“Yeah,” she gasped. “It just went down wrong.”
“Dude, talking about beating one off at the dinner table just isn’t cool,” Aleki told Wolfe.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I hardly ever have to masturbate. It was a shock.”
She took another gasping breath.
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about anything sexual at the dinner table, hmm?” Caleb suggested. “We don’t want Vivi choking on her water again.”
There was amusement in his voice and she turned to glare at him. He just grinned down at her with a wink.
Asshole.
“She shouldn’t be choking on water,” Wolfe said. “Perhaps we should start using a bottle and feeding her ourselves.”
Was he for real?
“Let’s just wait and see, yeah?” Caleb told Wolfe. “I don’t think she’s ready for that. Okay now, jelly bean?
She nodded. “Sorry.”
“You all need to eat,” Aleki complained. “My food is getting cold.”
Might not be a bad thing, she wasn’t at all sure about this pie with meat. But when she dug into it, she discovered it wasn’t too bad.
“Pie isn’t on the doctor’s list of food,” Wolfe muttered.
“I’m sure it won’t hurt her,” Caleb countered calmly.
Wolfe grumbled but didn’t say anything more.
But a third through, she was full. She leaned back and rubbed her belly.
“You need to eat more,” Wolfe commented.
“I’m already full. If I eat any more, I’ll vomit.”
“That’s too bad,” Caleb said sadly.
“Why?” she asked suspiciously.
“Because there’re raspberries and freshly whipped cream for dessert,” Aleki told her. He patted his stomach. “More for me.”
“Hey, wait now. Everyone knows there’s a separate stomach for dessert!”
22
You’re a grown woman.
You don’t need to be shy about sleeping with a man. And it’s just sleeping. Remember?
How could it be just anything when this was Caleb. Her Caleb.
She yawned. Even though she’d slept for most of the flight, she was still tired. Probably due to jet lag or something. Man, she really wished she had Piggles.
“A grown woman doesn’t sleep with a stuffed toy.”
“She does if she needs to,” Caleb said from the bathroom. They were in her bedroom. Apparently, they were going to take turns sleeping with her.
Which was very civilized.
And slightly bizarre.
She bet Wolfe had a chart for that too.
Oh, Lord. Save her.
She might have to give up the prayers because the Lord didn’t seem to be answering them. Maybe he was pissed off at her.
Of course, considering the size of the bed, they could likely all sleep in here together. “Umm, oh, I don’t need . . .” she trailed off at his stern look.
“What’s the rule about lying, little girl?”
Yikes. Why did that firm voice just do things for her?
“I’m not supposed to lie.”
“That’s right. No lying. Do you want Piggles? The truth, please.” He might have said please, but she knew an order when she heard one.
“You won’t think I’m weird?”
“Jelly bean, I’m a Daddy Dom, remember? Of course I don’t think it’s weird. If you need ten stuffed toys to sleep with then that’s what you need. Might need a bigger bed, though, and you’re not allowed to cuddle them more than you do me.” He winked at her.
Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Then yes, please.”
It wasn’t long until he returned with Piggles. “Yay, Piggles,” she said with a big grin as she saw the pig.
Okay, maybe she was learning to be more relaxed about this stuff around Caleb.
“Think he missed you too,” Caleb said as he walked over with the toy. He brushed Piggles over her face then down her neck, hitting her ticklish spots.
She giggled. “Don’t, no! I’m ticklish!”
“I remember,” he said wickedly as he continued to tickle her.
“No, Daddy! No!”
She froze. Oh shit. Did she really just call him that? She forced herself to look at him despite her embarrassment. Satisfaction filled his face.
He handed her Piggles then grabbed hold of her chin, tilting her face up. “I love hearing you call me that. Never be ashamed of your needs. Because all I want to do is give you what you need.”
“Oh yeah? Then how come you guys keep threatening to spank me,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “I don’t need a spankin’.”
“Yes, you do. You need to know that someone is watching out for you. That they won’t let you get away with this self-destructive behavior you exhibit.”
“I’m not self-destructive.”
“Maybe that’s the wrong word. Self-sacrificing. Yes, that’s it. You don’t know your own worth. We’re here to change that. Now, do you need a light on at night?”
“Umm, won’t it keep you awake?”
“Nah, jelly bean. I’m good. I’ll leave the bathroom light on with the door half-closed. Have to remember to tell Wolfe to order a nightlight. I’ll brush my teeth then I’ll be out.”
Nerves flooded her as she realized he’d soon be in bed with her. She started to sing a silly song.
“Piggles, Caleb’s through that door. Piggles, I hope you don’t snore.”
“Does he usually snore?” Caleb drawled.
She gasped and dropped Piggles then picked him up and held him tight before she dove under the covers.
“Are you hiding, jelly bean?”
“I just can’t stop embarrassing myself.”
The blanket was whipped back and before she could try to move, he grabbed her under the armpits and gently tugged her up and against him. Then reaching down, he drew the blanket over them.
Aleki had turned the air-conditioning down before bed because he said he couldn’t sleep unless it was close to freezing so the blanket was needed. Caleb held her against his chest and tucked the blanket around her.
Then he kissed her forehead. “I think you’re adorable. And you don’t have anything to be embarrassed about.”
“Easy for you to say, you don’t make mistakes.”
“I make lots of mistakes,” he told her as he started to massage her scalp. “Nobody is perfect.”
“You’re close.” She yawned.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yeah?” she asked, as she felt sleep closing in on her. “What’s the biggest mistake you have ever made?”
“Letting go of you. Now, go to sleep, jelly bean.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Caleb watched her for the longest time. He was exhausted and he knew he needed sleep but he couldn’t seem to tear his gaze from her. As though worried she might disappear on him.
He was tempted to pinch himself like she often did, to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
Had he imagined her whispering yes, Daddy to him as she drifted off? Maybe. Maybe not. He was certain her Little was in there. She just had to relax enough to let her free.