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

  “Jason, you’re joking right . . .”

  He took her finger into his mouth and bit down.

  “Ouch! Crap! Why’d you do that?”

  “What do you call me?”

  “Fuck’s sake. I’m not your woman. We can’t be anything to each other. I’m not . . . I’m not in a place to be anyone’s woman. Got me?”

  “Not even a little bit.” He looked down at her bitten nails, his eyes narrowed. She braced herself for his comments, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Come on, get undressed and into the bath.” He stepped away and drew off his T-shirt.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “Joining you.” He reached for his belt.

  “You can’t!”

  Her mouth practically dropped open as she stared at him. Fuck. How had she not realized how ripped he was? Even with the tight T-shirt on, molding all of his body, she hadn’t been prepared for this.

  A rippling six-pack, that V that she thought only existed on guys in magazines and the TV. He had a small trail of hair that led down to his groin. Then he took off his belt. Fuck, was there anything sexier than watching a man undo his belt?

  If so, she wasn’t certain what it was.

  He stripped off his pants, just standing there in his boxers.

  Her mouth was dry. She could hear the blood rushing through her body to pool in her clit.

  Do it. Take them off.

  Please don’t let her have said that out loud.

  He chuckled as he stripped off completely. His dick was erect. And it was fucking beautiful. Thick, with a wider head and a slight curve. She wanted to sink to her knees and worship that fucking thing then beg him to take her.

  But you don’t deserve him. For all his talk, he could do so much better than you.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”

  “W-what?”

  He reached for her, drawing her gently closer. His hand was around the nape of her neck, but unlike Maxwell’s touch, his didn’t fill her with dread or horror or revulsion.

  Instead, she felt protected.

  What was wrong with her?

  She closed her eyes, dropping her head forward. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t going to let her hide. Grasping hold of her chin, he lifted her face. Then to her shock, he very gently kissed her forehead.

  “Easy, baby girl. Just let it all go.”

  “I can’t. I don’t know how.”

  He moved his hands to her shoulders, massaging them. She groaned. Had anything ever felt so good?

  “Shit, you’re tight. You don’t need to take everything on, Jewel. It doesn’t all fall to you.”

  “I don’t have anyone else to give it to.”

  “Yeah. You do.”

  She looked up at him. “You don’t want my shit.”

  “I’m telling you that if you don’t give it to me, I’m going to fucking take it. I’m not letting you do this all alone. Not anymore.”

  To her shock, tears filled her eyes. She didn’t cry. Crying was worthless. Pointless. She hadn’t cried in years. She closed her eyes, forcing them back.

  “I have to return. This . . . this fairytale that you’re weaving. It’s not real. We have a few hours. That’s it. And the thing is,” she took a shuddering breath, “the thing you don’t understand is that you’re making everything worse.”

  8

  You’re making everything worse.

  He knew that she didn’t mean it. She just didn’t know what he had planned. She didn’t know that she could trust him. Implicitly.

  That he would do anything he had to in order to protect her.

  She’d come to understand that. To know that all she had to do was tell him what she wanted and he’d make it happen.

  Yeah, he ran the risk of spoiling her. But fuck, with everything that had happened to her, and he was under no illusion that he knew the half of it, she deserved to be spoiled.

  He had seen her watching the other girls with longing in her gaze.

  She wanted what they had.

  At first, he thought it was the relationship part. The unwavering loyalty and love. And she did want that. Much as she might deny the love part. She was prickly, his girl. Her shield was made with sharp edges of glass, ready to cut at anyone who got too close. Well, anyone that she didn’t soften for.

  She could cut at him, try to hurt him. But he knew her secret.

  She only did it to protect him.

  Or she thought she was protecting him. But he was going to get her to cut that shit out. He was a grown-ass man and he didn’t need her protection. She could save that for their kids.

  He was thinking six.

  But that would come later. First, he had to earn her trust. He had to show her that he could protect her, take care of her, give her everything she needed.

  He’d done his research. While she might not want to sleep with a stuffy and a pacifier, or color and play with dolls, that didn’t mean she wasn’t a Little.

  Maybe she was more of a Middle. She definitely had a mouth on her. Something he’d smack her ass often over. And enjoy every second.

  But he’d have to be careful. His punishment wasn’t abuse. It would be agreed on.

  He’d read books, romance books. He’d even spoken to a few Daddy Doms and their Littles. Not the ones he knew. Because he wouldn’t reveal that part of her to their friends unless that was something she agreed to.

  He wasn’t a fucking idiot after all.

  He enjoyed having his balls where they were.

  He was going to need them if they were having six kids. They’d need to all be boys, though. Because a little girl that looked like Jewel . . . yeah, he wasn’t dealing with that.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “Kids.”

  “Um, okay. I just tell you that you’re making everything worse for me and you tell me that you’re thinking about kids. That’s not fucking weird at all.”

  “Get used to it.”

  She glowered up at him. “You’re not listening to me.”

  “Nope.”

