Chapter 4

She hated not beingthe one in control. That much was clear. And as much as I wanted to sympathize, my sadistic streak was coming out. The more she protested or asked questions, the more determined I was to make her wait.

But it was clear from the way her shoulders drew up and how she sat there with her hands in her lap, clenching into tight fists, then unfurling over and over again, that I had to give her something. Grabbing her hand, I raised it to my lips and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.

"We're almost there," I said, without telling her where ‘there' was.

She sucked in a breath and nodded. "We left so quickly I didn't get to grab my purse."

"You won't need it." I pulled into the parking lot of a large shopping center and parked near the entrance of a high-end department store.

"The mall?" I could hear the skepticism in her voice.

"Trust Daddy," I reminded her, unbuckling and putting the car in park before hopping out. By the time I'd gotten to her side, she'd already unbuckled and had the door open.

"Zoe." I made my voice sharp, tinged with warning. "Next time you stay buckled until Daddy lets you out." I grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, closing the car door with my hip.

"Oh for heaven"s sake," she grumbled. "That is truly not necessary, Lennon. I am more than capable of—Ow!"

I shut down her protests with a sharp slap to her skirt-covered behind. She flushed as she twirled to look around the parking lot. "Lennon!" she gasped. "What if someone sees?"

"If that would bother you, then I suggest you start behaving and let Daddy be in charge," I hummed, keeping my tone even and nonchalant. "And for the record, it's Daddy. Call me Lennon again and you'll pay the price."

She piped down then, pressing her lips tight as she shot a glare in my direction. That was okay. I could deal with her ire, and she really was quite adorable when she was angry. A jolt of desire shot directly to my cock, and I struggled to refrain from adjusting myself as I led her across the lot and into the mall.

"What are we doing here? I told you I didn't have my purse," she grumbled as I veered toward the woman's department.

"And I told you you wouldn't need it." I could see that she wasn't going to stop protesting, so I turned sharply and redirected, all but pulling her through the store, stopping only once we were through the front doors and in the main part of the mall. Walking over to a set of benches in the center, I turned her toward me and caught her gaze, speaking firmly. "I am going to make your rules. And I am going to make sure you have everything you need to follow those rules. And I am going to buy whatever I want to because I am the Daddy, and I can afford it. If you argue, or if you call me Lennon again…" I paused long enough to scan my surroundings. When I found what I was looking for, I turned her body toward where I pointed. "The store that sells butt plugs is there, and," I turned her again, "the family bathrooms are there. Any questions?"

Her eyes went wide as saucers, and her neck muscles contracted as she swallowed back whatever argument she might have had before shaking her head. "No, Daddy."

"Good." I nodded sharply. "Now come along."

I spoke confidently, but I knew this wasn't the end of it, and I secretly hoped she'd give me a reason to make good on my threats. A woman like Zoe in a relationship like this one, especially with me being the younger party, would need to be put in her place firmly and often. She may not know it yet, but I was up to the task.

Well, shit. When had the boy I'd known grown into a man who was so confidently commanding, so unwaveringly firm, and so damn hot? Lennon bossed me around like I was a child and he truly was my Daddy, and as much as it ground on my every nerve, it also turned me on. My body hummed as I followed him back to the store we'd just come out of. When we crossed the threshold he turned and took my hand again, leading me through the racks of women's work clothes, past the shoes, around the perfume counter.

When we stopped outside the intimates department, he turned to face me. "Are you ready to hear your first rule?"

Curious, I nodded eagerly as anticipation pooled in my gut. And… other places.

He walked me through the delicate displays of lacy panties and satin brassieres to the back of the section, where the pajamas were. "You don't strike me as a woman who sleeps in the nude," he mused.

I flushed. He was right. I wasn't.

"What do you wear to bed?"

"Oh usually just a college T-shirt, and…" my gaze dropped as I realized what I was about to admit. "My ex-husband's boxers."

Before Lennon could say anything, I rushed to explain. "It's not like a holding onto him thing, they were old, and too small, so I commandeered them years ago. They're mine now, really."

Lennon simply shook his head. "A work shirt and hand-me-downs. That won't do." He walked to a rack and held up a set of pale pink pajamas in soft satin. "Something like this, I'm thinking."

I frowned. The set was beautiful, and the type of thing I'd always look at longingly, then leave on the rack, because who really needed extravagant pajamas? "What's the rule? I have to go to bed ready for sex?"

