Page 46 of Teaching His Babygirl

Tears stream down my cheeks, this time, they are one hundred percent happy. “I do. I want you, Colt.”

“Then, you have me.”

I fall against his chest and hug him tight. I almost confess my love, but don’t want those words to be tied to this day. Yes, it’s brought me back to Colt, but it also has so much negativity. Those words deserve to have their own day. Their own moment.

He holds me for a long time before we finally break apart. He sets me up on the couch, once again wrapped up in a blanket, only this time he turns on my favorite baking show and goes to the kitchen. A few minutes later, he comes back with an omelet that smells divine.

“Thanks,” I say around a bite of cheesy goodness. I devour the entire thing, not having realized how hungry I was.

“You’re welcome, beauty. Are you feeling better?”

I sigh. “Yeah. I think so. Still kind of shaken.”

“It’ll take time. Do you want to talk about it?”

I snort a sardonic laugh. “I think I’ve talked about it enough for one day.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” he says with a sad smile. “I’m here if you need to talk. No pressure.”

“Thanks, Colt.” I have to fight the desire to call him daddy. I don’t deserve that privilege, not yet. After breaking up with him like I did, I definitely need to earn that right back. I need to prove to him that I can be a good little girl for him.

“No need to thank me, that’s what I’m here for.”

My response is cut off by a jaw-popping yawn. “I don’t know why I’m so tired.”

“You’ve had a big day. Why don’t we get you into bed?”

He reaches out a hand to me, which I don’t hesitate to take and let him lead me towards my bedroom. He lovingly tucks me into the bed, and I relax into the cool sheets. He goes to leave, but I reach out to him and ask him to stay.

He climbs into bed beside me, completely dressed. I roll over and rest my head over his heart, loving the sound of the strong, steady beat under my ear. I draw comfort from having him so close. It doesn’t take long for sleep to claim me. I thought my sleep would be plagued by nightmares, but I sleep peacefully.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Darlene

I wakeup alone and my heart falls until I hear Colt in the other room. It sounds like he’s in the kitchen. I stretch and climb out of bed feeling rested for the first time in days. Maybe because I’m waking up for the first time in weeks without anxiety. The stress and foreboding of someone out there stalking me was a heavy burden to bear. And, like an idiot, I let myself bear it alone instead of just talking to Colt.

I find Colt in the kitchen like I suspected and blush when I realize he’s unpacking the last of my boxes that I still haven’t gotten to. “You don’t have to do that,” I say even though I am feeling beyond grateful because I hate unpacking.

“Have to, no. Want to, yes.”

He puts down the pan he’s holding and comes over to me for a hug. I wrap my arms around him, soaking up his strength. I rest my chin on his chest and look up at him. “Thank you…” I almost call him daddy again but know that it’s not time yet. He’s not made any indication that we are back to normal, and I don’t want to push it.

“You’re welcome, beauty. You deserve to feel like you fully live here. It’s been months, and you’re still living out of boxes.”

I shrug. “My studio and bedroom are all I need.” I scrunch up my nose, looking at the kitchen. “I don’t cook so most of that is superfluous anyway.”

He chuckles. “I do cook, though.”

I quirk up an eyebrow at that. Does that mean he’s going to be spending a lot of time here? Not that I have any arguments with that. I love having him here. Though why he would choose my small apartment compared to his house, I have no idea.

“One of us has to, and if you leave it up to me, it’ll be marshmallow cereal and yogurt three meals a day.”

He lightly tickles my side. “Not on my watch…”

I giggle, the sound foreign to my own ears. When was the last time I felt free to laugh and be silly? My little side has been shoved into the corner of my mind for so long it feels good to let her stretch her legs so to speak.

“Why don’t you go take a shower while I finish up this last box, and we can watch a movie.”

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