Parts of this were new to him too. But other parts weren’t. Abby was unlike anyone he’d been with before. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Her scent, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she saw him.
Abby was everything.
And she had needs she might not even know about. Needs he was determined to meet. Now that he’d decided he was all in, he felt impatient. He wanted to push.
Instead, he took a deep breath. His shopping would take a few days to arrive. He could at least give her that long before he turned up on her doorstep. His phone alarm went off. Time to call his girl. He’d received a text from her about fifteen minutes after he’d left her place. All she had said was hi.
She was shy. Careful and quiet. He didn’t mind that. And when she got into his arms and let go, she was wildfire.
He picked up his phone and called her. One ring. Two. He frowned. She wouldn’t ignore his call, would she?
Well, maybe she would if she decided you were a crazy asshole who had no right to dictate what time she went to bed.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
On the fifth ring, she picked up.
Thank fuck.
“H-HELLO?” ABBY HELD the phone tight in her hand. She’d had to fight her way out of the blankets to grab it and she’d cursed herself for not thinking to bring it under with her.
In the end, she hadn’t needed to worry about some stupid bedtime since she’d decided to hide in her bedroom soon after Kent left. She’d only left to go to the bathroom or to get something to eat. Max had taken over the living room entirely. She’d glanced in briefly to find empty bags of chips and cans of beer lying on the floor and a haze of cigarette smoke polluting the air. With a pointed cough, which she knew he wouldn’t pay any attention to, she’d retreated to her bedroom, gotten into her PJs, grabbed her baton and climbed into bed with a flashlight and book.
Okay, so maybe it was a little silly to think that hiding under the bed covers gave her some modicum of protection. But it made her feel better. She had Bun-bun on one side and her baton on the other. She’d actually slipped off into sleep at one stage, but it had been a fitful one, she’d kept waking up with her heart racing and a feeling of impending doom coming down on her.
And then she’d remember that doom had his ass currently planted on her sofa.
What was she going to do? She couldn’t agree to anything with Kent. She had to protect him from Max. From this mess he’d brought to her doorstep. And yet...he was the only good thing in her life right now and she was reluctant to let him go. When the phone rang, she told herself not to answer. To leave it. That it was for the best if he gave up on her.
So, what was it damn well doing pressed to her ear?
She was hopeless.
“H-hello?”
“Hey, baby girl.” Kent’s rich deep voice reached out to her. He was so confident and strong. She figured he’d never experienced a moment’s doubt in his life. He’d never let his own brother push him around. Make him do things he didn’t want to do. Have him hiding under the bed covers like a wimp.
“Everything all right?” Worry entered his voice.
Shit. She knew how perceptive he was. She couldn’t let on that there was anything wrong.
And what would happen if she did tell him? Kent was strong and smart. He had a team of men who were all incredibly lethal. They’d squash Max like a bug.
It was tempting. So, tempting. But the thing that held her back was shame. She felt so ashamed that Max was her brother. But more than that, she was ashamed of herself. She’d let things get to this state. The first time he’d bullied money out of her, she should have said no. The first time someone approached her to extort money for Max’s debts, she should have denied knowing him. Or better yet, called the police.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t that easy. But she could have tried. Instead of just letting all this shit happen.
“Fine. Although I still don’t think I need a bed time,” she added, hoping he would think that was the problem.
His low laugh told her he’d probably bought her misdirection.
“Big Little girls often have issues with bedtimes, but they’re the ones who need it the most. Otherwise they get cranky.”
“I do not get cranky,” she protested then she softened her voice. Not that Max would be likely to hear, but she couldn’t trust him. She refused to give him any more ammunition against Kent.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked again. “Your voice sounds kind of muffled. You’re not coming down with something, are you?”
“No, I feel fine. I hardly ever get sick. I’m just under the bed covers,” she admitted.
“Under the bed covers, huh? The other day you were tucked under so only your hair stuck out the top.”
“And you were worried I would suffocate,” she teased.
“Still doesn’t seem safe to sleep that way,” he defended.
“I like it. It makes me feel safe, I guess. Is that lame?”
“Of course, it’s not, baby girl,” he said soothingly. “If it makes you feel safe then that’s what you should do. Although, you know you’d feel even safer if I was there next to you, don’t you?”
Her body heated at the thought. She knew she’d feel like she had won the lottery if he was next to her.
“Not sure there’s enough room for you in my bed,” she teased.
“Well, then, you’ll just have to sleep on top of me, won’t you? Think I might have you sleep like that anyway.”
Just the image of that had her breath coming faster, her pulse speeding up. Yeah, she liked the thought of that. A lot. “Although I don’t like the idea of having my feet hang off the end of your tiny bed. So maybe it would be better if you were in my bed.”
“I...I...”
“Too soon for that, baby?”
“Umm, yeah, it’s not that I, well, I do like the sound of that. But I...”
