“Yes, Daddy.” It slipped out. But he was using his stern, Daddy voice and she felt her Little pushing forward. She was also feeling a bit uncertain at all these changes.
He eyed her. “Just stay Big for me for a bit longer while I show you a few things, okay? Then you can spend as much time as you like in Little space.”
She wished she could. Life would be much simpler if she could be Little all the time and let Daddy make all the decisions.
“Brown eyes?”
“I’m okay,” she whispered. “Just nervous about what happens next.”
He moved closer and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, steadying her. “Well, first things first. You tell me what you really think about my pad.”
Oops.
“Then I’m going to show you the security I have installed in case you’re ever here alone.”
She’d be here alone? In this big place? Even though she’d spent the last ten years lonely, she’d never actually been alone.
“Don’t panic, brown eyes. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Even though we’re at an agreement with Forrest, I don’t think we should ease up on the protection just yet.”
“He’s a lowlife, slime belly.”
His lips twitched. “He certainly is. You’ll stay here with me. Come to work with me. Until I’m certain you’re safe.”
“And then what?”
“Then we talk about what you want to do.”
She didn’t know. That was the problem.
“Easy. You don’t have to decide today.”
But she couldn’t stay with him indefinitely. And what about the boys? She had to take care of them.
“I have no money. I’ve never had a job. I can’t even…I’m scared…”
He drew her close, pressing her face to his chest. “Shit. Easy, brown eyes. Didn’t mean to make you panic. I’m gonna help you. You’re not on your own.”
But what if he wasn’t always around? What if he decided he didn’t want her anymore?
Forrest. The boys. Money. A place to live.
It all seemed overwhelming.
“Brown eyes, you’re killing me. I’m gonna need you to calm down. My emotions are on a hair trigger tonight and your fear and panic are making me want to track down Forrest and fucking destroy him.”
“Sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just a lot.”
“I know, brown eyes. But I promise you, I’m here.”
She had to stop thinking about when he would leave. Live in the moment. Otherwise she was going to twist herself up into knots.
When she calmed down, she drew back to look up at him. “Sorry. I’m all right.”
His gaze roamed over her. “You’re better than all right. Come on, I’ll show you where your room is. You hungry?”
Hungry? No. When was she ever hungry?
And her room? Did that mean she wasn’t sleeping with him?
A few minutes later she stared down at a gray coverlet on a double bed. It had just one pillow, no headboard and the room was bare except for a wardrobe door.
It was barren.
And kind of frightening.
Her Little hated it.
“I know it’s not much. Tomorrow you can go online and order some things to decorate it how you want.”
“It’s fine. I don’t need anything.” Last thing she wanted was him spending more money on her. She’d cost him so much already.
He narrowed his gaze at her. “I’m not gonna like what’s in your head right now, am I?”
“Likely not,” she said cheerily, remembering his insistence on honesty.
“Betsy.”
She sighed. “I don’t want you spending money on me. You’ve done enough.”
“I say when I’ve done enough,” he growled at her. “And I say that you’re going to buy what you want to make this room seem less like a punishment and more like somewhere you can feel at home.”
Except it wasn’t her home. And she didn’t want to sleep in here.
She wanted to sleep with him.
It was so frustrating. There was so little about her life that felt settled. But there was one thing she knew that she wanted.
Ink.
She’d almost asked him to spank her earlier. Like Sunny suggested. But it hadn’t felt like the right time.
But perhaps she should.
She liked it when he was pushy and bossy and dominant.
She needed it.
Everything else was so uncertain and she needed Ink to be Ink. And for him to still want her. She didn’t know what she would do if he decided he didn’t.
He’d set her small duffel bag on the end of the bed. “Why don’t you unpack and get settled? It’s getting late and you need some sleep.” He frowned down at her bag. “You also need to order yourself some clothes.”