He kissed her gently, then that kiss turned to something harder. He moved his mouth around to her ear. “I’m so fucking hard for you.”
She sucked in a breath. “I . . . I . . .”
“I want you so bad. The most beautiful girl in the world.” He needed to control his lust for her, though, because she needed him to help her through this. She needed reassurance. Not to be pressed up against the bathroom counter and fucked.
Thoroughly fucked.
“Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you all nice and clean.”
She stared up at him, her lips trembling before her gaze moved to his cock.
“Eyes on mine,” he warned. “I’m starting to worry that you only want me for my cock.”
“Daddy!” she protested. Although her shoulders eased and a glint of humor entered her gaze. “It is a pretty cock.”
“Brat.” He turned her towards the bath and swatted her ass, making her yelp. “Come on.”
Turning off the bath, he tested the temperature then helped her into the water. She sighed with bliss as he knelt and reached into the bag of toys she had. “What have we here? Mermaids?”
“Those are my special bath mermaids, Daddy.” Picking them up, she started to play with them, swimming them through the water. It surprised him how easily she relaxed when in the bath. Maybe she felt more covered up. Although her breasts were still easily visible, her pretty, perky nipples, calling to him.
Easy, man.
Grabbing a cloth, he started washing her, marveling at her smooth, creamy skin. He worried for a moment that she didn’t get enough Vitamin D with how much time she spent inside. Maybe they’d have to make time for outside play.
When he started to clean her legs, she tensed slightly, but she didn’t move away as he went higher up her thighs.
“You’re perfect,” he murmured to her, prepared to heap on as much praise as she needed to hear. “Most beautiful, darling, smart, and kind girl.”
She froze and he glanced up at her to see tears dripping down her face. Shit. That wasn’t meant to make her sad.
“You mean that, Daddy?”
“Every word, Duchess.” She threw herself into his arms. He caught her, holding her tight and murmuring to her quietly. He rocked her back and forth.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“No, little one. Thank you for trusting me with you. I promise to never let you down.”
After her bath, Brick helped dress her in a pair of pajamas that had pictures of mermaids over them. Then he brushed out her hair. She’d loved having him bathe her. Although, she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about Xavier briefly. He’d actually given her the bath mermaids for Christmas last year. He could be so sweet.
Her phone buzzed as he clumsily finished braiding it. Brick was sitting on the rocking chair and she was between his feet. She raced over and grabbed it off the bedside table, relief filling her as she saw it was a text from Reuben. Although, usually, he hated texting.
Reuben:Mini, sorry I haven’t called. I need to go silent for a while, if you don’t hear from me for a few days, don’t worry. Stay safe. Love you.
Well, shit. That wasn’t cryptic or anything. Plus, thought she was going to worry more than ever.
“What is it?” Brick asked, walking over to her.
She turned the message around to show him. He swore quietly under his breath.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it? I mean, when someone says not to worry, that usually means you should start worrying more. Oh God.” She started to hyperventilate. “What am I going to do?”
“First of all, you need to calm down,” he told her in a low, firm voice. “Look at me.”
She raised her gaze to his and he cupped her face between his hands.
Steady. Firm. Strong.