Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
“You really don’t have to.”
He ignored her as he set about making them each a sandwich. He didn’t want to cook while she was busy baking.
“What did I tell you to do before I left?” he asked in a quiet voice.
“To put on socks! And I did, see?” She held up her foot.
“What else?”
She frowned at him. “Um, I don’t know.”
He took the cupcake she was still holding and set it down. Then he placed a sandwich down on the counter for her. “Sit. Eat.”
“I don’t have time to sit. I’ve got to get these cupcakes iced.”
“And to do that, you need energy. Proper, sustained energy from real food, not sugar.”
“But sugar is so much more fun.”
“Eat.”
She sighed and sat at the island. “You have some strange delusions.”
“Do I?” he asked as he ate. His stomach gurgled in relief.
“You seem to think you get to boss me around.”
“I do.”
“No, you don’t!”
“I rescued you last night. Took care of your injuries. Got those eggs for you. Had your car towed. Made you breakfast . . . well, more like brunch.”
Injuries? She’d had a scratch.
“I still don’t think that gives you the right to boss me around.”
“No? Hmm, perhaps not yet. But soon.”
She just gaped at him, clearly lost for words. Unusual for her.
“I have to make cupcakes. And I think you should leave.”
“Is that what you really want?” he asked.
She stared over his shoulder. “I can’t keep up with your changing moods. The other night, you seemed angry after you . . . after we . . .”
Kissed.
He winced. He’d really made a mistake the other night. She obviously hadn’t understood why he’d sent her away.
Standing, he moved around to get to her. Grabbing her hips, he set her onto the island, his hands on either side of her.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her, hold her while he ravaged her mouth.
But something slid through her eyes. Something that looked like fear and he didn’t like that.
“You’re not allowed to be scared of me.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not.”
“You’re also not allowed to lie to me either,” he spoke firmly. That was non-negotiable.
Her gaze narrowed. That temper of hers lit up.
And he felt alive. Fuck. He felt more alive than he’d felt in years. Maybe since before his pa died.
Part of him wasn’t sure how to feel about that. About her bringing him back to life. The numb was good. The numb had helped him live life after losing everything.
And when it burned away completely, he was slightly worried about what would be left.
But that was a worry for later. Right now, he had a fired-up little subbie to concern himself with.
“Like I said, you seem to have some delusions. Because you don’t get to tell me what I’m allowed to do or not do,” she told him haughtily.
He ran a finger down her cheek. So smooth. Just as he’d suspected. Fuck. So young and innocent.
“No? Because it seems to me like you really need that. Some boundaries. Discipline.”
She wrinkled her nose as though in disgust. However ,he’d seen the interest in her eyes that she couldn’t tamp down.
His Little Princess wanted some discipline, did she?
Well, that he could give her. Easily.
It was the softer side of things he wasn’t so sure of. He couldn’t remember how to let go and have fun. But he’d learn. He’d give her whatever she needed.
She licked her lips as she stared up at him.
“I don’t need discipline,” she stated. Her voice gave her away, though. Soft and breathy. “You can’t talk to me like this.”
He ran his thumb over her wet lower lip. And it took her a long moment before she turned her face away. He could see the way her breathing increased.
She was turned on.
“I can’t? Because you don’t like it? Or because you like it too much?”
“Move away from me.”
He immediately stepped back and she stared at him in shock. “You . . . you let me go.”
He frowned. “Of course I did. Has someone ever not let you go when you asked?”
“I . . . um. No. That’s silly. Loki would kill anyone who touched me against my will.”
Loki again.
He was going to have to do something about him. But he wasn’t sure what since Isa seemed to really care about him.
“I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. If I ever make you scared or uncomfortable, you can tell me to back off. You can say the word red if you prefer.”
“You’re giving me a safeword?” She gaped up at him.
“Yes. I am.”
“But why? We’re not . . . um, we . . . I don’t . . .”
She looked so delightfully flustered and he wanted to push her. But this wasn’t the time. He needed her to trust him.
“You ever thought about us doing those things, Isa? Craved someone to Top you? Do you want what your friends have? A Daddy to take care of you?” He pushed some of her hair behind her ear.