Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Lyra had no idea what had gotten into her. She was gripping onto this giant man's arm as if he were her boyfriend. She'd just met him. Maybe she'd hit her head on the steering wheel or something. Maybe she was still in the car, knocked out and imagining she'd been rescued by an enormous, sexy man who looked like he could bench-press her with one hand.

Lord knew her life was so boring that she deserved a larger-than-life savior, even if he was imaginary.

When they stepped into the lobby, she suddenly found a few brain cells and stood taller. "Oh, crap. My cello. Where do you think Caesar put it?" When she started to release her death grip on Phoenix's arm, he covered her hands with his and kept her closer.

A woman was at the front desk, and she smiled at them as they approached. "Hi, Lyra. So nice to meet you. I'm Sadie. We spoke on the phone yesterday."

Was Sadie bouncing on her feet? The woman seemed far too excited to be greeting a guest. Maybe she was a huge fan of Lyra's work and couldn't wait to hear her.

"Thank you for hiring me. You're a lifesaver." It wasn't that Lyra needed the money, and the resort wasn't paying much. This job would be nothing like the concert halls where she performed.

Lyra had seen the job ad and called the resort on a whim. She had been looking forward to it ever since. Playing quietly in the background for guests sounded luxurious. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been able to simply relax and play without spotlights and concert halls filled to capacity.

Sadie lifted her gaze to Phoenix. "Caesar took Lyra's things to your apartment. I hope that was okay?"

"Yes. Thank you." He patted her hand. "Lyra is exhausted. I'm going to get her settled so she can get some sleep."

"Good idea." Sadie gave Lyra a friendly wave. "See you tomorrow."

As Phoenix guided Lyra across the lobby, she asked, "Why would Caesar put my things in your apartment? That was presumptuous. I'm kind of embarrassed. Did he think I was going to sleep with you just because we were talking in the car?"

"No, Little one. He knows me well. He's well aware that I would never disrespect a woman. He also knows how strongly I felt about you from the moment I met you."

"How would he know that?"

He glanced down at her and smiled. "Caesar and I are part of a team of six men who work together here at the resort. We're like family. We know each other very well, Little one."

She bit into her bottom lip as he called her Little one for the millionth time. It was such an odd term of endearment, and it did something to her. It felt like a warm blanket in front of the fireplace. The endearment made her feel cherished in a way she hadn't in a long time. It was kindness and caring. It made her heart beat faster and her dormant sexuality come alive.

As they approached the elevator, she asked, "So you live here in the main building in an apartment on the top floor?"

"Yep. There are six of us and six apartments. Plus, the women four of my teammates have met and fallen in love with."

That sounded so sweet. He could have said girlfriends or even bitches they were shacking up with. That's what Boyd would have said. But Phoenix made it sound like the fifth floor was for fairytales.

What had given her that idea?

It was like he had an aura around him. It drew her in and made her feel cherished…even loved. Ridiculous. She didn't even know his last name, and she'd just left her asshole of a boyfriend this morning.

He hadn't really been a boyfriend in years, though. It wasn't as though she'd had him inside her recently. She couldn't even remember the last time they'd had sex. It certainly hadn't been memorable.

Why the hell had she stayed so long? What an idiot. She flinched at the thought as Phoenix guided her into the elevator. What if he knew she'd thought of herself as an idiot?

Lyra clenched her legs together. The thought of him actually spanking her made her face heat and her panties dampen. You really need sleep .

Phoenix held his thumb up to a pad, and the elevator started ascending.

"That's pretty high-tech."

He smiled at her while still holding her hand. "I told you the top floor is secure. I'm not kidding. You won't be able to get to it until Magnus programs your thumb to work on the pad."

"Who's Magnus?"

"One of my other teammates. You've met Caesar. You'll meet the others and their girlfriends tomorrow."

The elevator came to a stop, and when the doors opened, Phoenix led her out into what was essentially just a landing. He used his thumb again to open another door, and then they stepped into a large living room.

It was quiet. No one was around, and Lyra realized it was probably pretty late.

Phoenix guided her down a hallway, stopping at a door. He opened it and held his arm up so she could go under.

