Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 111278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Yes! She loved Doc.
“Also, you can start giving her light punishments. If she’s healthy enough to move around, she’s healthy enough to sit in timeout. Or get stretched with a plug. No spanking until the pain is gone.”
No! She hated Doc.
“Good to know, Doc. I’ll walk you out.” Dominic pointed at her. “Stay. There.”
Man. So bossy.
She sighed and sat up. She was in so much trouble. Her bottom cheeks clenched together. Dominic wouldn’t plug her, would he?
But she remembered the stretching plugs he’d bought.
Awesome.
A knock on the window made her jump and a squeal escaped. Fear coursed through her. Who was that? Was it them? Had they come for her? Were they going to hurt her?
Turning, she was readying herself to run just as she saw a face peering in the window at her. Ellie?
She sat up. Did she want her to open the window? Ellie shook her head and pointed at her.
She wanted her to stay?
Ellie nodded and gave her a thumb’s up.
Then another face appeared with a sign.
Hi, I’m Charlie.
Oh. What was happening?
A different face pressed against the window. Several faces came to the window, each one with a sign introducing themselves.
Abby.
Daisy.
Gigi.
Caley.
Marisol.
Wow. They all grouped up together, smiling through the window.
We’re all happy you’re here. Get better soon.
They waved and she waved back. That was . . . that was insane. And so kind. She’d never felt so welcomed and these people were essentially strangers.
It made her sad and lonely to think about how her life had been before. That these strangers had been nicer to her than her own family.
Things had to change in her life. And it wasn’t too late for her to make those changes.
“Hey, why are you crying?” Dominic asked in a low voice as he rushed over to her. “Is it your head? Are you in pain? I’m going to call Doc back.”
“No, no. It’s not that. I just . . . I’m realizing how lonely my life was up until now. Everyone here . . . they’ve been so kind and welcoming. I didn’t realize places like this existed.”
He sat next to her. “Well, you never have to be lonely again. You have me now. And everyone here. You know you’re not going anywhere, right?”
She made a scoffing noise as he grabbed a tissue and started to wipe her cheeks. “Is that your way of asking me to stay?”
“Oh, I’m not asking, darling girl. I’m not a stupid man. I’m telling you. You’re moving here. Well, you don’t have to actually move in with me.”
He didn’t want her to move in?
“Not straight away, anyway. I can give you some time.”
“Oh yeah? How much time?” she asked suspiciously.
“A week. Maybe two. But that will be after you’re recovered and by that time you won’t want to leave.”
She grinned and he held the tissue to her nose. “You’re so generous. And my place in Brooklyn?”
“That’s up to you. Keep it if you want. Or get rid of it. Now, blow.”
“Ew. Daddy.”
“Blow,” he said more firmly.
She blew her nose, still grimacing as he cleaned her up.
“Now, we need to have a bit of a talk, don’t we, darling girl?”
She nibbled on her lip. “I don’t think we do, Dom-Dom.”
“Did you get out of bed without permission? Were you trying to get your coloring books when you know you’re not allowed to have them?”
“But Daddy, Doc said I can start moving around more. And I was bored.”
“Those are not good reasons for disobeying Daddy,” he told her firmly. “And Doc didn’t say that until after you’d gotten up out of bed and you disobeyed me. You could have fallen over and hit your head again. That was very naughty.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” She bit her lip, feeling bad.
“I know I’m overprotective,” he whispered. “But I can’t . . . you are . . . and I can’t lose you . . .” he trailed off, swallowing heavily.
Regret filled her. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I won’t do it again. I promise. I’m so sorry.”
Sometimes it was easy to forget that Dominic had his own trauma in his background. He’d lost his wife. Of course her being kidnapped had to stir up those old feelings of fear and loss.
“I can’t lose you, baby. It means I’m probably going to be extra overbearing. I’ll apologize now. But I need to keep you safe. I’ll try to keep myself in check. However, when you’re injured or sick, I’m going to be more protective than usual. Because you mean the world to me. I know it might annoy you to get wrapped up in cotton wool, but you’re going to have to be patient with me.”
She carefully climbed into his lap. “I will be, Dominic. My Daddy.” She cuddled into his chest. “My Dom-Dom.”
“Always yours. I promise.” He held her for a long time. She slid her thumb into her mouth, closing her eyes and just living in the moment. It was something that she needed to learn how to do. Just relax and live. Not to be constantly worrying about where the next fight was going to come from. Always looking to the future.