Page 36 of Saul

“Mmm,” I agreed. Not that I’d ever had caviar, and not that I was in a desperate rush to try it.

“Well, sorry to disappoint your highness, but I’m a pizza kind of guy.”

I giggled. “Crusty?” I oww’d at the slap on my bare bottom and snuggled against a hard and very perfect chest. Then I thought about the day. “I have to pick up my rental at nine.” I could have gotten it at eight, but I would have to get the bus there, and I had no idea what time it was now.

Daddy huffed into my neck and propped himself up on his elbow. “Really, baby? You think that’s how this is going to go?”

And it didn’t.

Daddy said he was going to get the truck and made me promise faithfully not to open the door to anyone I didn’t know, and I agreed immediately. “Is the furniture all yours?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Yes.” I should dump it all, but a tiny bit of me still struggled to believe this would last. Then what would I do? I couldn’t live with Ricky and Chris indefinitely.

Daddy smiled and picked up his wallet. “I’ve got a ride on its way so I can drive the truck back.” He hesitated. He must have picked up on my worry. “We’re going to take all your things, simply so that isn’t a decision you have to worry about right now. I’ll be back soon.” He stepped back to me and cupped my cheek. “Make our house a home. Money’s no object. My only large purchase in the last twenty years was my truck.”

I inhaled quickly in excitement. I had full Pinterest boards with design ideas, and the thought of being let loose on something like that made my heart squeeze. Daddy said I didn’t have to worry about any more packing, and that anything that was left he would do when he got back, but I had some last-minute clothes, bathroom things, and bedding to pack. I knew I had to get in the shower, so I quickly stripped and hurried in.

I heard the knock on the door as I got out of the shower and what sounded like my name called as well. Crap, I hadn’t given Daddy a key. How long had he been standing there while I’d just about used all my hot water? I wrapped my big towel around me and rushed to the door, undoing the lock and opening it a second too late to remember Daddy’s instructions.

Steven stood there.

And he looked furious.

“You quit your job,” he said and walked in. I was so surprised to see him, I’d made no attempt to stop him and tightened the towel.

“Steven, why are you here?”

He stopped and turned. “You know why.”

“No,” I said. “I really don’t, and I’d like you to leave.”

He took a step toward me and even though I wanted to stand my ground, I couldn’t help the step back. “I said—”

“Calvin, I made a huge mistake. Baby, come on,” he almost whined. “We were good together for a long time.”

Because I was hiding myself. “You kept asking me to tone myself down. That’s not being good together. That’s trying to make me into something I’m not.”

He shook his head and took another step toward me. “You know that’s not true. You only acted like that when you were with Ricky, and I get you wanting to fit in. I really do.” He brought a hand up to brush my cheek and I jerked away.

I was more obvious with Ricky, because I felt safer. “Steven, please leave.”

And for the first time, he seemed to notice I was in a towel. “What are you doing?”

“I just got out of the shower.” But he looked past me and spied the boxes.

“You’re moving? Is that why you quit your job?”

I nodded assuming he’d been to my work already. “You need to leave.” But he ignored me and walked into the kitchen.

“Where are you going?”

I sighed. I didn’t want to get into a long conversation, and I was wearing a towel. “I said you need to leave.” He turned quickly to face me and almost lunged for me, and stumbled. Wait, had he been drinking? At nine in the morning? I ducked, but I was stuck between him and the door.

“Not so fast. I’m just trying to talk to you. I was good at being your Dom. You know that.”

“I never wanted a Dom,” I almost yelled, getting exasperated.

“Yeah, you did,” Steven insisted. “You wanted me to take charge, and you loved it.”

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