Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Walt

“Walt!”

Susan tightened around him, her channel squeezing his cock until he exploded inside her, filling her up with his seed.

She whimpered, and despite wanting to stay inside her forever, he eased himself off her before he crushed her, then pulled her into a tight embrace.

And christ, the dirty talk…

His cock twitched with renewed interest, but judging by her flushed face and rapid breathing, Susan was spent.

Not that he was doing much better. His heart raced and he felt like he could fly and collapse into a coma at the same time. He pressed his lips to her throat to check her pulse, which slowed into a steady, regular beat.

“There’s my very good girl,” he whispered in her ear. “Are you okay?”

“Mmm.” Her lips curved into a sweet smile, but she didn’t open her eyes. “You made me all dirty, Daddy. I like it.”

Laughing softly, he buried his face in her hair to inhale her perfume, then forced himself to get up for a washcloth to clean her. When she whined in protest and tried to hold on, he said, “I’m just going to the bathroom, baby. I won’t be long.”

She muttered in disappointment but let go and pulled his pillow to her chest.

Fuck, she was all kinds of adorable.

He returned quickly with a warm, damp cloth and a towel, then cleaned her up. After dropping the items in the hamper, he crawled into bed with her.

“Sleepy time for Daddies and babygirls,” she slurred. “Love you, Daddy.”

He froze, but her lips parted on a soft snore before he could ask if she meant it.

Of course, she didn’t. He was just the first person who’d taken the time to listen to what she wanted and give it to her. Hell, she might as well have been a virgin. As much as he wanted to, he wouldn’t hold her to words spoken after sex—especially since he didn’t think she was awake when she said them.

Hell, she probably wouldn’t remember in the first place. Didn’t stop him from wanting to hear her say it every day for the rest of his life.

It wasn’t fair to her. She was just starting her future, and he had no business getting in her way.

Although he knew he couldn’t keep her, he wrapped her in his arms and sighed heavily. Just for tonight, he’d pretend she was his. Instead of sleeping, he watched her all night, and didn’t rise until it was time for morning chores.

He hurried through his work, intent on making her breakfast before she woke. Surprisingly, or maybe not, she was already up and rolling out biscuits by the time he made it back inside.

And fuck, she looked pretty wearing nothing but his shirt and sex hair. Her cheeks were pink, and she gave him a brilliant smile when she saw him.

“Good morning, Daddy.” She scurried to him and stretched up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Coffee’s ready. Go wash up, and I’ll have breakfast done in a flash.”

She took the basket of fresh eggs from him and cooed happily at the pastel shells produced by his Easter Eggers before setting it on the counter next to the sink. “Do you like cheese on your eggs? I’ll get the bacon started before the biscuits are done.”

“I—”

“Can we do my riding lesson after we eat, Daddy?” Her brow wrinkled as she slid the biscuits into the oven. “Or I can help if you have more work.”

“No work for babygirls. You shouldn’t even be making breakfast.” He waved a finger in her face, then tapped her nose and laughed when she kissed his fingertip. “Only fun this weekend.”

“Work goes faster with many hands,” she countered. Sobering, she added, “That’s about the only lesson of value I learned from the Shepherds.”

“It isn’t a bad lesson, but there isn’t much to be done this late in the year.” He washed his hands and dried them on the towel she passed to him. “Besides, my horses could use the exercise. After we ride, we’ll decorate the tree.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Humming to herself, she cracked several eggs into a glass bowl and whisked them with a fork. “Actually, I’m stupidly excited about everything. Can we sing carols?”

“I have a better idea. Have you ever read A Christmas Carol ?”

“That’s the one with Ebeneezer Scrooge by Charles Dickens, right?”

“Exactly right.” He pulled out his phone and brought up his streaming music app. “We can listen to it.”

Her brow wrinkled. “Dr. Lopez told me about audiobooks. I listen to them while I read the text.”