Lennon scoffed. "If I was thinking about sex, Zoe, we'd be in a different section altogether, and I'd have a rule about you going to bed naked." His gaze raked over me like he was undressing me with his eyes, and I squirmed uncomfortably. He shook his head with a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "The rule is about indulging yourself. Every night this week, you are going to have a nighttime routine of self-care and indulgence. A long bath with bubbles or fancy bath salts, satin pajamas, maybe a glass of expensive wine…"

"I don't drink," I informed him. "Never have."

His brows shot up to his hairline, and for the first time since the café I caught a glimpse of the party boy I remembered, but he seemed to quickly recover from his surprise. "Okay, chocolates? And… herbal tea?"

"I mean… chocolates are always good. And I do like tea, but I don't drink it at night because of the caffeine."

"Herbal tea. Got it." He frowned. "They should have some at the specialty food shop, and chocolates, too. We'll go there next."

"Lennon, we don't need to?—"

His warning glare stopped me short as I remembered his earlier promises. "Thank you, Daddy," I said with a soft sigh, not quite sure I meant it.

"Good save," Lennon whispered, pulling me close to his side. "And the only one you'll get, so don't forget again."

"Yes, Daddy." What else could I say?

"These pajamas," he said, grabbing the hanger off the rack decisively. "And these ones."

He grabbed a second pair in the same style, but these were a leopard pattern. I caught my breath. How did he know me so well? I secretly loved animal print, but never wore or bought it. My husband had always thought it was for ‘whores and hookers.' I'd never pointed out that they were basically the same thing and had always left the animal print in the stores, admiring it from afar.

"And these, too."

The last set he grabbed was a simple black brocade pattern with red trim. I opened my mouth to protest that I didn't really need two sets, much less three, but the words died on my lips when I caught his stern, warning expression. He seemed to know me better than I knew myself.

With his choices made, he strode through the store again, this time stopping near the perfume counter at a display of luxurious lotions and bath salts. He eyed me, sizing me up. "Not lavender," he mused. "Too basic."

"It gives me headaches," I confirmed.

"Mint and rose." He grabbed two large glass jars with gold lids and fancy labels, then a bottle of lotion and a jar of bubble bath. "This should do."

I bit my lip to keep myself from telling him that it was unnecessary, or too much. I hung back while he paid, forcing myself not to listen to the cashier when she gave the total. This particular department store wasn't known for its reasonable prices.

When he was finished, he handed me the bag, and took my hand, leading me once again into the main part of the mall. My gaze wandered across the storefronts, pausing at the bookstore, and again at the store he'd said sold butt plugs. I'd thought it was just a teenager's novelty store. I'd never been inside. I'd also never seen a butt plug, though I'd heard of them, of course. When we reached the specialty food store, he grabbed a basket and weaved through the displays to the section of gourmet teas and coffees.

"Bag or loose leaf?" he asked.

"Huh?" My mind had been stuck on his earlier threats, and I realized I hadn't been listening. I followed his gaze and guessed at what the question had been. "Oh, bags, please."

"Great." Box after box of gourmet teas were tossed into a basket he held on his arm. Then before I could even peer at his selections, he moved onto the chocolates. "Truffles," he mused, and I had to hide a smile. Once again, he'd guessed correctly.

Two small boxes of decadent truffles were placed in the basket beside the teas. He cast a glance at me, smirked, and added a third box. "For good measure," he said. "Or, you know, chocolate emergencies."

I wanted to scoff and tell him that chocolate emergencies were not a real thing, but chocolate was my weakness, and they totally were. I picked up a box from the shelf and nonchalantly flipped it over, hiding my sticker shock at the price and doing the match in my head. Math wasn't my strong suit, and before I could make the calculations, he plucked it from my fingers and returned it to the shelf.

"Did you have something to say?" he asked with a smirk. There was a hunger in his eyes, and they twinkled with mirth, as if daring me to disobey.

"No, Daddy. Thank you."

"Good." He headed toward the register, and once again paid while I hung back, trying not to think about how much money he was spending on me. I reminded myself that he had it, and that he wanted to spoil me, but it didn't help, and as we left the store, and headed toward another, I couldn't help myself.

"Lennon," I started, intent on thanking him, and at the same time stopping him from doing more. But his name died on my lips as he gripped my elbow sharply and turned, marching us in the direction of the novelty shop.

Oh shit.