Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“You’re all right. You’re safe. You’re fine.”
She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding on tight.
She was all right. She was safe. She was fine.
It was so stupid. It was just a bath. She could have easily stood up.
But she hadn’t stood, had she? She’d just laid there like an idiot. And if he hadn’t been there . . .
Gray wrapped a towel around her, then grabbed another one and carried her out to the bedroom. Her teeth chattered.
He set her down on the sofa. Shoot. She shouldn’t sit on the sofa while she was still wet. He flicked on the gas fire, even though it wasn’t that cold, then lay one towel down on the floor in front of it.
Turning back to her, he pointed at the towel. “Lie on your back there.”
“I . . . I can . . .”
“On your back there,” he repeated quietly.
Once she was lying down, he started drying her off. He was brusque and quick, but not rough.
He helped her sit up so he could wrap her long hair in a towel.
“Lie back down.”
“Daddy,” she whispered.
“I’m going to look after you,” he told her. “Just got to get you warm first.”
He quickly grabbed some pajamas out of one of her drawers. Pale purple with an image of a French Bulldog on the front blowing kisses, they were a birthday gift from Isaiah
Gray dressed her in them without a word. He didn’t even bother with panties. Not that she was complaining. Then he wrapped her in a blanket, holding her tight as he settled her on his lap in the rocking chair.
He rocked her in silence and she nuzzled at his chest until her breathing evened out and the fear had left her.
“I’m all right, Daddy.”
“Fuck, girl. Fuck. This has to stop.”
“Are you . . . you’re right. But I . . . I don’t know how.”
He rubbed her back and nuzzled at the top of her head. “You’re going to give me a fucking heart attack. Or turn my hair gray.”
“Then you’d be gray-haired Gray. Get it?” she teased softly, trying to lighten the mood. She was drained. Again.
She knew that it had only been a short time, but was it normal to feel this . . . this scared? Traumatized?
“That was terrible.”
“It really was,” she said. “I . . . I might need to speak to someone.”
He grunted.
“I don’t want to. I don’t like therapists.”
He sighed.
“And what would I say when I don’t remember anything? No, going to a therapist would be dumb. And I can’t afford it. Yeah, I haven’t got any money.”
“Money ain’t a worry for you anymore, girl.”
“What do you mean? How can money not be a worry?” The fact that she didn’t have any should be a concern. Although she tried not to waste too much time thinking about it.
“Because you’re mine.”
“Ahh.” Maybe in Gray speak that meant something . . . but she had no idea what he was saying.
“What’s mine is yours. My money is your money.”
She tried to sit up, but he held her tight.
“You can’t give me your money.”
“Why not? Roles were reversed, wouldn’t you give me your money?”
Well. She found it hard to argue with that.
“But I might be terrible with money. What if I spend it all?”
“What are you spending all my money on, baby?” he asked in a tender voice that for some reason, made her tear up.
He lightly ran a finger down her cheek and the way he stared at her . . . it was like she was his everything.
“Maybe I’ll buy myself some stickers.”
“Stickers. That will definitely teach me for giving you access to my bank account.”
“Glittery ones,” she whispered.
“Those are some expensive stickers. Anything else?”
“Some new coloring books.”
“More than one? That’s harsh.”
“Ooh. And I saw one of those large hooded tops with dogs all over it. I might order one of those.”
“Now, you’re starting to make me panic. My heart is racing. Tell me what else? If you say you’re going to get a new raincoat, I might not be able to take it.”
“A raincoat and matching rain boots. I do like to jump in puddles. What will you do then?”
“Well, that is a lot. I’m going to have to think hard about these spending habits of yours.”
“Thought that might make you think twice.”
“You forgot about some new clothes. You’ll need one of those horrid teddy bear tracksuits.”
She held up two fingers.
“Two? Right, now you’re just taking it too far, brat.” He tickled her lightly, not that she could feel much through the blanket but she giggled anyway.
When he stopped, she lay there looking up at him. “I might be losing my mind.”
“You’re not losing your mind, baby. I won’t allow it. You’re right here with me and I’ll do whatever is needed to look after you. And that includes giving you all of me. Everything I own is yours. And you know you’d do the same for me.”