Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“But that wasn’t your fault!”
“No, it wasn’t. But sometimes we aren’t always rational about our feelings.”
“Oh, you don’t have to explain that to me,” she told him. “It’s quite annoying.”
He ran his fingers through her hair tenderly. “So if you find yourself overwhelmed, if you think you’ve done something wrong, I want you to come and find me.”
“And then you will punish me?” While it was a question, she was pretty certain of his answer.
“If you deserve punishment,” he told her. “Then and only then.”
Wow. She felt like she could finally breathe.
But what happened after he left?
Worry about that another day.
Cate slid her arms around his waist, hugging him back. He was so big and warm. She sighed happily.
He moved his hand to the back of her neck and started to massage the tight muscles and she let out a moan of pleasure.
“Like that, Catie-pie?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“So the protocol is Rhodes seeing that you’re all right, that you haven’t hurt yourself.”
“Yes. I’m not allowed to hide away behind a locked door when I’m upset. And I have to show him that I’m fine.”
“I like that protocol.”
“You like rules and order.”
“You already know me so well.” He drew her back so he could smile at her. Leaning down, he rubbed his nose against hers.
Then he gently cupped her face between his hands. Hmm, she liked that.
“Why did you pinch yourself this time?”
“The hair tie wasn’t working.”
“Show me.” There was no judgment on his face. Just concern.
Cate drew back her sleeve, showing him the red mark on her forearm. He lifted her arm to his lips and kissed it. “There, all better.”
She stared down at her arm. “I know the concept of kisses make things better, but you know that’s not actually true, right?”
“Of course it’s true. But only with a Daddy’s kiss.”
“Oh. How does that work?”
“Magic.”
“I don’t believe in magic.”
“That’s too bad. Magic is fun.”
Strangely, the small mark on her arm did actually feel better.
“Why did you feel the need to punish yourself this time? Because of what Kevin said?”
“Yes, he called me a liability. I’d never want to be a liability for Rhodes. And because I felt like it was my fault he broke up with Samantha. Although that seems to be a good thing. Rhodes deserves real love.”
Like what I feel for you.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, baby. Kevin was saying shit because he was angry, not because it was true. And you didn’t split Samantha and Rhodes up. Plus, like you say, he can do better.”
His voice was so tender. Like nothing she’d heard before. It made her inside melt.
“But I did leave when you told me not to.”
“You did. And I’ll merge those two punishments into one.”
“I feel like you think that’s a kindness.”
Ethan just smiled. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against her lips.
Oh. That was nice.
Cate let out a disgruntled noise as he drew back.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um, I don’t want to tell you.”
“No more kisses until you tell me.”
What? That wasn’t fair. “You can’t make ultimatums like that!”
“Fine, how about if you tell me, I’ll kiss you?”
“That’s just the same thing turned around!”
He grinned. “I love that big brain of yours.”
Her body heated up and she had to work hard to keep her emotions at bay.
He said he loved your brain. Not you.
“I was thinking that felt nice and I didn’t want you to stop.” She felt herself blush. It was confusing how often she blushed around him. Maybe she was going through early menopause? Was that possible at thirty-five? She guessed it was.
“Nice? Damn. I need to try harder.”
This time, his hand crept around the back of her head and when his lips pressed to hers . . .
Well, nice didn’t come close to accurately describing the feeling.
He drew back and stared down at her. “Well? What word would you use now? How about stupendous?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure it’s up to the level of stupendous. Definitely amazing.”
“I’ll take amazing. But let’s see if I can earn stupendous. Open your mouth for me.”
Cate barely had time to comprehend the order before his mouth was on hers again. A moan escaped her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He slid his tongue into her mouth.
When he pulled back, they were both breathing heavily.
“Well? What do I get for that kiss?” he asked huskily.
“Five.”
“Five? Out of ten?”
“Oh no, out of five. It was . . . breath-taking.”
“I’m glad, baby. That’s the way I always want you to feel when I kiss you.”
Cate had no objections to that.
50
Slam!
Something smashed into them! The car went spinning and flipped. She screamed. She couldn’t breathe. Pain enveloped her and she tried to open her eyes.
Ethan!
Daddy!
She had to find him.
Opening her eyes, it wasn’t Ethan she saw but Samantha.
“You bitch! This is all your fault! This is all your fault!” The other woman wrapped her hands around Cate’s neck and squeezed.