AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Thank you for reading to me," she whispered when he finished the story. "No one has ever put me to bed like this before, not even when I was a kid."
A pang of sadness hit Blake's heart, his protective instincts flaring. "Well, you deserve to be taken care of, Savvy," he said gently, tucking her in and brushing a stray curl from her face.
"Can I tell you something?" Savannah asked hesitantly, her green eyes searching his.
"Of course," he replied, his gaze never leaving hers.
Tears glistened in her eyes. "It means a lot to me that you're here, taking care of me like this."
His thumb traced comforting circles on her hand. "You're safe now. I promise." He paused. “Hey, by the way, where’s your stuffie? Do you need it for sleep?”
“Oh, yes, I do!” said Savannah. “Mr. Whiskers is in my bag.”
“Mr. Whiskers is a very good name for a stuffie,” said Blake, going over to her bag. He reached inside and pulled out a tattered soft toy in the shape of a cat. It was pink with button eyes.
He held the toy in his hands . . .
And he froze.
He had seen this stuffie before.
Suddenly, memories came rushing back. Hehadmet Savannah before. Not in a previous life, but in this one, when he was just a teenager. He had seen her under a bridge, getting teased by some assholes for cuddling a soft toy. He had stepped in and kicked some ass to save her.
Shit, Savannah was part of the reason he’d become a Daddy Dom. She was part of the reason he’d thrown himself into helping others, too. And . . . Oh fuck. She was definitely the reason he’d dated redheads all his life. Something about that short meeting when he was eighteen had changed him.
Didsheremember it?
“Blake,” she asked. “Is everything okay? Is something wrong with Mr. Whiskers?”
Blake turned around and gave Savannah a smile. “No, he’s all good. We were just getting acquainted.” He took the stuffie over to Savannah, unsure whether to mention the incident under the bridge to her. It was so long ago, after all. He didn’t want it to seem like he was trying to paint himself out as a hero. And it had to be a bit of a traumatic memory for her. After the night she’d just had, she didn’t need that right now. She needed a good sleep.
He’d tell her about it another time.
As Blake stood and switched off the light, casting the room in a warm, dim glow, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility for Savannah's wellbeing. The girl who had changed his life. He vowed to protect her, to guide her through the darkness that threatened to consume them both.
"Goodnight, Savannah," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the sound of her even breaths. "Sleep well, little one."
He lowered himself onto the camp bed. It was uncomfortable as hell, but it didn’t matter. As he lay there, his thoughts raced.The troubling connection between the trafficking ring and his sister's case gnawed at him, demanding his attention. But for now, Savannah needed him more. The girl from his past. The girl he’d always hoped to find again in his future.
"Blake?" Savannah mumbled, her eyelids fluttering open.
"Hey, I'm right here," he reassured her, his voice low and steady.
"You’re not going anywhere tonight, are you? You won’t leave me here?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for confirmation.
"Of course not," he replied, reaching over to brush a stray hair from her forehead. "I won't leave your side."
Not now I’ve finally found you.
"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes slipping shut again. She was whimpering, though, so Blake went over to the bathroom cabinet and found a new pink pacifier. He took it over to Savannah and slipped it between her lips. It was a nice, big one and she sucked on it gratefully.
Blake watched her intently, feeling happy that he could provide her with a little comfort on a dark day.
"Sleep tight, Savannah," he murmured, stroking her hair. He couldn’t help inhaling her scent: strawberries and cream.
Finally, she fell asleep, but Blake couldn’t relax. All he could think about was how hard he would fight for this woman. Whatever it took. He owed it to that scared thirteen-year-old girl he’d seen under the bridge. The girl who deserved to find joy again.
Chapter eight
