Page 43 of Ranch Rules

“I can’t speak for Nate, you oughta know better than that, Natalie.”

She rolled her eyes, but at his warning growl quickly muttered an apology. “Well, with your little then.”

“I don’t have a little.”

“Do you want one?”

“Do you want a daddy?” he countered.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly.

“Well, let’s give it a try then.” He looked at her expectantly. When she didn’t answer, he said, “This is where you say, ‘yes, Daddy.’”

Natalie blushed, her entire body flushing with heat. She stared at the comforter and mumbled, “Yes, Daddy.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, the heat that had engulfed her soared. But there was something else besides embarrassment hiding in the pit of her belly, a warm and vulnerable feeling she could not name.

“What was that?”

“Oh, come on, Thomas.” She let out a frustrated groan.

“That’s ‘Daddy’ to you, naughty girl.”

“Yes, Daddy,” she said, louder. Her voice trembled, but she dared to look at him this time, and the warmth in his blue eyes, the adoring way that he was looking at her, made the knots in her tummy clench in a way that was not at all unpleasant.

“Good girl. Now, you’ve had a big day, little-bit. Daddy wants you to close your eyes and get some rest.”

She fell back against the pillows, pulling the comforter to her chin and grinning shyly up at him. “Yes, Daddy.”

“I like the sound of that.” He winked at her before standing, walking over and kissing her on the cheek.

As she watched him leave Natalie couldn’t help thinking that she did, too.

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