Except, he would leave her soon. Permanently.
She took in a shaking breath. A sob rocked her body, surprising her.
“Don’t cry, little one. I’m here. He won’t hurt you again, I promise. I won’t let him near you.”
She wasn’t worried about his dad. Or at least, that wasn’t her main worry. She just wanted to turn it all off.
“I don’t want to think,” she told him.
“So, turn it off, baby.” He ran his finger down her nose. “Let me take care of you and forget everything else. Put yourself in my care. I promise, I’ll look after you.”
She knew he would. He did nothing but look out for her, it seemed. She leaned her head back on the rim of the bath. “Okay, Daddy. I trust you.”
The words were so sweet. They spoke to him on all levels and his hand actually shook as he picked up the washcloth and started to bathe her. Her pale skin was looking a little flushed and he worried she had a fever again. He’d need to check her temperature. That box of goodies he’d bought had arrived just in time.
If he hadn’t left her to pick them up, then his asshole dad wouldn’t have scared her to death and sent her running from the house. He had the feeling she was holding something back from him. He wasn’t certain if it was about what happened with his father, or something else.
If his father was to be believed, she had things in her past she was hiding. But Macca had learned a long time ago to take what his father said with a hefty grain of salt. And if there was something she hadn’t told him, then she had her reasons. He wouldn’t push her.
He ran the cloth down over her breasts. His cock was already hard. Sometimes it seemed like it was permanently that way around her. But now wasn’t the time for his needs.
She trusted him. She should probably hate him after the way his father just treated her.
She was so precious. She deserved the world.
It amazed him how the small things made her light up. As though she’d had very little kindness in her life. Well, that had obviously been the case before his grandmother found her. And thank God she had, he hated to think about Gigi out in the world on her own. She was so sweet and loving, she needed a protector. A champion.
Him.
No, not you. At least not permanently. What would he do with her when he left? He didn’t know. He couldn’t just leave her. That wouldn’t be right. Yet he couldn’t think about that right now. Like her, he just wanted to forget about everything for a while. Everything except taking care of his baby girl.
He moved the cloth over her slim stomach and down to the apex of her thighs. He cleaned her quickly, not wanting to linger. Not when the urge to claim her was so demanding. When he got to her feet, he raised them one by one to clean the soles. He winced as he saw the small cuts.
“Ouch, no, D
addy!” She tried to tug her foot out of his hand, but he held her steady.
“Stay still, baby. These need to be cleaned.”
“Hurts. . .”
He hated that she was in pain. Hated that she bore the bruises of his father’s temper. Nothing like that should ever mar her perfect skin.
“Easy, baby girl. Nearly done. That’s a good girl. Daddy has to make sure that you aren’t badly hurt.”
He moved to her other foot. He noted it was a little swollen. He’d keep her off her feet for the rest of the day. A soft sob escaped her. He couldn’t believe she’d been so frightened she’d ran from the house in bare feet. He wished she hadn’t opened the door to his father, but he knew she was right. He would have found his way inside.
“If my father ever comes back and I’m not around for whatever reason, you are to hide. Understand me?” he said in a sterner voice than he’d intended.
She nodded; eyes wide. “I’m s-sorry. Are you g-gonna spank me?”
Spank her?
“What do you mean?”
“I opened the door. And I ran outside when I was supposed to stay inside.”
He shook his head. “Much as I might wish you had hidden instead of opening the door, I know you couldn’t expect he’d do anything like he did.” Even he hadn’t imagined that happening. He wondered what the hell that bastard had been searching for.