“Good girl.” He washed the bowl she’d used to mix biscuit dough, ignoring her protests. “That probably explains how you learned to read so quickly.”

“If only it would help with math,” she muttered. “I just barely managed to pass my high school equivalency test.”

Unable to watch her prancing around his kitchen in nothing but his shirt, he turned her to face the stairs and gently swatted her butt. “Go get dressed, babygirl. I’ll keep an eye on your biscuits.”

“Oh!” She looked down at herself and blushed. “Sorry, Daddy. I’ll be quick.”

She scurried up the stairs, and he let out a relieved breath as he adjusted his hardening cock. Susan would be the death of him.

She returned quickly, fresh-faced and dressed in jeans and a black Club Apocalypse sweatshirt. Her brown hair flowed in a silky curtain almost to her waist, making him wish he could tangle his hands in the fragrant mass and kiss her breathless.

Seeing her dressed didn’t stop him from remembering her wearing only his shirt, which didn’t help the situation going on in his pants. He forced himself to focus on her face instead of her cute ass.

After glancing at the time, she pulled the pan of biscuits from the oven and turned them into a towel-lined basket. The scent of sizzling bacon filled the air, making his mouth water.

“Need any help?” he asked.

“No, Daddy. I have everything under control.”

“I’ll set the table. It wouldn’t do to let that bacon burn.”

Mittens wandered into the kitchen, followed by Charlie. Mittens jumped on the counter and made a beeline for the block of cheese on a cutting board. Without missing a beat, Susan swept the cat into her arms and deposited him on the floor, then cleaned the counter with a disinfectant wipe before washing her hands.

When Mittens meowed his displeasure, she shook a finger at him. “No cats on the counter, little man. And definitely no cheese for you or Charlie.”

Walt chuckled and dumped food into their bowls, ignoring the disgusted look Mittens threw his way. With that taken care of, he set the table, then poured coffee into two mugs. “Cream or sugar?” he asked.

“Just a little cream, please.” Susan transferred the bacon to a plate, then poured the eggs into the leftover grease. “I hope you’re hungry. I made plenty.”

“Starving.”

Susan

When the eggs were done, she transferred them to a ceramic serving bowl and brought it to the table, along with the bacon and biscuits.

Walt sat across from her and grabbed a biscuit from the basket. After slathering it with butter and honey, he took a bite and moaned. “Lord, little girl. These are delicious.”

Warmth blossomed in her cheeks as she spooned eggs to her plate. “Thank you. I’m glad you like them.”

He took the bowl of eggs she offered and helped himself to the bacon. “Best of all, you made plenty for leftovers. We can toast them to go with supper.”

Nodding, she ate a piece of bacon. “That’s the best way to have them if they aren’t fresh out of the oven.”

Watching Walt enjoy her food was strangely pleasurable. He savored every bite, unlike Edward, who’d shoveled everything into his mouth and never once thanked her. Despite her protests, Walt even insisted on helping her clean up.

Logically, she knew his behavior was normal. It was perfectly ordinary for a man to help his woman tidy a kitchen after a meal—especially a man like Walt.

She straightened her shoulders and pushed aside all thought of Edward and his constant messes. Living with him had been like taking care of a particularly demanding toddler.

Walt was a man who could take care of himself, which made taking care of him especially nice. He didn’t want or need an unpaid maid.

Once the last plate was in the dishwasher, Walt rubbed his hands together and grinned. “Ready for a pony ride, baby?”

“More than!” She raced to the mudroom for her boots, hearing his laughter behind her.

After they bundled up, he led her outside and through a fringe of pines to a large paddock in front of a neatly kept clapboard barn. The weather was even behaving itself, with a brilliant azure sky dotted with puffy clouds. Although it was cold, it wasn’t frigid enough to be uncomfortable.

Two horses, one a tall black, and the other a lean gray with a concave face, watched them approach. In an adjoining pasture, a small herd of longhorn cows browsed the winter-browned grass, and chickens picked at leftover seeds.