“I know,” he said warmly. “I said I’d give you time to think about all this and I’m going to try hard to do that. Just know that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you hide from this. I really think it’s what you need, sweetheart. You need a Daddy to take care of you, to make sure you don’t work too hard, that you don’t stay up all night watching television and drinking pop. That you have a safe harbor to come home to when life becomes crazy. I’d do whatever it took to take care of you, baby girl.”
That...that sounded like her dream. Except...
“But what do you need?” she asked him.
There was a beat of silence. “I need to be that for you. I like to be in control. I can be...hmm, not sure I should admit all this when I’m trying to convince you to give me a chance.”
“Please,” she said quietly. “I need to understand.”
What are you doing? You need to push him away. Protect him.
But if she did that, she’d never know what he wanted. What he saw in her that he desired. And it would kill her.
He let out a deep sigh. “All right. You know I was a Navy SEAL?”
“Yes,” she replied, wondering what that had to do with anything.
“When I left the Navy, adjusting to life back home, well, it wasn’t easy. I was restless without anything to do. Ranching didn’t hold much appeal. I was kind of aimless. And I felt like my life wasn’t mine to control. I didn’t want to go back into the Navy. And yet, I didn’t want to be a civilian either. I was in limbo. BDSM was the only thing that kept me grounded. Going to a club, partnering up with a submissive for a scene, that was when I felt most in control.
“Clint has known he was a Daddy Dom for a long time. I never thought I wanted that. But what I thought I wanted, well, it never satisfied me. It never brought this feeling of rightness. Not like I get when I’m with you. When I imagine taking on the role of Daddy for you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Are you...are you sure that it’s what you want? What if you find it isn’t? Or I’m not what you thought I am? Or that we don’t match well? What if I’
m not actually a Little?”
“This was what I was worried about.”
“What?”
“That too much time to think would just leave you with all these worries. Baby girl, I know it seems like we don’t know each other well. But I’ve been coming into the diner regularly for how many years? Our chemistry is off the charts. Our needs match. This feels right. I like to be in charge. I need to know that my woman is safe. That she’s taken care of. And I can make certain you are safe. If you trust in me.”
She thought about that for a while.
“It won’t always be easy for you,” he added. “I might give you a rule that you don’t agree with. But I will always have your needs foremost in my mind. If you give me your trust, I won’t ever abuse it.”
“We don’t know each other, but sometimes it also feels like I’ve known you forever. I...well, I’ve watched you every time you’ve been in the diner. I’ve seen how you are with your sister. I know you’re a good man. The question is whether I’m good enough for you.”
“All right, I’m going to stop you right there and tell you that’s the damn last time I better hear that you out of your mouth. Understand me?” His stern voice had her mouth going dry at the same time as her clit started to throb.
She was in so much trouble. Because there was absolutely no way she was good enough for him. And yet she wanted nothing more than to say yes to everything. It spoke to her in a way that nothing else had before.
“Yes, Sir,” she said without thinking.
“Very good. Sir is acceptable. But I’d like to hear you say Daddy as well. I want to be Sir in your bed and Daddy everywhere else.”
Her breath hitched. “W-what does that mean?”
“I like to dominate in the bedroom. There are certain things I enjoy. Before you start to stress that I’m talking about whips and blood play, I’m not. But I do like to use bondage. I’d like nothing more than to have you naked and spread-eagled face-down on my bed. Your wrists and ankles tied to the corners. Pillows under your hips to prop up your ass. I’d spank your butt until it was blushing. And then I’d spread your ass cheeks.”
Oh God. Oh God. Was this what dirty talk was? She wasn’t entirely sure. But it sure as hell felt dirty.
“I’d dab some lube on your asshole and push a finger deep inside, preparing the way for a plug. Would you like to be plugged, baby girl? Would you like to take me in your ass? Have you ever had anal sex?”
“I...I think you’re going to be horribly disappointed and I think we should just part ways now.” She hung up before she lost her nerve. Her heart was pounding and she felt ill. Not from his words, but from the need they had stirred to life.
Yes, she very much wanted what he’d described. She wanted it badly.
But she couldn’t have it.
The phone rang. She ignored it. It rang again. She switched it to silent. Last thing she needed was Max coming in to investigate what was going on.
Then it vibrated. She glanced at it and saw he’d sent a text message.
She opened it to see what it said.
Either answer your phone or I’m coming in to talk to you in person.
The message was written out in full sentences. And it made it feel all the more ominous because of that.
The phone rang again and she reluctantly answered it. “Yes?”
Chapter Twelve
Yes? Yes? That’s how she answered after hanging up on him? He had to remind himself that she wasn’t experienced. That this was all weird and different and he was pushing a lot at her. He took a deep breath then let it out.
“That was rude, Abigail Emily.”
“H-how do you know my middle name?”
“I just do. And hanging up on me was very naughty. It’s disrespectful. I’d never disrespect you that way and I expect the same respect from you.”
There was silence. If he couldn’t hear her breathing, he might have thought she’d disappeared. Then he heard a hitch in her breath.
