Page 83 of Fight Me Daddy

"The day ran long," he said. "I was putting out fires left and right."

"And a text message takes five seconds to send."

Gabriele pushed his fingers through his hair and growled. "Alright, I get it."

"No, you don't," I said as I turned toward the office. "I'm getting my shit and going home."

"I made reservations for us."

"So you had time for reservations, but no time for a text," I said as I gathered up my stuff. When I turned, he was right in front of me. "Move."

"Why are you being such an asshole?" he asked. "Did you miss me that much?"

"Fuck you."

Gabriele gripped the back of my head and yanked me forward. "If you don't move your ass toward that car, then I'll bend you in half and fuck the stupid out of you."

I shoved him away again. "I said no."

"What do you want from me?" he snapped.

"How about a goddamn text!"

I shoved my wallet into my pocket and stormed out of the office. My stomach tensed and I swallowed hard. Seeing him triggered my irritation so quickly. And I knew why. He was right. I missed him.

Arms wrapped around me and I groaned as I tried to pull away. Attraction, lust, and care were different than what I felt now. Need. I needed him, wanted to hear from him, and I was disappointed that he wouldn't keep his damn word even when it came to something simple.

My damn feelings were hurt.

"I'm sorry," Gabriele said as he held me against him. "But I was in a basement all day, slicing into some asshole. I tried to text you, bloody hands and all I fucking swear. But I couldn't get any damn reception and torture is a delicate thing. You walk away and you have to start all over again." He sighed as he buried his face against my neck. "And I could have had someone text you for me the way I had those reservations made, but... I don't want anyone talking to you but me. It was selfish. I'm sorry."

My heart fluttered. I should be disgusted that he was torturing people, but some part of me had finally cracked because I didn't exactly care. I still wanted no part of it, but I knew Gabriele wasn't going to change. Part of being with him was accepting him. All of him.

Slowly, I turned in his arms and saw how sad he looked. He called me a dog, but he reminded me of a puppy. I sighed and touched his cheek.

"Fine," I mumbled. "Next time just say that."

Gabriele pushed his fingers into my hair and tugged my head back. "You make me fuckin' crazy you know that, baby? Such a pain in my ass and I put up with you."

"I know," I said.

When he kissed me this time, I let him. His lips lingered on mine for so long that I grew dizzy, but I didn't want him to stop.

***

I tugged at the collar of my shirt. Gabriele had picked a place that looked so fancy I was sure I couldn't afford to even breathe in there, but he looked like he was right at home. Soft music played through the restaurant and the smell of food made my stomach growl. I picked up the menu and stared at the words.

"French," I muttered. "I don't read French."

"Or speak it," Gabriele said as his eyes roamed over his own menu. "So, put it down and let Daddy order for you."

My cock stiffened and I shoved my thighs together. "Do you have to say that so loud?" I hissed.

"Yes," he answered before he gazed over at me with a smirk on his lips. "Because it makes you go all red and you start squirming."

I stopped moving in my seat and glared at him. "I change my mind. I'm ready to be pissed off at you again."

"Too bad. I allowed you one outburst for the day. The next one will result in me losing my patience and fucking you until we're both sore." He winked at me. "Not that you hate that."

---