Page 69 of Morally Gray Daddies

“No,” I said softly. “I don’t plan on escaping.” The truth was I meant it. I didn’t have any plans for escape. Those thoughts hadn’t been in my head for a while. I had almost forgotten I’d had no intention of ever staying with Erik. It seemed so long ago.

He stepped toward me and moved a wayward piece of hair away from my eye. “You know I’m kidding right?” He paused and studied my face. “You can leave. I meant it when I said that, and I still do. But you are also more than welcome to stay here.”

“Where will I sleep?”

“With me.” He motioned around the small cabin. “Not like we have a lot of options, and after last night I figured…”

My face heated with the memories of then, and knowing that in his bed, we would most likely repeat that act often. Which was a thought I didn’t mind at all. I looked down at my feet, not being able to hide my smile.

Erik grabbed my chin so I was forced to look into his eyes. “I am a strict man, as you have already experienced, but I’m a fair man. I won’t mistreat you. I’ll never beat you. I’ll never force you to do something that scares you, such as being in a cage. And as long as you live under this roof, I’ll protect you. I promise you that you’ll be cared for at all times. I’ll prove that to you.” He kissed the tip of my nose and smiled. “But,” he said, as his expression hardened, “I do enjoy spanking a naughty ass, too.”

His words sent little tingles through my core, and my pussy throbbed at the word spanking. Why that all happened, I had no idea.

He looked around the one large open room with pride then at me standing there, dusty and disheveled from the ride. “Why don’t you take a shower while I bring everything inside. Then we can make something to eat and get settled in.”

He reached for my hand, his large palm engulfing mine.

When we reached the bathroom door, Erik turned to me with seriousness on his face. “Our lives are going to change. There will be a lot to adjust to for both of us.”

I swallowed hard and drew a deep breath. In a tiny voice, I asked the question that had been plaguing my thoughts but I didn’t want to face, “Do you think they’ll find me?”

He opened the door and shook his head. “No. We’re on Heathens Hollow. There’s something about this island that keeps the secrets of the residents. I’m not worried at all. But even if they somehow do find you… I’ll never let them hurt you.”

“Or take me?”

“Or take you. You’re mine now. Finders keepers, remember?”

Chapter Ten

Days turned to weeks as I slowly adjusted to the way of life on Heathens Hollow with Erik. Each day that passed was another day Erik and I grew closer. He was a good man, a hard worker like my father had been, but he was not the same monster. I had grown to trust him—the man who had stolen me but now provided a sanctuary.

We lived an isolated life. No visitors came, nor did we visit anyone. I didn’t mind the solitary life with Erik. In fact, I believed it made us grow closer. We talked into the hours of the night about our pasts and hopes for the future. Erik was the first person in my life who listened to me when I spoke. He seemed to care. And when I told the dark stories of my childhood, Erik would wipe my tears as he held me tightly. He would promise that I would never feel such abuse again. He promised me that he would protect me forever.

I had grown to love Erik, and I believed he had grown to love me.

We didn’t say the words. No one ever had said those words to me, so I wasn’t expecting to hear them. But I noticed how he watched me, with a different look in his eyes. He held me differently. He kissed me differently, and he even fucked me differently. Maybe it was because he was getting used to my daily presence, but something deep inside told me that he loved me.

I was so deep in thought, reflecting on the past couple of weeks, that I hadn’t noticed Erik walk up behind me as I washed the last of the dishes.

“You seem a million miles away,” he said, taking the dish from my hand and placing it down. He spun me around to face him. “What is my good girl thinking so hard about?”

God, I loved when he called me that.

I smiled, enjoying his smell, his appearance, his everything. “Lost in thought, I suppose. Thinking of the last couple of weeks.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“What do you think of the last couple of weeks? Are you happy?”

“I am.” And I was. I was telling the truth.

Erik’s eyes lit up as he leaned in to lightly kiss my lips. “Good. I know it’s been tough, and it’s been lean around here, but I appreciate your upbeat spirit. It gives me hope that we’ll make this place a profitable farm. I think by the next harvest, we’ll have enough to store and go to the main part of Heathens Hollow and sell at the farmer’s market. I should be able to start in a day or two.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said as I cuddled into his body, needing his warmth against my naked skin. I couldn’t get enough of this man. “Will I be able to go to the market with you?”

Erik wrapped his arms around me, holding me firmly against his massive chest. “I don’t know if it’s wise yet. I’m pretty sure people are still looking for you.”

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