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)
She started laughing.
Only, she wasn’t entirely sure that he was joking.
“You would not.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I wouldn’t go that far. But the leash would be there. Just more metaphorical. Not that I’m ever gonna have a girl again. But if I did, there would be nothing more important to me than making sure she was safe. And that’s the way he feels right now.”
“Hayes, I don’t want to talk about this.” Now she had a headache thumping in her temples.
“See, I had this feeling that’s exactly what you’d do. Told myself to stay away because I’m not one for talking. Especially about feelings. But Corbin is a good man. He’s decent. And he’s exactly what you need. And deserve. You deserve to be happy, to have a good life.”
“Most people don’t think that about me.” She took a sip of her coffee to try and hide her tears.
“Most people are idiots.”
She huffed out a small laugh. “You would think that, Mr. Antisocial.”
He grunted. “You coming with us?”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
Hayes sighed. “Why? You must believe there’s a threat now.”
“I do.” And that terrified her. Especially as she was about to send away the two men who could best protect her from the threat.
“Then why? Because of this house? Why would this house keep you here? Your friends? Family? Where have they been? What have they done for you?”
“Ouch,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, it’s not that. Those aren’t the reasons that I can’t go.”
“Then it’s me,” Corbin said suddenly. “You don’t want to come because of me.”
She shot Hayes a look of betrayal. He couldn’t have given her a heads-up? Hayes just stood and grabbed his coffee. “The two of you need to talk. We have five hours until our flight.”
Part of her wished that Hayes would stay so she could try to delay this conversation.
Her hands were shaking, her body coiled tight with stress and tension. Her head was pounding relentlessly.
She’d spent most of the night tossing and turning, wondering if she should have asked him to stay in her room so she could have had one night of him in her bed.
A memory to keep her warm on those long, lonely nights.
“I thought we decided this last night, Bluebelle.”
She winced at him using her full name.
Not a good sign.
“I don’t want to hurt you—”
“Then don’t,” he interrupted. “And you’re not just hurting me with this, you’re hurting yourself.”
She closed her eyes for a long moment. How was she supposed to do this? Without breaking apart?
“Bebe, is this because you’re worried about me getting hurt? We’ll all be safer back on the Ranch.”
“That’s not it. Well, not only that. You . . . you called me Little one last night,” she whispered.
He approached her, turning a chair so it faced her before sitting. Then he grabbed the base of her chair and spun her around so she had no choice but to look at him.
“Right. And you didn’t like that? It hardly seems a reason to refuse to come with me to the Ranch. To not want to be with me.”
“It’s not . . . it’s not the term of endearment. Urgh. It’s everything. You gave me Nutters and didn’t even blink. You seem easygoing and as though you like taking care of me. But then you have this stern side, especially when you think I’m in danger. You get bossy and commanding. You threaten to spank me. Actually, you did spank me.”
“Baby, where is this going?” he asked, sounding confused. She knew she was making a mess of this.
“Did you find my box?”
He blinked. “What?”
“In my closet, did you find my box, with the . . . with the baby items?”
Understanding filled his face. He leaned forward to take her hand in his. “Bebe, it’s all right. I understand. I’m not judging you. Or upset with you.”
She shook her head, trying to keep her voice from wobbling. “You don’t understand.”
“I do. See, I’m a Daddy Dom.”
“Yes. I know. And that’s the problem. That’s why I can’t be with you. Why I can’t go to the Ranch. I’m sorry. I wish things were different. I really do. But I can’t be with you, not now or ever.” Getting up, she stared down at him through blurry eyes. “I hope you find someone who’s worthy of you. You deserve the v-very best.”
Then she forced herself to leave and head up the stairs. Only once she got to her bedroom did she let go. She fell on the bed, sobbing.
It was for the best.
Even if doing this broke her heart.
31
Wait.
She knew he was a Daddy Dom, and that was the problem?
Why was that the problem? He thought she might have been concerned that he’d found out her secret and was upset.
But she seemed to be upset by his. Why?
Because he hadn’t told her? But they were just at the stage of telling each other these things.