Page 309 of Tempted By her Daddies

But now he realized how happy she’d been in those clothes. She’d been smiling.

And he’d given her clothes that he now realized didn’t really suit her personality.

She was a star. Bright, shining, unapologetic.

And he’d tried to dampen her shine.

To put her into a mold that he thought she should be in. Sure, he’d been trying to protect her. But he’d also been trying to protect himself.

Asshole.

She could wear whatever she liked. And he’d just have Alexei take out anyone that laughed at her.

Wait . . . shit.

What was he thinking?

He was starting to sound like Alexei. Which was definitely not a good thing. It just seemed that when it came to her, his protective instincts went into overdrive and all his good sense took a nosedive.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to take you shopping and we’ll donate that outfit. Or give it to Erica. It seemed like she liked it.”

“I like it!” She wrapped her arms around herself. “You can’t take it from me.”

Confusion filled him. What was going on?

“You can’t just give someone something and take it away . . . unless . . . am I being punished?”

“What? Baby, no. Why would you think that?”

Jesus. How was he messing this up so spectacularly?

“You’re taking my gift away. Is it because I embarrassed you in front of your family? I’m sorry! But in my defense, I told you that I didn’t know how to act.”

“Okay, shh. Stop now.”

She narrowed her gaze as she glared up at him.

“Come with me. I need to talk to you for a moment.” He held out his hand and just hoped that she took it. To his relief she slid her cooler hand into his.

“You’re cold,” he exclaimed.

“I’m really not.”

“You feel cold. We should take you to the doctor to get your circulation checked.”

“I don’t need a doctor and I’m not cold.”

He led her into the living room and grabbed a blanket from a chest. Then he wrapped it around her and had her sit back on the sofa before he crouched in front of her.

“I need you to listen to me,” he told her in a firm voice. “You are not being punished.”

“Then why are you trying to take my present from me?”

Fuck.

“Baby, I’m not taking the clothes away from you.”

“But you said?—”

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