Page 79 of Four Daddies & I

“You okay, shorty?”

“Yeah,” I reply quietly walking from the room but Christian grabs my arm to stop me.

“What’s the matter? Are you okay?” he asks, that worried look back in his eyes that I’m starting to hate.

“I’m fine,” I snap.

“You’re lying to me, what’s happened?” Christian asks softly. I pull my arm from his hand with ease and throw it up in the air.

“Why has everything changed? Do you not want to be my daddy anymore?” As soon as the words leave my mouth I see the shock and upset in Christians eyes.

“Of course, I do. Where is this coming from?”

“Oh, I don’t know maybe because you have been going soft on me.”

“Sweetheart, I’ve been a little softer on you but not that soft. You went through a lot, and I didn’t want to push you.”

“Really? Not that soft? What did you do when I stubbed my toe yesterday?” I ask placing my hands on my hips.

“You were hurt, we all swear when we hurt ourselves,” he sighs shaking his head. I stand in front of him and cross my arms over my chest.

“I’m not hurt now,” I point out “And I didn’t use my words and you made no comment. Maybe I need to stop using my words altogether to get a reaction out of you?” I suggest as I turn on the spot and storm through the hallway towards the dining room with my head held high stubbornly.

“We haven’t finished this conversation,” Christian calls behind me, my inner brat comes out as I turn around and stick my tongue out at him and carry on walking away. I’m just getting into the dining room when I see Jason and Sean playing cards at the table.

“Hey Jazzy, you okay?” Jason asks as I walk past him and glare at him. He frowns at me before looking to the door as Christian and Maximus walk in.

“Okay sweetheart, you proved your point,” I hear Christian say as Maximus chuckles. I turn to look at him knowing the table is safely between us. I cup my ear as if I can’t hear him. I can see Sean and Jason looking between Christian and me.

“Have I missed something?” Sean asks as Maximus laughs again.

“Somebody just accused Daddy of going soft.”

“Well she has got a point,” Jason chuckles as Christian glares at him. I throw my arms out dramatically. Christian turns his attention back to me and for the first time in weeks, I see the corner of his mouth lift slightly as if daring me to carry on.

“Fine, you are right I’ve been soft on you. You went through a lot and I was being cautious. But now I’m telling you to use your words, baby girl.” The warning tone is back in his voice and when he calls me baby girl I swear my pants flood. But I’m in full brat mode now and I just cup my ear and lean forward. Maximus and Sean both burst out laughing as Jasons chokes on the drink he’s sipping.

“Oh, Baby girl, I hope you know what you are starting here. Because if I catch you, you are mine and I will not be holding back again. Last chance, are you going to use your words?” Christian asks his arms crossing over his broad chest and his daddy look making its first appearance in so long, I almost moan with pleasure just from the look alone. I slowly shake my head as I grin back at him. I watch as his eyes darken and he takes a step forward and I take one back already having a route through the house planned out in my head.

“Get her!”

I squeal as I run from the room leaving the sound of the chairs scraping behind me as Sean and Jason jump to their feet. I rush through the kitchen pasts a confused Mrs Brown as I squeal a ‘sorry’. I can hear the guys laughing as they follow and Mrs Brown calling for them not to run in her kitchen. I rush back towards the lounge through the entrance hall planning on getting to the stairs and leading the guys towards the bedrooms. They haven’t touched me in so long I need this.

I rush into the lounge almost being caught by Maximus as he jumps out at me from the hallway.

“Too slow, Daddy,” I call as I bolt up the stairs lifting my long maxi dress as I go, with Maximus and Sean right on my heels. I glance back and see Christian and Jason catching up with them. The four of them grinning as they race up the stairs and I run for my room and only just slam the door shut in time as they reach it. I close the sliding lock and try to catch my breath as one of them knocks on the door.

“You think you are safe in there princess?” Sean calls out.

“Yep, the doors are locked so you can’t come in!” I reply.

“I think you are forgetting who you are dealing with shorty. You just challenged the big guns. Who do you think is going to win? You or him?” Maximus adds as I laugh stepping away from the door.

“None of you can get in here though can you,” I call out as I continue to walk backwards until I feel something large, solid and warm behind me.

“Wanna bet?”

I scream and spin around as Christian grabs me and throws me on the bed. I look just in time to see Jason jumping onto the balcony from his room next door and walking through the patio doors.

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