Page 36 of Storm

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sweater that barely grazed her thighs. “Yeah. When I need to decompress, they are my go-to other than coloring. Oh, and reading, of course.”

He straightened, his towering frame effortlessly commanding the space without a trace of intimidation. “That’sgood,” he said simply, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “We all need an outlet.”

The ease in his tone made her cheeks cool slightly, the embarrassment fading into something more gentle. She glanced at him again, watching as his eyes scanned the rest of her cubbies. There was something about the way he looked—curious but never intrusive—that made her want to open up to him more.

“You want to see my favorite?” she asked, surprising herself.

He gave her a nod. “Only if you want to show me.”

Brook turned back to the cubby, reaching into one of the drawers to pull out a doll with long, flowing auburn hair and a sparkling purple dress. The paint on the doll’s face was slightly faded, and the edges of her dress were fraying, but it was the one she’d had the longest.

“This is Lily,” Brook said, holding the doll delicately. “I’ve had her since I was a kid. We’ve been through a lot together.”

Storm took a step closer, his gaze softening as he looked at the doll. “Lily’s seen some adventures, huh?”

Brook nodded and giggled softly. “Oh, yeah.”

Storm’s smile widened, and for a moment, it felt like he wasn’t just looking at the doll—he was looking at her, reallyseeingher. “Why don’t you play with Lily and the other dolls while I order dinner? Does Italian sound okay? Anything you don’t like or are allergic to?”

“No vegetables.”

That made him laugh, and when he wrapped his hand around her hair and tugged her head back to kiss her, she went breathless. “Nice try, sunshine. You’re having vegetables with dinner.”

Well, that just sucked.

“Baby, put your toys away and come eat.”

Brook glanced up from where she was lying tummy down on the floor with her feet swaying in the air. Storm had mostly left her alone for the past hour, only interrupting her playtime to set a sippy cup of water near her and to pat her bottom a few times. It was as if he knew she needed some time to herself but also wanted her to know he was there for her.

He'd made himself comfortable on the couch and turned on a football game, watching it in his own comfortable silence. Some people might have found it strange that they were both doing their own thing in the same room, but it felt totally normal to her.

Frowning, she sat up on her knees and gathered her dolls. “Can I play with them again after we eat?”

Without hesitating, he shook his head. “Not tonight, baby. After dinner, I’m giving you a bath, and then we’re going to talk for a while before I put you to bed.”

Letting out a dramatic sigh, she stood and dropped her Barbies in their allotted cube.

“Keep sighing like that, and you can eat dinner with a hot bottom, sunshine. Giving me attitude isn’t going to work in your favor.”

Sheesh.

Her bottom clenched, and she quickly wiped the glare off her face before she moved to the small dining table where he’d set out their plates.

“I wasn’t having an attitude, Daddy.”

She wastotallyhaving an attitude, but she’d keep that to herself. She wasn’t sure she was ready to go over her Daddy’s knee quite yet.

ELEVEN

STORM

Storm couldn’t help the small, satisfied grin that tugged at his lips as he watched her carefully. He liked seeing her naughty side—loved it, actually. It showed her trust in him; that she wasn’t afraid to test his boundaries or show her true self. And she shouldn’t be afraid. Not of him.

Storm might be a grumpy bastard, and he’d definitely be a strict Daddy when needed, but he would always make sure Brook had a safe space to be Little. To let her wild, playful side be alive and free without fear of judgment. He’d enjoy reining her back in when the time came, too. It was only a matter of time before she found herself over his knee; after all, Littles couldn’t help themselves.

Even though he could see the reluctance flickering across her face, she set her Barbies aside, neatly placing them in their designated cubby. She padded over to the table, her feet dragging slightly, and sat down when he pulled out a chair for her. He pushed her in with a firm but gentle motion, leaning down to press a quick kiss to the crown of her head. The simple act made her cheeks flush, filling him with a sense of pride and possessiveness that he couldn’t quite put into words.

Settling into his seat beside her, he kept both plates in front of him, ignoring the questioning glance she shot his way. Without a word, he picked up his fork and scooped up some of the creamy pasta. Feeding her was something she hadn’t wanted last time, but things were different now. He was her Daddy, and taking care of her in every way was part of his role. It wasn’t just about discipline—it was about nurturing her, spoiling her, and making sure she was cherished.

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