  She pursed her lips

  He tapped her lower lip. “No pouting, baby blue.”

  She gasped sounding outraged and he had to hide his grin. This was fun.

  “I do not pout.”

  “Uh-huh. You’re cute when you pout. But it won’t sway me from what I have to do.”

  A knock at the door interrupted him before he could say anything more. He scowled, aware of how she’d tensed up. Christ, any tenser and she’d do herself an injury.

  He lifted her up onto the counter again.

  “Wait there. Do not get in the bath without me.” He drew on his pants.

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s my job to bathe you now.”

  “Um, Jason, I’ve been taking baths by myself since I was like three.”

  “Not anymore. Don’t move from the counter.”

  He stormed to the door and opened it, finding Grafton on the other side. “What?”

  “I couldn’t hear anything. Maxwell wants her back soon.”

  “Tough shit.” He shut the door in his face. Asshole.

  Fuck. Why couldn’t people leave them alone? He needed to settle his woman. Right now, she was scared of the unknown. Sure, it pissed him off that she didn’t trust him enough to know that he would take care of any threat to her. But he got it. He could demand trust, but the only thing that would get her trust was to earn it.

  He moved back into the bathroom. She’d gotten off the counter, but hadn’t climbed in the bath. She raised her chin.

  “You can’t boss me around.”

  “No?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

  “No. I’m not some plaything. I’m not a possession. I’m a person. I have a say in my life.” The fire in her eyes suddenly died, going darker and he wanted to kill that bastard for taking it. “Or I did.”

  “You had it right the first time.” He grasped her chin. “At least partially. You
’re not a plaything. And you definitely have the right to demand things. To have a voice.”

  “But?”

  “But you are my possession.”

  “You fucking asshole, I am—” He leaned forward and kissed her, holding her tight to him. She finally melted, giving in to him and he leaned back. “But I’m your possession too. I’m yours to command as much as you are mine.”

  Something in her relaxed as she took in his words.

  She’d been through so much, his baby.

  “You tell me what you need, I’ll provide it. The only place I draw a line is where you harm yourself. That won’t ever be allowed. Understand?”

  “Jason—”

  “That’s twelve.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m keeping track of how many times you call me Jason instead of using my real name.”

  His phone rang. For fuck’s sake.

  He pointed at her. “Stay there. Or you’ll be in trouble.”

  “What sort of trouble?”

  He didn’t turn back, not wanting her to see his grin.

  “Well, I could tie you to the bed then drive you insane with my mouth, eating you out but not letting you come.”

  She gasped.

  “Or I could plug your ass and make you stand in the corner for ten minutes with that sexy fucking ass on display.”

  An ass that had gotten smaller since she hadn’t been taking care of herself. That was about to change.

  Turning, he looked at her over his shoulder. “Or I could put you over my knee and spank that naughty ass until it’s a pretty shade of red and you’re promising to be a good girl.”

  He shut the door on her outraged cry, chuckling as he heard something hit the door.

  That was his girl. Feisty, independent, and fiercely loyal.

  He wouldn’t have her any other way.

  Moving to his phone, he answered the call.

  “What is it?”

  “Where the fuck have you been?” Reyes demanded. “I’ve been calling you all night.”

  “Calm down, you’ve called me like five times.”

  “Jason, I’m warning you, don’t fuck around with me. She’s safe?”

  “I texted you that she was.”

  “Yeah, and that’s all you fucking said! I’m two seconds from coming out there and grabbing her myself. And Sunny won’t be far behind me.”

  “I texted Sunny already. And Jewel’s not yours to worry about or protect.”

  “She’s like a sister to me. Of course I’m worried. Just tell me again that you have her.”

  “I have her. She’s in my bathroom.”

  There was a beat of silence. He could practically sense Reyes seething down the phone.

  “If you touch her against her will—”

  “What the fuck do you take me for?” Jason snapped. “Because if you think I would ever touch a woman against their will, let alone Jewel, then you should have fucking put a bullet in me already.”

  “Fuck. Shit. I know you wouldn’t. I’m just . . . not thinking clearly right now. You know I’m protective of her. Let me talk to her.”

  “No.”

  “Jason . . .” he warned.

  “No. I won’t let you undermine what I’m trying to achieve.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “To gain her trust.”

  More silence.

  “Jason . . .”

  “I don’t need your negativity right now,” he said firmly. “Now is there anything else? Things are in a delicate balance and I need to get back to her.”

  Leaving her alone to think wasn’t a good idea.

  “Yeah, there’s a reason I called. Ink just told me something he’d remembered. A while ago, there was a fight at Reaper’s.”

  “When isn’t there?” Was this really important enough to call him five times? He and Jewel could be taking a bath together by now. He didn’t intend on having sex with her right now. Not until he gained her trust. He didn’t want her using sex as an excuse for his feelings for her. This wasn’t about sex. Not even close.

  “There was a guy who he was helping kick out of Reapers. The guy said to him to tell Jewel that Maxwell said hi.”

  Ice froze his veins.

