Page 20 of Protect Me Daddy

Dwight moved with startling speed. Before I could blink, he'd spun me around, pressing me against the counter. His muscled arms caged me in, chest firm against my back. I could feel the rapid rise and fall of his breathing, matching my own.

"What's really going on, little one?" he growled, his lips inches from my ear.

A shudder ran through me as one of his large hands cupped my hip. The heat of his palm seeped through the thin fabric of my sundress, igniting sparks along my skin.

"I don't know what you mean, Daddy," I lied, the words coming out in a breathless whisper.

His knowing chuckle vibrated through my body, low and dangerous. "I think you do," he murmured, his fingers tightening slightly on my hip. "You've been pushing all day. Testing me."

My heart hammered in my chest. I wanted to lean back into him, to feel the full length of his body against mine. But I also feared what would happen if I gave in completely to this game I'd started.

"I haven't-" I began, but the words died in my throat as his other hand came to rest on my stomach, holding me firmly in place.

"Don't lie to me, Tilly," Dwight said, his voice a mix of steel and velvet. "You know how I feel about lies."

I swallowed hard, torn between defiance and the desire to submit. "I'm sorry, Daddy," I whispered, not entirely sure if I meant it.

I couldn't take it anymore. The tension, the uncertainty, the ache in my chest that had nothing to do with physical desire - it all came crashing down on me at once. I spun around to face him, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Do you feel anything for me?" The words tumbled out in a desperate whisper. "Or am I just someone else to fix, like Sarah?"

Dwight's eyes widened, surprise flickering across his face. I pressed on, my voice trembling. "Am I temporary? Just another broken girl for you to protect and heal before moving on?"

I couldn't stop the tears now. They spilled down my cheeks as I admitted my deepest fears. "I want more than just protection, Dwight. I want . . . I want . . ."

My voice trailed off as I saw his expression change. The stern look melted away, replaced by something softer, something that made my heart skip a beat.

Dwight cupped my face in his large hands, his touch infinitely gentle. "Oh, little one," he murmured, thumbs brushing away my tears. "You've got it all wrong."

I held my breath, afraid to hope. His steel-blue eyes locked with mine, intense and sincere.

"Sarah was someone I helped heal," he said softly. "But you, Tilly—you're someone I'm falling in love with."

My world tilted on its axis. I stared up at him, hardly daring to believe what I'd heard. "You . . . you are?"

He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I am. And I think you might be falling for me too, aren't you, little one?"

I nodded, unable to form words. Dwight's smile widened, and he leaned in, his forehead resting against mine.

"That's why you've been acting out," he murmured. "You wanted to know if I cared."

"I... I guess so," I managed to croak out, heat flooding my cheeks.

"Well, I hope this answers your question." His voice was firm, yet laced with a teasing undertone that made my stomach flip.

Without warning, Dwight's lips were on mine, and my world exploded into a kaleidoscope of sensations.

Our first kiss was gentle, tentative as we both tested the waters. Heat pooled low in my belly as his large hands cradled my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. His lips felt like fine-ground sandpaper against mine, and I moaned into him, craving more.

Dwight groaned in response, and any semblance of restraint vanished. His tongue delved into my mouth, exploring every nook and cranny, and I arched hungrily against him.

His hands slid down my back, spanning my waist and lifting me effortlessly onto the table; all I could think about was the feel of him between my thighs.

My hands fisted in his dark hair, grinding against him as the ache inside me grew. He was hard, so hard, and I wanted him. Now.

Breaking the kiss, I looked him straight in the eyes. "I've been wanting this," I panted, my voice breathy with need, "wanting you," I corrected.

His blue eyes darkened with desire and something else—something that made my knees tremble. "I know," he said, a hint of arrogance in his voice. "I've been waiting for you to admit it."

---