Page 40 of XOXO, Daddy
“It’s nothing, Adam.” I brushed him off with a wave of my hand, lifting my water to my lips, still avoiding eye contact like the plague.
“Please tell me?” His voice drew my eyes to his, almost against my will. I couldn’t resist him.
“I tried going to another club last night. Club Aurora. I wanted to see if I could find a community there instead.” Why was I so worried about his reaction?
Because you still think of him as your Daddy, you idiot.
“Instead of at Obsidian?” His words were emotionless.
“Yes.”
“And what happened there?” His eyes met mine; dark, brooding, and narrowed with suspicion.
“I don’t know —”
“Don’t play that game with me. You are squirming in your seat like your ass took a beating, and —” His eyes widened as I did just that.
With a growl, he slid back from the table.
Pulling his wallet out of his pocket, Adam threw a wad of cash on the table, standing and holding a hand out to me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, confused.
“We are leaving. Now.” It wasn’t a request. It was a full on command. And while he might not be my Daddy anymore, I still found myself unable to resist taking his hand. Silently, with waves of rage radiating off of him like heat, he escorted me out of the restaurant into the chilly evening air.
“My car is over this way,” I pointed over in the opposite direction of where he was leading me. Silently, he continued on, his firm hand at the small of my back. “Adam, my car is over there,” I repeated. Stopping just before we reached his car, he turned to me.
“You are coming home with me.” Again, it wasn’t a request.
“Adam, there’s no need to overreact —” I cut off on a hiss of pain as his hand grabbed my ass, not even roughly, but enough to cause the welts on my sensitive skin to flare with pain again..
“I amnotoverreacting. Get in the car, Willow.” His stern voice and narrowed eyes forestalled any response I could have made. With a brief nod, I let him open the passenger door and guide me into the car. He buckled me in, causing a pang of longing to shoot through me, then took his seat without a word.
The drive to his home was a quick one, although it felt longer with the deafening silence that surrounded us. He pulled into his garage without a word, throwing the car in park. I knew better than to open my own door. Our time together had taught me that doing so would only further anger him.
“Come with me.” With a hand on my elbow, he guided me into the house. He led me to the staircase, guiding me upstairs and into his bedroom instead of the playroom, where we usually spent our time.
Another time, this would have thrilled me. As it was, I felt ashamed, although I wasn’t sure why. It was over. So why did it matter?
The door to his room shut with a loud thud, making me jump.
“Explain,” he huffed angrily, crossing his arms and staring at the floor.
“Adam, this isn’t necessary. I only —”
“Explain. Now.” The tone was unmistakable. I did not have the power to deny him.
“I went to Aurora last night, like I said. It didn’t go well. The littles room was completely empty, and pretty much everyone was playing or talking out in the main area,” I began.
“Go on,” he urged me, still refusing to make eye contact, or even look up from that spot on the floor.
“So after a little while, I saw a familiar face.” Immediately, his head snapped up, his eyes finding mine with an angry gaze.
“Who?” It wasn’t really a question; a terse inquisition, at best. Still, I could not deny him his demands.
“Adam, I —” But I couldn’t get another word out as he rushed over to me, his hands gripping my upper arms roughly.
“Tell me it wasn’t Ragnar.” I stood there in shock as he seethed with anger. “Tell me!” He shook me once, roughly.
