Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

The scary movie lasted about twenty minutes. Lyra scooted as close to her Daddy as possible and closed her eyes every time the scary music started. That didn't make it any better. Her imagination went into overdrive, and she peeked, usually at the worst time.

Lyra looked around to see how the other Littles were reacting to the pictures on the giant screen in the basement. She saw Juniper shake her head vigorously to refuse the bowl of popcorn her Daddy offered her. The Little held her hands over her mouth and frequently raised them to clap over her eyes when ominous music started.

Celeste and Zara held pillows on their laps and lifted them frequently to shield their eyes. She was so fascinated by watching the others that she almost missed the bad guy jumping out of the closet with outstretched hands. When Sadie screamed, Lyra echoed the noise automatically before turning to bury her face against Phoenix. This was not fun!

"I don't think this is a good idea, Little girl," Phoenix said, reaching for the remote.

Magnus beat him to it. He turned off the show when Juniper jumped off the couch. When he held out his arms, Juniper ran to curl up in her Daddy's lap as he sat at the computer.

"We were watching that," Zara complained, peeking over the couch.

"If no one has nightmares tonight, I'll let you watch more tomorrow. How about watching this one?" Magnus flicked his hands over the computer and turned on a superhero movie with an equally super attractive underwater hero in a skin-tight outfit.

"Oooh! He's cute," Juniper said a few minutes later. "I'm ready to eat popcorn now, Daddy."

Magnus met Phoenix's look and rolled his eyes as he shook his head. "You'd think that guy's a Daddy."

"Do you think he is?" Celeste asked, leaning forward to peer at the screen. "He's handsome and built."

"Stop counting the abs carved into his costume, Cuddle Bug," Hawking groused.

"Abs do not a Daddy make," Sadie reminded everyone. "Nor do they have to be handsome like that actor."

When she waved a hand toward the chiseled man striding through the water toward them, Lyra took a moment to appreciate the superhero's sheer beauty. She heard Sadie sigh deeply in appreciation of all his attributes.

"Now, I'm going to have nightmares about this movie. Maybe we should watch something animated," Rocco suggested, sounding a little growly.

"Don't worry, Daddy. I love you—not him. He probably doesn't really look like that in real life anyway," Sadie tried to reassure him.

Lyra couldn't hold in her snort of laughter at the look on Rocco's face. He was anything but pleased with her response. Now that she'd met all the Daddies, she found herself fascinated by the dynamics they each had with their Littles.

"Did you just snort?" Zara asked.

That was all she could take. Giggles burst from Lyra's lips as she tried to control them. A second later, she could feel Phoenix's chest bunching as he tried not to laugh at Rocco as well. Celeste was the next to cave into the contagious sound. Her delighted chuckles set off everyone. Even Rocco couldn't resist the mirth filling the room.

"I know what costume I'm buying Daddy for Halloween next year," Sadie announced before giggling so hard she slid off the couch and rolled around on the rug.

Howls of laughter followed from the Littles, making Lyra snort again.

"She did it again," Zara said, pointing at Lyra as she held her sides.

"Sorry. You guys are too funny," Lyra said. To her amazement, she didn't care that she was the one who kept snorting. The Littles weren't making fun of her. They were having fun with her.

Finally, as the laughter died down, the crew returned to watching the movie. Exhaustion caused by the stress of performing draped over her like a weighted blanket. Struggling to keep her eyes open, Lyra yawned in a jaw-breaking motion.

"Bed, Crash," Phoenix announced as he stood and picked her up in his arms.

"I'm not tired, Daddy," she protested.

"Don't lie to me," he warned as he walked toward the elevator.

"He calls her Crash," Sadie whispered in the background.

"That's how they met. How romantic," Celeste murmured.

Lyra smiled against her Daddy's chest. She loved that she had a nickname that pinpointed the event that changed her life. Spiders really were her best friends. She had Harry and that wonderful eight-legged insect that had panicked her, causing the crash.

As they rode up in the elevator, she mumbled, "You should like spiders, too, Daddy. They're the best."

She felt a shudder run through her Daddy's body, and the corners of her mouth tilted up. Lyra pressed a kiss to his chest and surrendered to the sleep that beckoned her.

A piercing scream woke Phoenix. His heart beat rapidly in his chest as he immediately shifted into defense mode. Rolling off the bed onto his feet, he scanned the darkness. Only Lyra moved. Thrashing in the covers, she flailed her arms and feet.

Quickly, he crawled back onto the bed and pulled the covers wrapped tightly around her free. "Lyra, you're okay, sweetheart. Daddy's got you."

One arm jerked free, hitting him on the side of the face. Stars danced in front of his eyes, but he worked without pause to free her. "Lyra, open your eyes, baby. I'm here. Phoenix is here."

He dodged a knee that threatened to nail him, taking the blow on his thigh. "Lyra," he commanded, changing his tone to give her a stern warning. "Open your eyes, or Daddy's going to spank your bottom red."

She froze in place. Blinking her eyes open, Lyra stared into his face as he hovered over her. "Daddy?"

"Yes, Little girl. I'm here. You were dreaming."

"It was awful. Boyd came and trapped me in a small box, just like in that movie. I knew he was going to stash me in his house until he needed me to perform again. It hurt so bad when he put the wind-up key in my back. It still hurts."

