Page 126 of Daddies' Captive

The man who didn’t cuddle, didn’t hold hands, or didn’t even kiss a woman he was fucking or dominating.

The man who most certainly would never engage in PDA was just sitting there with Effie on his lap.

And he didn’t even look that awkward about it. In fact, his arms were tight around her.

Holding her.

Had Steele entered some sort of alternate universe and he didn’t know it?

He’d been prepared to give Effie all the affection in their relationship. He knew what Grady was like and he was used to him. But women often didn’t understand him. So he’d figured he’d have to overcompensate for the lack of physical affection from Grady.

Now, it seemed that he might not have that issue.

After all these years, it appeared they might have found a woman who could break down those walls. Steele was inside the walls. But he didn’t want to hold Grady’s hand.

But you are attracted to him.

Yeah. There were times they’d crossed swords when they’d been with the same woman. When he’d found himself admiring the other man’s cut body. And yeah, he liked it. But he had no idea if Grady felt the same way, even though he thought sometimes it seemed that he might. Besides, there was also the fact that he’d never been attracted to another man before and was confused by it. As well as worried that any move he made might mean the end of their relationship.

And he couldn’t live without Grady.

Would Effie really get behind Grady’s walls? It seemed like she might already have.

He’d known she was at least part way there when Grady had suggested that they start a relationship with her. Grady had never been interested in a relationship with anyone before.

Which was why Steele had agreed to take it slow when he didn’t really want to. Nope, what he wanted was to take Effie home with him and ensure she was taken care of. Protected.

He studied Effie closely. Something wasn’t right.

“What’s wrong with her?” he demanded.

“Not sure,” Grady replied grimly. “I think it might be the painkillers she took. They might have made her a bit loopy.”

Steele frowned. “The ones in her handbag? She’s taken them before.”

“I know,” Grady replied. “Which is what is concerning.”

“I’s not loopy,” she said. “I don’ts take them much because they make me sleepy and a bit loopy.”

“But you just said you’re not loopy.” Steele walked forward and sat on the sofa, facing them both. Then he grasped her chin. “She’s definitely taken something. Maybe they were different pills.”

“Would they be in her handbag?” Nate asked.

Steele looked from him to the handbag he was holding. He took it with a nod of thanks.

“You best get back out there, but before you do, you need to explain who the fuck touched our girl,” Steele demanded.

“Our girl?” Nate repeated.

“Our girl,” Steele said firmly.

He knew he’d agreed to take things slow, and he wouldn’t rush Effie. But he didn’t like everyone not knowing that he was making a claim.

So he was going to fix that by making a claim.

Grady would just have to deal. And considering Grady always did, Steele knew he would this time too.

Nate moved his gaze back and forth between them. “I’m gonna say something that might get me fired. But I figure that Effie doesn’t have many people watching out for her.”

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