by Jane Henry
“How’d you find me?” I ask. His lips are thinned and his eyes dangerously heated. He doesn’t respond, so I don’t repeat my question.
He takes me by the elbow and frog-marches me out of the studio. My cheeks flame with embarrassment but given what he just did to the photographer’s equipment, I’m probably lucky he isn’t taking me right across his lap in the waiting room.
And a little part of me is happy that…he came for me. He may be angry right now, but he came for me.
He lifts me straight into his truck, even buckles me in, all in silence. I shiver. I’m in so much damn trouble. But God, I deserve it.
We drive in silence for a few blocks when finally I can’t help it. “I overheard something this morning,” I tell him. “It wasn’t true, was it?”
He turns and fixes me with a scorching stare. “Depends, princess. I don’t know what you heard. Maybe if I did, you’d give me a chance to tell you the truth.”
I swallow. Ouch. “Spade said you knocked up Barbie,” I say, her name momentarily escaping me.
He blinks. “Say what?”
“The blonde girl,” I stammer. “The woman who came into the office my first day. She’s pregnant, and Spade told Grease you were the daddy.”
“What is this, goddamned motherfucking seventh grade?” he asks, a vein pulsing in his neck.
Oh boy. Yeah, I’m toast.
“Um,” is all I can say.
He continues in a barely-coherent growl. “First, I never even so much as kissed that frigid bitch. Second, even if I did, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to knock her up. Third, and this is a big third, you ever have a question about something like that, you fucking ask me.” He shakes his head. “Jesus fucking Christ,” he curses. “I am not the kinda guy that hides shit.”
Of course he isn’t. God, I was dumb.
“You couldn’t even ask me?” he continues. “Just stormed off like a fucking toddler?”
Tears prick my eyes. He’s right.
“I should’ve spanked it out of you this morning like I threatened to,” he says.
“How’d you find me?” I ask. I need to apologize, but not yet.
“I went back through security footage, saw you getting dropped off with the blond kid, found him, asked questions.”
Oh no.
“Did you hurt him?” I ask him.
He gives me a sidelong glare. “Do I need to?”
My heart thumps madly. He would.
“No,” I stammer. “I—no.”
“The only one getting hurt around here is you,” he says, “Once I calm the hell down. You asked for rules, princess. You wanted discipline.”
Oh, right. I have the worst damn timing.
“But Spade and I are gonna have words, too.” Good. The total douchebag. I hope he kicks his ass. And then I realize he’s driving toward the shop, not toward his house like I suspected. “I’d rather deal with him when I’m pissed, and you once I’ve calmed down.”
Ever the gentleman, I guess.
He pulls up outside the shop. Turning to me, he points a finger in my direction. “You stay right there.”
After my dumb move this morning, I’m doing exactly what he says. I’m curious, though, so I roll down my window. He didn’t say anything about the window.
Levi storms into the shop. There are a few people at the counter. He speaks to each one of them, hands one some paperwork to fill out, reaches for the phone and hits a few buttons. I feel a little guilty. I should be the one in there helping him. Seriously, though, I’m not so stupid I’m going to disobey him. Not now. Not after this morning.
After the people in the front room are gone, he moves into the back. I don’t hear anything, and I’m waiting. Behind the shop, I hear an engine roaring to life, and I peer out the window. It’s Spade, and he’s taking off. The dude is up to no good and I wonder what the hell is going on.
I want to jump out and get Levi, but I can’t. I don’t have to wait long, though. A few minutes later, Levi storms out to the truck.
“Spade’s gone,” he says.
“I know. I saw him drive off,” I tell him.
He shakes his head and starts his truck. “I’m taking you back to your place,” he says. “You’re going to pack a bag. After today, I don’t want to let you out of my sight.”
I nod quietly. This. This is what I want. This is what I need. So I say the only thing I can. The only thing that’s right.
“Yes, daddy.”