Lyra was still looking at all the doors, though. It took her a moment to turn and enter his apartment. "Why are there pictures of animals on four of the doors?" she whispered as he shut the door and locked it behind him.

He smiled. "The Littles made them. You can make one for our door, too, when you're ready."

"Littles?"

He stiffened for a second, or did she imagine it? "Yeah, my teammates' girlfriends."

Littles … Suddenly, Lyra froze as the pieces of this odd puzzle fell into place. "Little ones…" she muttered. "Are you a Daddy, Phoenix?"

He gave her a broad smile and relaxed his shoulders as if he were relieved she'd figured it out. "I am."

"And all of your teammates are, too?"

He stepped closer to her but didn't touch her. "Do you know what it means to be a Daddy, then, Lyra?"

"Sort of. One of the women I play with in my quartet is Little. She's told me about it privately a few times. I think she calls her husband Daddy when they're alone. I've heard her whisper it sometimes when she doesn't think anyone is listening."

Phoenix's smile grew. "That makes my life easier."

Lyra rubbed her arms. She wasn't sure it made her life easier. She wasn't at all certain how she felt about age play.

Liar . You've been jealous of Stacia ever since you found out she was Little.

Lyra drew in a slow breath, inhaling Phoenix's masculine scent until she shivered. What she knew was that Stacia was the happiest person she'd ever met. Her Daddy doted on her. He took care of her in damn near every way. He made sure she ate during breaks. He brought her water. He kept a close eye on her even when they were practicing.

Lyra had seen him fix her hair one time when they hadn't shut the dressing room door all the way. She'd heard the way he always spoke to her in soft tones. He loved her to pieces, so yes, Lyra had always been jealous of what they had, especially since Boyd was an asshole and had been for so long Lyra had forgotten what it had been like years ago when he'd still loved her.

Phoenix reached up and slowly stroked a finger across her forehead, catching a stray curl and tucking it behind her ear. "Whatever is making your face soften and giving you that look, you deserve to have that in your life, Lyra. I know we just met, but I want to be that man. I want to make you look like that all the time."

"I don't know…"

"That's okay. You don't have to know yet. I won't rush you, Little one. All you need to do right now is let me tuck you in so you can sleep. Did you have dinner?"

"Yes. I had fast food a few hours ago."

"Good. Let me show you the playroom."

"Playroom?" she asked as he took her hand and guided her through the living room and into a room off the short hallway, where Lyra immediately gasped. She let go of his hand and stepped in farther. "You really meant it when you said playroom."

"Yes. Little girls need a special room where they can be themselves and relax. I haven't had a chance to do much decorating here, especially since I had no idea who might become my Little girl or what her interests might be. You can choose special things and decorate however you'd like."

He spoke as though she would be staying here forever. She'd only considered remaining perhaps a week. That's what she'd told Sadie on the phone. A vacation with plenty of downtime, perfected by the ability to play her cello. It would be like practicing but without the stress.

There was a pretty daybed covered with a frilly white comforter and a bookcase that already had stuffed animals and games on the shelves. The oversized rocking chair made her smile. She'd love to sit on Phoenix's lap and let him rock her. That sounded like heaven.

Her cello rested against the wall, and her suitcase and purse were next to it. She rushed to the cello, gently lowered it to the floor, and opened the case. She didn't fully breathe until she lifted it out, spun it around, and determined it had not been injured in the accident.

Phoenix squatted next to her. "Is it okay, Little one?" His tone made her tremble. It had from the moment he'd first leaned into her window back at the accident. Now, she understood it better. He was a Daddy. A caregiver. Someone who liked to take care of his partner in every way.

She lowered the cello back into the case and closed it. "I can't be certain until I play it, but it looks unharmed. I think it will be fine."

He stroked her cheek. "I can't wait to hear you play."

"You also can't avoid it." She grinned as they rose. "I've never gone a single day without playing my cello. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and go straight to my instrument because my fingers are itching to pick up the bow and fill my heart with delightful sounds. I practice every day." She looked around. "I doubt your friends will want me to play up here. They'll be able to hear me in every apartment. I'll need to find a place somewhere else in the resort."

