Always My Babygirl: A Billionaire Romance

by Jane Henry

  “Really. And when you grant me the gift of your submission, it makes me feel ten feet tall. Imagine, a woman like you, so take-charge and capable… willingly giving yourself to me.” I shake my head. “It’s a fucking honor.”

  She melts into me and sighs. “I love when you say things like that.”

  “I mean it, babe. I do. That I’ve earned your trust and submission means everything to me.”

  She nods against me. “Thank you.”

  Now we’re getting somewhere.

  “I mean, in ten years, you’ve made this business one of the most thriving ones in all of Vegas.”

  She pulls away. “What?”

  “Something I said?”

  “See? It happened again.”

  There’s betrayal in her eyes.

  “What did?”

  Goddammit.

  “You said something about me I didn’t tell you.” Her voice cracks. “It’s freaking me out. I never told you I started this business ten years ago. How did you know?”

  God. It’s time to tell her the truth. She deserves to know I haven’t done anything creepy, but she also needs to know how invested in her I am.

  I open my mouth to tell her when her phone rings again.

  She grabs her phone, her eyes on me warily. I nod. “Go ahead. Answer it.”

  Her eyes flash. “I don’t need your permission!”

  She answers the phone, and my palm itches to spank her for her insolence. On the one hand, I get where she’s coming from. She needs to know she can trust me, and we’re still new. On the other hand, a daddy and babygirl dynamic have some very clear ground rules, and mouthing off to daddy earns a good, hard spanking.

  She hangs up the phone and looks over at me. She hesitates when I crook a finger at her, but finally walks over. I wrap my fingers around her hair and bring my mouth to her ear.

  “This is your one warning, little girl. Heed it.”

  She takes in a deep breath. I can tell by the way her pupils dilate that she’s turned on. I grip her hair tighter.

  “Daddy expects respect.”

  She blows out a breath and tries to nod, but I’m holding her hair too tightly in my grip.

  “Say yes, daddy.”

  She pinches her lips together. I give her a few seconds to obey, but when it’s clear she doesn’t want to, I shake my head.

  “I warned you.”

  I tuck my foot under a chair and drag it out, sit heavily, and yank her over my lap.

  “Gabriel!”

  I slap my palm against the fullness of her ass, and she squeals. I give her another spank, then another. She’s scissoring her legs and fighting, but I think she needs to fight me. She needs this, and so do I. She knows that if she disobeys me she earns a spanking, and the whole power dynamic we share turns her on.

  “Are you going to be a naughty little girl?”

  “No, daddy!”

  Smack.

  “Are you going to obey your daddy and behave yourself?”

  “Yes, daddy!”

  I rub my hand over her heated ass, my voice lowering, my hardened cock straining beneath her belly. “Are you going to trust daddy to help you through this?”

  “Yes, daddy!” she says. I hear a sniffle. In two seconds I’ve got her nestled against my chest. She buries her face on my chest and cries.

  “Baby.” I run my hand down the back of her head, rocking her. “Shhh.”

  She hiccups before she looks up at me, her eyes shining. “Oh my God,” she breathes. “It’s so hot when you get all bossy and dominant and take charge like that.”

  She grabs me by the back of the neck and yanks my mouth to hers. I moan into her, standing while I do, her legs wrapped around me. I lay her down on the bed and kiss her until she’s arching into me, spreading her legs. I run my hands over her body, holding her to me, my own need to fuck her consuming all thoughts.

  She pulls away too soon. “I have a meeting to go to,” she whispers, her eyes heavy-lidded.

  “Tonight, baby. Tonight we make this better. Yeah, baby?”

  She nods. “Yes, daddy. I’m so sorry, daddy.”

  I kiss her forehead and embrace her. “It’s all over now. Trust me, Miranda. Just do your best to trust me, and we’ll get through this together.”

  She looks thoughtful for a moment before she speaks. Finally, she nods. “Yes, daddy. I can do that.”

  But I wonder if she can. Will she trust me when she finds out I’ve looked into her past? Will she believe my obsession with her is healthy and normal? Or will she run in fear?

