“Oh.” Rosalind waved her hand through the air. “I know my reaction might seem callous, it’s just that Marisol is always hurting herself or getting ill. She’s a walking calamity. A bee sting is very minor to what I was imagining when I saw you carrying her.”
Rosalind gave him an admiring glance, her gaze eating him up. Marisol clenched her teeth together in reaction. She didn’t like Rosalind staring at him that way. Having a fiancé didn’t seem to stop her from sleeping around.
“You must be very strong to carry Marisol. She’s no lightweight. Why don’t you put her down, I’m sure she can walk the rest of the way. I’ll pour you a drink. You look like a scotch drinker.”
“Actually, I’m going to carry Marisol up to her room and make sure she has everything she needs. Then I have to get going.”
Rosalind sniffed, her face turning dark at the rejection. “Suit yourself. Try not to track dirt through my house.” She sneered at him. “I don’t want to be cleaning up after you.”
Like she did any cleaning anyway. Wisely, Marisol didn’t say anything. Linc dodged around her aunt and carried her up the stairs.
“My room is just down here.” She pointed to the far end of the hallway.
He carried her to the closed door that she pointed to, shuffling her weight around as he opened the door. She wondered what he thought of her room as he looked around. It was pretty bare. A double bed and closet. A small bookcase. Luckily her snuggly and Princess Nana were hidden away. She didn’t like leaving them out when she wasn’t home.
“I expected more books,” Linc teased. He set her on the bed and grabbed a pillow, waiting for her to get comfy before he set the pillow under her foot.
“We move around a lot so it’s not easy to bring piles of books with us. I had an eReader, but it broke so I’m back to paperbacks. Which is fine. I like reading from actual books too.”
Stop talking about reading, you’re probably boring him to tears.
But when she looked up at him, all she could see on his face was warm concern. “What can I get you? Water? Snacks?”
“I’ve got some water here.” She picked up the bottle of water she normally always kept on her nightstand. “And I have a couple of snacks in my bag.” She set her bag down on the floor next to the bed.
“Will your aunt bring you up some dinner?”
Drat. How to answer that without lying?
“Never mind, I can tell by the look on your face that she won’t. I should have just taken you with me to my place.” He ran his hand through his hair, looking worried.
“I’ll be fine, really. I’m sure the swelling will have gone down by dinnertime anyway.”
He shook his head.
“Linc, I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“I don’t like leaving you.”
“I know. Thank you for caring.”
He gave her a surprised look. “Of course I care. What time do you usually have dinner?”
“Around six.”
“Fine. I’m going to text you at five-thirty to make sure the swelling has gone down. If it hasn’t, I’ll find a way to get some dinner to you. All right?”
She wasn’t sure how he’d do that, but she nodded anyway.
“I can do that. I’ll be fine. Thanks for the picnic. Sorry about all of this.”
Sitting on the bed facing her, he leaned in and cupped the side of her face. Then to her shock, he brushed his lips against hers. Once. Twice. Small, soft brushes of his lips. But she felt his touch all the way down in her pussy. She pressed her legs together with a small moan as he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue against hers, teasing her.
When he drew back, her breath was coming faster and his eyes looked heavy with lust.
“It was my pleasure,” he told her. He brushed some hair behind her ear. “As I was trying to say earlier, I like you, Marisol. I know you said that things were complicated, but I want to do what I can to simplify them.”
She opened her mouth and he placed a finger on her lips. “Just think about it, okay? With Clint away on his honeymoon, this is likely my last day off for a couple of weeks. So just take this time to think things over. I’m still going to be texting and calling. But just know, I want to take this further. I want you.”
“Really?” When had anyone wanted her?
“Really. Think on it. And remember, I’m texting you at five-thirty. Make sure you answer, or I’ll be back here checking on you. And you’ll be in trouble.”
Ooh. Was it wrong that the idea of being in trouble made her shiver in delight?
11
Linc was grateful not to encounter Marisol’s aunt on the way out. That woman was a predator. He could handle that bitch staring at him like he was a snack and she was starving.
What he couldn’t handle was Marisol having to deal with the unfeeling bitch day-in, day-out. He had a feeling there was more going on in that house than Marisol was letting on.
He didn’t like it. Didn’t like that he didn’t know what was happening and that Marisol didn’t yet trust him enough with the truth.
Soon.
He started his truck, feeling a curious wrenching in his chest. Something that told him not to leave. To go back there and gather Marisol in his arms, carry her down to his truck and take care of her.
He sighed. Unfortunately, with Clint leaving on his honeymoon, he wouldn’t have a lot of free time over the next two weeks. Still, he was sure he could carve out some time for another date, maybe they could go into the city, take in a movie.
Do a bit of toy shopping.
She needs to know what you are, first. What you want. Need. And she may not want the same things. Perhaps she isn’t a Little.
There had been a few signs, but he’d hoped for something more concrete today. Especially when he’d walked into her room. But there had been nothing to hint at a Little side. No toys, no stuffies, no coloring stuff. Not that that meant anything. She could have a Little side and not know. Or maybe her Little was older, or didn’t like to play or . . . Christ, he didn’t know.
He’d enjoyed himself today. She was fun. Sweet. Funny.
Turning into the driveway for Sanctuary Ranch, he headed up towards JSI headquarters and veered off to where Kent and Abby lived. Parking, he got out and walked towards the door. Laughter hit his ears as he knocked. Sounded like someone was having fun.
“Daddy, no! Put me down!”
There was a smacking noise that made his eyebrows rise and his lips twitch. The door opened and Kent stood there. There was a glob of something on his forehead that dripped down his face. And he held a wiggling Abby over his shoulder.
“Well, hello there, Kent. Miss Abby. You’re looking beautiful today,” he greeted them.
“Eek! Kent let me down!”
“Hmm. Let me think about that. How about no?” Kent smacked her ass as she tried to get down.
“Kent!” she cried, the embarrassment in her voice clear.
“Linc, come in,” Kent told him, stepping backwards with Abby.
Walking in, Linc shut the door behind him. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Not at all. Abby here just thought it would be funny for me to wear the cookie dough rather than bake it.”