Page 21 of Seducing Daddy

She cut me off, blurting, “And you’re about to share them with me?” Her voice sounded slightly alarmed. “What have I done to earn such a privilege?” Her fingers spun the wine stem on the countertop, fidgeting.

“I told you, Jolene. I admire and appreciate you, and that’s not something I take lightly. Being honest with you is something you’re owed.”

“Jesus, tell me already, would you?” At the base of her throat, a pulse beat and swelled as though her heart had risen from its usual place in her chest. “The suspense is fucking killing me.”

“Watch your mouth, little girl.” I snarled.

I heard her swift intake of breath, and the sooty lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew up. “Oh my God, I may be slow, but I get it.” she stuttered.

“Looks like you just may have,” I replied, licking my lips and gulping down a swallow of wine. I froze, shoulders tight, and hoped to God I didn’t shoot myself in the foot by trying to be forthright.

There could be no secrets between us, but perhaps I’d waded into this topic far too soon.

“I’m no young girl, Reverend Pritchett,” she said, as if my title were an insult. “I think I know what you’re getting at. You’re a Dom.”

“That’s right,” I confirmed. “But not just any ole sort.”

“Oh, God.” She swallowed hard, lifted her chin, and boldly met my gaze. “I get what you’re telling me—I’ve got friends whose partners are the same. All of that ‘baby girl’ stuff should have been a sign.”

My breath whooshed out of me, and I was unaware I’d been holding it. “Tell you what.” I tossed the chopped veggies and chicken into the wok, allowing it to sizzle until it browned, then added an Asian marinade I prepared with soy sauce, chopped ginger, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. “Let’s get some food in our stomachs and see how we feel. Everything seems a little better with a full belly.”

“Oh, I’m not saying it sounds bad.” Her words surprised me. “But your words are something I never expected to hear from a preacher man.”

I squinted my eyes at her and deepened my tone. “Will you stop calling me that?” I snarled. “I’m a man first and a minister by vocation, but it’s not my job to convert you, Jolene.”

“Oh, really?” she sassed. “What is your business, then?”

“To punish you when you’ve been bad. Reward you when you’re good. Praise you always because you deserve it and guide you to become the very best version of yourself.”

She actually snorted, returning to her old defense mechanism of brushing people off when they got too close to her, and I had the urge to turn her over my knee. Instead, I scooped a generous serving of rice onto her plate and ladled the stir-fry and sauce over the top of it.

“Do you like sake?” I asked.

Mama always kept her pantry and liquor cabinet well stocked, and I got my taste for international cuisine from her.

“I’ve never tried it. Is it good?” she questioned.

“I think so, but it’s best you decide for yourself. I’ll heat some up for you.” It only took a moment to bring it to a sipping temperature, and I dumped the pot of steaming liquid into one of Mama’s pretty china teapots and poured us both servings in the tiny espresso cups printed with the same flowery pattern, figuring Jolene would like it. “Careful now.” I shoved the tiny cup toward her across the table. “Sip slowly; the heat makes it go straight to your head.”

“Wouldn’t want that now, would we? It might tempt you to take advantage of me.” She seemed very pleased with herself.

“I run the risk of doing that when you’re stone-cold sober.”

That shut her up, and my mood became buoyant. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to do,” I stated.

She tilted her head to the side, slightly raising her eyebrows.

I scooted my chair alongside hers and turned it so I faced her, pulling her plate away. “Hey,” she remarked. “What are you doing?”

There was no stopping this train until I owned her, body and soul. “Feeding you,” I announced.

Chapter 11

Rex

Her arched eyebrow showed humorous surprise, and I sipped at my sake.

“We’ve only just barely kissed, and you want me to open my mouth and let you put things inside of it?”

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