“I want you to know you don’t have to say yes to anything just because I’m in a position of authority. Ultimately, you’re always in charge. You have your safe word. It stops everything.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Even if we were in the middle of…” a blush covered her cheeks.
He ran a finger down her cheek. “No matter what. But when it comes to a punishment that you’ve earned, remember if you use it then be prepared to pay the price in another way. And I’d only expect you to use it if you truly needed to. It’s not a get out of jail free card. But yes, you can use it even if we were having sex.”
Shit. He couldn’t get the idea of stripping her naked and licking her all over out of his head. He wanted to know what she tasted like, wanted to know what noises she made as she came.
She’s still weak and recovering, asshole. Plus, she’s a virgin. Her first time should be special.
But he still couldn’t stop himself from leaning in and kissing her. He was gentle at first. Lips only. But then her mouth parted beneath his and he swept his tongue inside. Heat flooded him. He needed more. Wanted everything. He forced himself to pull back. His breath was fast, ragged.
“That was amazing.” She smiled up at him.
Jesus, she was sweet.
“It was,” he said gruffly. Fuck, he needed some space. He ran his finger down her cheek then gave her another kiss on the forehead. “Rest. I need to go get some wood.” Maybe stepping out into the cool temperatures would work like a cold shower at dousing his arousal.
Maybe.
5
“Put that foot back in the bed,” Bear commanded, from where he stood at the counter, drying some dishes. He didn’t even look back. Did the man have eyes in the back of his head?
She poked her tongue out at him, but she put the foot she had been creeping out of bed back under the covers.
“I saw that too,” he told her. Finally, he turned around to look at her, drying his hands on a towel.
“I wasn’t doing anything, Daddy,” she said innocently.
He lowered his chin and looked at her sternly from under his eyebrows. He crossed his arms over his wide chest, the towel still held in one hand as he leaned back against the counter.
She heaved a big sigh. “Fine, I’m just bored. I’m tired of being stuck in this bed.” It was day four and she’d had enough. “I feel much better.”
He gave her a nod. “All right, I’ll let you get out of bed.”
She clapped her hands excitedly. But she should have known
there was going to be a ‘but’. There was always a ‘but’.
“But you will stay on the sofa.” He pointed over at the sofa.
She guessed it was as much as she was going to get out of him. Still she didn’t care. She would do anything to get out of this bed. He turned back towards the counter to put the dishes he’d been drying away.
She climbed out of bed before he could change his mind and headed to the sofa. He looked over at her with a frown on his face.
“See, I’m fine. No dizzy spells. I didn’t injure myself. There is nothing wrong with me.”
He crooked a finger at her and she moved closer to him. He wrapped one arm around her, pulling her so she was flush against him.
“What was the rule about getting out of bed?”
She sighed. “You’re being way too overprotective.”
“What was the rule?”
“Not to get out of bed without you.”
His hand cradled her head against his chest and gave her a couple of sharp smacks to the ass.