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 opened her mouth, taking a big bite. Another noise escaped her as her taste buds sang.
He eyed her. “Are you doing that on purpose?”
“I promise I’m not. I’m just trying to learn how to control it. You know, this is the sort of power that could be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
“Oh, undoubtedly. Maybe you need help learning how to control it. Perhaps from someone who wields their own sexy power.”
“Hmm. I think that is an excellent idea. Now, if only I knew a sexy person.”
“Brat.” He pointed a finger at her. “Don’t let your mouth cash checks that your butt can’t pay.”
She blew a raspberry at him.
“Careful. I can definitely think of better things that tongue could be doing.”
Whoa. Okay, yeah, he was the king of sexy powers. The head wizard.
“You’re good,” she told him.
“I know. Eat some more food, then it’s time for bed.”
The spaghetti was making her feel rather tired. She ate a few more mouthfuls, then reached up to wipe at her face, only to realize she was wearing his white shirt. Drat.
“I needs to go clean up.”
“Papi will take care of you in a moment. Just wait there.”
“Are you sure I can’t help you?” she offered as he started loading up the dishwasher.
“Little girls aren’t allowed to touch things in the kitchen.”
“But I’m a big girl.”
“You’re really not.”
Sometimes she didn’t want to be a big girl. There was a part of her that really liked having him look after her, feed her, even scold her.
It made her feel special.
She felt so safe and secure in the knowledge that this man knew how to take care of her.
“How am I like this with you?”
He glanced over at her. “What do you mean?”
“I just . . . I would have sworn that I’d hate letting someone have control over me. Yet, with you, I feel like I can let go. Like my Little side was always there but hidden, and now she feels safe to come out.”
“Perhaps it’s because you feel safe with me. Perhaps you’ve never met another Daddy or Dom. Or maybe they didn’t feel right to you. And you couldn’t let go.”
That made sense.
“Let’s go get you cleaned up.” He lifted her onto his hip once more.
“You shouldn’t carry me around like this, Papi,” she told him.
If she didn’t have spaghetti sauce all over her face, she’d lay her cheek against his chest.
Hmm. Who said she couldn’t do that anyway?
Noo. That would be naughty. And Cat was a good girl.
Yeah, you really aren’t.
Crap. Even she didn’t believe her own bullshit.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m too big to be carted around like an infant.”
“Pequeña, you’ll never too big to be carried in my arms.”
Lord.
Did he really just say that?
If she was the swooning type, she might have swooned right then. That was something straight out of a fairy-tale and it deserved a big hug.
“Thanks for dinner, Papi!” She wrapped her arms around him and pushed her face into his chest.
Uh oh.
“Cat, did you just wipe your dirty face on me?” he asked.
“Nuh-uh. I didn’t! I was just hugging you!”
“Hmm.”
“And what’s a bit of s’ghetti sauce between friends?”
“Friends, huh?” He carried her through her bedroom and into the attached bathroom.
She didn’t ask him if he thought they were friends. Because she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
He set her down on the counter in the bathroom. “Stay.”
“I’m not a dog, Papi.”
“No, you’re mi Pequeña.” He tapped her nose. “You’re also cheeky.”
She didn’t know what he was talking about.
He wet a clean cloth. When she held out a hand, he ignored her. Instead, he grasped her chin and cleaned up her face. Then both of her hands.
How long had it been since someone had done that for her?
Then he wet it again and cleaned off his chest.
“Did I ruin your shirt?” She bit her lip worriedly. Shoot. It probably cost a lot of money. “I can pay to have it dry-cleaned.”
He stared at her for a moment, then he cupped her cheek. “I don’t have a shit about the shirt. Stop fretting.”
Well. Okay.
“Want me to do that for you, Papi?” she asked as he wiped at it again. “I’m a good helper.”
“I’ve got it, Pequeña. But thanks for the offer.” He set the cloth down. “Let’s brush your teeth.”
“Do you need to brush your teeth, Papi? You don’t wants to get holes in them. Although maybe it wouldn’t hurt if you lost a tooth or two, it would make you look less handsome.”
He raised an eyebrow as he put toothpaste on the spare toothbrush she’d been given. “You want me to look less handsome?”
“Then I wouldn’t have to cut some bitches for looking at you.”
He stared at her for a long moment. She was expecting him to be horrified. Or maybe uncomfortable with her declaration.
She wasn’t expecting him to laugh.