Page 25 of Barron

“Because I’m not fighting my feelings or yours anymore.” He grasped her shoulders. “And to set the record straight, you broke up withme.”

“Oh, you can be?—”

“Just stop. I know you want me as much as I want you. I’m here to claim you. You’re my little girl, and that’s decided.”

Little girl? His little girl? Claim me? What is happening here?

Yoanni’s brain spun. Was that an honest declaration? She couldn’t handle heartbreak again. If she let him in again and he left her, she’d die.

“You hurt me before. I can’t let you do it again.”

“I won’t. I can’t. I hurt us both deeply. I’ll regret the pain I caused you forever and hope to make amends. Here is my truth: you are everything. My soul loves you, my heart worships the ground you walk on, my mind can’t function without you. I’ve ached and stumbled every minute spent away from you. That ends now.”

He bent his head and crushed his lips to her mouth, long and slow. Suddenly, she was whole again. The contact she’d missed blotted out the pain and emptiness. Wild elation filled her mind, and, exhaling a hitched breath, she gave up any resistance. She opened her mouth, inviting Barron’s tongue to take and plunder. To explore her starving depths as he saturated her senses with his masculine flavor and his presence. Yoanni felt the room twist, and a strange lightheadedness struck. She clung to his neck with one hand. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing her breasts to his chest.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured over her lips.

Well, here it was. She’d come to the crossroads. Did she push him out the door or plunge into the loving whirlwind he offered? Where was her bruised ego? She needed the reminder of acute pain to stand firm. But could she continue to deny her feelings? And what was the point?

Her heart won out.

“So have I, Barron.”

“Daddy,” he corrected.

Though she couldn’t see his lips, she could feel them curving into a smile over hers.

He knew. Somehow, he’d guessed her true nature and the secret wishes of her heart. How could he?

“Daddy?” She tested the word.

“Mmm-hmm.” His free hand lightly slapped her butt.

She jumped and wiggled. “Oh?”

“Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“But, Barron?—”

He slapped her butt harder. “Call me Barron again, and I’ll give your sweet cheeks the spanking of a lifetime. You won’t be able to sit for days. What’s it going to be?”

Damn, if that didn’t sound wonderful to her. She’d never confessed the erotic fantasy, but the idea of Barron spanking her bare butt had been a constant wish.

Dropping her forehead to his chest, she murmured, “Yes, Daddy.”

“Oh, Nugget. You make me so happy.” Pressing her tighter against him, he rocked her side to side. She could stay in the safety of his arms until the end of time. When he stopped, she wanted to protest and ask him to continue, but his expression warned her to stay quiet.

“Okay, go pack a few things. I’ll wait for you here.”

Sighing, she gave up the fight. Daddies always had the last word.

“I’ll take my car and meet you there.”

“Fat chance in a blue moon.” He grinned. “You’re riding with me, angel. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the station in my truck. After that, we’ll figure something out.”

“I thought you had to stay away from the station and the captain?”

He shrugged. “People don’t associate me with the truck. I’ll wear a cap or something and drop you off. No one will recognizeme. After that, we’ll figure out a schedule. Hurry up. I’m anxious to take my little girl home.”

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