Page 27 of Claimed By Daddy

“Maybe,” Enzo laments, pressing his forehead against mine and running his calloused hands along my back. The way he says it is so nonchalant—like it doesn’t matter in the slightest. He pulls me tighter to him, and the world shrinks around us, to nothing more but the two of us wrapped in each other on this bed.

Pulling back from him just enough to see his face, I confess, “I missed you.” I feel foolish the moment the words pass over my lips.It’s not like he was gone.But since Cillian and Nikolai came home, things haven’t been the same.

“I missed you, too, princess.” He drags me back into him, pressing my face against his chest. “I fucking hate this. Having you right next to me and knowing that I can’t touch you.”

Lying together in the dark, the room grows silent as we cling to each other, stealing every last second of touch that we can. Both of us know he can’t stay in here. The chance of getting caught is far too risky.

I fit against him, tucking into the space at his side, nuzzling my head against his shoulder with his arm wrapped around my back. “Enz?” I mutter groggily, fighting my heavy eyelids to stay in this moment with him. “Why’d you risk giving me your blanket last night?”

“You looked cold,” he softly quips, placing a tender kiss against the top of my head.

“Seriously…” I press, trying not to fidget and make this more awkward than I fear I already have.

“Eavan, princess…” Enzo tightens his hold on me. “Are you trying to rationalize this? To make sense of me? Of us?”

I don’t deny it. I can’t.

“Wanting to be your Daddy goes far beyond sex and this insatiable need to have my hands on you,” he discloses. “Yes, there’s a physical side, but it’s so much more than that. I want to care for you. Protect you. Guide you. Help you grow.”

“And your handprints on my ass helps me grow?” I tease.

“Yes, my bratty little princess.” I canhearthe smile spreading on his face through his tone. “Discipline is a form of love, not punishment. It’s to remind you that rules and structure are there for your benefit. And right now, most of them are geared toward ensuring I can keepyou safe.”

I swallow hard, my chest tightening at his reminder of the danger that I’m in. His fingers draw idle lines on the back of my arm—every touch grounding and easing the pressure in my chest—the tenderness undoing me.

My fingers move on their own, reaching for his. He doesn’t hesitate. His hand closes around mine like it belongs there as our fingers lace together. I gently squeeze his hand and nuzzle closer to him.

He presses his lips to the top of my head and exhales slowly. “As much as I want to stay in here with you, I can’t.”

“I know.” As much as I hate it, I can’t argue. Cillian would kill us if he walked in on this.

Holding me snug to him, he lightly strokes my hair. “You should try to sleep,” he murmurs.

“I don’t want to.” I shake my head, fighting both my grogginess and his instruction. “I don’t want to fall asleep knowing that I’m going to wake up alone.”

“You need to,” his voice is soft and tender. “I’ll stay as long as I can. And know that I hate the idea of sliding from this bed. It pains me as much as it does you.”

I pour myself a cup of coffee as the events of last night replay in my thoughts, and I can’t help but smile, still feeling the softness of Eavan lingering on my lips. The sudden warmth of my mug against my palm tears me from my thoughts.

When I turn from the coffee maker, I’m surprised to find myself staring across the kitchen at Nikolai. He’s standing at the island, arms crossed and eyes narrowed—his eyes rolling over me with suspicion. “You’re up early,” I blurt, lifting the cup to my lips.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he replies, his tone clipped. “Had a lot on mymind.”

I raise an eyebrow, adjusting my grip on the white mug in my hands. “And what’s that?”

He steps further into the kitchen, his gaze never leaving me. “Last night. I heard you.”

My stomach tightens, but I mask it and play it off. “No,” I feign a scoff. “That ridiculous snoring was Cian.”

Nikolai lets out a heavy exhale. “Don’t play coy with me, Enzo,” he whisper-shouts, so we don’t wake Cillian, who’s still sleeping in the living room. “Cillian is going to murder you when he finds out you’re fucking his little sister.”

I take a slow sip of my coffee, buying myself a moment to compose myself before responding. “How did you find out?”

“Find out?” He arches a brow, silently asking if my question is facetious. “It wasn’t exactly hard to figure out. She was screaming ‘Daddy’ loud enough to wake the dead.” He laughs. But behind the humor is a warning: If he knows, it’s only a matter of time before Cillian puts it together. And when he does…Yeah. That’s a bloodbath waiting to happen.Thank fucking God, Cillian sleeps like the dead.

Nikolai leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a low grumble. “You know that sleeping with Cian’s little sister is fucking foolish. Maybe one of the stupidest fucking things you’ve ever done.”

I set the mug down with deliberate care, my eyes not once breaking his stare. “Maybe.”

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