Page 106 of Guardian Daddy

“They could have waited.”

“Ethan.”

“Yes?” he asked as she patted his chest.

“You’re all right too.”

He let out a deep breath as he opened her bedroom door and walked in, carrying her.

“Not sure I am, baby.” He was rattled, upset, angry. “But I’m doing better now that I’ve got you home and safe and in my arms.”

“You l-like holding me?”

“I more than like it.” He sat on an armchair in her room and positioned her on his lap, keeping his arms banded around her.

“You’re good at this,” she told him.

“At what? Taking care of you? Not sure if I’d agree after what just happened.”

Leaning back, she frowned up at him. “That’s not true. What happened wasn’t your fault. And you got us both out of there, safe. That means you did a very good job of looking after me.”

He ran a finger down her cheek. “So fierce. You’re good for my ego, you know.”

“I am?”

“Hmm.”

“I didn’t think you would have self-esteem issues. Is it related to your small penis?”

“What? No! I don’t have a small penis.”

She went red. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that. It was because of what Samantha said the other day about your penis. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She attempted to get off his lap.

Shit! What was he doing? He was supposed to be making her feel more at ease and secure. Not upsetting her.

“Hey, it’s all right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be . . . sensitive.”

“Oh. That’s all right.”

“You convinced Rhodes to stay in New York.”

“Yes. Although he wasn’t happy. Samantha got very upset. Can I tell you something in secret?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t care for Samantha.”

He had to keep his face from betraying his amusement. He didn’t want her to think he was laughing at her.

“I don’t either,” he whispered back.

“I feel so bad for not liking her. But she’s loud and she acts one way around Rhodes but can be very different when he’s not here.”

“I’ve noticed.” He cupped the side of her face. “He won’t like it if she upsets you. You should tell him. I don’t like it either.”

That was putting it mildly.

His Daddy Dom instincts were definitely in overdrive. And he was finding it hard to fight them.

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