He reaches for my knee and surprises me by giving me a gentle squeeze.
“That’s my girl.”
I know I’m going to end up over his lap, and soon, and there’s a part of me that’s scared and a part of that’s mildly turned on. He’s all raw alpha male. But I can’t help thinking about one thing that plays over and over in my mind.
He came for me. He razed the damn path to find me and got me. And I don’t even care what’s going to happen to my career, or those photos.
Then I remember what he said, as if I’ve suppressed it from my memory until now.
“Daddy?”
“Mm?”
“You said you…bought the photos?” I know what they were going to pay me for those.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “But Tanya, I wouldn’t bring this up right now if I were you.”
That sends a tingle right down my spine. So I close my mouth when we drive to my place. He parks his truck in the lot, comes around and helps me out, and we walk silently to my apartment. It feels weird being here now. I was so proud of this place. But now, the gleaming chandelier and plush carpets, framed prints in the halls and light jazz music being piped through speakers on the elevator, pale in comparison to his place.
I want to feel those hardwood floors beneath my feet. I want to lie on his porch swing with Murry keeping silent vigil by the stairs, the sun setting and the wind rustling the pages of my book with my head in Levi’s lap. I don’t want this luxury anymore.
Luxury is being with him, apart from the hustle and bustle of the city. I want to bake cookies in that kitchen and serve lemonade in frosted glasses. I want to see snow fall on that porch and a fire roaring in the hearth. I want to fall asleep beside him, in his bed.
Sex with Levi is epic. Companionship with Levi is even better.
I open the door to my apartment, and he goes ahead of me. He takes me by the hand and leads me to my room. “I’m sorry, Levi,” I whisper. “Daddy, I’m sorry.”
“I know, baby,” he says. Thankfully, it seems like his anger has abated a little. Even so, when he points to my bed, my heart does a little somersault. He may have calmed down, but those eyes bore right through me.
“Strip,” he commands.
I swallow hard, my eyes trained on him as I slowly take off my clothes. My hands shake when my bra falls to the floor and I stand in front of him naked. He shrugs out of the leather jacket he wears and slides it onto a chair, eyes never leaving mine. He stands in front of me in his signature tight t-shirt, all strength and power somehow softened with his utter attention and focus. My eyes drop to his tattoos, but a firm, “eyes on me,” gets my attention. There’s a palpable difference in power here with me standing naked before him and him fully dressed.
But I like it.
He stalks to the bed, sits on the edge, and points silently to his knee with a frown that brooks no argument. I’m shaking a little, nervous and excited and aroused all at once, my mind a confused jumble of incoherent thoughts. We don’t say anything. I can’t even if I wanted to, and he doesn’t need to.
We aren’t going to fight. There will be no cold shoulder or silent treatment or angry words hurled at one another that will sting and mar. He’s going to put peace between us right here, right now.
Gingerly, I lay myself over his lap and without a word, he captures both my wrists in his large hand, his rough, calloused palm gently scraping the tender skin. Pinning them to my back, he lifts his other hand, then slaps his palm against my ass. It stings and I buck, but h
e holds me tight. He spanks me hard and fast, but it’s what I want. It’s what I need. I feel like a total jerk for what I did, and I want to pay for it. Somehow, I have no idea how or why, when he does this, he cleanses me.
I lose track of how many times his palm raises and falls, but my skin’s on fire, every inch of my backside throbbing and aching. And yet, I need more. I find myself sinking into this, submerged in nothing but me and daddy and my punishment. I’m yelping and sniffling. He isn’t even harsh or exacting, but more matter-of-fact. I screwed up. We’ll make this right. We’ll do it with me over his knee. I’m crying and I don’t know when I started or even why I’m crying, but it feels like the right thing to do. And here, over his lap, exposed and vulnerable and remorseful, I give in to tears.
