Page 38 of Babydoll

“You know, hanky-spanky? Spankings don’t get enough recognition these days. Sure, they’re occasionally shown on mainstream television, but it’s mostly BDSM style. But a pure, for your own good spanking… one born of passion, frustration, need…” I let my words trail off. “Like the old Elvis and John Wayne kind? Those are delicious. And the sexy kind…”

What the hell am I doing? Talking about kink now? After a trauma?—I look at Jeff—With a guy I hardly know.

His brow cocks, but only slightly. Maybe so slight it should have been imperceptible to me.

Hardly know? That’s not totally true. I know enough. Enough to… like him. A lot.

“I actually love the Daddy thing,” I blurt.

Both his brows shoot up this time. And now I want to kill myself.

“I know the kind.” He nods. “Definitely something on my mind when I’m dealing with you and your gargantuan attitude.” He smiles, but the humor doesn’t push away the softness in his brown eyes. They’re still filled with the care and concern I’ve grown used to seeing from him. He glances back at the road or what he can see of it in the headlights. “I was worried.”

Swallow, swallow, swallow. Why can’t I swallow the lump in my throat away?

“Any Daddy Dom would be,” he adds. There’s another glance between me and the road and he flicks on the high beams.

Crap. Heat flushes through me, from my chest to my lower extremities like a tsunami washing away everything bad. Everything but us.

“Babydoll?” He takes my hand, his thumb rubbing in soothing strokes across the top. “I’d be honored to be yours.”

And with those six words, I finally get a breath full of air that satisfies, but then we hit a big hole in the road and the truck bounces. It shakes my thoughts loose. I tighten my grip on the door. I’m either spiraling down one rabbit hole or the other.

My jaw clenches.

“How did you know where I was?” My eyes narrow as his face flashes something—guilt maybe? “How did you find me?”

“I saw them take you.”

“How?” I cross my arms.

“I knew where you were because…” He pauses, looking at me with a furrowed brow. “Don’t get upset, okay?”

My brow cocks. Anger, ah, my good friend. Screw the flirty banter, anger is so where it’s at.

“Fucking tell me.”

“I always know where you are.”

I’m waiting for more, but nothing else comes so I spin in the seat to face him. We hit another dip and I’m jostled again, but as anger grows inside me, I barely notice.

“How? Are you a goddamn stalker? Are you working with them?” My voice rises in pitch with my last sentence. Oh god. Is he a Ransom member? That would make so much sense. Is this their way of fucking with me? Make me think I’m safe so I’ll let my guard down?

“Sit properly,” he demands, the gentleness of his voice replaced with his firm Daddy tone. “I’ll explain everything once we’re safely inside and I’ve taken care of you.”

Another thought hits, one that also makes sense. “Are you a cop? Have you had me under surveillance?” I curse at the guiltyexpression that flickers across his features. I think of everything that’s happened between us over the last month, everything I’ve done for almost a year. Has he known all along?

“Later. We’ll talk later.” He looks back at the road, his hands anxiously clenching and unclenching the steering wheel.

“No way. Fucking tell me now or…” I look around, thinking quickly. “Or I’ll jump.” I’m livid as I click my seatbelt open and grab the door latch. “Are you a cop?” My voice rises again. I sound frantic. “Tell me!” I click open the latch and the cab is flooded with light.

He looks at me, swallows hard, then opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. Not. One. Word.

“You fucking used me.” I shove the door, and it catches, flying open. As I lean out, my hoodie tugs and I’m stuck half in, half out.

“Christ!” We fishtail off the road to the side where the gravel is thick. He releases my hoodie but grabs my arm instead. He’s the only thing keeping me from flying out. It’s touch and go for a second before the truck slides to a stop in a cloud of dust I can’t see but taste. Yanking me against him, he leans over me and grabs the door, shutting it forcefully.

The world is spinning around me, but I slide away and grab the handle again.

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