“Daddy.” I bury my head against his chest, throwing my arms around his neck and pulling with all my might. “You promised we would always be together.”
“We are together, Lamb. You had a nightmare, that’s all.”
He lifts his hand from over my racing heart, swipes the backs of his fingers over my cheeks, and I feel the wetness there.
“God, it was so real. You were gone. Just like Gran and Emily. You disappeared on me, just like my mom. My dad whoever he was.”
Ace rocks me gently and pulls me into the space between his legs as he sits up against the headboard. He leans me back in a ball against him and makes soothing sounds into my ear.
“I’m right here. I’m not letting you go. Not now, not ever. Your tears are going to be the death of me, maybe, but I’m going to fucking figure out how to make sure I don’t ever have to see you cry again.”
His arms curl around me, and my breathing evens out. My heartbeat slows, and I’m filled with the scent of him. It calms me, and I’m beginning to shake off the last remnants of the nightmare.
“You better not break your promise,” I scold.
“Okay, listen.” He releases one arm and reaches over to open the drawer on his nightstand. He fumbles inside before continuing. “I was going to wait until later today, but I honestly don’t want to fucking wait, so just to prove it to you...”
“Prove what?”
“Prove to you that we will always be together.” He pulls his hand back and inside is a white jewelry box. He takes a breath as he reaches forward and holds it in front o
f me, and I lean my back into his chest.
I can barely breathe again, only this time it’s not because I’m scared.
“Daddy is that...?”
“Marry me, Lamb. I need you to be mine in every way. I don’t want to waste another fucking day. I promise to be the man you deserve. To take care of you. To take care of us. So say yes, Brinna, say yes to our forever.”
He brings his other hand out and around to open the box, and the sparkling gold band catches the tiny bit of light in the room. It’s rose gold, embedded with tiny emeralds just like the cross I wear around my neck.
I can’t find the words, but I nod so vigorously my neck aches. Ace takes the ring out of the box and lifts my hand to slip it onto my finger.
“You’re mine, Lamb. Always have been. Always will be. Daddy loves you. More than you could ever know.” He strokes a hand through my hair, then plants a soft kiss on my head. “Now, kiss me goodnight.”
Epilogue One
Ace
ONE YEAR LATER
“Daddy...ohhh...I thought I was sore the first time...” She winces and tries to pull back as I lower her battered pussy into the warm bath, but I firmly press her into the water. It’s for her own good.
“Hey, you know the song, Little Lamb...Feels like the first time—” I try to carry the tune, but it just serves to make her giggle, which is in my top five favorite things in this world.
In no particular order they are:
Eating her pussy.
Fucking her pussy.
Taking care of her and everything about our life together.
Her laughs and giggles.
Hearing her call me Daddy.
None of that shit ever gets old, and I don’t think it ever will.