Page 14 of Gene

She shook her head and held her hands up. “Stay right where you are. I am not moving in with you. That’s too far, way too far.”

An amused expression flashed across his face. “That’s a line, but you being over my lap with a hot bottom isn’t? Good to know. I’ll remember that for later.”

Sammi blinked several times, not comprehending his words.

“I can’t. I... I can’t,” she whispered.

Everything was becoming too much for her, and she didn’t know what to do or say. How had she managed to get herself in a situation like this? How was she going to get herself out of this? Did she want to get herself out of this?

Those were all great questions, and Sammi couldn’t think of the answers to any of them. She had dreamed about having a Daddy of her own. Someone to take care of her, love her, discipline her, cherish her, and set rules for her.

But it was all a dream.

She didn’t know how it was all going to work out when she could be in danger. When she was helping her brother pay off his debt. Who wanted to get involved with someone only to find out they were paying off a debt?

No one.

Sammi would like to think she would let the person explain, but she figured she already had her answer. She wouldn’t get with them. Especially not when the debt was owed to a motorcycle club that wasn’t always on the right side of the law.

Yeah, she couldn’t do this with him, and it broke her heart because she so desperately wanted it.

“Little One, come here, okay? Take a nice deep breath for me and slowly let it out. You’re perfectly fine. Nothing is going to happen unless you want it to,” Gene calmly said.

“That’s not what you just told me. You literally just threatened to put me over your lap. You just said you wanted to move me into your house so you could keep a better eye on me!” she exclaimed.

“It wasn’t a threat but a promise. They are two different things. And you moving in with me was just a suggestion. I wasn’t actually going to do it against your will, but if it comes down to you not taking care of yourself and you being in danger, then I will. And thatisa promise.”

Tears pooled in her eyes from frustration, worry, longing, and so many more emotions running through her. She had always wanted this. It was standing right in front of her, but she couldn’t have it. It wouldn’t be fair for him to lose her if she and her brother didn’t pay the debt by the deadline the Springfield Sinners had given them.

Gene’s face morphed into one of worry as the tears dripped down her face. She couldn’t help it. Not when he was being so kind but also not when she had so much to worry about.

Gene took a step forward and cupped her face. “Hey, you’re okay. Everything is going to be all right. Everything is going to work out just fine. I’ve got you,” he gently said.

And that’s all she ever wanted, but it was just out of her reach.

“I... I can’t,” she whispered. “It’s not going to be okay.”

It amazed her how he was so hell-bent on everything being okay, but he didn’t know that. He didn’t know what was happening after work or what was happening in her life.

“Little One?—”

“Please, stop calling me that when I’m not yours.” Her voice broke.

Did he know how much that was torturing her, hurting her every single time he called her that? How she wanted it to be so true, and yet Sammi knew it probably would never become true.

“Baby—”

Sammi pulled her face out of his hands and shook her head. Tears were running down her face even more, making her blink to try and stop them.

“I’ve got to go back to work.” Sammi wiped her cheeks.

“You have the rest of the afternoon off. Paid leave, but go home, rehydrate, eat, and get some rest,” he said.

“But I still have to finish these orders.”

“And I can finish them and deliver them to the club. I’ve got this. You go home and do as I said. When you come tomorrow, I want you to report to my office right away so I can see your water bottle. Do you understand me?”

Sammi clenched her jaw and nodded her head.

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