.”

  She started to turn back to the door, but his hands came to rest on her shoulders, gently forcing her to face him.

  “The only thing you have to do right now is listen to your daddy. Understood?”

  The tone was gentle, but firm. It was one she knew well, and the little girl inside of her responded to it instantly. “‘Kay.”

  “Good girl.” After pressing a kiss to her forehead, he gave her a gentle push toward the bed. “PJs, teeth, bed.”

  Pouting just a little, she gathered the pajamas he’d laid out for her and went to do as she was told. Once she’d completed her tasks, she returned to the bedroom. Her daddy was stretched out on top of their duvet, holding her e-reader and her favorite stuffie—Walter, a black and white kitten he’d gotten for her when they’d first started experimenting with their roles.

  “Daddy? What are you doing?”

  “Picking a book to read to my little girl.”

  Pleasure, innocent and pure, bloomed inside of her. “Really?” With an excited squeal, she raced to the bed and clambered up beside him. “You haven’t read to me in forever.”

  “I know. I thought you could use some little time tonight. I know it’s hard being big all the time.”

  Snuggling into his side, she hummed her agreement as she studied the device in his hand. “Oh! What about this one, with the witch? I’ve been wanting to see the movie, but I wanted to read the book first.”

  “So you can complain about all the things they changed?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “Duh. That’s half the fun. Please, Daddy?”

  “Of course, little one.”

  While he downloaded the book, she burrowed under the covers. With her head resting on his chest, she could feel the words rumble in his chest as he spoke them. Clutching Walter in her arms, she closed her eyes and listened to her daddy’s low, soothing voice as he read.

  She was out before chapter two, and she dreamt of magic lands where she was a beautiful witch so powerful, no mere mortal would dare try to harm her or the people she loved.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Shannon was in t
he kitchen when Olivia wandered down the stairs the next morning. “Should you be up? I would have brought you something,” Olivia scolded with a wide yawn.

  Rolling her eyes, Shannon limped to the fridge. “I’m not an invalid, Liv.”

  “I know that, but you’re supposed to be taking it easy. Want me to make you a smoothie?”

  “I can do it.”

  “Shay. I know you can do it. I’m asking you to let me, so I don’t have to worry about you falling and breaking your neck on top of worrying about some maniac trying to murder us.”

  “Low blow,” Shannon muttered, but she settled onto a stool at the island and gestured towards the bag of frozen fruit and the yogurt she’d already laid out. “If it makes you feel better, mother hen, go for it.”

  “Thanks.” Measuring out the ingredients, Olivia studied her sulking friend. “James and I have an open house this afternoon, so you’ll be on your own for a bit.”

  “I could come, help set things up.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but the hope in her friend’s eyes had her forcing a smile. “If James is okay with it, I’d love to have you.”

  Another eye roll from the beautiful blonde sitting across from her. “James isn’t my Daddy.”

  “No, but you agreed to follow my rules.” Drenched with sweat, James crossed the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. He chugged half of it before joining the girls at the island and pinning Shannon with a look Olivia knew all too well. “Just because you’re injured, doesn’t mean you’re free from the consequences of your actions, Shannon. I can be very creative when it comes to punishing naughty little girls. Isn’t that right, Livvy?”

  Oh, God. Wishing the floor would just open up and swallow her whole, Olivia nodded.

  “But James—”

  “But nothing, Shannon. You agreed to follow my rules, so unless you’d like to sit at the kitchen table writing lines the rest of the morning, you’ll stop arguing with me.”

  Shannon opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again, glaring at James, who simply smiled and took another pull from his bottle of water before speaking again. “Good choice. Now, if you’d like to ask me about whatever it was you and Liv were talking about before I came in, I’d be happy to discuss it with you.”