Page 23 of Daddy's Heart

“Then do it because I said.” He shrugged.

“Ryder—” His fingers pressed against her lips to silence her.

“After your nap, Sammy. Not a second before.”

She swallowed back her words and gave a small nod. Laying down for a few minutes wouldn’t hurt. It would give her time to get her words right, her feelings in order, then she could talk with a clear mind.

“Good girl,” he said softly, dropping his finger from her lips. He pushed her chin up higher and brushed his mouth against hers. “Off you go.” He turned her toward the door and patted her ass.

She walked from the kitchen, fighting the urge to run back to him and hug him tight. He’d wiped away all the stress, the worry, the angst when he could have yelled at her, kicked her out of his apartment, or just ignored her.

By the time she got back to her room, she could feel her eyes already starting to close. Grabbing her teddy bear from the nightstand, she pulled him close to her chest and laid down.

She was asleep in seconds.

Chapter 9

Ryder sat on the couch in the living room staring out the windows. Samantha had been asleep for over an hour, and her phone was buzzing in her purse constantly. He’d have to wake her up soon.

Then they needed to talk.

He’d spanked her. Pulled her panties down and spanked her bare ass.

Her perfect ass.

After she’d gone to her room, he’d sunk back down in his chair and stared at the open doorway, sporting the hardest erection he’d had in years.

If he’d ruined everything remained to be seen, but she’d fallen into his dominance with ease. Of course, she’d goaded him. It sounded like she’d had a shit morning and her emotions were running wild. He had no doubt she needed the spanking, and after her behavior, deserved it too. But she was his houseguest. His buddy’s friend. He’d crossed the line.

Now he needed to know if going back was possible.

Or wanted.

“Ryder?” Her soft voice came from behind him.

He turned around on the couch and saw her standing in the doorway, hair messed up, and a deep crease in her right cheek probably from the pillow.

“Can I have my panties back please?” she asked in a hushed tone.

He stood from the couch and picked up the folded panties on the coffee table. Rounding the couch, he brought them to her.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.” She took them, a blush forming on her cheeks.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, folding his arms over his chest. If he didn’t keep his hands contained, he’d probably touch her, grab her, hold her—fuck, he’d probably kiss her.

“Better.” She kept her eyes down and bunched the panties in her hands.

“Go ahead and put those on and we can talk,” he suggested.

She nodded and wiggled into the cotton briefs beneath her dress, keeping her gaze from him.

He probably had ruined everything.

Ryder went back to the couch. “Do you want something to drink? Glass of wine maybe?”

“Uh. No thanks.” Smoothing down her skirt, she walked around the other end of the couch and sank down into the cushions. Grabbing one of the pillows, she hugged it to her chest.

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