Page 52 of Johnny Gun

“I know what happened.” He raised his open hand to her in a peace offering. Relieved, she clasped his strong fingers.

“Sit on the floor, between my legs.”

Where?Isolde hesitated. His challenging gaze didn’t deviate from hers. This was her test. Did she obey or resist? Taking a deep breath, she leaned on his knees and carefully sat. His muscular legs flanked her on both sides. As confusing emotions tugged at her, she felt both sheltered and nervous.

“You’ve heard the saying about good intentions?” he asked.

“Yes.” She sighed. “Most times, good intentions make a mess.”

“Got that right.” He clasped the back of her neck. Slowly, his fingertips slipped under her hairline and massaged her scalp. “We spoke about this before. Even though you grew up in an MCclubhouse, your father raised you and Opal in a restricted environment. He didn’t want his girls to grow up and become sexually aware women.”

“You’re right.”

“I realized this escape into the real world would be a drastic change for you. I know you’re Little, but I wanted to give you the freedom you never had. Allow you to breathe at your pace. Explore your personality without pressure, and live it when you were ready. I didn’t want you to feel rushed because you knew I’m a Daddy Dominant. In my effort to give you space, I went overboard, I guess.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t let me do anything? You get so serious sometimes.”

“Not quite. Being a Daddy means I take care of my Little’s every need. She’s my adored baby, and my job is to do everything for her. There’s only one requirement: devotion requires obedience. My orders are law. I expect my little girl to obey me without an argument or pushback. I am serious because I’m older, and sometimes I’m a grouchy, know-it-all bastard.”

“Isn’t that a lot to do?”

“When you love someone the way I love you, giving your all is a pleasure, not a burden. A Daddy/Little is a unique dynamic. It’s much more intense and involved than a regular relationship. If both partners are in sync, it’s extremely rewarding. As time goes on, you’ll see. Now, talk to me.” He wrapped a strand of her hair around his fingers. “I thought we’d straightened this out in Dalton, but after the incident with Buddy, I need to ask again. Is this the kind of relationship you want? Don’t rush to answer. If you need time to think, say so. There’s no right or wrong answer. Only the truth and your happiness are important.”

Isolde pressed Mr. Bubbles to her chest. Strange how Johnny had known, better than she did, that her stuffie would anchor her in this moment. This gentle wisdom he gave unconditionally andhis respect for her decision soothed her soul. A more powerful declaration of love didn’t exist.

She gazed into his clear blue eyes. The lingering sadness in the fathomless depths broke her heart. He didn’t realize she’d fallen in love the instant she met him, and, if given a choice, she wanted to be with him for the rest of her life. But his question forced her to envision two possible futures, one with him and…one without?

Hell, no. Her blood turned cold, and she shivered. Life without Johnny made no sense. He was her Daddy and soon would be her lover. She wanted him with all his quirky habits, his dominance and temper, his every strength and flaw she’d yet to learn.

“I belong to you. The day we met, you took my heart, Johnny.”

“Daddy.” Smiling, he corrected her.

Happiness surged, and she giggled. “Am I allowed again?”

“If you’re sure and committed to us, yes.” He nodded. “First things first, we have to work on our communication. I hope you’ll forgive me for my sin of silence, and you can’t hide your concerns from me. I have to know what worries you. Not knowing is how we get into trouble.”

“I was afraid of telling you. You seemed so unreachable.”

“It seemed that way, princess. But it was mostly a good act. I wouldn’t lose track of you. No matter what we do, where we go, or if we have to separate, remember this: you’ll never be alone, my soul is next to yours, day and night.”

“You say such pretty things.”

He laughed. “I’m hardly a poet. I rarely speak about my emotions. But today we went through a dangerous moment, and you needed to hear the truth. On that note…”

The way Johnny left the sentence hanging, her instincts sounded the alarm.

“Uh-oh. I’m not sure I going to like what you’re about to say.”

“Smart, girl.” He kissed her head. “You can’t escape it.”

“But…” She glanced up at him. “I told you what was on my mind, and we agreed to be honest with each other. This miscommunication won’t happen again.”

“Nice try. You should study law. There’s a litigator streak in you. Your argument is irrelevant to the infraction and the punishment you owe.”

Shit, she knew it. A spanking was on the way. Slowly, the scene at the restaurant repeated in her mind. The way she’d behaved, she deserved every smack he gave her.

“Do you prefer your bedroom or here?”

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