Her eyes widened. He wasn’t being serious, was he?
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I won’t do it again. Promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
He sat on the bed and leaned back against the headboard, then he pointed to the mattress between his open legs. “Sit.”
But then he undid her braid and dried it with the hairdryer before brushing it. By the time he was finished, she was so relaxed and sleepy that she was barely able to hold herself up. Spike helped her into bed and then kissed the top of her head.
“Sleep, baby.”
See? She was a good girl because she obeyed him straight away.
* * *
Help me.
Help me, Millie.
Please. I need you.
She cried out, sitting up with a gasp. Her breath came in sharp pants, the panic from the nightmare still clinging to her.
“Hey, what is it? Did you have a nightmare?”
She let out a scream, turning to find a huge man sitting beside her, almost looming over her. A dog let out a small bark as she shrank back.
“Millie. Millie, it’s me. Spike. Daddy.”
Spike. Daddy.
Oh shit. She suddenly realized where she was. She ran a shaking hand over her face then lay back on the bed with a sigh.
“Sorry. Sorry. Confused. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Shh. Calm down. Can I touch you?”
She liked that he asked. “Please.”
Lying on his back, he gently pulled her over so she was on top of him, her cheek against his chest. She tensed slightly.
“Shh,” he told her, running his hand up and down her back. Gradually, she started relaxing. She’d move before she went to sleep so as not to get too heavy for him. But damn, this was nice. Especially when he started rubbing her bottom.
“Nightmare?”
“Yeah. And then I got confused about where I was.”
“Poor baby,” he crooned. He ran his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp gently.
Ohh. So good.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked, his voice still low and calm.
“Not now.” There was nothing that talking could do. She started to tense up again as she thought of the nightmare.
“Shh. Close your eyes. You’re safe. Daddy has you. You’re safe in my arms.”
If only she could stay there.