Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Connor

Connor bided his time as Bliss stood with her nose in the corner. One day she’d be doing it naked. But that would come later. He’d have tracked Bliss whether Winnie asked him to or not. But somewhere in the months he watched from a distance, he’d come to care about her. He couldn’t tell Bliss that because it made him sound like a stalker.

He didn’t know what it was about her, but she’d pulled at him, at his inner Daddy, from the first time he’d seen her. He’d gone out of his way to be in Darling when he knew she would be there. He wanted her.

She’d sealed her fate when she told him he was beautiful when he was angry. When Connor had found the truck empty, every worst-case scenario he’d ever heard played through his mind. He would never have forgiven himself if she’d been hurt because he left her unprotected. He planned to treat her like a China doll wrapped in bubble wrap.

That lasted right up to the second he spotted her standing at the entrance to the parking lot talking to a couple of complete strangers. He’d almost had an aneurism when she’d leaned over and rested against their car door. Hell, she’d even been on the man’s side of the car. He could have grabbed her, stuffed her in their car, driven away, and there would have been nothing he could do to stop it.

At that point, he’d lost his mind. What. The. Fuck.

When he’d gotten his hands on her, he’d wanted to wring her neck. He’d settled for smacking her ass three good times when she wouldn’t mind him. She had a great ass. Firm with just the right amount of bounce when spanked.

The swats had surprised her, but other than that, it hadn’t seemed to make much of an impression. What he needed to do was make sure she wouldn’t sit comfortably for theremainder of the ride back to Darling. He could see the guilt and regret she had for her actions.

Besides, he couldn’t keep her safe if she didn’t listen to him and do what he said.

He shouldn’t have spanked her. She wasn’t his to spank. But she was drawn to him the same way he was drawn to her. It had been the same in the conversations they’d had in Darling.

When he’d popped her ass, she hadn’t demanded he stop. No, she’d submitted to his correction without protest. They both knew she’d earned every swat and then some.

She was unlike any Little—hell, any woman—he’d ever met. That was saying something since he lived in a small resort town that catered to people in the DDlg lifestyle.

Did she know anything about the lifestyle? She had to have picked up on the way the couples in Darling behaved. No one was all that discreet. In Darling, they didn’t have to be. Did she realize she was a Little? Best he could tell, she pretty much lived in Little space. If she ever came out of it, he had yet to see or hear it.

He liked that about her.

He understood it. Being a Daddy wasn’t a bedroom game to him. Of course, he didn’t usually go around spanking women without consent or even act as if he had authority over them because he didn’t.

Still, being protective and nurturing, and taking care of someone twenty-four- seven wasn’t play for him. It was who he was. So, what was he going to do with the Little girl fidgeting in the corner?

He was going to be himself.

“Are you a Little, Bliss?”

She shot up straight and spun around. “You can’t just ask a question like that.”

When he gave her his best ‘Daddy’ look and raised his brow, she spun back around to face the corner.

Connor crossed his arms and stretched his legs out in front of him. “I can ask any question I want. You have the choice of answering or not, but I hope you do. I’ll never judge you for what you say. I can’t make you talk to me, but I hope you choose to answer.”

He waited. Littles hated silence almost as much as they hated vegetables and water. His little trouble was no different.

Seconds later, she stomped her foot. “Argh! You are so infuriating!”

Not the answer to his question, but she kept her face to the wall. At this point, he’d take whatever progress he could get. “Does that mean you’re choosing not to answer me?”

Heaving an aggrieved sigh, she answered him. “You wouldn’t ask if you didn’t think I was.”

“It’s not what I think that matters. It’s what you think.”

He’d be willing to bet if he looked, she’d be nibbling that luscious bottom lip. He let the silence intensify the atmosphere of the room until she gave him an answer.

“Okay, fine. Yes, I think I’m a Little, but I’ve never had a Daddy. I love books about Daddies and their Littles. I want to have a Daddy. One day.”

He released the breath he’d been holding. Standing, he walked toward her with silent steps. “That’s good, babygirl. Books are a great place to start. Did you realize, based on what you’ve read, that I am a Daddy?”