Oh hell. Was she crying? Now he felt like a complete ass. Last thing he wanted was to make her cry. Especially when he wasn’t there to hold her.
But he didn’t want to bend on this. It was important.
“I-I’m so sorry.”
“Not yet, you aren’t,” he muttered.
“What?” she asked.
He reminded himself how little she knew about all of this. Although common courtesy said you didn’t just hang up on people.
Something had scared her.
He had pushed too hard too fast.
“Abby-girl, stop crying.”
“I’m not crying.”
“Abby,” he said in a warning voice.
“I’m just sniffling a bit,” she said.
“Sweet girl, I’m sorry if I pushed you too hard just before. Last thing I want is to overwhelm you, okay? If you need me to back off, you just tell me. Thing is, parts of this are new to me too. So, it’s going to be a learning curve for both of us.”
There was a beat of silence. “I’m not...I’m not experienced. What if you’re disappointed in me?”
“Then I’ll have no one to blame but myself. Because as the experienced one, as the dominant one, it’s my job to make certain that both of us get what we need.”
“It...it is?”
“It is.”
“So, you won’t get mad at me?”
“Abby, if I ever scare you then you’re to tell me. I would never yell at you or touch you in anger. But if that did happen for some reason, you’re to walk away and find my brother immediately, understand? No one is allowed to hurt you, including me.”
More silence. But there were no more muffled sobs.
“I wish I was there to hold you,” he said a little wistfully.
“Me too. Kent, I’m sorry I hung up on you.”
“I’m partly to blame. Doesn’t mean it’s not getting added to your tally.”
“My tally?”
“I’m keeping track of your naughtiness. Once you agree to be mine, there’s going to be a reckoning.”
“Hey! I don’t think that’s fair.”
He grinned, pleased to hear the heat in her voice. She was coming more and more out of her shell. Of course, he might be deliberately nudging her as well.
“Well, now, if you don’t want the punishment don’t be naughty.”
“I’ve never been naughty in my life.”
He left that for a beat. “So, you think hanging up on me the way you did wasn’t disrespectful and rude?”
She sighed. “No, you’re right it was. I just...I really don’t know what you see in me.”
“I’m going to have to show you, then aren’t I? I’m going to make you see what I see when I look at you. Someone who is sweet. Kind. Brave. Caring. Beautiful.”
He could practically feel her squirm, knew she wouldn’t be comfortable with his praise, especially with the last part. Guilt stirred. Maybe he should give her more space. More time.
“Sweetheart, if you need me to back off, if I’m coming on too strong, if you want me to give you complete space—”
“No,” she interrupted hastily. “No, you were right. Too much space and time and I’ll overthink it all. I’ve done a bit of research. I need to know if this is what I need. I’ve never really been interested in men or sex. I’ve never, uhh...”
“Had anal sex,” he said, taking pity on her.
“Yeah. That.”
Jesus, she was cute. He smiled. “I’m glad.”
“You are?” she asked, surrounding surprised.
“Yeah, because it means I get to show you how good it is. All of it. I get to prepare you properly to take my cock in your ass.”
“Jeez, I can’t believe the things you say to me.”
He laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Yeah, maybe in ten years.”
He heard her suck in a breath as though just realizing what she’s said. “I didn’t mean that...that we’d be together in ten years, I mean
that would be nice...oh lord, shut up, Abby.”
He felt the laughter rumble up from his gut and he let go. It was the first time in a long time he’d laughed so freely. And it felt great. It felt like a load of tension had come off his shoulders.
“You should do that more often,” she said quietly.
“What’s that?”
“Laugh. It’s a good laugh.”
“Thank you, baby. And for the record, ten years sounds like a good start to me. And now, before I scare you off completely, I’m going to say good night. You okay, now?”
“Yes, Sir.”
His cock stirred as she called him Sir in her slightly husky voice.
“Good night, sweetheart. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
“Good night.”
SHE CLOSED THE CAR door quietly. If Max was asleep, then the last thing she wanted to do was wake him. He seemed to spend every day sleeping then he was awake all night, eating her food and monopolizing her T.V.
Asshole.
She was tired, she was grumpy and she just wanted her house back. It was horrible when you dreaded going home. She never knew what sort of mood she’d find him in. Mostly, she spent all her time in her bedroom.
How long he was planning on staying? At some stage, he had to go right? That asshole would be back soon and she still didn’t know what to say. She’d was on edge, unable to eat. She’d barely slept these past few days.
The only thing getting her through each day was the phone calls she got every night from Kent. Had it only been two days since he’d told her that he wanted to explore things further with her? Since he’d pinned her to the front door and kissed her?
That was crazy. Sometimes it felt like she’d known him forever. He was amazing. They talked about mundane things like how their days had gone, to their desires and needs. She’d never talked about any of that stuff with anyone before.
But she was still holding something big back from him. And the guilt was eating away at her. If he found out the truth, that she’d been lying all along...
Daddy's Sweet Girl (Montana Daddies, #3) Page 12
