Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Soon her cry of delight was echoed by his deeper shout of completion. Collapsing against his hard chest, Cynthia clung to Dirk as he squeezed her close. When their heart rates settled, Dirk stroked over her back. She listed her head to look down at him and winked.
“Maybe I like spankings now.”
“You say that now. Work too many hours and you’ll change your mind,” he told her with a twinkle in his eyes that softened his words.
“Hmm,” she hedged, and made a suggestion to distract him. “Weren’t we going on a picnic?”
“I could eat a few sandwiches now. Let’s get this picnic on the road.”
EPILOGUE
Cynthia leaned forward in the car to peer out the windshield as Dirk turned onto a gravel road that seemed to be close to the Edgewater campus. Parked cars scattered along their path. “Where are we going? Are there other people here?”
Dirk remained silent and pulled over to the side to join the other vehicles. “Let’s go to the picnic, sweetheart.”
She clung to his hand as they walked over a slight hill into a beautiful meadow. Her gaze flew from couple to couple as they relaxed in the clearing. Blankets and baskets lay scattered over the grass.
“It’s about time you got to your celebration,” Easton called as they appeared. Delighted laughter followed his announcement. Everyone knew exactly what had delayed them.
Within seconds, the special people Cynthia had been sure she’d lost surrounded her. Piper hugged her close first, and Easton wrapped his arms around them both.
“You come talk to me if you ever need my help keeping you safe from that ex-brother-in-law,” Knox suggested.
Cynthia eyed his bulging frame and nodded. Eddie would never stand up to Knox. “After Daddy,” she promised before rushing forward to hug him and Sharon.
“I brought you these.” Fane pulled a pair of handcuffs out of his back pocket, visibly surprising Elaine.
“I thought next time you might just want to play jail time. I’ll give Dirk the key,” he told her, reaching into his other pocket to pull out a small silver key on an Edgewater Industries keyring.
Dirk collected both items and stowed them in his pocket. “I knew I liked you, Fane.”
“Daddy!” Cynthia said, trying to recover from her surprise and subsequent heated face at the intimate play implication.
“You may just be the death of me,” Elaine muttered.
Fane wrapped his arm around the special person in his life and suggested, “Or the life of you. I bought two sets.”
“You!” she said, laughing and shaking her head.
Cynthia tucked her hand into Dirk’s and stepped forward to greet the last couple. “I caused you so much work.”
“You did,” Pedro agreed. “Luckily, we stopped the attack and contained it. That’s why Easton has us around. Sometimes bad people do horrible things and need to be stopped. We’re just glad that you weren’t steamrolled into that group. Belinda and I know you didn’t realize what that flash drive could do,” he assured her.
“We’ve turned it into something beneficial. We’re addressing those areas that were weak in the Edgewater system,” Belinda added.
“We’re glad you’re back. Everyone missed you,” the lovely computer expert assured her before stepping closer to hug Cynthia.
“Thank you all for being here,” Cynthia said, looking at all their faces.
Happiness swelled inside her as she felt something click into place. She was where she was supposed to be. Her place was here, taking care of these incredible couples and a few hundred of their best friends. She squeezed her Daddy’s hand.
“Let’s eat, everyone!” Dirk encouraged.
Friendly banter filled the air, reminding the tardy couple that everyone had waited for them as they celebrated first alone before joining the group. Cynthia was fascinated as she watched the couples. There was something so familiar about them.
As if he knew the path her thoughts had taken, Dirk leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Daddy, Mommy, Daddy, Daddy.”
“And Littles?” Cynthia whispered back.
“And Littles,” he confirmed with a nod.
“Are there more?”
“There are always Daddies and Mommies looking for their special Littles. Easton has created a haven for everyone,” Dirk confirmed.
Cynthia knew he was proud of his long-time friend. It made her even happier to be working for the same company Dirk chose to defend.
“Thank you, Daddy. You know… For taking on a case that seemed totally hopeless, for keeping me from jail, for welcoming me into your life, but most of all, for loving me,” she said, scooting a bit closer to the man who’d become her world.
“I love you, Cynthia. I’ll always protect you,” he promised, and kissed her lightly. “Now eat. You need some energy for future celebrations.”
There was no mistaking the twinkle in his eye. Quickly, she forked a bite of the delicious caramel cheesecake Belinda had prepared and hid her smile. She’d definitely be ready for whatever he had planned.
Thank you for reading Daddy’s Protecting!
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