Page 191 of Felonies are Forever

“Are you okay?”

No, I’m fucking not. I’m a glutton for punishment. Letting you stay here without Carter or Arianna, what was I thinking? I can’t have you. I shouldn’t want you.

But, fuck, I can’t not have you either.

“Yes,” I answer, hissing the lie through my teeth. “I need to get out of these pants.”

My hand is still on her neck, like I’m some sort of fucking madman, but her eyes are full of wonder, innocence. It’s like my hand is welded to her, I can’t find the will to pull it away.

“I’m not sure how much you saw at the dock…” Her pink lips move as I count her eyelashes, wanting to memorize every one. “But, can we not tell Carter? About it all.”

“I heard him asking for you to show him something…then I saw you punch him. Landed the perfect throat chop.”

Made me want you even more. Made my dick turn into a goddamn heat-seeking missile locked on your sweet pussy.

I want her to know I’m proud as fuck that she can defend herself, but I also want her to know that from now on, that’s my job. I exist as her guard against all things hurtful to her. Emotionally, physically, mentally. I will always be there. Out in front or watching from the shadows when she needs to spread her wings.

But I will always be there, whether she knows it or not.

“There something more to it?” I ask and with a deep breath, she explains her online alter ego and I’m proud and protective at the same time.

“Yeah. The whole TikTok, Insta, Tutu thing…” She crinkles her nose. “It’s like part of me that’s been pushed down so long. First my mom was so controlling, with pushing me to dance and be this perfect version of the prima ballerina daughter. Then Carter, who I love and appreciate, but dang, I just traded one overlord for another.”

I’ll be your last, I want to say, but that’s not what she needs to hear right now. Conflict burns in my gut. I want to claim her with a violent fuck over the back of the sofa then curl her into my lap, kissing the side of her face and letting her know Daddy will always be here for her.

Daddy.

“I know they love me…” She starts and I see the little girl in her eyes. The one that wants to be loved but understood too. The one that needs a champion just for her. Someone to be the shield between her and the world while also being the strong handsthat hold her up, push her to be her best and believe in her more than she believes in herself. She shrugs. “I guess, maybe it’s me. I never had a Daddy…” She stops short along with my heart. Her cheeks turn bright red as she stammers… “I mean, a dad. I never had a dad. Father. Whatever. You know, Daddy issues like they say.”

Her hands flutter in frustration around her neck as she sucks in a trembling breath.

“You’re right,” I grit out, turning her toward me, my hand on the back of her neck running down between her shoulder blades, feeling the bumps of her spine, swallowing hard in the knowledge of how she’s denied herself the basic right to food just to please other people. “You’ve never had a father. But, you’ve also never had a Daddy. They are very different things.”

I see the flush on her cheeks creep down her neck and bloom on her chest. She freezes. I’ve gone too far. Scared her just like I knew I fucking would.

“Fuck.” I seethe, pulling my hand back, even though the loss of contact feels like a punch in the gut.

I’m sure it’s fear I see in her eyes. The same eyes that have lit up my world since the second I met her. She’s my perfect babygirl and I’m going to lose her before we even get started.

“I—” she starts, but I don’t want her more uncomfortable than I’ve already made things, so I shake my head, feeling like a knife is jabbing in my chest as I step back.

“I need to get out of these wet jeans. They stink.”

Her hand darts out, fisting my shirt just below my sternum as she looks down. I know that if her eyes connect with my crotch, the throbbing beast of a hard-on I’ve been sporting all fucking day is not something I can hide.

“I was trying to say…” She licks her lips and I feel like my balls are filled with a metric ton of cum, waiting for her to open her womb and accept delivery. “You’re right. I never have hada Daddy. But, I’d like to. Do you know anyone that might be interested in that position?”

“You had to ask that?” The words feel like sandpaper in my throat. “Because, my little Prima, I won’t lie to you. Not about this.”

“So, what does that mean? You know someone then?” Her eyes twinkle as she teases me, turning on her tiptoes, wiggling her ass as she spins. She’s elegance and grace and youth. I’m none of those things, but right now, none of that seems to matter.

Life brought her to me, now it’s time for me to take what I know I deserve. What I know we both need.

“I am someone.” I stomp in her direction. She’s spun her way over toward the sofa, the light from the door out to the pool making a halo of light around her silhouette. “I am Daddy.”

I hear her gasp as I grip her wrists, backing her against the glass, holding them above her head.

“Now, like I said, I need to get out of these wet jeans.” I let go of her hands. “Get to work, baby. Show Daddy what a good girl you’re going to be for him.”

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