Page 58 of Keeping Katie

I shrug. “You’re mine… Just like I’m yours. Right?”

The way he beams at me warms me from the inside out. We belong to each other, and while he might be my Daddy and be the one in charge, he’s never going to make me feel like I’m less.

“Yes, baby girl. Exactly right. And I think it’s time we make it official.” He reaches into the inside of his jacket and pulls out a tiny black box. Suddenly, it’s hard to breathe.

“You deserve a proposal that’s more romantic than this, but I’m too impatient. I promise to do a million romantic things for you later, but I need my ring on your finger and your last name to be changed to mine as soon as possible.”

All I can seem to do is bob my head as he opens the box to reveal a beautifully designed antique ring with an enormous emerald in the center.

“This was my mother’s. If you want something new, I’ll buy you whatever you want, but I also want you to have this. My parents loved each other deeply and unconditionally, just like I do you.”

A sob breaks free from my throat. I throw my arms around him and wiggle free from the blankets to crawl onto his lap, clinging to him.

“I don’t want anything else. I just want you,” I cry, cupping his face as our mouths come together.

Our kiss starts soft and intimate. Without breaking apart, he slides the ring on my finger. As soon as it’s on, it’s like a wildfire catches, and we can’t get enough of each other. He doesn’t care that I haven’t washed my hair in three days. Or that I haven’t shaved, either. He still touches me like I’m perfect and kisses me like he won’t survive if he doesn’t.

My nipples ache against his T-shirt I’m wearing. Ever since he brought me up to our room after the doctor checked me out, he’s been dressing me in his T-shirts. I’ve decided to make them my pajamas going forward because even though they’ve gonethrough the wash, they still smell like him, and I never get tired of it.

He grips my hips and lifts me. I straddle his lap, then he slides his hands around to my ass, squeezing tightly. I moan and arch into him, his thick shaft pressing against my core.

“Daddy,” I whisper, nipping at his lips.

“What, baby girl?”

“I need you. Please. I need you so badly right now.”

The corners of his lips curl into a soft smile as he meets my gaze. “My good girl for asking for what she needs. I want you to do that every time you need something.”

I nod, though I’m not sure it will be something to come as naturally as it did just now. Asking for things has never been an option for me. I had responsibilities to my parents. But now, he’s giving me the freedom to want and need, and it’s such a beautiful feeling. It makes me love him even more than I did five seconds ago. Our romance has been so sudden, but it’s been too powerful to deny.

“How’s your ankle? I don’t want to hurt you.”

Giggling, I shake my head. “Daddy, it’s been fine for like two days. Every time you take me into the bathroom, I walk on it, and it doesn’t hurt. It was only a light sprain.”

He narrows his eyes, his fingers digging into my ass. “You got off the toilet and walked around when I specifically told you not to?”

Whoops. Probably shouldn’t have admitted all of that to him.

“Daddy,” I whine lightly. “I love that you’re overprotective, but I’m not fragile.”

We stare at each other for a second before he finally nods. “You might not be fragile, but you’re precious to me. I want to keep you in bubble wrap so I never have to worry about you again.”

I cup his face in my hands, loving the way his short beard scratches my palms. “I know you’re always going to do everything you can to protect me, but I also need you to let me live, too. Trust that I’m going to follow your safety rules and that you and your family will keep me and the other girls safe. I know it’s scary, especially after what you went through, but we can’t live our lives in fear.”

He lets out a deep exhale. “You’re right, baby. Just promise me you will always follow your health and safety rules to the T. You can be naughty and break any other rules but those. Okay?”

I grin. “So, I can be naughty, huh?”

That makes him laugh. Soon, I’m laughing, too. I’m not sure how a hot, sexy moment turned into us cracking up together, but it doesn’t matter because this is us, and I think it’s perfect.

Aweek later…

“Sign here, here, and here, and then we’ll be all done, and the cash will be wired to your account.”

I smile at Marie, who has been the absolute sweetest through this process. I’m so glad Grady introduced me to her. Part of me wishes he were here right now instead of one of his men, but the guys had a meeting to attend, so he sent a bodyguard with me.

When I reach the last line for my signature, I sigh and scribble my name, then look at the line below it. G.O. Enterprises. Hm.

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