Page 29 of Keeping Katie

That sounds exactly like my girl. Always giving. Always offering her help even when her own cup is empty. And from what I’ve seen, it’s past the point of empty. She’s exhausted and has way too much on her shoulders. It’s time for her to offload some of her load to me.

Ignoring Chloe, I look back at Bash and raise my eyebrows.

He shrugs and shakes his head. “I don’t think you have to worry about him. He seems harmless, but if I were you, I’d check him out. Can never be too careful when it comes to our girls.”

“I’ll add him to my list. First is the realtor, who I have a bad feeling about. Does the name Calvin Dunlap ring any bells with you?” I ask. “Something about the guy isn’t sitting right with me.”

Bash thinks about it for a second. “No. But you know who’s got information about anyone worth knowing in this city…”

“Yeah. Cage Black.” I lift my shoulders. “You think he’s still going to talk to us after Kieran punched him?”

“Who did I punch?” Kieran strides into the living room with Paisley by his side.

“Cage Black,” Bash answers.

Kieran holds his hands up. “He asked for it.”

That’s kind of true. I’m pretty sure Cage goaded Kieran just to be an ass and knew he’d either get shot or punched.

I snort and shake my head when Kieran grabs his girl by the hips and moves her to the other side of him, farther away from me. Possessive bastard.

Paisley shoots him an exasperated glare and pinches his side. “You need therapy.”

Kieran wraps his arm around her and presses a kiss to the top of her head. “I know, Little demon. You’re my therapy, though.”

A pang of jealousy swirls in my chest. I want that. I want what my friends have, and I want it with Katie.

“I’d like to stay here and watch you two idiots be all protective over your girls, but I’m gonna go take mine dinner.”

Because she will be my girl. Soon.

The door swings open, and my heart races. Droplets of water stain Katie’s soft lavender sweater from thick tendrils of wet hair hanging over her shoulders. Her unadorned cheeks flush pink. Black leggings hug her lush thighs. My cock goes rigid. Fuck, she’s gorgeous.

“Hey, princess.”

Her cheeks flush, and she dips her head as she steps back to let me in. I go straight to the kitchen and set down the bag of food, then stride back to her. She gasps as I yank her against me, wrapping her in a hug.

A few seconds pass before she slides her hands around my waist and hugs me back, relaxing into my embrace.

“You’re in trouble, you know,” I murmur against her hair.

Just as I expect, she pulls back and looks up at me in shock. “What? Why? I didn’t do anything.”

Using my thumb and index finger, I grab her chin and raise my eyebrows. “Really? What did I tell you to do when you woke up?”

Her entire body does a little shudder, and my cock grows harder. Does she like the idea of being in trouble?

“I was going to…” She trails off.

“But you didn’t. You called Chloe instead. When your Daddy gives instructions, he expects to be obeyed.”

As she stares up at me, her chest stutters, and her pupils dilate. “I don’t have a Daddy,” she replies, barely above a whisper.

The corners of my lips curve into an evil smile. “Don’t you, princess? Because I think you want a Daddy. I think you want me. Am I wrong?”

We’re so close that our mouths are nearly touching, and I can practically taste the cherry-scented lip gloss she has on. I inch closer until my lips brush against hers. I’m trying to hold back. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted any woman in my life. The animal in me wants to ravage her, but the Daddy in me knows she isn’t ready.

“Not completely wrong,” she pants.

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