Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“I know what costume I’m buying Daddy for Halloween next year,” Sadie announced before giggling so hard she slid off the couch and rolled around on the rug.
Howls of laughter followed from the Littles, making Lyra snort again.
“She did it again,” Zara said, pointing at Lyra as she held her sides.
“Sorry. You guys are too funny,” Lyra said. To her amazement, she didn’t care that she was the one who kept snorting. The Littles weren’t making fun of her. They were having fun with her.
Finally, as the laughter died down, the crew returned to watching the movie. Exhaustion caused by the stress of performing draped over her like a weighted blanket. Struggling to keep her eyes open, Lyra yawned in a jaw-breaking motion.
“Bed, Crash,” Phoenix announced as he stood and picked her up in his arms.
“I’m not tired, Daddy,” she protested.
“Don’t lie to me,” he warned as he walked toward the elevator.
“He calls her Crash,” Sadie whispered in the background.
“That’s how they met. How romantic,” Celeste murmured.
Lyra smiled against her Daddy’s chest. She loved that she had a nickname that pinpointed the event that changed her life. Spiders really were her best friends. She had Harry and that wonderful eight-legged insect that had panicked her, causing the crash.
As they rode up in the elevator, she mumbled, “You should like spiders, too, Daddy. They’re the best.”
She felt a shudder run through her Daddy’s body, and the corners of her mouth tilted up. Lyra pressed a kiss to his chest and surrendered to the sleep that beckoned her.
A piercing scream woke Phoenix. His heart beat rapidly in his chest as he immediately shifted into defense mode. Rolling off the bed onto his feet, he scanned the darkness. Only Lyra moved. Thrashing in the covers, she flailed her arms and feet.
Quickly, he crawled back onto the bed and pulled the covers wrapped tightly around her free. “Lyra, you’re okay, sweetheart. Daddy’s got you.”
One arm jerked free, hitting him on the side of the face. Stars danced in front of his eyes, but he worked without pause to free her. “Lyra, open your eyes, baby. I’m here. Phoenix is here.”
He dodged a knee that threatened to nail him, taking the blow on his thigh. “Lyra,” he commanded, changing his tone to give her a stern warning. “Open your eyes, or Daddy’s going to spank your bottom red.”
She froze in place. Blinking her eyes open, Lyra stared into his face as he hovered over her. “Daddy?”
“Yes, Little girl. I’m here. You were dreaming.”
“It was awful. Boyd came and trapped me in a small box, just like in that movie. I knew he was going to stash me in his house until he needed me to perform again. It hurt so bad when he put the wind-up key in my back. It still hurts.”
“Roll toward me, Lyra,” Phoenix directed in a firm voice.
When she turned on her side, he reached behind her to stroke over the sheet. “Aha,” he declared and lifted Harry up. “You were squishing Harry. He was the uncomfortable thing in the center of your back. Let me check.”
He ran his hand over her back and patted her gently. “No key, Little girl. You’re not a wind-up doll under anyone’s control.”
Lyra launched herself into his arms and wiggled onto his lap as he settled back to sit on the mattress. “It was awful. I was so scared.”
“No more scary movies for you, Little girl. Magnus was right. Our Littles don’t need to be frightened to have fun.”
“I used to like them. I didn’t think I’d ever run into anyone I’d consider to be a monster until I saw who Boyd really was. Do you think it’s over?” Lyra asked, clinging to him.
“I’d like to tell you, yes, but I think something’s happening with him.”
“Like what?” Lyra whispered. “More than making money when I performed and getting to order me around?”
“Probably.”
She shivered against him, and Phoenix knew he needed to redirect her from worrying about Boyd. He certainly didn’t need that guy in her thoughts when they were in bed.
“You know what Daddy thinks you need?”
“What?”
“I think you need a distraction, and I need kisses.”
Lyra blinked her eyes as she processed his statement. “Kisses?”
Phoenix lifted her body, turning her to face him as he guided her legs to wrap around his body. When she was settled, he cupped her jaw and pressed a kiss to her lips. Lyra responded immediately, leaning into the exchange with a hum of delight. He deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth to taste her sweetness. Hers wrapped around his, welcoming him.
Tracing the curve of her shoulder and down her ribcage with his fingertips, Phoenix loved how she shivered against him. The tips of her breasts drew a sizzling line across his chest, making them both gasp into the kiss. Her arms tightened around his neck, and she repeated the action.