Chapter Seven

Ronin stared at Courtney as she watched the movie, and he couldn’t help but grin because of the shock, curiosity, and arousal she tried to hide. He had the urge to lay down beside her and watch whatever was making her aroused.

“Girls,” Darian said, making them both jump.

Darian walked further into the room to see what was on the TV. When Ronin saw one of Darian’s eyebrows spiked, he knew it was a movie they weren’t supposed to watch.

“Larkin.” Darian stood with his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face as he stared down at Larkin.

Ronin had to keep from snorting at the happy, needy, and expectant expression on Larkin’s face. Instead of beingapprehensive, which most people would feel when confronted and caught at something they knew would get them in trouble.

Darian sighed, which almost made Ronin burst out laughing.

“Ronin, do you think you can get Courtney in bed? My little girl and I need to have a discussion,” Darian said.

Ronin cleared his throat. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Ronin held out a hand to Courtney. “Come on, Honey.”

The woman crawled off the bed and took the hand he held out. After pulling Courtney into the hallway, he closed the door. It wasn’t long before they heard Larkin screech and then giggle.

“Are you worried about Larkin?” Ronin asked.

She stared up at him and then nodded.

“Honey, I can say with one hundred percent certainty that Darian would never hurt a hair on her head. Don’t you think she would have looked scared, maybe? Instead, she loved it. She wanted his attention, and she was going to get it.”

Courtney relaxed next to him.

Ronin pulled her farther down the hallway. “Have you decided where you want to sleep? You can have a regular bedroom or the playroom.”

“Where is your room?” she asked.

Ronin pointed to the one next to the playroom.

“Then I guess I’ll use the playroom.”

He nodded. “That’s fine. Just remember you can come and get me if you need me.”

She nodded and looked calmer.

Once in the playroom, he took her into the bathroom. “Brush your teeth and then come out.”

Ronin walked back into the playroom and over to the daybed. He pulled down the covers and plumped the pillow. He swallowed when he turned to see her in the doorway. The gown she was wearing would be considered proper, but when the light backlit it, the fabric was almost see-through.

He waved her over. He needed to put some space between them because the dominant male in him wanted to throw her down and crawl on top of her, making her his in every way.

“Hop into bed.”

Courtney lay looking up at him as he tucked the blanket around her.

He leaned over her with a hand on either side of her shoulders. “Now, remember, you can come to me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Good night, Honey.”

“Good night.”

The last look he had was of her staring at him with wide eyes and looking almost lost. He debated going back to her, but the temptation was too great at the moment, and he knew she wasn’t ready forwhat he would need from her.

Once in his room, he undressed and hopped into the shower. It only took him a few minutes before he was standing in front of the mirror, brushing his teeth with a towel wrapped around his waist.

He turned off the lights and walked to bed. He was going todrop the towel and get into bed like he normally did, but what if she needed him? He couldn’t go around naked because he knew it would freak her out.

He pulled a pair of shorts from the closet. That was one thing Darian did that he thought was amazing. He had all sorts of clothes, both men’s and women’s, in all sizes and colors. The closet in the room was half full of things a visitor might need.

Ronin climbed into bed and sighed. It had been a long day, and the next day didn’t sound like it would be any better. He wished he knew more about Courtney’s mother and what was going on besides her trying to marry Courtney off.

For the next hour, he tossed and turned. He cursed and threw the blanket to the side. He knew he wouldn’t be able to go to sleep if he didn’t check on her first.

After walking into the playroom, he let his eyes adjust before looking toward the bed. He stiffened when he saw it was empty. His first inclination was to think she’d gotten away, but he knew realistically it would be impossible for her to get out of the house or forsomeone to break in because of the high security.

He scanned the room and found her in the chair she pulled close to the window. She was sitting so still he thought she had fallen asleep, but when he walked around her, her eyes were open and wide when she saw him.

Ronin crouched down next to her. “I’m sorry, Honey. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“It’s okay.”

“Why are you up?” he asked.

“I couldn’t go to sleep,” she said. “I’m not a very good sleeper.”

His brows snapped together. “How bad is your insomnia?”

“The doctors want to put me on some drug, and my mother was all for it. I didn’t want to take it, so I hid it and pretended I was doing fine.”

“How long have you had this problem?”

“Since my father died,” she said.

He laid his hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry. That must be frustrating for you.”

She shrugged and turned back to the window.

“Is this what you do when you’re awake?” he asked.

She nodded and then yawned. “I’m waiting for a flying star so I can make a wish.”

“Oh, can you tell me what you would wish for?”

Courtney started to fidget. “Not really.”

From the blush that crept across her face, he knew it probably had to do with sex. He just hoped she’d wish for him to be her daddy, too.

“All right, you don’t have to tell me. Do you want to try to sleep again?”

She thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. “No. I don’t think I’m ready.”

Ronin gritted his teeth. He wanted her with him but knew he’d be in agony the rest of the night. Oh, well. “How about you come with me?”

She took the hand he held out. “Where are we going?”

He stopped in front of his door. “I know we don’t know each other well yet, but I think if I can make you feel secure, you’d be able to sleep. Nothing but me holding you will happen until you’re ready for it.”

Courtney glanced down and then nodded. “Yes. I want to try.”

“All right.” He pulled her into the bedroom and shut the door before leading her over to the bed. “Do you have to use the toilet, Honey?”

She shook her head.

“Okay. Jump on in,” he told her.

After she got settled, he slid in next to her. “Tell me if you get uncomfortable.”

“Okay. I will.”

He lay on his side facing her and pretended to go to sleep. Within a minute, he could feel the heat of her gaze on him. The blanket was down around his waist, so she had a lot to get used to.

Another few minutes went by when he realized she was asleep. He opened his eyes and stared at her. She really was a gorgeous woman, and he wanted to get his hands on her so fucking bad that his whole body ached.

She rolled closer to him, and when she was against his chest, she sighed and then tucked her hands under her cheek.

Screw it. He was going to enjoy her as much as he could, and just holding her all night would help in some ways. But he knew his cock would be in agony, and he’d have to suck it up. This was enough for now.