Her breathing sped up, and one heel started bobbing up and down like a jackhammer. Someone was nervous. Good.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, the tossing me over your shoulder and spanking me kind of gave it away.”

Nervousness made her sarcastic. That was all right. He had several ways to deal with a smart mouth.

The way she wiggled her head back and forth on certain words for emphasis was adorable. He stood mere inches from her back, so he leaned close enough his breath would tickle her ear when he spoke. “I am a Daddy and have been for a long time. I must say, in all my years, I’ve never met a Little who needs a Daddy as much as you. I don’t like to repeat myself, but I’ll make an exception this once. Did you understand that you were to stay in the truck?”

She turned her head to look at him. Not going to happen. “Nose in the corner, little trouble. You do not want to add to your tally. Answer the question with that nose pressed into the corner as far as you can.”

“Tally?” Her voice came out as an adorable squeak. “If I don’t have a Daddy, how can I have a tally?”

“Now that is a very good question, babygirl. Can you think of a good answer?”

He wanted to be her Daddy, even if it was only a scene. But she needed to want it, too.

Now, both her heels alternated bopping the carpet, as if she was gearing up to march in double time. Curling his arm around her, he pulled her back to his front and placed his palm over her heart. Her heartbeat drummed. “There is no wrong answer, baby. Would you like me to give you a hint of what I’d like the answer to be?”

This had all the elements of a bad idea. If he was her Daddy, even just for a scene, it could affect her relationship withWinnie and the other girls. Hell, it could impact his relationship with them, too.

He wouldn’t do anything that made her life uncomfortable. His goal was to relieve her from the pressure of being in control for a time, and hopefully teach her to make better decisions.

Her heels stopped moving. Was that a good sign?

When he stepped to her side, she cut her eyes to him. She still didn’t take her nose from the corner. His dick hardened at the idea of her being his good girl.

The vulnerability on her face had him itching to take her in his arms and assure her everything would be all right. All she needed to do was ask.

“I’d like a hint, please. I don’t know what I want.”

But she did. If the longing in her gaze was any indication, she knew exactly what she wanted. But life had taught her some hard lessons. As far as he knew, no one had wanted her enough to make her their priority in a long time.

That was going to change.

“I know what you want, babygirl. It’s the same thing I want, I promise. I’ve wanted it since you trusted me to catch you when you jumped from that bathroom window at the truck stop. Maybe longer. If you can be brave enough to tell me what you want, I’ll give it to you.”

She stared at him as if he held out a priceless treasure but feared he would snatch it away when she reached for it. She needed more from him.

So, he gave it to her. “You can do this, little girl. I’ll catch you this time, too. A Daddy would never let his Little girl fall.”

Bliss searched his eyes, and whatever she saw had her squaring her shoulders, even while her legs trembled. His babygirl was brave. She was a fighter.

Notching her chin up, she gave him what he’d asked for. “I want a Daddy. And I want that Daddy to be you.”

He ran his thumb down her cheek and along her jaw before leaning closer and pressing his lips to the pulse fluttering in her neck. Her gasped, “Oh,” went straight to his cock.

“I would be honored to be your Daddy. Here’s what that means to me. I am in charge until you tell me you don’t want that anymore. Period, end of statement.” Before she could protest, he continued. “I’m not a dictator. I will discuss everything with you, but as your Daddy, I have the final say. If we get back to Darling and want to continue our relationship, we’ll talk through that then. Does that sound good to you?”

Her face scrunched into the cutest expression of concentration. Her eyes were aimed over his head and darted back and forth as if she were reading things he couldn’t see. He knew the second her choices became overwhelming, so he broke into the conversation she was apparently having with herself.

This wasn’t his first rodeo, and he knew better than to move forward without her consent. He placed a finger over her lips. “The next word out of your mouth needs to be either yes or no.”

Her eyes rounded. It took a minute, but her shoulders slowly relaxed and she smiled. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen when she smiled. Or frowned. Or cried.

“Yes, I would like that very much.”

Relief swelled his chest and then dropped to his cock. Injecting sternness back into his voice, he prompted, “You would like that very much, who?”

