Page 53 of Spoiling Lillian
“I don’t mean during lunch. I mean what if she comes back tonight or tomorrow while you’re at work?”
He cups my chin. His expression is fierce—eyes narrowed, intensity radiating. “You won’t be here, Lillian. I’m not fucking around.”
I take a few deep breaths. “Okay, you’re right. I guess I could go stay with Camden and Simone.”
Bryson lifts his brows and shakes his head. “Lillian…”
“What?” I gasp and sit up taller. “You want me to stay at your house?” Am I dense?
“Yes, Baby. We’re going to pack some of your things and take them with us. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you here alone.”
“I’ll still be on my own at your house tomorrow. What’s the difference?”
“The difference is that my home is in a gated community. I will give the guards a picture of your mother and instructions to never let her in. My house has a state-of-the-art alarm system. As long as you don’t open the door, you’ll be safe. Plus, you’re suddenly going to have a long list of rules that will make you feel every bit as Little as you’d like.”
My breath hitches. “What kinds of rules?” We’ve never discussed any rules besides him ordering me not to masturbate. Why does the idea make me tremble with need?
He sets a hand on my bare thigh and rubs it. “Rules that will keep you safe, sweet girl. Not going to the door for any reason. Keeping your phone with you at all times. Checking in with me so often you’ll barely have a chance to pee in between. Staying away from windows, for now. You’ll have so many rules that your panties will be wet all day.”
That last statement makes me giggle. Leave it to Bryson to say the right thing to lighten my mood. “Oh yeah? What if I break the rules?”
He smirks. “I’m sure you will. Probably before I pull out of the driveway tomorrow. But be prepared to suffer the consequences.”
I shiver. “What kinds of consequences,” I press.
“Naughty Little girls who break their safety rules do not get orgasms. They don’t even get touched. If I find out you did something dangerous like open the front door to a stranger, you’ll be very lonely that evening sitting across the room from me and sleeping on the other side of a row of pillows that night.” He lifts a brow.
I swallow. “Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll experiment with other punishments for the silly rules, Lils. Don’t you worry. But your safety is important. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight.
Chapter 22
Bryson
* * *
I’m still shaking thirty minutes later when we leave Lillian’s apartment. I’m furious with her mother. How could anyone treat their own child that way? And where is her father? What a wuss. His wife flew across the country to stomp into her grown daughter’s apartment and demand she come home as though she were five years old? And the man doesn’t even come along?
I don’t share my aggravation with Lillian. She doesn’t need to know my thoughts. She understands all of this. Even though she’s being strong and refuses to let herself cry, she’s hurting. I don’t think until today she really realized that her mother would behave quite so badly.
I’ve never struck a woman, but I swear if that lady had gotten one inch closer to my girl… I don’t know what I would have done, but I’m glad I didn’t have to. When the bitch finally stepped into the hallway, I had the satisfaction of slamming the door in her face.
I don’t realize how tightly I’m gripping Lillian’s small hand until I release it to drop her suitcase and backpack so I can lift her into my truck. I reach across to buckle her in and then lift her fingers to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “Sorry, Baby,” I whisper, trying to calm myself. “I didn’t mean to squeeze you so hard.”
She cups the side of my head and pulls me down for an awkward hug. “It’s okay.”
After stowing her bags behind her, I shut her door and look all around one more time. I don’t see evidence of her mother, but the woman is unhinged. I don’t trust her. Finally I round to the driver’s side and climb in. It’s not until I shut the door that I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. We spent half an hour in a mad rush to get out of her apartment. I don’t think it was necessary to be quite so frazzled, but once Lillian’s mother was gone, I was focused on two things: making sure my girl was okay and getting her the fuck out of there.
I turn toward her. “I hope you don’t mind a detour. Instead of going out to lunch somewhere, I thought we would go to Camden and Simone’s for a while. I’ve already texted Camden to let him know. Is that okay?”
She smiles and nods. “It’s probably a good idea. I should talk to Simone.”
And I need to talk to Camden. If he’s got surveillance on anyone in Chicago, I need to know about it.
“Did you tell Camden what happened with my mother?”
