Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
She bit her lip. “What should the word be?”
“Whatever you want it to be.”
“Fudge.”
“Fudge?”
“Yeah. I like the word fudge. I find the food a bit sweet though, so I’m not likely to ask for it. Ooh or Fudgsicle. Yes, Fudgsicle!”
“All right. You say Fudgsicle whenever everything is getting too much.”
“Fudgsicle!”
He immediately turned to her, lifting her onto his lap and holding her tight. “What’s wrong?”
“Um, nothing. I just wanted a trial run.”
He sighed. “Greer . . .”
“I know. I know. It’s not to be used lightly.” She smiled. “I really needed this hug, though.”
“Well, while you’re here. I might as well make sure you eat.” He grabbed one of the sandwiches and held it up to her mouth.
She sighed, but opened her mouth and took a bite. He wasn’t going to relent until she did.
“You don’t need to hurt yourself or let everything get on top of you. I’m here now.”
He held up another piece of sandwich and she took another a bite.
“I don’t want you to resent me. Because if we go ahead with this . . . with us . . . I’m going to fall in love with you.” She was three quarters of the way there already. “And if you leave me . . . how am I meant to survive that? I lost everything once. I had nothing, Hack. I was all on my own. I can’t do that again. I can’t.”
“Oh, baby.”
His heart was breaking for her.
“I have the same fear, you know.”
“Because those stupid ex-girlfriends of yours couldn’t see how amazing you are? If I ever see them, I’ll rub it in how stupid they were. And what they lost out on.”
“You’re good for my ego, Ladybug.”
She snorted. “You don’t need any help with it.”
“You’re right, I don’t. I’m the shit.”
She giggled. Relief filled him at the sound. He hated her being sad.
“I think it’s natural to have fears going into any relationship. It just shows how much the other person means to you. And I know I already mean a lot to you. Can’t blame you.”
“Might want to check that ego, bud,” she said dryly. “We don’t want to put any holes in Aidan’s walls trying to get your fat head through the door.”
“Hmm . . . fat head, huh?”
He winked down at her. Her face went bright red.
“Hack!”
“Are penis jokes a hard limit?” Shit. Maybe they were. Did she not want him to talk about sex at all?
“You can make penis jokes,” she said quietly. “You can still talk about sex . . . I mean . . . it’s not like I don’t . . . like I can’t . . .”
“Like you don’t what, Ladybug?” he asked. “Are you talking about making yourself come?”
“Oh my God,” she groaned. “Do we have to talk about that?”
“Hmm. I‘m thinking that maybe we do.”
“We don’t. We really don’t. It’s not the talking or joking or orgasms that upset me. I can still make myself come. It’s . . . it’s getting naked and penetration and having someone pin me down so I can’t move . . .”
Fuck. Hack realized her breath was growing faster.
“Easy, baby girl. No one is pinning you down or doing anything that you don’t want, understand me? I’ll take the balls off anyone who tries.”
She glanced up at him incredulously.
“Yes, even me. And do not roll your eyes at me, Little girl. That’s grounds for a spanking.”
“An eye roll equates to a spanking?”
“Sure does. An eye roll is sassy. Sassiness leads to being a brat. And brats need spankings. Or lines.”
Shoot. It was tough not to roll her eyes at his ridiculousness.
“You’ve been deprived of affection and attention for years, baby. You might not have realized it. Or maybe you did and that’s why you went online. Your Little was looking for guidance and support. And so were you, Ladybug. For someone to hug you and tell you that it’s going to be okay. To pick you up when you’re down or give you a push when you need it. To tell you no.”
She gasped. Rude. “I do not need someone to tell me no.”
“You drove across the country in a car that was on its last legs into a snowstorm. You most definitely need someone to tell you no.”
“I feel so picked on right now. Hey, you’re rolling your eyes at me.”
“I’m allowed to.”
“One rule for you and one rule for me?” she asked.
“You’re starting to get it, Little girl. Also, there are punishments for you and not for me.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
“It’s the way it is. We need to talk about your limits, rules, and punishments. But know this, you are perfect for me. I need someone who will turn to me for everything. Doesn’t mean you’re not strong. It just means that you know I’ll be there for you. No matter what.”