Page 23 of Lily
Lily harrumphed but picked up her fork and began to eat again. Sam took out his phone and fiddled with it until the sound of music came out of the Bluetooth. Lily relaxed, hearing the familiar tones of a local band she enjoyed. She smiled and looked at him.
"I like this song too," she told him, suddenly feeling shy.
"They're good but nothing compared to you."
She blushed at the tone in his voice. He meant it, she could tell, and she bobbed her head in thanks. "Thank you," she managed around a mouthful of pasta.
Sam grinned at the sight and tweaked a lock her hair again. "I'm in trouble with you, aren't I?" he asked, and she looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you're a brat."
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug and continued eating. "I guess you could say that." Sam was right; she was, in fact, a brat. She loved it and the challenge it could be for a Daddy Dom when taking her on. She knew the Doms enjoyed it thoroughly as well, or most of them did, but then again, any who couldn't handle her spirit weren't the ones for her.
She desperately hoped Sam was the Dom for her and not just a babysitter. By the man's line of questioning, she thought he hoped for the same and she licked her lips in anticipation, waiting for him to continue speaking.
He looked away from her and shook his head. "I know that tone when I hear it."
"What tone?"
"The tone that says you are a brat, and I am in trouble."
Lily put down her fork and folded her hands in front of her. "I think that depends on how you define trouble, because a little trouble never hurt anyone."
"Oh, is that right?" Sam had put down his fork by this point too, and the pair stared at each other, twin smiles playing across their lips.
"It's about the measure of things, but what do you mean you're in trouble?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"I think we'll both see; now finish your dinner."
"But I'm full."
Sam tilted his head back and gave her a sidelong look. "If you want me as your babysitter, then the corner is a place you end up when you don't take care of yourself. Do you understand, little girl?"
A ball of heat bloomed in Lily's stomach and she squirmed in her seat, her thighs pushing together in a poor imitation of what she truly wanted, which was Sam's hand on her, his body close and between her thighs. But since that wasn't on the menu, she gave a quick nod and picked her fork back up.
"Use your words, please."
"I understand." She took another bite of her food, the gesture making Sam hum with approval.
"Good girl."
Lily smiled at the praise. Even if her body was humming with arousal and their near kiss, all it took was a few words of praise for her to come alive under Sam's compliment. They ate in companionable silence, and the next time Lily put her fork down, Sam nodded in approval.
"Do you want to watch a movie until Ashley and James come by?" he asked. "I have all the Disney films," he added, and Lily brightened.
"Yes, please!" She was practically bouncing in her seat when he took their plates.
"Go on into the living room, and I'll clean up here. I'll come set up the movie in a second, okay?"
"Okay, but—" She bit her lip and slid off of her seat with a hop.
"But what?" Sam was putting the dishes into the sink and hitched a hip against the counter.
"Can we have treats?" Lily asked, and this time when she spoke, there was a girlish tone to her voice that hadn't been present before. Sam smiled at hearing it. She was relaxing; they could both see it, and Sam encouraged her with an indulgent smile.
"We can have whatever you like, little one. Do you like sweet or savory?"