I don’t know how long I’m over his lap or when he stops, but I know at one point it’s over, and he’s lifting me up. He kisses me, a brief touch, soft and intimate, over my salty lips. I taste the tears and Levi, all stern and masculine and protective. Somewhere deep inside I want more. I need to feel him, connect again in the deepest, most intimate way possible. It’s not even the physical need so much as a deeper, more emotional craving.
I was a spoiled little girl, and now he gives me what I didn’t even know I needed.
When did this happen? I can’t think anymore, though, because now he’s lifting me up and laying me on my back. Most of the time, he fucks me hard and from behind, fisting my hair or slapping my ass while he takes me. But this time, he kneels over me, his eyes never leaving mine.
I love you, I think, but that can’t be possible, not so soon. I don’t believe in instalove. Well, I didn’t. I swallow what I want to say and open my arms for him to draw closer. Once he’s stripped, he slowly lowers himself to me. His mouth comes to mine, and with purposeful, deliberate strokes, he makes me his again.
Chapter Fourteen
Levi
I hold her on my bare chest. Her long, long hair is strewn all around us, a pool of fragrant, golden brown beauty. She rises and falls on my chest when I inhale and exhale. I smooth my hand on her hair and think about the day we’ve had. When I woke up this morning, I had no idea what would happen. I didn’t know she’d be so susceptible to lies like that, that she’d react so strongly. But she needs to know she can trust me, and this is just one way we’ll bridge that trust. She won’t run from me. She won’t hide from me.
I’m not angry at her anymore, but I hope she’s learned her lesson.
“Tanya?” I’m not sure if she’s awake or asleep.
“Mmm?”
I stroke her hair, and my arms tighten around her. “If you ever have a question about something, what will you do?”
She takes a deep breath in. I watch her bare shoulders rise and then fall. “Talk to you, daddy.” I bend down and kiss the top of her head.
“Good girl.”
We lay there for a little while longer, until I hear her stomach growl. “Hungry, baby?”
“Starving.”
“Have you had anything to eat today?”
She sighs. “I don’t even remember.”
“Okay, well first thing we do is get something to eat,” I say.
She pushes up so her chin is in her hand while she looks at me. “I had chicken marinating in the fridge at your place,” she says wistfully. “Probably should cook that.”
“You want to go to my place?”
Her eyes get a little wide and she nods, biting her lip. “Yes, daddy.” Looking around her huge, well-furnished bedroom, she shrugs a little. “You know, I kinda like your place better than mine. No, I definitely do.”
I huff out a laugh. “Good, because I definitely like my place better than yours, too.”
She snorts, rolls over, and starts looking around for her clothes. I get up and do the same. I’m buttoning my jeans when she turns to me, dressed now, running her fingers through her long hair. “Levi?”
“Yeah, baby?” I say, pulling my t-shirt on. She reaches her hand out to my arm to get my attention. Her eyes warm and she smiles.
“Thank you.”
I’m not sure what she’s even thanking me for, but I just give her a kiss and tell her, “You’re welcome, baby.”
The sun’s setting when we head to my place. It’s a little bit of a drive, but not too bad.
“The dogs will be ready to go out when we get back,” I say. “I’ll take them out and you want to start dinner? Or do you want me to fire up the grill?”
“Would you mind if I take them out?” she asks. “I’m dying to get some fresh air, and I think the grill would be perfect.”
“No problem.”
I park my truck on the curb, come around and help her out. The dogs run at us when we come, and she bends down, greeting them with a smile. I hand her the leashes from the hook inside the door, she snaps them on, and goes down the stairs. Shrugging out of my jacket, I walk to the kitchen to get the food ready, when a high-pitch scream fills the air.
Tanya.
I’m at a run before I even know what I’m doing.
She’s not far, though, just in the side yard. I race to her. Her hand’s over her mouth and she’s pointing a shaking finger at the barn.
The doors swing crazily open, letting in sunlight that easily streams through the very vacant barn. Sal’s ‘55 Jaguar is gone.
