The man was an evil genius.
And she thought she might well be falling in love with him.
“I’m never gonna be naughty when we’re out.”
“Oh, I’ll hold you to that,” he told her with a grin. Lastly, he ordered a time-out stool that was white with the word, ‘time-out’ painted along the top. And a booster seat that could attach to the dining chair or be used in his truck.
“I thought I only had to use a booster seat in your truck if I couldn’t drive it?”
“I changed my mind. It will be safer for you with the seat, so you’re going to have the seat. I might get a custom-made one with straps yet.”
Yikes.
“Now, that’s all ordered. Let’s get your rules sorted and go through any limits before we visit Doc.”
“I feel like it’s Christmas,” she said with wonder.
“You always get paddles for Christmas? Goodness, you must be on Santa’s naughty list. Tut-tut. It’s a wonder the big man hasn’t taken you over his knee if that’s the case. Now, wouldn’t that make a good Christmas photo?”
“Daddy! I am not on Santa’s naughty list.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “We’ll see.”
“It’s just that other than when we lived with Harry, I’ve never been spoiled like this.”
She didn’t even know how long she was staying for. Although now that she was here, she couldn’t imagine ever leaving. The idea filled her with fear.
His sexy control, his careful attention and overprotectiveness, the indulgence and tenderness. And the laughter. She never would have imagined after what happened with Tiger that she’d feel like laughing.
When was the last time she’d even thought about Tiger and her aunt? She guessed that was his intention. To keep her mind off everything.
Linc drew her onto his lap. Then he tilted her face and kissed her gently, sliding his tongue in to dance with hers. When he drew back, he kissed the top of her nose. “You deserve to be spoiled. And that’s just what I’m going to do.”
He set her back on the sofa. “Now wait here while I go get something to help you with remembering the rules.”
Damn it. How could he go from talking of spoiling her to speaking of rules? That was just wrong. He returned with a whiteboard and pen.
She gave him a suspicious look. “You just happened to have those on hand?”
He grinned. “I might have gotten Bear to grab them for me yesterday.”
Marisol groaned. “Daddy! You didn’t tell him what you wanted them for, did you?”
“Of course I did.”
“Daddy!”
“What?” He gave her an innocent look. He wrote Mari’s Rules on the top in surprisingly neat handwriting.
Yeah. Right. Innocent, her butt. The man knew exactly what he was doing.
“Before I do this, do you have any hard limits?”
“Um, like you mean things like blood play.” She shuddered. She’d had enough of needles. It just didn’t seem sexy to her at all.
“Yep. Exactly like that. Although I should tell you that while I will always try to give you whatever you want or need, blood play is definitely not my thing. I also don’t go to BDSM clubs, not anymore. Not since I was younger.” He appeared thoughtful. “They don’t hold good memories for me.”
“Why not?”
“Ahh, because that was where I met my ex. And also where she met her current husband, while still dating me.”
“You mean she cheated on you?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
“What an idiot.”
He blinked then a wide smile crossed his face. “You think so, do you?”
“I know so. She obviously wasn’t good enough for you, Daddy. Because she didn’t realize what a catch you are.”
“So you think I’m a catch, do you?” He put the whiteboard pen and board down and lunged for her, tickling her mercilessly.
She screamed, trying to get away, his fingers seeming to find every ticklish part of her. Finally, she cried mercy.
“Daddy, I’m gonna pee! I’m gonna pee!”
He drew back and lightly kissed her lips. “We can’t have that.”
“I think tickling is going to be one of my hard limits,” she sulked as he stood.
He held out his hands to her. “Ah, now that one I don’t think I can agree to. You’re just too fun to tickle.” Turning her, he landed a sharp slap on her ass.
She rubbed her cheek, frowning at him. “What was that for?”
“Distracting me.”
“Daddy!” Distracting him? Really?
He grinned. “We’re having a very serious conversation about rules and limits and then you made me tickle you.”
“Made you tickle me? Daddy!” She stomped her foot on the floor in outrage. Then she looked down at her foot in shock. She didn’t think she’d ever done that before.
“Did you just stomp your foot?”
“I think it acted on its own. I didn’t tell it to do that.” She put her hands behind to cover her bottom as though she expected him to start walloping her. Seemed her Little side was coming out more and more around him.
“A foot with a mind of its own. That sounds terrible.”
“Oh. It is.” She nodded solemnly.
“I’ll have Doc look at it. Tell him it stomped all on its own.”
“Daddy!” she complained. He wouldn’t! Right?
“Well, I can’t have it going around stomping on its own. The next time you stomp your foot I might think you’re about to throw a temper tantrum and put you in timeout to cool down. You don’t want to be punished for something your foot is doing all on its own.”
“You’re so silly, Daddy. But I really didn’t mean to do it. I don’t think I’ve ever stomped my foot before.”
“Then maybe it’s a good sign.”
“It is?”
“Yeah, teeny. It means you’re feeling more at ease with me. That you can be yourself. Now, go pee. Or do you need help?”
“No!” she squeaked. Shoot, she’d forgotten she needed to pee and now she really had to go.
After she’d taken care of her bladder’s needs, she stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. She looked different. She couldn’t put her finger on it exactly. Her eyes were shining, her cheeks slightly flushed and she was smiling.
You’re happy.
She pressed her fingers against her cheeks. Happy. Imagine that. It seemed like such a foreign concept and she realized just how downtrodden and miserable she had become. Yet, she’d been here with Linc for two nights and she felt lighter. So light, she wondered if she might float away.
Silly Mari-girl.
She grinned wider.
She flew out of the bathroom and plonked herself directly in his lap where he sat on the sofa. Even though she’d surprised him, he immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
“Hello, there. What’s this about?”
“Nothing. I’m just happy. You make me happy.” She buried her face in his neck. “Thank you for taking care of me, for letting me stay here, for wanting me.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me for that. For any of it. But I do appreciate it.”