Page 20 of Daddy's Claim

Surprisingly gentle hands moved the loofah along my skin. “Because I’m trying to keep you safe. Listen.” He cut me off sharply when I opened my mouth to protest. “I know you’ve lived around some dangerous men your entire life, but I don’t think you realize how much your father insulated you from his reality. And he wasn’t lying when he said there are people who don’t like how big we’ve become. Or the fact that Cole married an ‘outsider’. Things aren’t all rainbows and roses around here, princess, and if our enemies think they can get to us through you, they won’t hesitate to do so.”

Snorting out a disbelieving laugh, I rolled my eyes. “Like anyone here gives a shit what happens to me.”

Strong, soap-covered fingers gripped my cheeks, turning my head so I was forced to look at him. “I care. You’re mine, Leonora. I don’t care how we came together, you are mine and I will rip the balls off of anyone who tries to harm you. And because you are mine, everyone in this house would do the same. If I have to blister your ass every day until you understand that, then that’s what I’ll do.”

My stomach did a long, slow roll and my heart raced at both the threat and his fierce words. “Why do you care so damn much? You just met me.”

“You’re mine,” he repeated.

It was far from a declaration of love, but my heart did a little flutter against my ribcage all the same. But I’d be damned if I let him know the effect he was having on me, so I kept my mouth shut.

“As I was saying,” he continued after a long, tense silence. “I don’t want to fight with you. So, starting today, you and I are going to work on helping you learn to obey.”

“That doesn’t sound fun.”

“It could be. If you let it. Or it can be very, very painful.” Running the loofah up over my breasts, his serious eyes met mine. “That’s all up to you, princess.”

Desperately trying not to moan at the wash of sensation, I focused on each breath as I drew it in and released it. “How so?”

“If you’re good, you’ll be rewarded. If you’re naughty, you’ll be punished. It’s a pretty straightforward system.”

“And how is that different from the past twenty-four hours?”

“I’ll show you. Stand up, princess.”

More curious than I cared to admit, I stood and allowed him to rinse me off, then to lift me out of the tub and dry my suddenly too-sensitive skin with a towel as fluffy as a cloud. We returned to the bedroom, where an outfit had been laid out on the bed.

Anger stirred again, mingling with the desire he’d awoken in the tub until I didn’t know what exactly I was feeling. “Who went through my things?”

“I did, while you were sleeping.

“You had no right to do that!”

Sitting on the still-rumpled bed, he pulled me to stand between his strong thighs. “I had every right to do that. Starting today, I will have absolute control over every aspect of your life. I will choose what you wear, what you eat, where you go and when. The only decision you will have, the only decision you will beallowedto make, is whether to obey your Daddy or not.”

Daddy. The very word sent a pulse of heat straight to my core, which I stubbornly ignored. “This is fucking bullshit!”

A muscle in his jaw jumped and the lines of his handsome face hardened. “Little girls don’t use naughty words like that.”

I hadn’t been a little girl in a very long time, and it was beyond humiliating to be called one, nonetheless treated like one at my age. “You’ve lost your goddamn mind, Michael DeCosta. Just wait until my father hears about this!”

“Your father should be thanking us. If he hadn’t spoiled you so much, we might not be in this situation.”

“He spoils me because he loves me.”

His features softened, just a fraction. “I know. And I understand that this is difficult for you. Which is why I’m taking the burden of making decisions off of you, until you learn what my expectations of you are. Now, are you going to get yourself dressed in the outfit I chose, or am I going to have to dress you, too?”

“Fine. I’ll get dressed. That doesn’t mean you win.”

“Whatever you say, princess.”

Irritated by his calm demeanor, I picked up the sundress he’d chosen for me and frowned. “Where are my underwear?”

“You won’t be needing them for a while. Certainly not when you’re at home.” A wicked gleam flashed in his eyes. “I want you available to me at all times, whether it’s to spank that naughty bottom of yours or so I can eat that sweet pussy. Which one depends entirely on your behavior.”

A few of the men I’d been with had tried dirty-talking me in the sack, but nobody had come close to Michael DeCosta. “This is ridiculous.”

“I’m sure it feels that way right now. Where’s your hairbrush?”

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