We sit in silence while police inspect the barn and ask us a million questions. I have no idea what the fuck is going on or who was here.
“Were you in the house at the time of the theft?”
I shake my head. “No. We just got home.”
The young officer with short brown hair that sticks up a little in the back, nods.
“I see. And did you have insurance on the vehicle, sir?”
“Of course I did.”
He raises a brow. ‘May I ask your total of your insurance policy?”
Is he fucking kidding me? “Do you think I fabricated all this for a payout?” I ask.
The officer bristles.
“Levi,” Tanya says, putting her hand on me.
I take in a deep breath and nod. For Christ’s sake. I just want them to find the thief already. This is personal, and it also means I’m fucked at the show if we don’t recover this.
I give him the info he needs, then go back to her. We sit on the porch swing, but tonight’s not relaxing like it normally is. The dogs walk around, wagging their tails nervously at the officers combing our home. They don’t know what to make of all of this. Hell, neither do I.
“Who would do this?” I mutter to myself, rubbing my hand across my face, when Tanya sits up straight.
“I know who’d do this,” she says. She shakes her head, but a faint red flushes her cheeks. “I know exactly who would do this.”
I give her a curious look.
“Who was the one who planted the idea of you getting someone pregnant?” she asks, her eyes boring into me.
“Spade,” I say, my hands fisting. I’ll beat the shit out of him.
She nods. “And who was the one who sent you looking for me? Told you how to find me?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“It was a diversion,” she says, shaking her head and groaning. “He set us up, Levi.”
I get to my feet and start to pace. “Goddamn it, of course it was. You know, when he told me he saw the blond kid drop you off, he told me he saw you kiss. What an asshole. I didn’t think much of it when I went through the footage and found you hadn’t. I assumed he just couldn’t see jack from where he was, and he was seeing things.”
She shakes her head. “I never even got close enough to kiss him. He just made that up to make you mad.”
I nod.
“Levi?”
“Yeah?”
“Does it make you mad?” She’s looking at me coyly, one leg tucked under her as she bites her lip.
I scowl at her with a noise that’s half-growl. “You need another spanking, little girl, you keep up this line of conversation.”
She grins at me. She likes that I’m jealous.
Well fuck me.
“Good news is, it’s broad daylight,” the officer says, coming up onto the porch. “Hard not to spot a car like that unless there’s a good way to hide it. Did it drive still?”
“Like a goddamn dream,” I say.
The officer nods curtly. “Then how would a full-sized classic car like that avoid suspicion?
“Auto trailer would be the easiest, most efficient way,” I tell him. “There are a couple of ways it can be done, but that’s by far the easiest.”
“So we send out notifications to be on the lookout for an auto trailer,” the officer says. “Done.” He picks up his phone and steps to the side to make a call.
“It hasn’t been gone that long,” I tell him. He nods, then starts talking on the phone.
Tanya holds my hand.
“It’s just a car,” I tell her.
She squeezes.
“No, daddy,” she says softly so the others can’t hear. “It’s more than that, and you know it is.”
This girl gets me. I swallow hard and nod. “Yeah,” I say gruffly. “It is.”
It represents a friendship I had when I was just becoming a man. Years of hard work. Dreams and visions and goals. And the idea of someone taking it…
“Let’s go,” she says. “Let’s go and look for it. Just me and you.”
Just go? She wants to get in the car with me and drive and find my car. Drop everything and just go.
I give her a long look while I mull over our options. We’ve got the police combing the area for the car, and she thinks we’ll find it on our own?
“Eat,” I tell her. “You’ve got to eat.”
She gets up, walks to the kitchen, and opens the cabinet. She tears open a box of granola bars that I didn’t even know I had, grabs four of them, then says, “Let’s go.”
Damn, this girl is gonna keep me on my toes. Which is exactly what I love about her.
I take her by the hand, and we go.
Chapter Fifteen
