Page 17 of Daddy's Laws

“I am not, and you know what I meant.” Without giving him time to answer, she drew in a breath and let herself fall back under the water. She twisted away from where he’d been and swam until her lungs screamed for air. When she popped her head above the water again, he was nowhere to be seen.

Just as well, she told herself, trying to ignore the stab of disappointment that she’d been able to drive him off so easily.

She turned to head back to the shore—and screamed when she found his face mere inches from her own.

“Fucking hell, Bryant!” Making a cup with her hand, she splashed him as hard as she could. “You gave me a heart attack!”

“I’m sorry.” His soft chuckle didn’t sound at all apologetic. “Come here.”

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she instinctively lifted her legs to wrap around his in turn. “You’re mean.”

“The meanest,” he agreed with another crooked grin. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her even closer. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

There was no time between the warning and his lips meeting hers for her to argue. If he’d dunked her underwater and held her there, he couldn’t have stolen her breath half as well as he did just then. It was everything a kiss was meant to be—warm and inviting, lips slightly parting, tongues hesitantly dueling as they explored each other.

The soft, romantic heart she so deliberately kept hidden trembled. For just a moment, she forgot all the reasons she had for keeping him at a distance. Her mind emptied and all she knew was the feel of his lips on hers, of his arms keeping her afloat.

Strong, sturdy arms. Arms that had easily held her in place as he’d paddled her ass and pinned her to a brick wall for a kiss of a completely different nature. The kind of arms that would catch you if you fell, comfort you when you were broken.

A Daddy’s arms.

Whimpering, she pulled away, closing her eyes against the waves of need and want and uncertainty swamping her. “I can’t do this. We can’t do this.”

“Why not?”

“It’s complicated.”

“You want me, I want you. Seems simple enough to me.”

“It’s not.” She forced her eyes open, silently pleading with him to stop pushing. “Please, let me go.”

To his credit, he released her without argument. As soon as his arms opened, she dove under the water again, this time swimming as hard as she could for the shore. When her hands brushed against sand, she stood and forced her trembling legs to carry her out of the water.

Breathing heavier than the minor workout warranted, she managed to spread out her towel and lower herself to the soft fabric. Eyes closed, she stretched out under the midday sun and let the warm rays bake the moisture from her skin.

At some point, she sensed him beside her, laying out his own towel and joining her on the sand. Every muscle in her body tensed, waiting for him to speak, to demand an explanation for her erratic behavior.

When no such demand came, she eventually relaxed again, the warm rays nearly lulling her to sleep right there on the beach.

“We should go back inside for a bit, maybe grab a snack.”

Opening one eye, she stared up at him. “I’m not hungry.”

“You still need to get out of the sun for a bit.”

“I’m fine.” Her skin was feeling dry and tight, a sure sign she needed to find some shade before she burned, but she wasn’t ready to give in.

“Shannon.”

It was a warning, and her clit throbbed in response. “You’re not my Daddy. I said I was fine.”

“All right.” Crouching down, he captured her face in his hand. “But just so you know, being stubborn and getting a sunburn out of spite is definitely breaking the rule about putting yourself at risk.”

With that declaration, he rose again and walked away, taking the satisfaction she’d felt at winning the argument with him.

Dammit. If she stayed out here, she was definitely going to burn. Not to mention how hot and sticky she felt, which would normally be her cue to jump back in the water.

Part of her chafed at the restrictions he’d placed on her, and she was halfway to the shoreline before she paused. Bryant had already proven he was willing to follow through on the threats he’d made, and she really didn’t feel like getting another spanking. Or more ginger up her ass.

---