I slowly turned to Daddy, who stood in the doorway, his face flushed, and his eyes blazing.
I dropped my gaze to the floor. “I ran into him today at the grocery store. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Interesting how all these guys just supposedly can’t take no for an answer, Ari.”
I shrugged. “It’s not my fault they like what they see.”
“You want them to like what they see?” His chest rose and fell rapidly, and the color in his face spread to his neck. Was he flushed all over? “Answer me!”
I jumped. He never spoke to me in such an angry tone before, and it frightened me as much as it aroused me. He was being all tough Daddy on me, and I loved it.
“I don’t know,” I replied honestly. “It makes me feel good that they want me, but I only want you.”
He was too silent. For way too long. He was studying me. If I could get a peek into his mind to know what he was thinking… Was he repulsed? Did he find me a psychopath? Mom called me that once.
“Be careful of the games you play with me, little one,” he said softly, then turned on his heels and strode out of the kitchen.
Was it a good or a bad thing that just happened? One thing was clear: Shaw didn’t like the idea of me being with another man. In fact, the whole idea of me being with someone seemed to drive him insane with jealousy and possessiveness. Those emotions I could handle. The silent treatment I'd gotten over the past days was not.
Giving him some space to cool down, I cleaned the mess I’d made, then grabbed the bottle of wine I’d set aside to chill. I poured myself a glass and downed it, then made my way up the stairs to his bedroom with his promised wine in hand. His aloofness was the worst.
I knocked on the door and opened it. One sweeping gaze revealed he wasn’t inside. I went to his bathroom and rapped once.
“Daddy, it’s me. I have your glass of wine. May I come in?”
Silence. Was he ignoring me?
“Please. I’m sorry.”
Another few seconds passed before he replied. “Come on in.”
It was time for phase two. I didn’t have the patience to wait for Shaw to make his move anymore. If we were ever going to advance in our relationship, I would have to take the reins.
I pushed the door open and stepped into the bathroom. Daddy sat in the bathtub, lying back with his head in the rest. His eyes were closed, which gave me all the time to study him. If I was going based on looks and gorgeous body, I would have picked Nathan, but he didn’t hold a candle to Daddy. Shaw owned me in a way he didn’t yet understand.
My gaze traveled back to Shaw’s face, right in his piercing eyes.
“You can put the wine down and go.”
I didn’t argue with him. Without a word, I placed the glass of wine on the edge of the tub and backed out of the bathroom.
“If you need help, call me. I’ll be in the other room.”