Page 71 of Rock

Jackson stepped forward and held out a hand. “I’m sorry. I’m Jackson Sealock, Lyla’s brother. I arrived yesterday. I’m getting caught up.”

Susan nodded. “I’m sorry we don’t have more information. It’s best you remain diligent until we locate him. If he believes you have something of his, he’s probably not going to let it go until he gets it back.”

Lyla rubbed her temples. “It’s madness. I don’t have anything.”

“We know that, but he doesn’t,” Susan pointed out.

Rock wrapped an arm around Lyla’s middle again. “He can’t hide forever. Someone will find him.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Susan said before the two officers left.

Jackson turned toward Lyla and Rock. “If it’s Carl, and he’s watching the place, he surely knows you’ve been coming and going together. He might follow you.”

Rock sighed. “You’re right. We’ll stay at the clubhouse tonight. No one can get in there.”

Jackson bent to pick up the paint roller. “I decided the house would sell faster if it had a fresh coat of paint.”

“We’ll help,” Rock stated.

“A few of your guys are downstairs. They finished the drywall, and they’re painting now. I figured I’d start up here. No reason to worry about the carpet. We’ll have it pulled out next. I say we just tape the trim and give this place a fresh coat of off-white.”

Lyla glanced at Rock. She wasn’t sure painting was something he was up to, but he clapped his hands together and said, “I’ll grab some old shirts from the back of my car.”

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

It was dinnertime when Rock led his girl into the clubhouse. Everyone who was there this evening was at the giant table, talking and laughing and stuffing their faces.

They looked up when he entered with Lyla.

Steele grinned. “Hey. Grab some plates. Bear has outdone himself tonight.”

“Thanks.” Rock guided Lyla toward the kitchen sink, pinned her in, and turned on the water. He set his lips on her ear. “Give me your hands, Baby girl.”

Her breath hitched as he washed their combined hands. He loved that sound and the way she started breathing heavily.

“You okay with this?” he whispered.

She nodded. “I’m good. Starving. It smells delicious.”

“I’m sure it is.” He grabbed a few paper towels and dried their combined hands next. He didn’t ask her what sort of plate she wanted. Now wasn’t the time to push her to let her Little out. She might never be comfortable being Little in front of others. That was okay.

He grabbed two regular plates and nodded toward the counter where all the food was spread out. The members oftenfilled their plates at the counter and then joined everyone at the table. It was more efficient than passing dishes around.

“Oh, God. Fried chicken,” Lyla murmured. “That looks so good.”

Rock filled her plate, glancing up to make sure he was choosing things she would want. She didn’t even flinch. She let him add mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and a roll.

Maybe plastic plates and youthful dresses would never be her thing in front of others, but Rock wasn’t unaware that he was Daddying her in many ways anyway. Filling her plate, pulling out her chair, pushing her up to the table, setting a napkin in her lap, getting her a drink… All of that filled his heart. He wanted to take care of her. That was the most important thing, no matter what it looked like.

She smiled at him as he sat next to her. “Thank you.” She leaned into him and kissed his cheek. “It feels nice to have someone dote on me.”

“I’ll dote on you for the rest of our lives, Little Lyla.”

After dinner, Rock helped some of the other men clean up while Remi and Carlee took Lyla to the library off the common room. It was filled with games and books. It was also where the Littles most often cooked up their shenanigans.

Rock forced himself not to panic. Lyla was a grown woman. She could handle herself. She wasn’t judgmental, so he knew she wouldn’t flinch over the level of age play Remi and Carlee practiced. Lyla was perfectly capable of setting her boundaries.

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