“The black one is Ebony. He’ll be yours,” Walt said.

“And the pretty gray one?”

“That’s Bolt.” He led her into the barn and gave her a bucket full of brushes before grabbing tack for both horses. “He’s sweet as pie but used to be a barrel racer.”

“What does that mean?”

Walt grinned and escorted her back outside. “Means he gets a little full of himself and likes to run. Ebony doesn’t act up and is good for a beginner.”

He handed her a brush and showed her how to groom her horse. Ebony leaned into her touch, nickering softly as he nuzzled her shoulder.

“He likes you,” Walt murmured.

“Bet he’s like Charlie and Mittens,” she countered. “If I sit, is he going to try to take over my lap?”

“Well, it’s a very nice lap.” He looked her up and down, making her blush. “Now, time to learn how to saddle your horse.”

She watched avidly while he got Bolt ready, then helped her with Ebony. Once he was saddled, she petted her horse’s kind face. “I can’t wait to ride,” she whispered.

“I hope you enjoy it.” Walt positioned her at Ebony’s side and cupped his hands near her knee. “Put your left foot in my hands and grab the saddle horn. When I boost you up straighten your left knee and swing your right leg over the saddle.”

“Okay, Daddy.” She hopped a few times, giggling as she tried to make her body do what he wanted. Eventually, she got it and landed safely in the saddle.

“There you go!” He patted her thigh, then stepped away. “Now, take the reins. I’m going to teach you how to make him go where you want.”

Patiently, slowly, with almost too much praise, Walt worked with her until she managed to convince Ebony to lope in a wide circle around him. Feeling the wind on her face and Ebony’s powerful muscles moving under her was indescribable, and she couldn’t find the words for the sense of pure freedom and joy.

“Good girl!” he called. “Are you ready to get out of this paddock?”

“Yes! Please, Daddy!”

Despite her anticipation, she waited patiently for Walt to mount his horse, then followed him into the pasture. He kept to a walk, showing her the foothills surrounding his property, and she even saw a mother bobcat with a few half-grown cubs.

It was so quiet and peaceful, but she also loved just talking to Walt and learning about him. He was so much more than a sexy Daddy Dom, with a dry, understated sense of humor she loved, and a way of engaging her that made her want to open up.

Susan told him things she’d never told another living soul. They weren’t secrets or bad things; more like ephemeral wishes and hopes she used to have when she was a child. She even told him of the time she saw a trick-or-treat parade in Winslow during one of the few times the cult permitted her to go into town with her parents.

Of course, she’d already had the traditional Halloween fun at the Caroline, and a somewhat racier version at Club Apocalypse.

“How are you doing?” he finally asked after they’d made a wide circle around the property.

She frowned when she saw the roof of the barn in the distance. “I’m wonderful. Can we keep going?”

“Not today.” The path widened and he dropped back to ride next to her. “It’s your first time, and I don’t want you to be too sore.”

“Oh.” She stretched her legs and winced at the burn in her inner thighs. “I can just walk it off later.”

“Keep that thought,” he murmured, obviously trying to hide a smile.

Unfortunately, he was absolutely right about her soreness. Although she refused to complain, it was about all she could do to care for her horse and limp back to the house.

After taking off her coat and boots, she flopped to the couch and groaned. “I think now is a good time for Mittens and Charlie to visit my lap. I don’t know if I can move.”

Laughing, he leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Go upstairs and take another bath while I get supper ready, baby. There’s Epsom salt in the cupboard.”

Before she could protest, he tapped her nose, then added sternly, “And don’t argue about being lazy this time. The bath will make you feel better, and you don’t want a spanking over your sore muscles, right?”

“Maybe I do.” She giggled and got up with somewhat less groaning, then yelped when he smacked her bottom.

“Careful what you wish for!” he called after her as she limped up the stairs.