I grab her up and kiss her soundly. “Good thing when you’re home with me, I’m the responsible one.”

“I like that,” she admits. “How did you know?”

“Know what?”

She rolls her eyes, then leans toward the mirror to apply her mascara. “You know what I’m talking about.”

I smirk at her in the mirror. “I’ve known since you were a teenager.”

She turns to look at me with a shocked expression. “How in the world…”

“Babygirl, you always want to please people. You like when people give you instructions, even more so when they praise you for a job well done. So many little things.”

“Oh… I didn’t really understand what it was that I wanted until I started reading romance books…”

“It’s not unusual for people not to recognize things about themselves.”

She gives me an assessing look. “And when did you realize you are a daddy dom?”

I chuckle. “Well, I figured out the whole dominant thing on my own. I went to several BDSM clubs in the city, but nothing really fit. Then I met a man named Zane and his wife, Trinity. He’s a daddy dom, and he recognized a kindred spirit. We talked about his relationship with his wife, and it’s precisely what I craved but didn’t have a name for.

She gives me a look somewhere between a scowl and a pout. “Have you had a babygirl?”

I give her a patient look. “I won’t lie and say I’m a total innocent. But I’ve never claimed a woman as mine. I’ve only ever played casually at the club.”

The scowl disappears and is replaced with the pout. “I know it’s ridiculous, but I hate anyone you’ve ever touched as a daddy.”

God, she’s adorable.

I grab her up in my arms and hold her close. “No need to be jealous, love. It’s cliché to say, but no one has ever meant half as much to me as you do. You’re the one that I want to claim.”

She gives me a suspicious look but nods. I kiss her plump pink lips. I lick at her lips then, asking for entrance. Her lips part, and her soft tongue rubs along mine. The kiss is soft and slow. She attempts to quicken it, but a hand in her hair and one gripping her hip in warning has her letting me lead the way. When I break away, we are both panting. Cherry’s eyes are dilated, and she’s flushed pink with desire.

“Now, finish getting ready for work, babygirl. No more questioning things or doubting how much you mean to me.”

Her eyes widen at my words, and I’m wondering if I’ve said them too soon, but I decide I don’t care. I want her to know that I’m in this for the long haul. If that scares her, I’ll just have to reassure her that she’s it for me.

11

CHERRY

“You don’t haveto drive me to work,” I tell Nick for the dozenth time. “It’s barely any snow at all.”

He raises his brow and gives me a meaningful look. “Are you being bratty on purpose, young lady?”

I blink up at him, thinking about if that is what I’m doing… “No? I’m just… I just…” I stumble over my words because I’m not exactly sure how to articulate what I feel. It’s been a long time since anyone cared enough to drive me somewhere because it snowed. Grandma had terrible eyesight, so as soon as I turned sixteen, it was my job to drive us anywhere.

“What is it, baby?”

I let out a sigh. “I haven’t had anyone drive me anywhere because it snowed. It’s always been my job to drive.”

Realization dawns on him, and he gives me a warm look. “You have me now, and when it’s snowing, I’ll drive you to work. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you when I could prevent it.”

My insides heat with pleasure at his declaration. I like that he feels responsible for me to some extent. It’s nice to have someone who cares so much. A girl could get addicted to it.

“Okay, daddy,” I say shyly.

He helps me into his truck and buckles me in, I start to complain, but he kisses me silent. Not a bad way to be quieted, if I do say so myself. He kisses the tip of my nose before shutting me safely in the truck and circling around to the driver’s side. Nick reaches across the middle console and grabs my hand. We drive to Clipped holding hands. Definitely the best drive to work ever.