Page 47 of Natasha
Silas put his hands on his hips and continued to stare out at the city, which was slowly starting to light up under the twilight that had settled over it. "Told me he was going to come by with a couple of his boys and teach you manners. Gonna leave his mark on you. That's why I brought you here." He looked over his shoulder at her. "No idea how he got my phone number, but I know he doesn't have my address. I pay cash on this place to keep my privacy."
"Oh."
Suddenly, Silas' reaction to Peachtree's messages made sense. His coming to get her immediately and putting someone like James in charge of her safety. It all made perfect sense with a psychopath like Peachtree threatening to hurt her with a group of his friends.
"You don't think my mom and grandmother—" she asked quietly, not having the strength to finish the question, but Silas shook his head.
"Left someone to look after 'em already, just in case."
Natasha dipped her chin to her chest. "Thank you."
"'Course," he said with a slight upturn of his mouth. "Anything for you."
"What if you get hurt?" Natasha whispered.
Silas snorted. "I won't."
"But what if you do? Then, what do I do?"
"Then you live here."
Natasha raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Already made sure you'd be taken care of." Silas pushed away from the window and crossed the room to hold her. "You'd live here and be safe. Then you go on to dance across big and bright stages again, like you were meant to."
Tears pricked her eyes, and she let out a shuddering breath. "Silas—"
"Ah, ah." He waggled a finger at her with a grin. "What do you call me, little doll?"
"Daddy," she sighed against his lips when he leaned forward, slanting his mouth to hers. Silas held her tenderly, his hands moving soothingly against her sides and back. Natasha leaned fully against him, her hands pushing through his hair with the desperate need to get closer, but no matter how hard she kissed him or how tightly her hands pulled at him, Silas continued to kiss her gently and slowly, his hands lightly touching and petting her. Natasha hated it. She could sense the goodbye in his touch, and she had the sudden wild thought to act out, to force him to spank her. If he did that, then she knew he'd have to come back.
Her Daddy would never leave her after spanking her silly. However, the idea left her the second she met his eyes. Natasha could tell that Silas read her intentions in her eyes and he gave a quick shake of his head, his hands tightening around her waist slightly.
"Don't," he whispered before pulling her close again. "I know you're scared, but I need you to be strong for Daddy. Can you do that, baby?"
Natasha sniffled against his shoulder and tucked her face into him. "Y-yes."
"That's my brave girl." Silas kissed her temple. "I'll be home soon. I promise."
Natasha held up her hand, pinky out. "Pinky swear?"
"Pinky swear." Silas hooked his pinky with hers. The pair stared at each other before a smile spread across Natasha's face. She nodded and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his hand.
"And sealed with a kiss," she murmured, eyes on Silas.
He nodded at her and mirrored her actions. "And sealed with a kiss."
* * *
The wait until James'arrival had been tense, filled with furtive glances that alternated between each other, the front door, and the clock that ticked merrily away on the opposite wall. Natasha had just begun to relax when James finally announced himself with a sharp rap on the door. Silas let out a sigh and strode over to the door, his body held tight. She hadn't been sure what to expect, but it certainly hadn't been the broad smile that appeared on James' face when Silas opened the door.
"See you've redecorated," he commented sauntering into the apartment. His words piqued Natasha's interest, and she filed it away as a topic to bring up later when things weren't in quite a state of drama.
James hitched a hip against the counter and fixed Silas with a stare. "You goin' alone?"
"Yeah," Silas replied, arms crossed over his chest, looking at James like he was daring the other man to comment.
James snorted. "Figures."