The rose tint flooding her face would never get old. He never said he didn’t have a bit of sadist in him, and he’d be willing to bet if he ran a finger along the slit of her pussy, he’d find his girl was enjoying this, too.

She couldn’t hold his gaze, but she still said the words he wanted to hear. “I would like that very much, Daddy.”

“That’s my good girl.”

She beamed at his words. It was too much. He had ached to taste those pouty lips for hours. He wouldn’t take it far. Just one quick kiss to formalize their verbal contract.

He curled both hands around her jaw, framing her face. Her eyes widened. Threading his fingers through her hair, he stepped into her space and slowly lowered his mouth to take hers. The kiss was electric from the very start. He needed more than the chaste brush of lips he’d planned.

Gentle but insistent, he traced his tongue along the seam of her lips, teasing and enticing her. With a moan, she parted her lips for him, her eyes darkening to a deep teal. She moaned, filling his mouth, and he was lost.

Need blazed through him, setting him on fire. His tongue swept into her mouth, tasting her. He knew he should stop, pull back so he didn’t frighten her, but he was swept up in a tidal wave of desire.

He wanted to devour her. To own her. He wantedto give her so much pleasure she wouldn’t be able to think.

A voice in the back of his mind warned him that his lizard brain was taking control, and reptiles rarely made sound decisions. This was moving too fast. It was too soon, and she wasn’t ready. Hell, neither of them was ready. Yeah, he needed to step away.

But then she nipped his bottom lip with her sharp teeth. His reason fractured and his lizard brain took control.

Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the bed.

She clung to him. “Connor?”

It was too late for questions. He was a fucking Tarzan. There was a symmetry to it since her middle name was Jayne. The breathiness in her voice stoked the flames already consuming him.

“Who am I, trouble?” His voice was deep and raw with need.

“Wh-what?”

“What do you call me?” He needed to hear her say it again.

“Oh. Daddy.” Embarrassed, she nuzzled her face into his neck like a kitten.

That was good. He’d have her purring soon. Not yet, though. Right now, he needed her lips again. When he took them, fire streaked through him like lightning, straight to his cock. His entire body ached for her.

He traced the line of her jaw with his tongue. “Tell Daddy what you need, babygirl.” Her gasps and whimpers were killing him.

She blinked slowly and tried to obey him. “Daddy, I need… I need… I don’t know what I need but I… I…”

His teeth, scoring her neck, silenced her. “That's all right, babygirl. Daddy knows what you need.”

His reason made one more attempt. He should stop this. She was Winnie’s sister. For all intents and purposes, she was the fucking client. The cardinal rule was you never sleep with the client. And he never had. Never even been tempted. What was it about this girl?

He had to slow things down. Give her time to think. To make sure this was what she wanted.

Growling in frustration, Connor rolled off her. “We need to push pause here. I need to make sure you know what you’re doing so you can say yes and mean it.”

He stood and drew down the covers, turning her toward the back wall and pulling them all the way up to her chin.

“I do know what we’re doing.” The rasp of desire in her voice almost had him snatch the covers back down, knowledgeable consent be damned. But he’d never been that kind of guy, and he wasn’t going to start with Bliss. “Just because I can’t say it doesn’t mean I don’t want it. Want you.”

She was killing him.

Just one more kiss to say goodnight. That’s what any good Daddy would do, right? This time his kiss was light, the chaste kiss he’d meant to give her before. “Go to sleep, trouble. We’ll talk in the morning.”

He rolled to the other side of the mattress. Laying down as close to the edge as he could, he willed his cock to settle down. When Bliss fell asleep, maybe he’d take a shower and give himself some relief.

His body went rigid when soft fingers combed through his hair. It thrummed with the need to turn to her and finish what they’d started. “What are you doing, babygirl? Turn back over and go to sleep. We’re still going to have a discussion in the morning. Don’t make it worse by not minding me again.”

He sucked in a deep breath. Calm. He needed to find his calm.

Not likely when she was feeding his craving for her with her tentative touch. Instead of moving away, she pressed her body against his. The thin hotel sheet did nothing to shield him from the pressure of her breasts against his back or the heat of her pussy pressing into his ass.

