Page 22 of Storm

“You’re welcome.” His lips twitched into a faint smile before he asked, “Do you want me to feed you?”

The question hung in the air, and Storm tried to keep his expression neutral, though the thought of pulling her onto his lap and spoon-feeding her sent a flicker of heat through his body. He wasn’t sure if she’d be comfortable with it, and the last thing he wanted was to push her too far, too fast. So, he gave her the choice, even though his instincts screamed to take over.

“Um,” she murmured, glancing around the room where a handful of club members lingered. Her cheeks flushed faintly. “I can do it.”

He nodded, keeping his disappointment at bay, and tested the temperature of his chili before handing her a thick-handled plastic spoon. They ate in silence, the quiet between them feeling more intimate than awkward. Every so often, Brook took a drink from the sippy cup he’d set in front of her, the action both innocent and endearing. Carlee and Atlas had disappeared, and the other Littles were nowhere to be seen, leaving the two of them in a comfortable bubble of solitude.

By the time they finished their dinner, Brook looked utterly spent. Her eyelids drooped, and her posture relaxed into a quiet lethargy. When she let out a yawn, Storm’s protective instincts kicked in, his mind racing with the desire to bring her to his apartment and tuck her into his bed. She’d been in a car accident, minor or not, and the thought of her out of his sight made his jaw tighten.

But if he put her in his bed… he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to let her leave. The idea of her small, warm body curled up in his sheets was almost too much to bear. His cock ached, and every time she walked in front of him, his gaze trailed to her ass—round, plump, andperfect. He couldn’t fathom how she didn’t already have a Daddy. The thought of another man with her made his fists clench—thank fuck she was unattached. If she weren’t, Storm wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t resort to something drastic to claim her.

After they climbed into his truck and headed toward her apartment, he tried to focus on making conversation, something he’d never been particularly good at. “How did you meet Carlee?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the road but sneaking a glance at her from the corner of his eye.

“At the library,” she replied softly, her voice as soothing as the night itself.

He arched a brow and glanced at her for a moment before returning his attention to the road. “The library? People actuallymeetthere? I thought it was all old books and forced silence.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile, one that seemed almost indulgent, like she was humoring him. “Well, that’s part of the charm. Quiet corners, shelves full of stories, and no one really expects you to talk to them. Except Carlee. She was determined to be my friend once she found out we like to read the same books.”

Storm chuckled under his breath, which rumbled in the quiet of the truck. He didn’t say it, but he was grateful Carlee had been persistent. Because if she hadn’t, he might never have met Brook. And the thought of never knowing her, never having the chance to hold her, to care for her—it wasn’t a world he wanted to imagine.

He nodded, even though he wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. “What do you guys read? Like, book club kind of stuff or…?”

She laughed lightly, and he was pretty sure if it wasn’t dark out he’d see a blush rising on her cheeks.

“Not exactly. We, uh, we read romance.”

He was pretty sure she wasn’t telling him the entire truth, but he didn’t want to embarrass her.

“Sounds like fun,” he said, although he couldn’t remember the last time he’d picked up a book that wasn’t some kind of engine manual.

When Storm pulled into one of the visitor parking spots near Brook’s apartment, he cut the engine and let the low growl of the truck fade into silence. He glanced at her, his almost-black eyes searching her face.Fuck. What now?

“What time do you work in the morning?” he asked, his voice gruff but soft enough not to scare her off.

She turned those sparkling green eyes to him, nibbling on her bottom lip in a way that made his chest tighten. “Eight,” she said softly.

He nodded, already making plans in his head. “I’ll be here at seven-thirty to pick you up.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she shook her head quickly. “No, Storm. You’ve done enough already. I’ll take the bus.”

His nostrils flared as irritation spiked through him. He didn’t like hearing his name roll off her tongue like that. The only thing he wanted her to call him wasDaddy.He leaned in slightly, his voice low and commanding. “You get on a bus, and you’ll be in trouble, sunshine. Got me?”

The tension between them crackled, an invisible current charging the air. She held his gaze, her lips parting slightly, and he could feel himself teetering on the edge. Would taking a chance with her really be so bad?

“You’re not my Daddy,” she whispered, trembling but defiant. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

That made him laugh, a deep, gravelly sound that filled the cab of the truck. When he stopped, he raised a brow, daring her to defy him further. She licked her lips nervously, the motion drawing his attention like a magnet.

“Sunshine,” his words were smooth and deliberate, “I may not be your Daddy, but I sure as hell can tell you what to do when it comes to your safety. And you’re going to be a good girl and obey me, aren’t you?”

Fuck.The way she pulled her plump bottom lip between her teeth made him lose the tenuous grip he had on his restraint. Without thinking, he reached over, his rough thumb tugging herdelicate lip free. A small, breathy whimper escaped her, and that was it. He was so totally gone for her.

She wasn’t like Emmaline—she wasn’t manipulative or demanding. Brook was different. She was genuinely Little, sweet as sugar and so damn sincere it made his chest ache.

“Maybe Ishouldbe your Daddy,” he rasped. The atmosphere in the cab suddenly became thick with emotion. “I think you need one.”

Being vulnerable wasn’t easy for him, but he couldn’t fight the feelings surging inside him any longer. Hewantedto be her Daddy. To care for her, protect her, make her laugh, and keep her safe. To make herhappy.

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