Page 47 of Teaching His Babygirl

I beam up at him. “Can we watchLegend?”

“You bet.”

“Tom Cruise is so cute in that one!” I say, dancing towards the bathroom, but not before Colt gives me a light love tap on my bottom in warning for my snark.

* * *

It’s beentwo days of cuddling on the couch watching movies and Colt hasn’t so much as kissed me with anything other than platonic affection. He talked me into taking the week off to recuperate after the attack. I easily agreed once he agreed to take the week off too. Now it’s Sunday afternoon, and he’s leaving to get a bag of clothes and things from his place.

He gives me a sweet kiss on the top of my head before leaving, and I flop back on the couch in frustration. I love that Colt is doting on me and basically spoiling me rotten, but I hate that he’s treating me like I’m going to crack into a million pieces at the slightest thing.

Yes, what happened Friday was traumatic, and no, I’m not over it—I won’t be for a long while, I suspect—but it has nothing to do with Colt and me. I love all the cuddles. I really do. I want more than just that though. He won’t even give me more than a PG-rated kiss. I’ve been without him for weeks, and it’s driving me crazy to have him here but only part of him.

I’m happy he agreed to take the week off with me. I’m hoping it will give us a chance to reconnect. I’ve hinted at wanting to get back to our daddy and little relationship, but he’s either being obtuse about it or doesn’t want to dive back into it. I miss it. I need the freedom and discipline that comes with being Colt’s babygirl.

While Colt is gone, I make the best of my time. I want to make it clear that I’m ready to resume our relationship—our whole relationship. I decide to just go all in. I find a pretty dress like what I would wear to the club and put it on. Nerves start creeping in because I’m being extremely forward and wouldn’t handle being rejected well at all.

“He won’t reject me,” I say aloud to the room. “He’s just being overly careful because of my trauma…”

I hope.

Not sure how to coax Colt into picking up where we left off, I decide to go to my studio. It’s the place where I think the best. Maybe inspiration will spark. Ugh. The room is a disaster. I’ve been so distraught these last several weeks that I haven’t been cleaning up. I’ve just let things fall where they may. I decide to tidy up while I wait for something to come to me.

I’m humming my favorite song and cleaning my drawing table when I hear the door open and close—a thrill of excitement courses through me knowing that Colt is back. I look down at the ruler I was just getting ready to put away when that inspiration I was looking for strikes…

“Darlene?” Colt calls from the other room.

“In the studio!”

I hear his heavy footfalls as he makes his way towards me and my insane idea…

Chapter Twenty-Three

Colt

I walkinto the room and see Darlene bent over her desk, rearranging something. I groan internally because not only has she changed into one of her pretty dresses that she wears when she’s feeling like her little self but because it’s short enough to show off her panty covered ass when she bends over.

Pure fucking torture.

I’ve been so careful with her these past couple of days. All I can see is the traumatized woman from the alley. Bleeding from a cut on her neck and pale as a ghost. I can’t get the vision out of my head. Every time I think about it, I get sick to my stomach and can’t stand the idea of rushing her back into a relationship where she gives up her control.

Now I’m wondering if that was the right move or not because from the looks of things, she’s telling me she’s ready and willing to restart our dynamic.

“What are you up to, Darlene?” I ask, even though I know exactly what she’s doing.

“I’m just tidying up.” She turns and gives me a mischievous look telling me that’s definitely not all she’s up to.

Darlene stands up straight and turns around, holding her hands behind her back. She gives me a smile that says she’s sweet and innocent, but the spark in her eyes says something altogether different.

“You look beautiful, babygirl.”

Her cheeks flush pink at my compliment. She’s always been so confident that it’s strange seeing her so shy. Does she think I’m going to reject her? Perhaps I’ve read the whole situation wrong. She didn’t need me to handle her with such care as a man would the woman he loves after something so traumatic.

She’s needed me to be her daddy. Strong and confident. Taking charge and leading the way instead of letting her lead. I won’t make that mistake again. If she needs me to be her daddy, that’s exactly what I will give her. Seeing the light on in her eyes again is enough to tell me my new course of action is the right one.

Darlene comes towards me, that mischievous smile spreading wide as she closes the distance between us. She stops short, rocking back on her feet with her hands still behind her back.

“What do you think you’re doing, babygirl?” I growl.

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