Page 44 of In the Middle of No(ah)where
I lift the phone to my ear. Too scared to talk because I may sob.
"What's wrong, Puppy?" Marcus' words are rushed. Worried.
"Hi, Daddy," I whisper. Voice breaking. "It's too much."
"What is baby?" Baby. He's never called me that, only 'Puppy.' My heart leaps, and I feel like such a disappointment.
"My head," I tell him."I can't get it to stop."
"Take a deep breath for me." He tells me, and I comply. Letting the air fill my lungs and slowly escape through my mouth. "Good. Have you hurt yourself?" I can't blame him for asking. We made a promise to each other that if I ever felt the need to add a new scar, then I was to call him immediately.
"No."
"Have you taken your exam yet?"
"I still have a few hours. I was going to the library to study, and the emotions just hit out of nowhere. I can't get the chaos to calm."
There's silence on the line for a moment, and I check the screen to make sure he's still there. "Do you need Daddy's help?" He asks pointedly, sensing that I have begun to slip into middle space. And I know what he's suggesting. The same thing he did for me on the day of the open house. He wants to get me grounded so I can focus.
"I think so."
"You think so?"
"No. I know so. I need it." I part whine, part beg, bringing back memories of the first time.
"Meet me at my house in fifteen minutes. I will make sure you're back on campus for your exam with a clear head." I no longer feel alone, lost in the hurricane.
And as promised, Marcus has me back on campus right in front of the building where I was allowed to take the exam. "I'll wait here in the parking lot for you. It will give me a chance to get caught up on my reading," he informs me while holding up our latest book. I'm a few chapters ahead of him. I open my mouth, but he cuts me off, "don't spoil anything by telling me what's going to happen," he warns.
I give him a quick kiss and head into the building.
A little over an hour later, I'm walking to Marcus' car with a grin on my face. He steps out of the car and looks at me with a matching smile.
"I take it you did well?" He asks, opening his arms to me, and I step into them, pressing my lips against his. I'll never get tired of kissing this man.
"It was on the computer, so I got my score instantly." Holding the printout, they gave me with my score on top. He takes the paper and reads over it.
"Ninety-four percent baby? That's amazing. I knew you could do it." He brushes his lips to mine again.
I may have melted a little.
"I have you to thank. If it wasn't for the earlier session, I don't know if my brain would have been able to focus." I admit.
"Well, we can make this a regular thing for you. I can help you get into a state of subspace so your head clears before your exams.
"You don't mind?" I ask as my cheeks heat.
"Are you kidding me? I get to play with this ass," he teases with a light smack on it, and I feel the burn from our earlier session.
I laugh and shake my head. "Marcus."
"Yeah, Puppy?"
"I love you," I tell him before I let the moment slip by. My eyes gaze into his. Even if he doesn't feel the same way, I want him to know how I feel.
"That's great, baby." He says with a wink.
That's great? Really? That's what you say when someone–
