Page 14 of Storm

“Yeah? You were quite naughty getting into that cake fight.” His tone was light but still held an edge. Her bottom clenched at the wordnaughty.

“I didn’t start it.” Yeah, that was a good argument.

Storm smirked and shook his head. “You still participated, sunshine.”

Her mouth fell open. He kept calling her that, and it was starting to feel special. She hadn’t heard him use that nickname with the other girls. Was it just for her?

When she didn’t respond immediately, his low chuckle rumbled through the air, deep and smooth like distant thunder. “Wash your face and brush your teeth, then go to bed. No reading tonight. You need sleep. Got me?”

Her mind stalled.Huh?

Was he… telling her what to do? As if he were her Daddy?

The audacity sent a jolt through her, though she couldn’t deny the logic in his words. She was utterly drained, close to falling asleep, but still… He wasn’t the boss of her. Nope. She was in charge of herself, thank you very much—well, mostly. Even if her recent choices hadn’t exactly been stellar examples of self-care.

Her pulse quickened, confusion tangling with a flicker of irritation that coiled inside her tummy. Was she really about tochallenge him? The idea was as startling as it was exhilarating, her exhaustion lending her a bravery she wasn’t sure she possessed.

“Since when doyouget to tellmewhat to do?” she shot back, her voice steady despite the wild fluttering in her chest.

Wow. Where hadthatcome from?

Storm’s dark eyes locked onto hers, the weight of his gaze making her feel exposedandelectrified. His lips curved slightly, the ghost of a smile teasing at the edges of his mouth. Was he… amused?

“Since right now, sunshine,” he replied, his tone quiet but firm, carrying an authority that made the night air hum with unspoken tension. He leaned in slightly, the intensity in his gaze somehow softening without losing its intensity. “You were barely able to stay awake during the movie, and you admitted to staying up late for the past couple of nights. Someone has to look out for you.”

The space between them seemed to crackle, the charged silence stretching as his words settled over her. There was no malice in his voice, no mocking—just a steady, unyielding care that was as disarming as it was infuriating.

“So, yeah, I’m telling you what to do, and you’re going to be a good girl and do it, aren’t you?”

She crossed her arms defensively, suddenly feeling very Little. It wasn’t just that he was right. It was how he said it, as if he was her Daddy.

“You don’t get to?—”

“I get to do whatever I want, sunshine,” he interrupted, unwavering, like it was a fact.

Her breath caught, a flash of something soft and vulnerable rising in her chest.

“You’re not my boss,” she muttered, taking a step back.

He chuckled again, the sound warm but with an edge of something else, something teasing. “Nah. But I am the one who told you to go wash your face. And guess what? You’re going to do it.”

She stiffened, a blush creeping up her neck despite herself. Damn him.

“Fine,” she huffed, turning to go up the walkway and trying her best to act unaffected, though her heart was still hammering against her ribcage.

When she reached the front door and pulled out her key to unlock it, she took one more peek back at him.

“Goodnight, sunshine,” he called out, almost gently.

“Goodnight, Storm.”

And when she got inside and changed into her pajamas—after washing her face, of course—ignoring her e-reader completely, she couldn’t shake the warm feeling inside her tummy. She didn’t know Storm, but she was pretty sure she wanted that to change.

FIVE

STORM

Storm leaned back in one of the old leather chairs in the common room. He was pretty sure the thing had been around since the club had formed. They really needed to upgrade some of the furniture. Something that ancient couldn’t be safe for the Littles.

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