Page 22 of Protected By Her Daddy

I took a long sip of my scotch, letting his words sink in. Ed wasn’t one for sentimentality, but when he spoke like this, I knew he meant every word.

“I’ll tell her,” I said finally. “When the time is right, I’ll tell her everything.”

Until then, I’ll be her protector, her guardian, her safe haven. I’ll watch over my little bird, keeping her safe from the world outside and from the storm of emotions raging inside me until she’s ready for me to be her Daddy.

“How are you feeling today?” I ask, trying to gauge where her head’s at without pushing too hard.

“Good.” She tucks a strand of silver-blonde hair behind her ear, a nervous habit I’ve come to recognize.

Wren laughs at one of the ducks shaking its tail feathers. I love her laugh. It became my favorite sound the first time I heard it. She deserves happiness and peace after the storm she’s weathered. She’s still a wounded bird with nowhere else to turn. I want to wrap her in my arms and keep her safe from every shadow that haunts her. But I hold back, understanding that this fragile trust between us is something I can’t rush. I’ve been celibate for a long time, and her nearness is driving me crazy, but I won’t rush this, not for the world.

“You’re getting stronger every day,” I comment as we resume our walk, watching her navigate the path with ease.

“Feels like it,” she replies, but a flicker of worry dances across her face. She glances around, checking to see that Luther and Ethan are nearby.

I sense her uncertainty, as if she’s waiting for an attacker to jump out at her at any moment. I’ve learned enough about her past to know her trust doesn’t come easy. Her mom and stepfather have left scars far deeper than those on her skin. And her time on the streets only increased her fears. But she has me now, and there’s no deadline for the demons she battles.

“It’s another cold one today,” I say, glancing at the gray sky, keeping the conversation light.

Wren pulls her coat tighter around her frame. “Good thing we’re prepared.”

She’s gained some much-needed weight since she’s been living with me. Her face is fuller, along with her hips and thighs. I’ve dreamed of burying my face between those thighs, of pleasuring her until she comes on my tongue.

“Always be prepared, that’s my motto.” Prepared for the cold, for trouble, for anything life throws at me. Because that’s what my company does. What I do. Examine every angle, circumvent potential problems, and protect those who need it. And I’ll protect Wren with everything I’ve got.

I watch her with a scrutiny that’s second nature to me, the guardian within never fully at rest. She bends, tracing her fingers along the petals of a rose that’s thrived in the cool onset of autumn. Her touch is gentle, reverent almost, and something fierce ignites in my chest.

“You seem more settled,” I murmur as she straightens.

Her blue eyes are shadowed by the familiar cloud of worry that never quite leaves her as they meet mine. “You made that possible.” The gratitude in her voice mingles with an undercurrent of something deeper, something neither of us is ready to name yet.

I shake my head as we settle on the bench so she can rest for a few minutes. “You’re doing the hard work, Wren.”

She smiles, but again, it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

I know her well enough to see the cogs turning in her mind. “You’ve been quiet the last few days. What’s up?”

A crease forms between her brows. “I want to start my college classes again, but I’m sure they’ve dropped me by now since I’ve missed so much time without calling them. I only have a few months left, and getting my degree is important to me, to my sense of self-worth.”

Her words are a punch to my gut. She needs normalcy, something that anchors her to the world outside these walls. “You’re already worthy, Wren, because you have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. But I get it. You made so many sacrifices to study for your degree, and you deserve to finish what you started. Education is important. It’s the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”

She frowns. “That sounds like a quote.”

I give her a sheepish smile. “Oprah Winfrey.”

“Are you seriously quoting Oprah Winfrey right now, Mr. Billionaire CEO?” Wren teases.

“Hey, she’s a wise woman,” I say, grinning as I hold up my hands. “Leave the college to me. I’ll make a phone call, pay the dean a visit if I have to.” A few persuasive words are all it will take. I’m good at that. “But online classes may be safer.” I know I’m being selfish, suggesting that last part, even though it’s the truth, but I need her close to me.

“Really?” Her eyes light up like I’ve handed her the stars. “You’d do that?”

“Of course.” I stand, offering her my hand, which she takes with a grateful squeeze. “Let’s get going. It’s getting chilly, and we can’t have you catching a cold. How about we get a cinnamon bun from our favorite café?”

This time, the smile that lights up her face is blinding, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. God, she’s so fucking beautiful.

As we head to the café, my senses go into overdrive. I’m always on alert, a habit from my military days that I can’t shake. It’s my job to protect her, to ensure no harm comes her way again. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep that promise.

The trees rustle with the crisp breeze as we walk, whispering warnings of colder nights to come, but our warm coats shield us from its bite.

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