Page 36 of Dark Horse

“First rule of texting is you don’t call the person mid-texting. It’s very unsettling.”

“You don’teverlet a fucking strange man treat you like that. You hear me? You didn’t tell these guys that, did you?” His tone is furious.

Welp. Zaddy Grant is gone, and Daddy Grant is back. It was fun while it lasted.

“It’s called a fantasy,Daddy.” I try to stifle thelaugh as I tease him, but it escapes anyway as I fall backward on the bed and roll my eyes at his inability to relax.

“Did you say that to any of those men?” His voice is rough, and if he wasn’t angry with me, it’d be sexy. Now I wish he was here with me, whether I can handle him or not. He could handle me, all furious and sexy at the same time.

“No. I didn’t say that to any of those men.” I sigh.

“Good. Levi’s still getting all their addresses and work information.”

“What?!” I sit up again. This man is gonna give me a workout in bed, and not the good kind. “Leave those men alone. They expect privacy.”

“I’m not going to do anything unless it becomes necessary.”

“Those men are harmless. Just bored single guys looking for some attention when they’re alone on the weekend. One of them volunteers at the local senior citizens center and another grows roses in his spare time.”

“We’ll see if we can corroborate any of that. I’d put money on all of it being bullshit lies to get off your screen and into your pants,” he grumbles. “And don’t call me Daddy.”

“I mean, I’d call you Zaddy, but then you keep falling back into dad mode even when we’re having a heated conversation. It’s like you can’t control yourself.”

“The fuck is zaddy?”

“It’s like… a sexy older guy.”

He makes a guttural noise in his throat but ignores it to continue his rant instead.

“I’m just telling you, don’t talk to men like that. They take you up on the offer, and Iwillbe in control when I break their fucking bones.”

“I wasn’t talking to men like that. I was talking toyoulike that.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“Why not? I trust you. It’s not like you’d do it.” I nibble my lower lip when the line goes silent.

“Don’t bait me, Hellfire.” He says it softly, so softly I almost can’t hear the last word.

I raise my brows, and a smile spreads.

“What did you just call me?” I ask.

“Hellfire.” He clears his throat. “It’s your name on my phone.”

I burst into laughter, and he groans as it sounds like he falls back onto his bed.

“Yes, please have a long laugh at my expense.”

“No, no. It’s just you’re the devil on mine.”

“The devil?” He sounds confused.

“On my phone. The contact. You’re the devil.” I try to stop the laughter, but a few more giggles tumble out.

“Not a very nice thing to call the guy who’s been trying to help you.”

“Is that what you call it?”

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