"Roll toward me, Lyra," Phoenix directed in a firm voice.

When she turned on her side, he reached behind her to stroke over the sheet. "Aha," he declared and lifted Harry up. "You were squishing Harry. He was the uncomfortable thing in the center of your back. Let me check."

He ran his hand over her back and patted her gently. "No key, Little girl. You're not a wind-up doll under anyone's control."

Lyra launched herself into his arms and wiggled onto his lap as he settled back to sit on the mattress. "It was awful. I was so scared."

"No more scary movies for you, Little girl. Magnus was right. Our Littles don't need to be frightened to have fun."

"I used to like them. I didn't think I'd ever run into anyone I'd consider to be a monster until I saw who Boyd really was. Do you think it's over?" Lyra asked, clinging to him.

"I'd like to tell you, yes, but I think something's happening with him."

"Like what?" Lyra whispered. "More than making money when I performed and getting to order me around?"

"Probably."

She shivered against him, and Phoenix knew he needed to redirect her from worrying about Boyd. He certainly didn't need that guy in her thoughts when they were in bed.

"You know what Daddy thinks you need?"

"What?"

"I think you need a distraction, and I need kisses."

Lyra blinked her eyes as she processed his statement. "Kisses?"

Phoenix lifted her body, turning her to face him as he guided her legs to wrap around his body. When she was settled, he cupped her jaw and pressed a kiss to her lips. Lyra responded immediately, leaning into the exchange with a hum of delight. He deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth to taste her sweetness. Hers wrapped around his, welcoming him.

Tracing the curve of her shoulder and down her ribcage with his fingertips, Phoenix loved how she shivered against him. The tips of her breasts drew a sizzling line across his chest, making them both gasp into the kiss. Her arms tightened around his neck, and she repeated the action.

"You are teasing, Daddy, Little girl," he whispered to her.

"Touch me, please. I need…"

Her voice trailed away, and Phoenix pushed her to tell him how to please her. She'd obviously never gotten to request what she needed.

"Tell Daddy. What do you need? Do you want me to kiss your shoulder?" Your breasts? The curve of your neck?"

"All of the above."

"Daddy needs details, Little girl."

He deliberately avoided those spots he'd memorized that she loved as he swept his hands over her body. Squirming, she tried to place her breast in the path of his caresses, but Phoenix teased her.

"Tell me, Lyra."

"Touch my breasts!" burst from her lips in frustration.

"Your wish is my command tonight, Little girl," he told her as he cupped one rounded breast and kneaded it in his hand. His thumb brushed over her nipple, and she froze, arching her back toward him.

"What would you like?" he asked, kissing a line down the sensitive side of her neck to the edge of her taut peak and pausing. Phoenix allowed his hot breath to roll over her skin.

"Please, Daddy. Kiss my nipple."

Phoenix would ask her for more details later as he helped her gain confidence in asking for what she needed. Baby steps.

His lips closed around the pink tip and sucked lightly. He brushed his tongue across it, making her squirm. When her hand cupped his head, pulling him closer, he increased his treatment, pulling her strongly into his mouth.

"Daddy," she whispered before adding, "the other one. Please!"

He smiled against her skin before trailing kisses to lavish pleasure on her other breast. As she moaned, Phoenix traced a line down the center of her body over her gently rounded belly to the edge of her sweet mound. He tugged lightly at her soft, adult hair, drawing her attention to his newest target.

"Do you need my touch here, Lyra?"

"Yes!"

"Tell Daddy what you need." Drawing a line with his fingers over her mound, he stopped at the top of her cleft.

"Make me come, Daddy."

Rewarding her with a hard kiss, Phoenix dipped his fingers into her wetness. There was no mistaking that their play had aroused Lyra. She was so responsive. "You're so wet, Little girl. I think you deserve a reward, don't you?"

"Yes. Please!"

Exploring her inner lips, he drew a circle around the small bud at the top. Phoenix heard her inhale sharply when he tapped lightly on the nerve-rich area. He shifted his hand so that his thumb continued to brush over her clit as he pressed two fingers into her tight channel. She shifted her legs farther apart, silently urging him on.

When he paused, she whispered, "More, Daddy!"

"Good girl, Lyra."

He stroked her, feeling the contraction of her pussy shift from light and random as he found the most responsive places inside her. Memorizing them, he concentrated on her pleasure until he could feel her pussy tensing around him. Phoenix knew she was on the edge of an orgasm. He pinched her nipple and felt her entire body go rigid.

"Daddy!" she screamed as she came. "More. I need you inside me, please."

Withdrawing his touch, Phoenix wrapped his arms around her and shifted her upward to place himself at her entrance. Slowly, he lowered her until their bodies met. He counted backward from fifty to resist the allure of her body spasming around his cock.

"Mmmm," she hummed, wiggling on top of him. "Back, Daddy," she ordered, pushing him to stretch out on the bed.

Starting back at one hundred, Phoenix didn't think he would survive her play as she bounced on top of him. When she sighed with frustration, he wrapped his hands around her hips and helped her fine-tune her movements.

"That's it. You feel so good," she whispered happily.

"Ride Daddy, Crash. Make us both come," he ordered.