Her Daddy's Jewel (MC Daddies Book 5) Read online

  “Giving me some time with Maxwell is payment enough. Just keep him alive, it might take me a few days to get there. Honestly, having responsibilities really cuts into my torturing time.”

  15

  She startled as the door opened, setting the controller to one side. Her heart raced with excitement and trepidation.

  She’d spent most of the morning thinking about what she really wanted. And what she wanted was him. She wanted to see if she really could submit to him. If she had a Little side. But it was going to take some courage to admit that.

  Jason walked in then turned to look at what she’d been playing.

  “Grand Theft Auto, huh? Do I need to be worried about your driving?”

  She scoffed. Although she did like to drive fast. So maybe, yeah.

  “Don’t like that look on your face.”

  “What look?” she asked.

  “Like you’re contemplating doing something naughty.”

  “Me? Never.” She gave him her most innocent look.

  “Uh-huh. I believe that. I’ll have to give you a game later, although I don’t want to make you cry when I beat you.”

  “What makes you think you’d beat me?”

  “Baby, I’ve had years of practice with that game. You’re a toddler in comparison. You’ll lose. You’ll cry. Then I’ll have to comfort you. Actually, do you want to play a game now?”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Dream on, buddy.”

  He grabbed the controller, pausing the game, then crouched in front of her. “You been a good girl?”

  She eyed him. She should object to that question. In theory. But the voice he used was soft and cajoling. Folding her arms over her chest, she raised her chest. “If I haven’t been?”

  “I’ll add it to your tally.”

  Drat.

  “And if I have?”

  “I’ve got something for you.”

  “I’ve been good.”

  He drew out some more gummi bears from his back pocket. Yes! She reached for them eagerly. But he held them away from her.

  Damn it.

  Then he dug out a red one. “Open.”

  Crap. Her nipples stiffened at the command. She had dreams of him saying that to her while she knelt in front of him. Only it wasn’t a gummi bears going in her mouth.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  She shook her head, eyes wide. Hell. No.

  He narrowed his gaze. “Your secrets will one day be mine.”

  “And will yours be mine?”

  “Of course.”

  Two simple words. That meant so much.

  “Open.” A command wrapped in silk.

  She parted her lips and in went the gummi bear.

  “Love it when pleasure fills your face,” he said huskily. “It’s time for date number two.”

  She sucked in a breath as happiness filled her stomach.

  “I need to set it up. Without you in here.”

  She had to leave?

  “You can go into the closet. ”

  “And do what? Tidy up your boxers?” She screwed up her face.

  “You can touch my boxers anytime you like.” His eyes danced with amusement before growing serious. “But there’s something else you need to do.”

  There was a warning in his voice.

  “What is it?” she asked. “What’s wrong? Is it Callen?”

  “Whoa.” He sat and cupped her face. “No, nothing is wrong with your son.”

  “Promise?”

  “Baby, I would tell you immediately if there was. He’s your son. I might hold some things back to protect you. But never about him. I promise. Dax hasn’t seen anyone watching him. He’s safe.”

  She nodded, the tension easing from her shoulders.

  “I spoke to Reyes today.”

  She stiffened. “Is he mad at me? Was he calling to tell you I’m fired? That’s only fair. I’ll have to start searching for a new job as soon as we’re back. Oh God, what about my rent? Now that I’m going back, I’ll need somewhere to stay and what about my stuff. Shit.”

  “Okay, first of all, no, Reyes isn’t mad at you. He’s worried about you, so is Sunny. They both want to talk to you.”

  “Oh. I need to call them.”

  “I think that would be a good idea. Secondly, you don’t need to worry about your rent and stuff, all of that has been taken care of.”

  “What?”

  “I’m dealing with it all. Trust me. Besides, you’re coming to live with me.”

  She hadn’t agreed to that yet. But she also didn’t want to go home to her apartment.

  “What if you change your mind?” she blurted out.

  He frowned. “Change my mind about what?”

  “About me. About wanting me. What if I give you all of me and you change your mind?”

  What if she fell for him completely and he broke her? Why was it so hard to breathe?

  “Hey, look at me.” He drew her up then sat on the beanbag with her straddling his lap, facing him.

  Grasping hold of her chin, he raised her face. “I don’t want anyone but you. Understand me?”

  She wanted to say something sarcastic. To hide her true feelings behind the ice wall she’d built around herself. But it had been chipped away at, until she felt like she was all jagged edges. Still, if anyone had the power to warm her from the inside out, it was him.

  Pike.

  “Nobody has ever wanted me before. It’s hard to wrap my head around.”

  Wouldn’t he get sick of her? People always grew tired of her.

  Well, everyone except Maxwell.

  Urgh, get him out of your head.

  “What’re you thinking?” he demanded.

  “You’ll get tired of me.”

  Shit. Seemed she couldn’t hold anything in.

  “I have wanted very little in my life. But the minute I saw you, I knew you were mine. And I’m yours.”

