Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 124140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
She sighed but didn’t argue. What a miracle. Getting up, he put the First-Aid kit back. When he returned, she was staring off into the distance, looking pensive.
“What’s wrong?”
She jumped, then turned back to him. “I don’t know. I just . . .”
“You just what?”
“I thought I would be stronger than this.”
“What do you mean? Stronger than what?”
“I thought I would be able to fight off anyone who tried to attack me like . . . like that,” she whispered. More trembles racked her body. “But I couldn’t get free of him.”
Sitting on the bed, he drew her onto his lap. He was all too aware that all she wore was his shirt.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
He wasn’t used to denying himself something that he wanted.
But now wasn’t the time. He hated how scared she sounded. She had a big personality, but as she sat on his lap, curled into his body, he was all too aware of how small she was.
How fragile.
That fucker Vince would have raped her. Then he likely would’ve killed her.
He could have lost her.
“There is no shame in being overpowered by someone stronger than you.”
She shook her head. “I should have done something more. I was so . . . so helpless. I don’t like being helpless.”
He understood. She might be tiny physically, but she had a strong personality.
“It is hard to learn that you have limitations, that you are vulnerable.”
But she did have limitations. And she should have had someone setting rules for her so things like tonight didn’t happen. If she was his . . .
Fuck.
He wasn’t in a position to have someone like Cat in his life. She would bring complications. Make him vulnerable.
So why did you bring her to your penthouse?
“I bet you’ve never felt scared or vulnerable,” she said.
Oh, he’d felt plenty scared and vulnerable when he was younger. That was why he’d sworn that once he was older, he’d be the one in control. The one who was feared.
“Feeling fear is what keeps us alive. Because we remember that there is always someone bigger, more powerful, more ruthless ready to take us out.”
“There’s someone more powerful and ruthless than you?” she asked.
“No, Pequeña. And that is why you should feel no fear when you are with me. Because I will keep you safe.”
“From everyone else,” she pointed out. “But who is going to keep me safe from you?”
Damn. She was so clever.
“I don’t intend to harm you.” He grasped hold of her chin, turning her face up so he could stare down at her.
“No?”
“No,” he said firmly. But he wondered if that was a lie. He didn’t want to harm her . . . however, it could be inevitable.
“So what you said earlier about punishing me if I was naughty . . . that was a lie?”
He smiled. “I don’t consider a punishment to be harm.”
“You don’t think a spanking would hurt?”
“Of course it will hurt. If it is given as a punishment, it will always hurt. But it will not harm. A small pain to prevent a greater one.”
“What kind of messed up logic is that?”
He ran a finger over her cheek. She was so beautiful. He wondered if she had ever explored her submissive side. He had to dig beneath the layers of sass and bravado to see it. But she did have a submissive side. She obeyed so prettily when she stopped thinking and worrying.
Would she be a brat all the time? Maybe she’d like him to collar her. Be his sweet little kitty, curled up on his lap, letting him pat her until she purred.
And then, when she was naughty, she could get on her knees and suck his cock.
Hmm.
Or was it possible that she was a Little? Joder, he was getting hard just thinking about the possibilities.
“Messed up logic? I don’t think so. What I think is that you need someone to lay down some rules for you and enforce them. You are far too blasé with your own safety.”
She stiffened. “You are blaming me for what happened tonight?”
He drew her around so she straddled him, his hand resting lightly on the base of her neck.
Do not scare her with your desires.
Not tonight.
Shit. Who knew that he could be so thoughtful and understanding?
It was rather disturbing to realize that he had a side like this.
“No, Pequeña. Never. I told you that I do not victim blame. And you insult me by believing that I would.”
“But you said I was too blasé with my safety.”
“And you are. You walked into a room filled with the most dangerous criminals in the city and you didn’t even have the good sense to be afraid.”
“Do you think . . . do you think that’s why he came after me?”
“Because you were our server?” Fuck. This was his fault. He’d allowed her to be dangled in front of those assholes.