He smiled warmly again. "I'm certain no one will mind you playing. Maybe not at two in the morning, but we all work during the day. If you wanted to play in the apartment, you could easily do so without anyone bothering you."

"Oh. Well, I don't want to impose. I'll get my own room tomorrow and ask Sadie for a place to practice."

He stepped closer, calmly cupped her face, and brought his forehead to hers. "I know this feels fast, but I need you to understand that, in my mind, you're already mine, Little one. My instinct, and my job, is to protect you. I don't want you to leave this floor without me. Tomorrow, I'll get a better understanding of what your ex might be planning, but until we're certain he's not going to come looking for you, I want you always in a safe location."

She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I don't know if you're real. Maybe I'll wake up and find myself still sitting in my car on the side of the road, but I hope you're real."

He rubbed her back. "I'm very real, Little one. And I'm going to keep you safe. First off, let me see your phone. I'll make sure the tracker is turned off. If your agent is watching, he'll know you passed through here."

Handing over her phone, Lyra said, "He's going to come here."

"Probably. We'll deal with that when it happens. Now, let's get you in the shower to make sure all the glass is gone and then to bed. Can you find some jammies in your suitcase? I'll go get you a cup of water while you change."

"I, uh… I don't have any PJs. I usually just sleep in a T-shirt."

He frowned. "Tomorrow, we'll get you some pretty nighties. Get yourself comfortable, use the potty, and brush your teeth. The bathroom is across the hall. Help yourself to shampoo and anything else you need. There's a bin under the sink."

"Okay." She watched as he left her in the room. She hadn't been separated from him from the moment he'd found her. How long ago had that been? Three hours? There was an odd chill in the room in his absence. She wished he would come back.

Shaking the strange feeling off, she squatted down once more, this time to open her suitcase. She'd tossed everything into it in a hurry. She wasn't even certain what she'd brought. Some of her clothes hadn't fit in, and she'd left them in the hotel room.

After finding a T-shirt she thought might cover her butt, she hurried across the hall toward the bathroom. She saw Phoenix in the kitchen, but his back was toward her as he stood at the sink, and she didn't linger. If she paused to look at him, she'd never make it into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, she stepped back out. Her hair was damp and wild. Lyra shouldn't have been so reassured to see that the bathing supplies were the generic hotel ones. He didn't seem like the type to have random women in his apartment. She tugged her shirt down a bit more. It didn't quite cover her panties, and she was wearing plain cotton briefs. The thought that he might see them embarrassed her.

She hesitated in the doorway when she found him sitting on the edge of the daybed. He'd pulled the covers back and now patted the mattress as she shuffled into the room. There was no way she could climb into the bed without him seeing her panties.

"Ready for bed, Little one? Did you find any cuts or scratches?" he asked, scanning her exposed skin.

"No. Believe it or not, I think I escaped injury."

Phoenix stood and moved toward her to circle her as he checked her skin. "One small scratch." His finger traced over a small spot on the back of her right arm. A delicious sensation scintillated on her skin at his touch. She allowed him to steer her to the edge of the bed.

Pausing, she glanced at her suitcase again. She needed her stuffie. She hadn't slept without Harry in years. He calmed her, kept her safe, and kept watch for monsters in the night.

And you say you're not Little . She nearly giggled as she realized how very Little her feelings about Harry were. It was just this one aspect of her life, though. Her stuffed animal made her feel…loved.

"I don't suppose you have a stuffie in that suitcase who needs to join you in this bed, do you?"

Lyra's breath hitched, and she nodded.

"Go grab it then, Little one. I want to meet him or her."

"Him," she said as she bent down to unzip the other side of the suitcase so she could extract Harry.

When she turned around, she hugged Harry close to her chest so Phoenix wouldn't see him. She'd never introduced anyone to Harry, not even Boyd. Most likely, Boyd knew about her stuffie, but he'd never said a word.

"Are you going to introduce us, Little one?"

Lyra approached slowly until she finally relaxed her arms and held Harry out for Phoenix to see. If he made fun of her, she would never forgive him. Something about her furry friend made her feel safe. She couldn't imagine Phoenix teasing her about her stuffie.

Phoenix's eyes went wide. "Is he a tarantula?"