  She searched his gaze for any hint of doubt. For a sliver of uncertainty. But he stared back at her calmly. There was only acceptance, hunger, and maybe something else that she wasn’t ready to acknowledge just yet.

  She drew herself up. “Promise you won’t break me. I could survive him. I put myself back together after he broke me. But I won’t be able to do the same if you break me.”

  “I will never break you.”

  The vow meant more to her than pretty much anything else. Her stomach still bubbled with nerves and she knew this wasn’t an instant happy-ever-after. But it was a step in the right direction.

  “Say it,” he whispered to her, running his thumb over her lips. “Say what I need to hear.”

  She didn’t have to ask what he meant. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. “I’m yours. Pike.”

  Satisfaction flooded his face. He gave her a smile that made her insides melt.

  “Damn fucking straight you are.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. You could go find a million girls who would be easier than me to be with . . .”

  “Fuck easy. I don’t want anyone but you. And if I have to tell you that every day for the rest of our lives, that’s what I’ll do.”

  He took her lips hard. The kiss stole her breath and made her mind spin. She put her arms around his neck, drawing him in closer.

  When he drew back, she whimpered in protest. “Nooo.”

  He grinned. “You like my kisses.”

  Like wasn’t the word she would use.

  “No talking. More kissing.”

  “I feel like that should be my line,” he told her.

  She had to grin at that.

  “Speaking about feelings and shit has never been my strong suit—”

  “You seem pretty good at it to me,” she interrupted.

  “That’s because you’re even worse at it than I am.”

  She smacked the side of his arm. That was actually totally true.

  “But we need to keep communicating, because I don’t ever
want to do something that makes you fear me.”

  She opened her mouth to dispute that, but he placed a finger over her lips.

  “And before you say that I wouldn’t, I might do it by mistake. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered. “Can we go back to kissing?”

  “Not yet.”

  “More talking?”

  “This is important. What about the rest of it? Do you want to be my baby girl too?”

  She bit at her lip until he gently released it from her hold. “I want to try.”

  Happiness lit his face and she relaxed, seeing that. This really was something he wanted. Not something he was willing to do for her.

  “But I’m not sure how to let go.”

  “We’ll work it out.”

  “I don’t think I’m like the others.”

  “Who said you have to be? We can do it our way. Make our own rules.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I only follow the rules when they suit me.”

  “You rebel,” she teased.

  “I went shopping for you today.”

  “Jason, you don’t have to keep buying me stuff.”

  He scowled. “I thought we’d stopped that nonsense.”

  What was he talking about?

  “Thirty-one.”

  She groaned. “I just forgot.”

  “I’d work on your memory if you want to sit comfortably.”

  “Are you really going to spank me for that?” She reached around to cup her bottom.

  “Sure will.”

  “Mean Daddy.” Oh. She hadn’t meant that to slip out. But the satisfaction in his face eased any nerves.

  “Do the things I buy you make you happy?” he asked.

  “Will you think less of me if I say yes?” she whispered.

  He gave her a fierce look. “Never. But I will be upset if you lie to me, if you tell me stuff you think I want to hear rather than the truth, understand?”

  “I understand.”

  “That’s rule one. We tell each other the truth.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “Respect is rule two.”

  “Yes.”

  “Health and safety are my jurisdiction. If I say something is too dangerous or I tell you to rest or whatever, then you’re expected to listen.”

  Seemed to her that was a very open rule. “I think we should narrow that down.”

  “I don’t.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “If I want to go somewhere and you think it’s too dangerous, then you just put your foot down and that’s it?”

  “No.”

  Oh. All right. She must have misunderstood then, because she’d thought . . .

  “We can discuss it, but at the end, I have the final say.”

  “Not sure that works for me.”

  “I’m not an ogre. And I won’t say no unless I have a really good reason.”

  She sighed. “Fine. Not saying I’ll always agree or do it.”

  “Someone will find herself in hot water then.”

  “What sort of hot water?”

  “I think you know the answer to that. You’ll likely end up over my knee.”

  Biting her lip, she stared at him with trepidation. “You’ll only use your hand?”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “I don’t think I could do anything else, not straight away.”

  “Hand only. And all you have to do is say stop and I will.”

  “Just stop? Not a safeword? I mean, what if I . . . what if I wanted to pretend to run from you? What if I wanted to yell stop, but I didn’t mean it?”

  He studied her. “Then you’ll need a safeword. Does red work for you?”

  She let out a breath. “Yeah, red is good. I know it might seem weird considering . . . ”

  “Don’t do that,” he growled.

  “Do what?” she asked.

  “Downplay your needs. It’s not weird if it’s what you want. We’ll figure it out. Any other limits?”

  “No humiliation, you can’t call me names.”

  Maxwell had enjoyed belittling her. She couldn’t stand for someone to call her names.

  His eyes flared. “Never. Don’t think I could even do that if you wanted it. You’re my Queen.”

  She let out a deep breath, relief filling her. She didn’t think it would be his thing, but she’d had to make sure.

