Page 46 of Break Me, Daddy

“But,” he continued, and her entire body tensed in anticipation of the blow to come. “I was up all night, trying to figure out the best way to handle this. And I think we need a little space, so we can both figure out what we want from our relationship. If you still want me to be your Daddy in the sense of setting rules and boundaries for you, disciplining you, we can do that. But the romantic and sexual aspect of our relationship needs to be put on hold until we’re both sure that you’re not just here because youneedto be but because youwantto be.”

Logically, she could see the fairness in the compromise. If he was in love with her as he claimed, it wasn’t right to demand things from him that would make the situation even more difficult than it was.

But on the heels of the conversation with her father, it just felt like another rejection. Another reminder of why she wasn’t good enough. An ache settled low in her chest, and she was tempted to tell him to fuck right off with his offer. That she’d go to Lottie’s until she figured out what to do with herself.

But thought of leaving him—and, she was forced to admit, his strict discipline—was more than she could bear. Maybe it made her a selfish bitch, but shedidneed him. Needed his rules, the way he looked after her, at least for a little while longer. Maybe once she got better, she could dig down into the difference between needing him and wanting him, but for now…

“Okay.”

Holden narrowed his eyes slightly. “I need you to be specific right now, Francesca.”

Breath hitching at the sternness in his tone, she nodded. “Okay, you can be my Daddy. I… it hasn’t been as hard, sticking to my plan, as I thought it would be. And I know that’s because of you. I’m really grateful for your help.”

“I love you, Francesca. I’m not the type of man to stand by and watch you continue to hurt yourself, even if you’re not really mine.”

Not really mine.The words were more of a blow than she’d expected. “I know. You’re a good man.”

Snorting out a laugh, he shook his head. “A good man wouldn’t want the things I’m going to want when you agree to be mine forever, Francesca. I’m a hard man. A demanding man. And when you are finallymine, you’re going to learn exactly what it means to be Daddy’s little girl.”

“You almost make that sound like a threat.”

He smirked, looking more like himself than he had all morning, and butterflies exploded in her stomach. “Not a threat. A promise. One I have every intention of keeping for the rest of my life.”

Chapter17

Holden

His poor little siren looked exactly like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Eyes wide, pupils blown with what was clearly fear, it might have been funny if the whole situation hadn’t been so serious.

Then she blinked, and the terror fled from her face, leaving behind an expression that was so carefully blank he wondered for a moment if he’d actually seen what he’d thought he’d seen.

“So, what are my rules? You said you’d still be my Daddy in a discipline sense with rules and stuff so… what are the rules?”

The switch-up from scared babygirl to curious woman was so jarring, he had to take a moment to mentally adjust to the new conversation. “Much the same as they have been. Following your eating plan, keeping your therapy appointments. We can discuss and adjust as we go along if necessary.”

Something flickered in her eyes at the mention of her therapy appointments, but he couldn’t quite make it out because she almost immediately lowered her gaze to the table. “Okay. I can do that.”

“Francesca. Look at me, please.”

Lifting her head, she did a damn good impression of a haughty brat, raised eyebrow and all, as she looked at him. “Yes?”

“When is your therapy appointment?”

“Wednesday.”

Hmm. Maybe he was reading too much into her actions, but years of experience as a Daddy told him she wasn’t being honest. “What time?”

“Umm. Two-thirty, I think. Something like that.”

“All right. I’ll let the team know I’ll be taking the afternoon off.”

“No!” Pink bloomed on her cheeks, and she actually looked a bit sheepish at her outburst. “I just mean, you don’t have to do that. Lottie is going to take me. She used to come with me all the time, and I think I’d just feel better with her there.”

That was fair enough. Making a mental note to check with Braden that Lottie was actually planning to take Frankie to the doctor, he picked up one of his long-forgotten pieces of bacon. “That will be fine for now. But if you miss even a single appointment, not only will you be rescheduling that appointment with a very sore bottom, I will take over for Lottie until I can trust you to keep your appointments. Am I understood?”

“Yeah.”

Cocking an eyebrow, he pinned her with a stare until the pink in her cheeks darkened and she pulled her bottom lip between her perfect white teeth. “How do you address me, Francesca?”

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