Page 13 of Daddy's Damaged Little Girl

She couldn’t stop her arms from lifting and wrapping around his neck. Sage couldn’t believe how long the tears lasted, and he held her the whole time. She heard him talking but didn’t understand anything he said.

Sage hiccupped a few times as she settled.

He used a few tissues to wipe her face and then pressed one against her nose. “Blow.”

Without a thought, she blew. It felt so natural sitting in his arms and letting him take care of her. She wasn’t in a state of mind to make sense of it, so she just let him take over.

“Rest for a bit.”

She nodded, closed her eyes, and slept.

He woke her to ask. “What’s your code, Sweetheart?”

She opened her eyes to see that he was carrying her and they were in the elevator that would take them up to her place. “I’m on six.”

“Okay, good. So am I. Which apartment?”

“603.”

“I’m just two down from you.”

“I didn’t know that.”

He smiled. “Now we both know.”

The elevator stopped at their floor. The doors opened, and then he headed toward her place.

“You can put me down.”

He smiled. “No. I like holding you.”

“I’ve got to be getting heavy. How long was I asleep?”

“About an hour.”

Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

He chuckled. “Because I didn’t want to.”

He walked them to her door. “I thought of taking you home with me, but I don’t want to freak you out. I can tell you’ve had a hard day.” He punched in the code to her apartment and opened the door.

Sage looked around her place and instantly relaxed. She’d spent a long time choosing the right pieces of furniture and décor to make it that way. It was the only place on earth that was hers and made her feel safe.

She studied Sebastian as he walked toward the sofa. It amazed her that she also felt that way with him. She had never expected to trust a man again, but he was different for some reason.

Chapter Seven

Sebastian sat down on her sofa with her still in his lap. He had a hard time letting go of her since he found her in the dark office.

He’d never forget the depth of pain he’d heard when he caught her crying before she stopped. He wanted to take away everything that ever hurt or upset her, but he wasn’t sure she’d even wanted him around.

He’d dreamed of taking her as his little, but it would be a big step for her, and he didn’t know if she was ready or even interested.

“You can set me down if you want,” she said.

“I don’t. I want to know what happened?”

Tears filled her eyes again, and she buried her face against his neck and wrapped her arms around him.

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