  “Nothing that draws blood or leaves bruises.”

  “I would never go that far. I promise. We also need to work on getting you to stop biting your nails so much that your fingertips bleed.”

  “It’s habit. Lots of people bite their nails. And sometimes I do it in my sleep.”

  “I have an idea about helping with that. Doesn’t fix the underlying issue.”

  “Who says there’s an underlying issue?”

  He just gave her a look.

  “Okay, fine, I’m basically a bundle of underlying issues taped together with paranoia, sarcasm, and anxiety.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  She puffed out her breath. “I do it without even noticing it sometimes. Like when I’m sleeping. Or . . .”

  “What?”

  She bit her lip. “When I’m having dark thoughts.”

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “I want to storm out of here, and beat him until he’s a bloody mess then start all over again.”

  She let out a small laugh. “Crazy psycho.”

  “Thought I was a crazy stalker.”

  “That too.”

  “We’ll work on helping get rid of those thoughts.”

  “I had them under control, but having him reappear just brought them all up again.”

  He kissed her gently. “We’ll figure it out. Together. Right, what rules do we have? Speaking the truth, respect, health and safety, which includes going to the doctor and dentist.”

  “I want to lodge a formal complaint about going to the doctor and dentist.”

  “Noted and dismissed.”

  “How can it be dismissed without an argument?”

  “Because I’m Daddy.”

  Shoot. That was a good point. Sitting up, he drew her onto his lap. His face grew serious. “I don’t want you running from me. And I want you to tell me when your thoughts get dark.”

  She sucked in a breath. This. This was more difficult. “I . . .” she licked her lips, “what if it happens a lot?”

  Nobody wanted to put up with that constantly, right?

  “Then it happens a lot.”

  “What if you can’t handle it?”

  “I can handle it. Look at me.” She raised her gaze to his. He thought he could, but how did he know? “Can you handle me? My intensity? My single-minded focus? The fact that I can’t just let things go when it comes to you. Like if you don’t agree to live with me, I’ll likely break into your apartment to watch you sleep.”

  “How did I never know what a creepy stalker you are?”

  “Only for you.”

  “That doesn’t make it better.”

  “Doesn’t it?” he mused calmly.

  “I thought you were just going to sit in the parking lot and watch my apartment?”

  “I was, but it seems I’m escalating.”

  Totally. Insane.

  “Can you handle that sometimes I’ll be very strict, like when it comes to your health and safety? That the more time I spend with you, the harder I find it to leave you. That I want to do things for you that will likely annoy you. Things that you will consider your right to do but I won’t want to allow it.”

  “Like what?”

  “Feed you. Do your hair. Brush your teeth. Bathe you. Drive you everywhere. Go with you to work every time. Buy your clothes. Choose your clothes. Give you massages. That’s all I can think of for a start.”

  Right.

  First. Close mouth.

  Second. Think before speaking.

  “Okay,” she said slowly. “First, you can’t do those things for me a
ll the time. You have a life of your own.”

  “Yeah? What’s that? Hanging out at Reaper’s? Well, I can do that and watch you work. Unless you don’t want to work. I can support you.”

  “All right. Nope. That’s a hard limit. I like my job. I want to keep working.”

  He nodded. “Fine. No hardship to drink a beer and watch you work. So long as you don’t get too tired and you promise to take regular breaks and eat.”

  He gave her a pointed look and she bit her lip. Shoot. He knew that she rarely sat and ate while working.

  “If I live with you, I want my own space. An area that’s my own. I can live with how intense you are, but sometimes, I’ll need my own space.”

  He frowned. “Like your own bedroom?”

  “I don’t know. Just a place that’s mine.”

  “Like a playroom.”

  “Maybe,” she whispered.

  “Consider it done.” He drew out his phone and started tapping on it.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Organizing your bedroom for you.”

  “Now?” she squeaked.

  “Some reason why I should wait?”

  She shook her head. She guessed not. But Lord, he was like a tornado, completely wrecking her life.

  Then putting her back together. And making everything so much better.

  16

  After lunch, Jewel found herself sitting in the walk-in-closet, chewing on her fingernail. Jason had bought her a new phone and put all the numbers she needed in it. Before she chickened out, she hit Sunny’s name.

  “Hello?” Sunny asked breathlessly.

  “Sunny? Hey, it’s me.”

  “Oh my God,” Sunny said through the phone then she burst into tears.

  “Great. Now I really feel awful,” Jewel said dryly.

  “I’ve been so worried about you,” Sunny wailed. “You just left. I didn’t know what was wrong. I . . . I . . .”

  “Sunny, what’s wrong? What’s going on?” Duke’s demand drifted through the phone.

  Jewel winced. Duke had to be furious with her.

  “It’s Jewel,” Sunny explained.

  “Is she all right? What’s happened?” he demanded.

  “Nothing, we’re just having a moment.”

  “A moment?”

  “Yes, now, go away. Shoo.”

  “Go away, shoo?” Duke asked incredulously.