“He already is.”
Abby looked around, obviously spotting the mop. “You’ve been cleaning? Was it a mess in here? Do you need a hand with anything?”
“Oh no. It was actually rather tidy. I just thought I’d make myself useful and clean. Linc wanted me to rest, but I can’t sit around all day.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh, what?”
“Well, these guys can be rather alpha. They like to be in control. If he said to rest then that’s what he expects you to do. Just like I’m supposed to be in bed right now. I best go. But Marisol, I’m glad you’re here and that Linc’s keeping you safe. If you need anything, call me. Bye!”
She watched with a smile as Abby left as quickly as she arrived. Coming here might have been the best thing to ever happen to her.
17
Exhaustion filled him as he pulled up outside his cabin later that night.
He’d worked hard today in order to get enough work done so he could take tomorrow off to spend with Marisol. He hadn’t liked leaving her on her own today. He called her a few times on the house phone.
They had a few things they needed to deal with. Her lack of clothing. Her health. He wanted to take her to see Doc. He was prepared to help get her whatever she required to make it ea
sier to manage her diabetes.
Thankfully, he’d managed to get some things for her today. Climbing from his truck, he reached into the back and dragged out the few bags he had stashed in there.
Linc thought he was starting to understand Marisol better. She’d never had someone she could rely on for any length of time. Her aunt might have been around, but she was verbally abusive. Neglectful. Marisol had been moved from place to place. Being somewhat introverted, that must have been so hard for her. The one person she’d formed an attachment to, she’d been made to leave and had never seen or heard from again. It was no wonder she didn’t trust that he’d stick around. Or that he’d want her to stay with him.
But he was prepared to do whatever was necessary in order to make her feel more secure. She’d spent most of her life tiptoeing around her aunt, that she’d never had a chance to be a child. To be carefree.
He wondered how she would feel if he offered her a way to just be, without all the stress, the fear. To have him take all that on so she could damn well relax.
To him, that was the ultimate. For her to trust him enough to give him complete control.
Walking inside, the smell of food hit him, making his stomach rumble. He frowned. Hadn’t she said she couldn’t cook? He’d been intending to make something quick for dinner. He hoped that she hadn’t been working hard all afternoon when he’d wanted her to rest.
Strolling into the kitchen, he saw her crouched in front of the oven, peering into the window.
“Mari-girl? Everything okay?”
She let out a screech and fell on her bottom.
“Oh, baby. Are you okay?” He dropped the bags in his hands and leapt forward, helping her stand. Tears had filled her eyes and he felt like a complete ass.
“Jesus, I deserve my butt whipped for that. I thought you would have heard me come in the door. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Is your bottom sore?”
Holding her to his chest with one arm around her lower back, he rubbed her bottom gently, hearing her moan. She sagged against him and her moans turned to whimpers. Noises that were filled with need.
Liked that, did she?
He filed that away for further thought later.
“I’m so sorry, teeny. Are you all right?”
She sniffled. “Oh yes. I’m fine. Sorry, I just got a fright.”
“Understandable. Is your bottom all right?”
“What? Hmm. Oh yes. Yes, I guess so.”