Page 55 of Daddy's Arms

“Yes, Daddy.”

His heart constricted in his chest and he brushed her hair from her face. “I love you, so fucking much. I’m going to keep you safe, Livvy. I swear it.”

“I know. And I’ll do my part. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”

Stroking his thumb across her cheek, he gave her a wry smile. “I’m going to remind you of that when you’re whining about all my rules.”

“What’s the fun if I don’t whine about them?” she answered with a giggle.

“Brat,” he growled, reaching down to squeeze her bottom.

“You wouldn’t have me any other way.”

Because it was true, he bent his head and captured her lips in a long, slow kiss. She sighed when he broke away, her eyes were slightly glazed. “We, ah, should probably go downstairs and make sure Shannon hasn’t eaten your brother alive.”

Chuckling, James stepped away and pulled his pants back up. “Pretty sure that would be the other way around. Even though he swears Shannon isn’t his type.”

“Really?” Olivia quirked an eyebrow at him in obvious amusement as she dressed. “A tall, hot blonde with a smart mouth and a secret Little side isn’t your brother’s type?”

“I know. I’m pretty sure she’s his soulmate, and they’re both just too stubborn to realize it.”

With a loud, happy laugh, Olivia threaded her fingers through his and they made their way downstairs. The sound of arguing reached them when they were halfway down, and Olivia smirked up at him.

“Look, buddy. Even if I needed a keeper, I sure as shit wouldn’t pick some Neanderthal like you.”

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Olivia muttered just before they turned the corner into the living room.

Sure enough, his brother and Shannon were toe to toe in the middle of the room, wearing almost identical glares of frustration. James cleared his throat and two heads whipped around to stare at him. If looks could kill, he’d have been mortally wounded right then. But while his brother’s stare stayed stony, Shannon’s immediately cleared and shifted to the sex-kitten smile he knew so well.

“Hey there, Mr. Sexy. Liv.” Shannon raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side. “You look thoroughly well-fucked, darling. Good for you.”

“Do you always have to be so damn rude?” Bryant demanded, turning his glare back to Shannon.

“Rude?” Baring her teeth, Shannon jabbed a finger into his chest. “Rude is trying to lay down the law with a woman who has no interest in having said law laid down for her. You’re not my Daddy.”

“It’s a damn good thing, too. You’d never sit comfortably again.”

“Well then I suppose it’s lucky for me I’m not in the market for a Daddy.” But the flush in Shannon’s cheeks let everyone in the room know she wasn’t being a hundred percent truthful.

Taking pity on her, James stepped forward. “All right, back to your corners, fighters. We need to figure out dinner, before we do anything else.”

“Pizza?” Olivia asked, and he couldn’t help but smile at the hope in her eyes.

“I think that’s an excellent plan.” He looked over at Bryant and Shannon, who each shrugged. “And while we’re waiting for the pizza, we can discuss how we’re going to keep you girls safe until this son of a bitch is behind bars.”

Chapter20

Olivia toyed with her pizza, picking at the pepperoni and sausage. The ‘debate’ on how to keep her and Shannon safe had carried into dinner, and call her crazy, but she was finding it difficult to eat while discussing her impending murder. Judging by the scowl on her friend’s face, Shannon wasn’t a fan of the current conversation, either.

“Not hungry?”

Bryant had leaned over; love and concern clear in eyes that matched James’s so closely it was sometimes a little unnerving. Unable to hold his gaze, she looked back down at her plate and shrugged. “Guess not.”

“You should eat something, sweetheart,” he pressed quietly.

“I’m not hungry!”

She hadn’t meant to snap at him, but she was already so on edge, and being nagged about eating wasn’t helping.

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