Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
He got to his feet and walked over to switch her night-light on.
Her breathing grew faster again. He knew.
Bebe was positive he knew. So he really was a Daddy? Was he interested in her because he thought she was a Little?
Was that the only reason?
No, it couldn’t be. He wanted her.
Didn’t he?
What would he say when he learned she could never be a Little again? That the thought of it made her pulse race. It made her an anxious mess.
Bebe could feel her hands starting to shake.
This is why she should stay away from all men. She was a mess. And she shouldn’t be with anyone.
Let alone someone kind and normal like Corbin.
Moving to her, he crouched over her and kissed her forehead.
She felt herself melting.
You can’t do this, Bebe. You can’t do this to yourself. Or to him.
“Night, baby,” he said to her. “Do you need me to stay with you until you fall asleep?”
“N-no. I have this.” Stay calm or he will know something is wrong. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be right outside your room. All the doors and windows are locked. The alarm is on. You’re safe. Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
He left, shutting the door behind him.
Great.
Now she was going to be awake all night worrying that he might only want her because she was a Little.
That there was a stalker out there trying to hurt her.
That she was supposed to go to Montana and stay on a Ranch where she knew no one and people might judge her.
And now she had to worry that there could be bedbugs!
30
Coffee.
She desperately needed coffee.
Bebe was pretty sure she hadn’t slept at all last night and now she was feeling the consequences.
As she stepped out of her bedroom, she breathed a sigh of relief at finding Corbin gone. There was the sound of a shower running.
All right.
Walking downstairs, she moved into the kitchen to find a pot already brewing. And a large man sitting at the table, watching her contemplatively.
Uh-oh. She didn’t like that look on his face.
“It’s too early to be thinking that hard,” she told him, making her coffee with lots of hazelnut creamer and a dash of coffee.
“Did you get any sleep?” he asked.
Crap. She’d put some makeup on before coming down to hide the marks under her eyes. Maybe she hadn’t done as good a job as she’d thought.
“Did you?” she countered instead of answering.
“I was on duty.”
On duty?
“You stayed up all night? Do you really think he knows where I live?”
“Didn’t see any sign of anyone watching the house last night. But yeah, it’s a strong possibility.”
Great. What was she going to do?
“Were you heading to your thinking spot?”
She glanced outside at the rising sun. “I thought about it.”
“Then thought better of it?” he drawled.
A shiver ran engulfed her as the events from yesterday flashed through her mind. “I didn’t think the threat was real, Hayes. And then Corbin . . . he . . . he could have been badly hurt because of me.”
She sat opposite him at the table.
“That’s his job, girl.”
“I don’t want it to be. I told him he was fired. Both of you.”
Hayes snorted. “You should know by now that he doesn’t protect you because he’s paid to. In fact, he’d prefer not to get paid. Makes things simpler.”
“I don’t want him to get hurt whether he’s paid or not.”
“I know.” His face softened. “That’s how I know you care about him.”
“I care about you too.”
Hayes gave her a nod, his lips twitching. That was the closest he got to a smile. “I know you do. Because you’ve got a heart the size of Texas, even if you like to pretend you’re tough and ornery.”
“I never pretended to be ornery,” she muttered. But pretending to be tough? Yeah, that was something she did every day.
“That big heart can get you into trouble sometimes. You gotta remember that if you give away too much of yourself, then there’s nothing left for you.”
It certainly felt that way at times. Like she was running on empty. But she couldn’t let him think that about her.
She breathed out a deep sigh. “I don’t know where you get the idea that I’m some sort of saint, always giving to people.”
He snorted. “Didn’t say saint. You’re also a pain in the ass, stubborn, and far too cavalier with your own safety. You’re reckless, girly. You were mine, that’s the first thing I’d change.”
“And how would you do that?” she challenged.
“You don’t want to know. Lucky for you, Corbin isn’t as strict as me. You wouldn’t even be let out of my sight if you were mine.”
“While there’s a threat?” she asked.
“At any time.”
“Jeez, Hayes, how is that even possible?”
“I’d find a way. Probably tie you to me. Put a collar on you and a leash.”