"Yes," she whispered.

If she wasn't mistaken, Phoenix grimaced slightly.

She remembered Phoenix had shuddered when she'd told him about the spider in her car. Could this giant buff beast of a man be afraid of spiders? "He won't hurt you. He's a friendly tarantula. His name is Harry."

Seeming to recover, Phoenix held out a hand and shook one of Harry's legs. "Nice to meet you, Harry." He lifted his gaze to Lyra. "He doesn't scare you in the night?"

She shook her head. "No. He protects me."

"Where did you get him?"

"One day several years ago, I had some time off between concerts in New York. Boyd didn't want to take me shopping, so I went out alone. In retrospect, I'm glad. I had the best day. I spent over an hour in a giant toy store. That's where I found Harry. Some child had picked him up, carried him around, and then left him in the wrong spot in the store. He was lonely and looked at me with huge, sad eyes. I couldn't leave him there, so I bought him. I've slept better ever since. Most people don't like spiders, and he's so large. I figure he would scare off any bad guys or monsters in the night. He doesn't even sleep while I do. Tarantulas are nocturnal. He keeps watch over me."

Phoenix reached out a hand and pulled her closer.

She didn't even care that his palm slid under the T-shirt to rest on her panties over her butt. The look in his eyes erased her embarrassment.

"I'm so glad you found him and that he found you. I'm also glad he has kept you safe for all this time so that I might get to meet you tonight. I promise to keep you just as safe as Harry has, day and night."

"Promise?" she asked in a tone she didn't think she'd ever used before.

Phoenix pulled her closer between his legs and lifted her chin. "I want to kiss you, Little one. Would that be okay?"

She nodded. She wanted him to kiss her so badly.

And then his lips were on hers. Intentional, urgent, demanding. Dominance oozed from Phoenix and melted her so that she grabbed the front of his shirt and held on tightly. If she hadn't, she might have turned into liquid and seeped into the floor.

When Phoenix licked the seam of her lips, she opened for him, welcoming his flavor into her mouth and loving the way he chased her tongue around with his until she was panting.

He moaned as he finally released her. "Get into bed, Little one, before Daddy takes things further than intended."

She scrambled onto the bed, tugging her shirt down to no avail. She was hiding nothing from this man.

When she hurried to reach for the covers, he held them out of her grasp. "Lie back, Little one. Let Daddy cover you." He'd started referring to himself as Daddy, and she secretly liked how it made her feel.

"I don't have pretty panties or bras," she murmured, her face heating. Why had she felt the need to tell him that?

He set his hand on her thigh and smoothed it up to her tummy. Her T-shirt rose to bunch under his palm. "I don't care what clothes you came here with, Lyra. You are precious to me, no matter what. If you want to own pretty panties and bras, we'll get them. Either way, you'll be just as sexy and adorable."

She watched as he let his heated gaze roam up and down her body. Her nipples stiffened. Could he see them? Probably.

No one had ever looked at her like he was. Like he wanted to devour her. She kind of wanted him to do exactly that. She had the urge to strip off her shirt and beg him to lick her nipples. The thought made her heart beat faster.

He drew in a deep breath and smiled. "You smell divine."

What did that mean? Could he scent her arousal? Her face heated further.

Phoenix bent over to pick something up from the floor. A moment later, he held a sippy cup in front of her. "In case you get thirsty in the night, Little one. This type of sippy cup won't spill. I'll set it next to you." He arranged Harry in the crook of her arm and finally pulled the covers up to her chin. "Do you need anything else?"

She swallowed. Yeah, you. I need you to be real. I need you to strip out of your clothes and make love to me. I need you to show me what it feels like to be adored. I need you to be my Daddy, even though I never knew I wanted a Daddy .

He groaned as he kissed her forehead. "I don't even want to know what all is going through that gorgeous mind of yours. I'll be right across the hallway, Little one. If you get scared, call out or come find me. I'll leave the door open. There's a nightlight in the hallway so you can see if you need to go potty."

"Thank you."

"I can't wait for you to call me Daddy."

She bit her lip. She wanted to, but it seemed too soon. This thing between them had happened so fast. Could it be real?