  “Keep your phone with you at the meeting,” I tell her. “I want you to stay connected. Do you understand me?”

  She nods. “Yes, daddy.” But there’s hesitation in her eyes. She’s pulling away from me, I know she is.

  I let her go with reluctance, and we both right ourselves.

  Her phone rings, and she takes the call. Her eyes swing to mine, and for a moment I’m afraid she’s hearing something about me she doesn’t want to hear. My body tightens. The next moment, she hangs up the phone and sighs.

  “I really wish I could stay here with you all day.” She gives me a genuine smile, and I breathe out in relief. Jesus. I can’t live like this.

  Tonight, I’m taking her to dinner and I’m telling her everything. My past. Why I’ve researched her. How dedicated I am to her, and how I’ll be sure she has everything she needs. How she’s my very special girl, and I’ll take the best care of her I know how.

  “I’ll walk down with you to the lobby.”

  She nods, but her mind is already elsewhere, on her tasks and what needs to be done today.

  “I’ll be done with work at lunch,” she says, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Let’s have lunch together?”

  I squeeze her hand. “Absolutely, baby. Now go kick ass. We’ll get lunch.”

  She grins at me, nods, and leaves.

  Forget dinner. It’ll be lunchtime, then. That’s when I’ll reveal everything. And if I do this right, she’ll understand.

  I call her ten minutes later, but it goes to voicemail.

  Everything okay, baby?

  A text comes back in a moment later. Yes, daddy, of course. I just have to finish my work.

  The more she pulls away, the more eager I am to pull her back to me. I pace the lobby, then finally head back upstairs. Soon, I’ll have her again.

  Soon, I’ll make her mine for good.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Miranda

  As I leave Vegas, Baby, a complicated blend of emotions swirl through me. I care for him so much, but he’s… too much… but we’re perfect together… no, I’m just his latest obsession…

  My phone rings, tearing me out of my string of thoughts. Lexi’s calling me. Crap. I’m so worried about my own life I totally forgot my baby sister is landing today. With everything on my mind, I’d completely forgotten she was coming so soon. When I’d committed to meet Gabriel for lunch, I’d forgotten I was going with Lexi.

  Shit, shit, double shit! I plant my palm to my forehead and grab my phone from my purse. I peel the worry from my voice as I answer. “Hey, Lexi! Did you land?”

  She doesn't say hello, just bursts into a jumbled monologue of excitement. “Oh. My. God. Miranda—that jet? Are you kidding me? Holy shit, I felt like I was on that old tv show we used to watch with dad. Wasn’t it called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? Anyway, when I got onboard, they gave me this little hot towel to wash my face with and there was champagne and then when we landed there was a limo, like waiting for that guy… Shane? And me. Is this seriously the life you’ve become accustomed to with Gabriel? I mean, this is as close to perfect as you’re going to get.”

  Perfect. At the sound of the word, a tight knot forms in my stomach and my mouth goes dry. I give a choked laugh. “Yeah. I’m a lucky girl.” So… lucky.

  “Shane’s been such a sweetheart. He flew out with the jet so he could keep me company on the flight. Now, we’re on the way to your apart
ment. We’ll be there in ten. I can’t wait to see you.”

  Shoot. Not only have I forgotten she was landing, I’m stuck at work. She’s going to beat me home. “I’m at the office. I still have a few things to wrap up but even if I left this second, you’d be waiting for me for at least half an hour. Can Shane bring you to the office instead?”

  “Hang on. Let me ask.” There’s the muffled sound of voices, then she’s back. “Shane said no worries. He can get me in.”

  He can get me in.

  My blood turns to ice.

  Shane can get into my apartment. A vague, fuzzy memory pops up in my mind. That night—the very first night of our contract, our first date, when Lexi called me to tell me about mom, Gabriel jumped to the rescue. He booked the flight, arranged for a car…

  Even had a bag of my belongings brought to us before we left.

  How in the hell did someone get into my place to gather my stuff? My mind was so far gone with worry over my mom, my heart so relieved to have Gabriel’s unbelievable help to get me to Sacramento so quickly… I never ever stopped to wonder how someone got into my apartment to get that bag of clothes for me.

