Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
She believed him. Or she wanted to. What she knew for sure was she trusted him. He said he would keep her safe, and she needed that. A profound lethargy washed over her as if her body knew instinctively that she could let her guard down with this man. “I’m so tired,” she murmured.
He slid his hand around to cup the back of her head. “I bet you are.” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s get you upstairs so you can take a nap.”
He rose, still cradling her in his arms.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and let herself feel safe. She inhaled his scent deep into her lungs, loving how he smelled. Memorizing the scent. “You can’t carry me upstairs.”
“I could. But I won’t. I know that would embarrass you. I’ll never do anything to embarrass you.” He slid her down to her feet but kept his hands on her waist as if making sure she was steady before releasing her.
She glanced at the table. “I should clean this up. We made a mess.”
He kissed her forehead again. It felt so good when he did that. “I’ll get someone else to do it, Little one.”
“I’m not doing laundry anymore. I can do it.”
“Celeste has already snapped you up to work with her—but not this morning. You’re not on any clock now.” He leaned back, smiling.
She sighed and muttered, “I could be.”
When he gave her a stern look, she relented slightly. “Fine.”
He grabbed her ballcap and settled it back on her head. “Back into hiding, Little Swan.”
She scrunched up her face. “Swan?”
“I think it’s the perfect nickname for you. You’re intelligent, elegant, pure, gentle, and graceful. Those are the qualities of a swan.”
She grinned. “You didn’t say beautiful.”
He shrugged. “That goes without saying.” He slid his hands up her back and held her. “I wouldn’t care what you looked like, though, Little Swan of mine. When you believe that, then you’ll be mine.”
He melted her. How did he do that? He tore down her defenses and left her speechless.
“Let’s go move your things, and then you can take a nap, yeah?”
“Okay.”
Chapter Six
“Come on in, Little Swan,” Kestrel encouraged after he used his thumbprint to unlock the entrance to the entire fifth floor. “I’ll show you around.” He was carrying both of her suitcases. The only things he’d let her carry were her satchel and purse.
When Zara stepped inside, the first thing she noticed was the tall, attractive, dark-skinned man sitting on the largest sectional she’d ever seen. The second thing she noticed made her breath hitch.
A woman was standing in the corner of the room, facing the wall. Zara immediately recognized her from earlier. Wow, had she changed!
Celeste had her hands clasped behind her back. She looked like a child in timeout. Especially since she wore pink leggings, a matching pink cotton dress, and pink tennis shoes. Her hair was in low pigtails at the back of her head.
The man rose from the couch, smiling and extending a hand. “I bet you’re Zara. I’m Hawking.”
She shook his hand but jerked her gaze downward when she realized she was staring at him. That wasn’t like her. She had held his gaze long enough to know he hadn’t gawked at her like he’d wanted to make snide comments about her tits or her hair.
Not all men are assholes, Zara. This is one of Kestrel’s teammates.
“Sorry, I’m new to all of this,” Zara said, waving a hand at Celeste.
“I understand. If you have questions, ask,” Hawking said softly. “This is a safe place to be.”
Kestrel set her suitcases down and put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Hawking. We didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Celeste yelled at Magnus today. He’ll be up soon to hear her apology. She wasn’t ready to say her sorries in the basement. Since her rudeness happened in the common area, so does part of her punishment,” Hawking explained.
Zara turned her gaze toward Kestrel.
He smiled. “We don’t hide our age play from each other when we’re on the fifth floor or in the basement. Naughty Little girls sometimes need a timeout.”
Hawking grunted. “This naughty Little girl is going to have trouble sitting down later today.”
Zara gasped. Had he spanked her?
“You can turn around now, Little one,” Hawking said. “Come assure Zara that you’re okay.”
Celeste slowly turned around, keeping her head down. Was she embarrassed? She barely resembled the confident scientist Zara had seen on television or in the conference room that morning. That woman had been professionally dressed. This woman was deep in an age-play zone.
Considering Zara hadn’t known until a few hours ago that age play was a real thing people actually practiced outside of a book, she was struggling to contain her shock. She finally managed to give a little wave. “Hi.”
Celeste bit her lower lip and waved back. “Hey.” She turned toward Hawking. “May I go back to work now, Daddy?”