“Next time she tries to fill your head with bullshit like what you just spouted off to me, I will happily tell her that. If she’s being toxic, causing you to think bad things about yourself and you need a buffer, I’ll be that barrier. I’ll stand between you and the world if you need it. I’ll also stand behind you to be your support. What I won’t do is stand idly by while she abuses you.”
“It’s not abuse,” she protested.
“You sure about that? Granted, I don’t know it all. But from what you’ve just said . . . abuse isn’t always visible. It’s not always physical. I don’t think I need to tell you that.”
She sucked in a breath. He was right. But she still felt like this was her battle to fight.
“Sometimes, you have to cut toxic from your life, in order to live. But I think I’m overstepping when I don’t know all the details. But I am protective of the people I care about. There wasn’t a day that went by I haven’t thought about you and that kiss. Haven’t wanted to track you down, and pull you back into my lair.”
“And now I’m here.”
“You are.”
“And you want to . . . to try and see . . . I mean, you’re a Daddy Dom and I . . . what if I don’t like it?” she blurted out her worry.
“You won’t know until you try,” he soothed. “And you might find there are some things you like, others that you don’t. There’re no rules about what sort of Little you have to be.” Leaning closer, he kissed her lightly. “Now, I owe you a treat and I think we’ve done enough serious talking. There’s no pressure or time limit. Like I said, I think it would help manage your stress, but the next part is up to you. It’s about what you want to do. You need to get some rest. How about a movie on the couch under a blanket? I’ll get you your treat.”
“Ed.” She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For everything. I just . . . I’ve never had anyone I could talk to about any of this stuff. I might have a lot of questions.”
“Questions are good. What’s not good is having them and not asking, okay?” he asked firmly.
“Yeah. Okay. I have a question right now, actually.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“You weren’t serious when you said you wanted me to sit on your lap every time. Right?”
He just smiled.
23
“Let’s get you settled on the couch. Unless you’re too tired and want to go have a nap?”
Tired? No, she didn’t feel tired. She felt like a hundred volts of electricity had been shot through her. All her nerve endings were alight. She was ultra-aware of him. Of everything he did or said.
But maybe she should go to bed. Calm herself down. Except she’d probably just lie awake, worrying about everything.
“I’m not tired.”
He studied her carefully. Reaching out, he ran his thumb under her eye. “You look exhausted, but we’ll see how you do. Now, I did promise you a treat if you were a good girl.”
Those words. Shoot. What was wrong with her?
Moving over to the pantry, he reached up high, pulling out a small bar of something. Her breath caught. He’d remembered that Hershey’s milk chocolate was her favorite.
He broke off three pieces and she held out her hand, thinking he would give her the block so she could break off how much she wanted.
To her surprise, he kept hold of both. Then he put the block back. She frowned. “I thought it was my treat.”
“It is.”