  The ice in my veins spreads, chilling me to the bone. I start to shake, my hands trembling so badly I grip the phone to be sure I don’t drop it.

  Lexi’s voice brings me back. “Did you hear what I said, Miranda?”

  “Huh?” My own voice sounds strange in my ears.

  She gives a laugh. “I thought you’d hung up for a sec. I said, you were right. I needed this trip.”

  “Oh. Great.” He has had access to my home from day one.

  My sister’s voice sounds far away. “Miranda. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Never better.” Before day one, really, because he had one of his staff members, maybe even Shane, inside of my house by ten.

  I barely hear her words. “Miranda are you there? Maybe she got disconnected, Shane.”

  Only three hours after we met outside the hotel for our date. I shake my head. Will myself to speak. “Yes, I’m here. I’m fine…”

  “Your phone is acting crazy today. There’s like a delay or something. I was saying, don’t worry about lunch. We can go when you get off. I’ll just be waiting at your apartment for you.”

  “Sounds good. See you soon.”

  We hang up, but what I want to tell her is run. Get out of that car. Run from that man. A man that you know nothing about but knows everything about you. The man that has aided and assisted Gabriel in… stalking me.

  But that’s crazy. Right?

  Maybe the explanation is as simple as a hookup Shane has, or maybe he knows the landlord. After all, he is the Gabriel Lord. He has so many connections.

  I make a mental note to ask Lexi how she got in. And if the answer is, no, that will calm my nerves and ease my mind. But if the answer is yes? If Shane had a key in his hand?

  My stomach twists, making me feel sick. I don’t even want to think about it being true.

  I need to go. I need to go to Lexi. I order an Uber. I close my computer. Grab my purse. Leave my office. Sam is behind her desk, talking with a potential client. I give them both my best boss babe smile coupled with a wave that would make Miss America jealous and head out.

  I get one of those quiet drivers and I’m grateful. I’m trying to sort out this jumble of thoughts and making chit chat seems impossible.

  No one needs to know of my inner turmoil. Least of all, Lexi. I know she sounded light and happy on the phone, going on about the trip out, but deep down she’s probably one sad love song away from a mental breakdown.

  I need to be strong for her. I need to keep these worries to myself. Until I know something concrete, I’m going to smile, and pretend nothing is wrong.

  After all, there’s a good chance that nothing even is wrong. That everything is perfect, and I’m just letting my past hurt keep me from getting close to someone.

  But I’ll be damned if that man didn’t have someone in my apartment at record breaking speed…

  I’m so deep in thought I’m shocked to find that we’re already pulling up to my building. I thank the driver and dash upstairs to find my sister.

  She’s curled up on my gray sofa, wearing sweatpants with fuzzy hot pink socks on her feet. She’s got the remote in one hand, a bar of chocolate in the other. Relief and grief and happiness are all etched on her face as she greets me. “Miranda!”

  I toss my bag down. Lock the door behind me. Not that it does any good if you’ve got a stalker with a key. I kick off my ballet shoes and snuggle down beside her on the couch. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Sorry I’m stress eating before lunch. Don’t worry, I’ll still be able to eat.” She waves the bar in front of me. “Want some?”

  I shake my head. My stomach is tangled in knots. I’ve got no appetite. “I’ll wait till lunch.”

  “Ugh. Look how skinny these celebrity women are.” She breaks off a little rectangle from the bar and points at the tv screen with it. “I so wish I was one of those people that couldn’t eat when they are depressed. Unfortunately, I’m the opposite. The breakup is going to put a solid fifteen pounds on me.”

  “Speaking of food, what do you want to eat?” I eye her oversized Sherpa hoodie, messy bun, and red rimmed eyes. We’re not going anywhere. “Want me to order in?”

  She nods, looking at me through her big, blue, baleful eyes. “Thai food—Panang curry. And sushi. And summer rolls. Oh, and get some of those little Crab Rangoons you got me the last time I was here.”

  I grab my phone. There's a string of text notifications on the screen—all missed messages from Gabriel. I slide my finger up the screen, sending them away. I need to think. I need space. With effort, I ignore his messages and tap into my Grubhub app. “You’ve literally just named foods from at least three different restaurants, but you know what? I can make it happen.”

