Page 28 of Law

He couldn’t explain it. And he knew if anyone found out, they’d think he was insane. It was like his watching her was some kind of protection. The only kind he could give. If anyone had harmed her, he would have scaled that fence and made it to her side in a minute, plan be damned.

He wanted her, but it was more than that. He was drawn to her in deeper ways than he’d ever been drawn to a woman before. Itwouldn’t take much for him to fall over the edge for her and throw away every other relationship he had here in Darling.

That would sound crazy to most people. To be that connected to someone you’d only known for a few days. He wouldn’t be able to explain it to them, either. But it was real.

And yet, when she asked him if he was a Daddy, he’d choked. Her tears, even though she hid them from him, made him feel like the worst Daddy in the world. The ways she was trying to hide the fact she was upset had him thinking maybe all the things the Littles from his past had said about him were true.

He had to do something. Treat her the way he’d seen his brothers treat their Little girls. If they could do it, it couldn’t be that hard.

He needed to do something. “Lovelyn? Sweetie, can you look at me, please?”

What was that voice? All soft and cajoling. Where had it even come from? Because it wasn’t him.

But this wasn’t about him. It was about her. This was what she needed. What she deserved. After everything she’d been through, she should have someone who would shower her with love and affection, a soft Daddy.

Lovie scooted closer to her door and didn’t so much as glance at him. In direct defiance of what he’d asked. That was… irritating.

But he’d hurt her feelings. He couldn’t expect her to just obey him blindly. She needed his patience and understanding. Focusing on how he needed to behave, he tried again.

Soft and gentle. Calm and understanding.

You’ve taken down entire terrorist cells before. You can get one Little to listen to you without upsetting her.

Clearing his throat, he placed his hand on her shoulder and tried again. “Lovelyn, I want to talk to you. To explain?—”

That’s all he got out before she exploded.

Without turning around or missing a beat, she shrugged hishand off her shoulder. “Well, I don’t w-want to talk to you. I g-got your message. I don’t need you t-to explain anything. Just leave me alone!”

For a second, he stared at the back of her head, slack-jawed.

For a second.

Soft and gentle his ass. She may not have much experience being a Little, but she sure as hell knew how to be a brat.

Fortunately, he loved taming brats.

He placed a hand between her neck and the seatbelt, then hit the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road. He thumbed open the lock on her seatbelt with his left hand and drove his fingers into the back of her thick, soft, tousled mane of hair. At the base, where he could maneuver her as he wanted, he fisted her hair. Not too tight to hurt, but firm enough that she knew he meant business.

As she attempted to dislodge his hand, he turned her to face him. Her eyes widened with that tantalizing level of fear that tugged at his cock. It matched her elevated heart rate and breathing.

But as he watched, her eyes told the rest of the story. It wasn’t the response he was accustomed to. She was cautious but curious. And if her dilated pupils were any indication, more than slightly turned on. Perfect.

She reached back to grab him as if she could dislodge his hand. The movement caused her tight nipples to pebble against her shirt. When her hand found his, she didn’t try to make him release her hair.

Instead, she placed her hand over his and watched, waiting for his next move.

Fuck. Him. That wasn’t a Little’s usual response, either. Could she be different? The throbbing in his cock had him hoping so.

He should let her go. Nothing in any rulebook granted him the right to do what he was doing right now. But her eyes did. Hewould never hurt her. He didn’t want to frighten her. Not in a bad way.

But he loved the tension. Loved the feeling of teetering on the edge of control without falling over. Lovedthis.

He deliberately kept the growl out of his voice, maintaining a deep, stern tone. “Let’s try that again, naughty girl. When I say I want to talk so I can explain, what do you say?”

She didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. “Yes, sir.”

“Almost, little fairy cat. That’s one. Try again.”

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