A wry smile twisted my mouth as my focus shifted to her. The expression took little effort to fabricate, and after a few more heartbeats of staring into her lovely, trusting eyes, my full attention fixed on her needs rather than on my darkest urges to hurt her stalker.
My thick fingers were gentle as I traced soothing circles over her palm. “I like that you share your books with me. What kind of hack artist would I be if I ignored the expertise of a Harvard-educated art historian?”
Her alabaster skin flushed my favorite shade of pink, and the tension eased from her soft features. She wrapped her much smaller fingers around my hand, squeezing lightly. “Have I told you you’re the best study buddy?”
The corners of my mouth twitched, the tugging sensation of a genuine, easy smile still somewhat strange to me. I’d never smiled so much in my life as I did now that Ashlyn was mine. “Only twice so far today.”
Her brilliant grin hit me square in the chest. For a moment, I couldn’t remember how to breathe, much less think about her stalker.
“Hmmm,” she mused, her gemstone eyes sparkling as she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Twice isn’t nearly enough. You’re the best study buddy, Daddy.”
My hand tightened around hers, and a low, hungry growl slipped between my teeth before I could contain the feral sound. “Are you teasing me, babygirl?”
An impertinent dimple shadowed her cheek. “Maybe.”
“Definitely,” I rumbled. “If you want a spanking, you can always ask me nicely, princess.”
Her face flushed scarlet, and her wide eyes darted around the café to check if anyone had overheard. She shushed me dramatically, and I chuckled.
“That cute little blush will attract a lot more attention,” I informed her with a taunting smile. “Are you sorry for teasing Daddy?”
“Marco!” she hissed, squirming in her seat.
I hummed my satisfaction. I would definitely enjoy turning her over my knee as soon as we got home. I wanted her pert ass to match the enticing shade of red that colored her cheeks. Already, my palm tingled with the remembered warmth of her enflamed skin. It’d been too long since the last time I’d properly taken her in hand. My good girl was rarely naughty, but she clearly needed to feel my discipline. I knew she’d been more stressed than usual with her studies, so I’d eased back from the stricter physical aspects of our dynamic to give her time to focus on her academics.
That had been a mistake. She needed release from all that responsibility, and I hadn’t been fulfilling my role. Suddenly, I could hardly wait to get to the privacy of our own home so I could give her exactly what she needed.
“Is Marco tormenting you, angel?” Joseph appeared at her side and leaned in to brush a kiss over her red cheek. I’d been so entranced by her that I hadn’t even noticed his approach.
His lips hovered at her ear, teasing her sensitive skin as he murmured, “Tormenting you is my job. You must have done something very naughty to provoke Marco. I guess I’ll have to punish you, too.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, but a small smile still curved her lips. “Oh my god!” she squeaked. “We’re in public.”
“You started this little game, princess,” I reminded her evenly. “You knew exactly what you were getting into. Pack up your things. We’re taking you home.”
She drew in a little panting breath and licked her lips, equal parts anxious and aroused. “But Joseph just got here. He hasn’t even ordered his coffee. We were supposed to have a date.” She made a pretty pout in my direction, goading me further.
My hand firmed around hers, and I leaned in slowly, imposing the weight of my censure. She tried to ease back, but Joseph wrapped his arm around her shoulders and locked her in place. A wicked grin illuminated his model-handsome features when she trembled against him.
“Are you going to pack up, or is Joseph going to have to do it for you?” I enunciated each word in a slow, heavy cadence.
Her mouth twisted in an impish smirk. “How can I pack up when you’re holding my hand so tightly?”
Joseph’s low laugh rolled over my dark chuckle, and she shivered.
“Wrong answer, angel.” He pressed a doting kiss to her temple and started loading her laptop and books into her bag.
“Was it?” Her saucy challenge hitched slightly, but our girl continued to willfully provoke me.
Joseph groaned softly, and I knew her teasing was tempting him just as keenly as it was tormenting me. “You’ll have to go crying to Marco when you can’t sit comfortably tomorrow,” he warned.
“Tomorrow?” I rasped. “Make that next week.”
Her lush lips popped open, my threat finally shocking that mischievous little smile off her lovely face.
“Don’t worry, babygirl.” I brushed her knuckles with my thumb. “I know what you need. I’ll take good care of you.”