“Daddy?” she whispered softly.

He closed his eyes and mentally looked for the strap holding his resolve in place so he could tighten it. Sighing, he rolled to his back.

That was a mistake. Dressed in nothing but his flannel shirt, she looked tiny and young. She was so much younger than him. Seven years might not seem like a lot, but in life experiences they were decades apart.

He’d fucked up. He never should have kissed her. Now he had to protect her from making a decision she’d probably regret. He shook his head. “Roll back over where I put you, naughty girl. You need sleep.”

She didn’t move. Apparently, her resolve was doing fine. “I don’t want to go to sleep. I want to keep doing what we were doing before.”

He locked his muscles down before he did something stupid. “Listen to me, trouble. You need to roll your sweet ass back over to your side of the bed. Now. The past few days have been rough for you. What you need is sleep. Now move.”

She moved at his command, only not the direction he’d told her to. Before he could react, she rolled on top of him, her thighs straddling him and pressing into the sides of his hips. But she didn’t stop there. Bracing herself on his chest, she kissed him.

He rolled her to his side but couldn’t pull away from her kiss. Sure, physically he could, but her lips were tender and sweet as honey. He never wanted to move again.

Since he wasn’t going to stop her, he let her explore. He was a Daddy and a Dom, for shit’s sake. He could control his urges. But would he?

Yes. He gritted his teeth and tried to recite the periodic table he’d had to memorize in high school. But high school had been a long, long time ago.

Her lips pressing kisses on his cheek and neck almost had him coming in his jeans. He drove his fingers deep in her hair and pulled her away. “Bliss, you need to stop.” Everything noble in him hoped she’d listen to him and do what he said. He just wasn’t sure that part of him could override the overwhelming need to take her and make her his.

She strained against his hold and winced. “But why? I don’t want to stop.”

Fuck him. This girl.

“Look, Bliss. This isn’t just some ‘work off the stress’ thing. Not for me. And you’ll have to trust me, babygirl, when I say it won’t be that for you, either. I know you don’t have much experience with sex. That innocence isn’t something to throw away because you get caught up in the moment. You’ve never made love before, have you?”

Her gaze wandered for a second, then returned to his. “No, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what I want.”

“That may be true, but for me, that’s a big deal. I’d want a lot more from you than two days, babygirl. It would mean we thought we had a future.” He’d never felt that way with a woman before, but Bliss was different.

She didn’t even blink. “I know. You’ve cared for me more today than anyone else in my life since Winnie left. Do you have any idea the kind of man I’ll wind up with if the Society catches me? Or those Russians? I’m not throwing anything away, Daddy. I want my first time to be with you. And if we have more than that, I want that, too.”

He couldn’t move. His body was on lockdown, on fire for the brave woman beside him. He was seconds away from losing every ounce of control he had left. He had the fleeting thought if Bliss was in his life, his control might be a thing of the past.

When he spoke, his voice came out savage. “I’m trying to do the right thing here, babygirl. You aren’t making it easy.”

She smiled, running her soft hands up his ribs and over his pecs, burning his flesh as she went. Her eyes found his again and she smiled. “No. I don’t guess I am.”

Grabbing his shoulders, she pulled herself up and ran her lips along his jaw, much like he had done to her earlier. But instead of whispering sweet nothings in his ear, her teeth sank into his earlobe.

He growled, need pulsing though him in waves. “Babygirl?—”

She placed her hand over his mouth. “No, Daddy. I know what I want. I want you.”

He rolled on top of her, pinning her hands above her head. “There’s no escape if we do this. Be sure, because I can be one possessive, controlling son of a bitch. There won’t be any changing your mind in the morning. So, again, be sure. Do you understand?”

She didn’t miss a beat. “I understand you, Daddy. I’m sure.”

He fought his instincts a minute more to look into her eyes. She wasn’t lying. She wanted this. And, god help him, he wanted it, too. Giving in, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her the way he’d been longing to all day. The kiss was deep, hard, and wet. She kissed him back the same way.

And just that fast, he was lost.