Page 44 of Addiction

“Someone.” He reached for her with his free hand, stroking the soft skin of her chin with his thumb. “You, little girl.”

“Me?” Her lips twitched at his praise, but she appeared to be working hard to suppress her pleasure. “What does that mean? You envision taking me to expensive restaurants where you use me as a footrest?”

“Stop it.” He blew out a breath at her tantalizing visualization. “That is too fucking tempting.”

Her grin grew at his teasing, although Tucker couldn’t promise he wouldn’t follow through with her twisted little idea one day. He’d need to find a suitable establishment, but history had taught him that there wasn’t much money couldn’t buy in the city.

“It means that despite our fucked-up genesis, I’d love to spend more time with you, Ella.” His hand slid to her nape and held her. “I’d love to look after you.”

He’d told her that before but had always had the sense that she didn’t believe him. He supposed, based on his behavior in the barn, he couldn’t blame her mistrust.

“I’d like that, too.” Her voice was small. “But at the same time, the thought scares me, sir.”

“Why?” Caressing the back of her neck, he couldn’t recall why he hadn’t taken the opportunity to fuck her again after she’d so beautifully fulfilled the role of his footrest. For some reason, the urge to console and comfort her had won out, but her seductive skin told him that had been a mistake.

“For a lot of reasons.” Her laughter sounded nervous. “But primarily because I’ve never been lucky with the men in my life, and I guess I have trust issues.”

You and me both, little girl.

“Thanks to Bennett?” he probed. Everything that man touched seemed to turn to dust.

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “When push comes to shove, I’m just a girl with daddy issues.”

“You’re a hell of a lot more than that, Ella.”

If Tucker achieved nothing else, then he’d make damn sure she understood that much. Ella was the most incredible woman, and while it was true she hadn’t pushed herself too hard in her life, he believed she had the potential to achieve anything she put her mind to.

“Thanks.” She leaned into the palm on her face. “But I mean it, sir. I didn’t realize how much Alexander messed me up until Mum talked about bringing him back into our lives. Not that he was ever really in mine…”

“He sure has a lot to answer for,” Tucker agreed.

“Speaking of my mum, now that I…” She paused, her cheeks flaming as she considered how to express herself.

“What?” he goaded.

“Now that I’ve been your footrest.” She straightened as she finally found the words. “Can I call her, sir?”

“You can,” he assured her. “But I’d like you to put the call on speaker phone, and I don’t want you telling her anything about where you are.”

“That’s easy.” She smiled, although the gesture seemed uneasy. “I don’t know where I am.”

“Perfect.”

“Why do you want me to use the speaker?” She swallowed as she countered him. “Do you want to listen in on my call, sir?”

“No.” In all honesty, he hadn’t decided what he’d do while Ella spoke to her mother. “I just want to ensure it’s only your mother you speak to.”

“Right.” Her eyes fell fleetingly closed. “Okay, I can live with the speaker phone, but she’ll ask where I am, and she’ll be worried, sir. I have to tell her something.”

Tucker glanced behind him to the window as he considered her quandary. He was no parent, but he wasn’t totally devoid of human emotion. He could imagine how apprehensive Ella’s mother must have been at her daughter’s abrupt absence.

“Tell her that you’re safe.”

“I’ll need more than that, sir.” Her despondent tone jerked his attention back to her face.

“Then arrange to meet her.” Even as he said them, he could hardly believe the words leaving his lips.

Meet her mother?

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