  “Work that big sister magic.” She eats another square of chocolate, looking over my shoulder to be sure I’ve got her order right.

  I get the Panang curry with beef and the fresh summer rolls from my favorite little Thai place on the corner. Then, I order Lexi’s favorite Dynamite rolls from the Sushi place on Fifth street.

  I hit the button for Chow Funs. “Last but not least, the best Chinese place in Vegas to get the Crab Rangoons and,” I flip through the menu, “let’s order a Sweet and Sour chicken with white rice just to be on the safe side, because it looks like the Montague sisters are skipping spin class and staying in for dinner as well as lunch.”

  “You’re the best. The absolute best.” She throws her arms around my neck, giving me a chocolatey kiss on the cheek. “Now, what gory, bloody, opposite of a rom-com movie should we watch?”

  I want to relax with her but I’m getting a sick feeling about not replying to Gabriel. Maybe it isn’t right to ignore him. No matter what’s going on, he’s been so good to me and I owe him the decency of a response.

  Also, I miss him.

  I get up from the couch, phone in hand. “You pick. I’m just going to change into a t-shirt.” Dashing into my room, I change, then I pull up the texts from Gabriel. They began coming in just over an hour ago, about the time Lexi called to tell me she was landing.

  I’ll be outside your office in thirty minutes. Where does my baby want to go for lunch? Guilt pings my conscience.

  Thirty minutes after that one was sent, the next one says:

  Waiting outside your office. Did you get caught up with work? Daddy’s waiting, little girl.

  And ten minutes after that:

  Daddy doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Where are you?

  Five minutes later:

  Sam said you’ve left. I really need to talk to you. Text me back.

  One minute later:

  I’m coming over.

  Shit! That was fifteen minutes ago. He could be here any minute. I can’t let him come over.

  I need to cancel lunch. And dinner. There’s no way after the breakup Lex
i’s had that I can leave her alone in my apartment and go to Gabriel’s tonight.

  I type the words as quickly as possible, hoping I catch him before he arrives. Knots twist in my gut and I’m half expecting to hear an angry knock on the door before I can hit send.

  OMG! SO sorry! Looks like we both totally forgot Lexi was landing by lunch! Sorry I missed your texts, I’ve been tied up with her. No need to come by. I think we just need girl time.

  I hit send. Three little dots immediately pop up in the thread. He’s been waiting, phone in hand.

  I was so wrapped up in your beauty this morning, I forgot she was coming. But when I see you next, be prepared for a little reminder of what happens when you don’t text your daddy back.

  I breathe a sigh of relief. He’s not coming here. I text back a peach emoji with three waving hands... spanking hands?... and a question mark.

  Exactly. But three is nowhere near enough. More like ten or twenty.

  Despite my worries, his message makes a delicious shiver run down my spine. I reply, Yes, daddy.

  I was looking forward to lunch. I really need to talk to you. Dinner?

  My teeth sink into my lip. What does he want to talk about?

  Lexi calls me from the next room. “Hurry up! You’re missing the creepy intro music. It’s totally setting the mood.”

  He’ll have to wait.

  And if I’m being completely honest with myself, I need the headspace.

  He knows so much about me. Maybe too much. But he takes such good care of me. And when I’m with him, I feel like everything in the world is just right.

  I’m so…fucking…confused.

  Another little text comes in. Only four words, but it turns my world upside down. Warming my heart and making me want to run to him.

  I miss you, baby.

  I have to give myself a little pep talk. Be strong, Miranda. You told Lexi to come here and you would take care of her. That’s what you’re going to do.

  I text back. I miss you, too, but my sister needs me tonight. I hope you can understand. I need to be with her right now. But let’s touch base in the morning. We can talk then.

  I don’t wait for a reply. I turn off my phone. It’s the only way I can really focus on Lexi. If he starts sending me anymore babygirl/daddy messages, I’m afraid that despite my questions over his intrusive behavior, I’ll be torn, and I’ll find myself sneaking out to see him.