Page 56 of Controlling Natasha

He doesn’t laugh this time.He sighs.“That is not going to happen.”

“What?Simone?They graduate in a few months.If you want her, I’m certain she will be more than willing.”

“I don’t usually go for Littles who are quite that young.”

“Let me remind you that you set me up with one.”

“Yep, but I know you, and you don’t care how old your Littles are.I prefer mine in their thirties with a bit more life experience under their skirts and a solid awareness of themselves.”

It’s my turn to chuckle.“Camden, Simone has more awareness of her Little side than most fifty-year-olds.I bet she’s known she was Little since before she was out of her teens.”

“She doesn’t even know what her age range is.Do you know how often she changes her style?Like every month.She’s experimenting.”

I start laughing hard.

“What’s so funny, asshole?”

I wipe the tears from my eyes.“She’s not experimenting.I’m certain she knows her style.She’s doing everything she can to getyourattention.”

“Well, she will not succeed.”

“For now.”

He sighs.

“Since you asked… They were relatively well-behaved all afternoon, studying.Simone is a sassy girl.She likes to be blunt and say things that no one else would say.But it’s entertaining.She made me laugh.”

“So…” Camden changes the subject.“You going to hold out until Sunday or give in early?”

“What kind of Daddy would I be if I didn’t stick to my own rules?”

“It wouldn’t set a very good precedent.She might think she can steamroll you about all kinds of things.Sunday it is, then.Good luck.I better get to class.I wonder whether Simone will still be in her goth phase today or if she’s going with something new?”

He ends the call before I have a chance to respond.I’m amazed by his strength.A lesser man would have given in and entered a clandestine relationship with Simone two years ago.

I’m sitting at my desk at four-thirty in the afternoon, finishing an email, when I hear a door slam.That hasn’t happened in my house since I was the one banging doors as a child.

I jump to my feet just as Albert hurries into my office.He’s winded.

“What happened?”I ask.

“I’m sorry, sir.I dropped Natasha off at the front of the house as usual, but I’m guessing she forgot her bookbag in the SUV, so she went into the garage to get it.I had no idea she’d gone out until she stormed back into the kitchen, slammed the door, and rushed up the stairs.”

“Shit.”

“I’m so sorry, Jameson.”Albert rubs his hands together.The man is shaking.

“It’s not your fault.It’s mine.Don’t worry.I’ll talk to her.”I head for the stairs and take them two at a time.I’ve never seen Natasha angry, and I truly have no idea why she has been so adamant about me not buying her a car.I’m equally certain she saw the car, and now she’s pissed about it.It would have helped if I hadn’t shown her a picture of the car I intended to buy her.But I did.And now I’m going to have to talk my way out of this mess.

When I reach her room, the door is closed.I knock.“Natasha?”

She doesn’t respond, but I can hear her clattering around in there.

“Natasha, open the door, Little one.”I keep my voice calm.

Long seconds go by, and suddenly, she yanks the door open.“I’m not talking to you.”She turns around and storms toward her bathroom, enters, and slams that door, too.

This is not good.I step inside, shut the bedroom door, and head for her desk.I’ll sit and wait her out.She can’t stay in the bathroom forever.

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