  “That fucker is meant to be dead. So I don’t know if it was someone messing with her head or what. But this happened right before she started growing distant.”

  “Fuck.”

  How the hell was this all connected? What was he missing? Were Luc Darrins and Kenton Maxwell somehow related?

  “Got to go.”

  He ended the call.

  What was going on? He hated that he didn’t know everything. It meant he couldn’t protect her properly.

  He set the phone down. He couldn’t put it on silent. There were things he had in motion and he needed to be contactable if things went to shit.

  Turning, he headed back to the bathroom. Time for answers. Then some pampering care. Something that would hopefully soothe the darkness inside him.

  Why was she just sitting here?

  She should leave. This was madness. She couldn’t believe he’d come back for her.

  He seemed to be under some delusion that they were meant for each other. That she should want this. Want him.

  Of course you want him.

  Yeah, but she couldn’t have him. It was impossible.

  Would Maxwell punish her for being with him when she got back?

  No doubt.

  The counter against her ass was cool. Her dress barely covered her. She didn’t have anything else to wear.

  She felt dirty and used and lost.

  If Jason knew the things she’d done, he wouldn’t want her. He’d understand that she was gutter trash. And he’d throw her away.

  But you have this one night . . . shouldn’t you stay? Grab a few hours of freedom while you can?

  Or would that just make it harder to go back into hell? Having a taste of what could have been.

  Yeah, best she just go.

  She climbed down from the counter as the door opened and she came face to face with Jason.

  How was it fair that her body reacted like this to him? That all it took was one look and she went weak at the knees. Her strength was a pretense. She was weak. The longer she stayed, the harder it would be to resist him.

  So don’t.

  Maxwell is going to punish you either way. He won’t believe that he didn’t fuck you. Why get punished for something you didn’t do?

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he murmured. It wasn’t a threatening voice. More curious. Cajoling.

  As though he sensed how close she was to the edge.

  “I need to go back.”

  He wrapped a hand gently around the nape of her neck then leaned down so their eyes were level. He was so big. All over. It was intimidating and tempting all at once.

  “You’re not going back there, baby girl. Not ever.”

  If only.

  “Don’t call me that. I’m not a baby girl.”

  “Yes, you are. You’re mine. My baby blue.”

  She just shook her head. “Jas—”

  He raised his eyebrows, giving her a firm look. And she remembered his warning. Her bottom clenched together. Maybe at one time, she’d thought being spanked would be hot. But did she still think like that?

  She imagined herself over his firm, thick thighs and a small shiver went through her. How was it possible that she could think of pain as a turn-on?

  “Why won’t you say my name?” he asked quietly.

  Because she was worried that might cement something between them.

  My woman calls me Pike.

  And she couldn’t do that. Because she had to leave in a few hours. And he would be a memory.

  When she didn’t reply, he leaned in. He was going to kiss her.

  To her surprise, though, he didn’t kiss her lips. Instead, he placed a gentle kiss on her nose then each cheek then her forehead. She closed her ey
es, savoring his touch. When had anyone treated her like this? Like they cherished her.

  His gaze moved over her face and he seemed to see something there that made his shoulders loosen. “You’re exhausted. You need sleep.”

  “I just want to sleep without being scared,” she whispered.

  He nodded. “Then that’s what you’ll have. I told you, all you have to do is ask.”

  Nobody had ever given her what she needed. Whether she asked or not.

  “Let me take care of you. Just let go for a bit and give everything to me.”

  She leaned her forehead against his chest. “Only tonight.”

  “Shh, worry about that later. All you need to concern yourself with is doing what I say right now.”

  “What if I don’t like what you say?” she grumbled.

  His chest moved up and down on a silent laugh. “I’m sure you’ll let me know.”

  Yeah, she guessed that was true.

  “Can I help you get undressed?”

  The gentleness in his voice nearly undid her. At times he was bossy, then he became almost sweet. It was throwing her off her game.

  She bit her lip, leaning back to look up at him. “I think . . . I’m not ready for you to see me . . .”

  He frowned. She could see the questions in his face, but he didn’t ask. Instead, he nodded. “I just want to help you. I won’t touch you anywhere you don’t want me to.”

  She really wanted that bath. And she wanted to know what it would be like to feel cared for. Just for a little while.

  “Can you look away while I get in the water? I’m not ready for . . . for sex.” Despite her words earlier.

  “Fuck, baby. Fuck. I know that. Christ, that’s not what I want. Not at all.”

  “Well, that makes me feel good,” she commented dryly.

  He groaned. “Messing this up, aren’t I?”

  “It’s not that I think you’ll hurt me.”

  “Christ, baby girl, please stop. You’re killing me. If I promise that all I’m doing is taking care of you, will you let me? If anything makes you uncomfortable, I’ll stop at once. I swear.”

  “All right. But turn around while I get in.”

  He frowned. “I wanted to check you over.”

  “I’m fine,” she said hastily.

  “I have a feeling you’d tell me that even if you were bleeding out.”