Page 9 of Rock

“The bear? Or my shitty prom date? Asshole works for the prom date. I’m not sure I’ve ever named a stuffed animal.”

Rock gasped dramatically. “You don’t name your stuffies?”

She shook her head, giggling, causing the lock of hair to slip from his fingers.

Continuing to cup the back of her hand over the bear, he squeezed her fingers and leaned forward. “You’ll hurt his feelings if you don’t name him.”

She giggled again. He loved it when she laughed. It was the sweetest sound in the world. When she looked down at the bear again, she asked, “Do I get to keep him?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t take back a Little girl’s bear.”

“Then I’ll name him Rock, and when I’m away at school this fall, I’ll talk to him as if he’s you, and he’ll comfort me when I feel down.”

A lump formed in Rock’s throat, and he cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer so her cheek rested on his shoulder. “Do I? Comfort you when you’re down?”

She nodded. “Always.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He stroked her neck and shoulders. “Now, I’m not going to ask again. Tell me what’s making you feel down tonight.”

She tipped her head back and looked up at him. “You say that like you’re my parent, and you’re going to spank me if I don’t comply.” Her voice was joking.

His cock grew harder. She was so damn close to the truth.She has no clue, Monroe. Be careful.

“Hmm. Would you like that? It might make you feel better. A good spanking on a Little girl’s bottom can help erase stress and anxiety.”

She slowly pushed back from him, holding his gaze. “You’re serious.” A shudder wracked her body. A good one, he hoped.

Careful, Monroe. “Yep. But first I want you to talk to me. Afterward, if you’d like me to spank you to chase away the icky feelings, I’ll be happy to do so. If you don’t start talking, you’re going to end up over my knees for a naughty-girl spanking instead.”

Rock watched her so closely, afraid to even blink. He didn’t want to miss a single nuance of her reaction. He was treading on thin ice here. Breaking every boundary he’d intended to keep between them tonight.

He meant to comfort her. Not Daddy her. At least not in a way she would notice. Suddenly, he found himself holding his girl in his arms on his couch in his apartment. She was wearing his T-shirt over God-only-knew-what sexy scraps of lace. She was submitting to him in a way he’d only dreamed about. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she absorbed his words.

She licked those full lips again. “You’re confusing me. You look at me like you want to undress me with your eyes. You’re touching me like the woman I’ve always wanted you to see me as. But you’re talking to me as though I was a child.”

“Not a child, Little Lyla. Just someone who needs nurturing. There’s a difference. I’m fully aware you’re a grown adult now. That doesn’t mean you don’t crave being cared for by someone who worships the ground you walk on.”

Her breath hitched and her lip trembled. She looked away again.

He wanted to pull her all the way onto his lap, but that would probably be a bad idea, and he still needed answers before anything else. “Did that Brinkman guy hurt you?”

She shook her head. “Only my pride. I’m pretty sure he only asked me to the prom on a bet. I’m also pretty sure I shocked him with my dress, hair, and makeup. I think I shocked the entire school.” She lifted her gaze and grinned.

“Not surprising, Baby girl. You were smoking hot in that dress. I almost couldn’t get my legs to hold me up when I saw you walk in the kitchen door. If I’d been there and seen you before you’d left, I might not have let you go.”

Her eyes went wide again.

“Go on. I guess you drove yourself to the dance?”

She drew in a breath. “Yeah. That was my father’s idea. He said, that way, I could easily leave any time I wanted. He was right. I met a group of people for dinner first. It went okay. Mostly the guys kept staring at my cleavage and the girls kept whispering to each other about me.” She shrugged. “I’m used to it. I ignored them and ate my meal.”

“Then what happened?”

“We went to the dance. Aspen barely paid attention to me. It was awkward and uncomfortable wandering around the dance hall by myself. I felt like everyone was staring at me and whispering.”

“Probably because you’re stunning and smart and funny and they’re all jealous.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think that’s it, Rock.”

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