Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“It’s all right. I’m here. Nothing is going to happen to you. You’re being such a good girl for me, and do you know what happens to good girls?”
She didn’t open her eyes. She couldn’t.
“No,” she whispered.
“They get rewarded.”
A full-body tremble shook her. She wanted to know what the reward could be.
But at the same time, she was too scared to ask.
“I . . . this is so crazy. I shouldn’t be doing this,” she said.
“But you are,” he told her firmly. “I’m going to let you clean yourself up. This time.”
That wasn’t ominous or anything.
But at least he left while she cleaned herself up. Pulling up her panties, Faith fixed her skirt. After she flushed, he returned to the bathroom.
Standing behind her, he reached for the soap and started washing her hands.
Faith felt light-headed. The care and attention were nothing she’d experienced before. He was a mix of hard commands and gentle care. Stern dominance and tenderness.
It was . . . difficult for her brain to keep up, though she guessed that was the point. Keep her on edge so she wouldn’t know what was coming next.
Oh, he was an evil genius.
Taking her hand, he led her back into the office.
“I want to go home.”
“No, you don’t,” he countered.
“You’re so bossy. You don’t know everything, you know.”
“Yes, I do. You fight me because you think you shouldn’t want what I’m offering. Because society has taught you that you have to be strong all the time and do everything yourself. Are you always going to let other people dictate to you?”
“So, I should let you dictate to me instead?” she countered dryly.
He smiled down at her. Whoa. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him smile. He looked so damn sexy that it took her breath away.
“Now, she gets it.” He cupped the side of her face. “Stop thinking.”
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“My suggestion would be to slip into Little headspace.”
14
Faith froze.
Had he really just said that? Reuben led her to the sofa where he had a blanket laid out.
She didn’t protest as he had her sit before wrapping the blanket around her tightly.
Too tight.
Panic started to fill her, and she fought against the blanket.
“Hey, it’s all right. You’re okay.” He attempted to free her, but she fought against him, making things worse. Tangling her up more.
“Faith. Stop.”
His words had her freezing, staring up at him.
“I’m going to help you, but you need to let me.”
Yeah, she had trouble doing that.
And then the one time she’d allowed people to help her . . . well, she’d fucked it all up.
Which just proved that she was better off doing everything on her own. Then, if she messed up, she only hurt herself. The last thing she wanted was to ever harm anyone else.
Especially the people she cared about.
Reuben freed her from the blanket, and she finally felt like she could take a decent breath.
“Swaddling isn’t a good idea, then,” he said.
“Sorry. I g-get claustrophobic.”
“Claustrophobic and scared of storms.”
She’d never claimed to be sane.
Faith waited for him to look at her like she was nuts, but he simply nodded.
“Noted.”
Huh.
Anyone who could hear about how crazy she was and not flinch was either very understanding . . .
Or crazier than she was.
She didn’t have to think hard to decide which category he fit into.
Instead of putting the blanket around her again, he placed it over her lap.
Another thump of thunder. This time, it felt like it rattled the entire building. It was on top of them. She was convinced of it. She leapt into his arms, shaking. Pressing her face into his neck, she breathed him in.
He sat back on his butt on the floor with her on his lap. For a moment she worried he would push her off him. Reject her.
She wasn’t sure what she’d do then. Under normal circumstances, that would hurt like the dickens.
Right now . . . it would likely decimate her.
Faith turned her head and slid her thumb into her mouth. Logically, she knew she shouldn’t.
But logic had long since gone out the window.
Another bang of thunder. Another whimper.
“Not safe, not safe,” she whispered around her thumb.
“You’re safe,” he told her. “From now on, you’re always going to be safe.”
Faith really wished she could believe that.
She shook her head with another whimper.
“Shh, you’re all right, Little Blossom. You’re all right. Do you want some skin?”
Skin?
What the heck was he talking about?
And why did he have to talk to her in that voice?
Steel velvet.
That voice hinted at a softness she hadn’t been sure he had. At an ability to feel empathy. It teased her with the promise that he would be able to soothe her fears.
Faith knew none of that was true.
It couldn’t be. Because then he really would be irresistible.
Reuben lifted her off him and onto the sofa. A whimper escaped her. She didn’t want to be away from him.