suspect Blade—we never call my boss Andres—is going to want to get involved. I also suspect Britney would not like to hear this, so I say nothing.
When Britney finally relaxes against me, her fingers no longer gripping my shirt like it’s a lifeline, I lift her chin and meet her gaze again. Her damn eyes are going to be the death of me. They suck me in deep every time I look directly at her. “I’m so sorry that happened to you, sweetie.” Why the hell have I started calling her by an endearment? Jesus.
She nods, her eyes wide and trusting. Thank God.
“Thank you for telling me the entire story. I don’t want to do anything rash, so why don’t we eat some dinner, and then you give me the keys to your apartment and a list, and I’ll go over and get some of your things.”
Her lips part, and I know she’s going to argue.
I narrow my gaze and tap her mouth like I did earlier. “No arguments. You can’t go to your apartment for any reason for a while. You were right not to go back there last night. Good instincts. I hate that you slept in your car, but at least you were safe. But under no circumstances will it happen again.”
She nods. “Thank you. For…everything. I promise I won’t get in your way here and I won’t stay long. Just a few days until I can figure something else out.”
I shake my head. “You’re not in my way. It’s been too quiet here. It’ll be nice having someone else around. I don’t want you to leave this house without me. Don’t even open the door. I have an alarm system that no one can penetrate, so you’re safe here. Got it?”
She nods again.
It feels so good holding her against me. It’s been a long time since I held a woman like this. I also know I’m looking at her through my Daddy eyes, and I need to stop that. She’s not a little. She’s not even in the fetish community. But it’s damn hard not to think of her that way. Especially since she’s so small and lost and trusting.
It’s also hard to imagine her stripping. I can’t reconcile that with the woman in my arms. She’s not wearing makeup. She’s dressed conservatively. And although I can tell she has a body that would make me salivate if I ever saw her naked, it’s not the usual kind of body men ogle at strip clubs.
I smile at her and lighten the mood. “I don’t have a lot of food in the house right now, but I think I have a pizza in the freezer. Will that work until I can order groceries?”
“Of course. I don’t want you to have to worry about me,” she repeats. “I can pay for food and stuff. I just appreciate you letting me stay a few days. And the sheets and towels too. That was very kind.”
As she sits up straighter, I take her shoulders and meet her gaze. “First of all, that’s the last time you’re going to thank me. Second of all, you’re staying until I’m certain it’s safe for you to leave. That’s going to take more than a few days. So, get comfortable.”
She licks her sweet full lips, making me stifle a groan. “I don’t want to be an imposition.”
“You’re not. I’m happy to have you. Like I said, it was too quiet here.”
She sighs. “Okay. Thank you.”
I narrow my gaze. “What did I say about thanking me again?”
She rolls her eyes. “Okay. Got it. I’ll try.”
My body goes from zero to ten in seconds. My full Daddy rears his head and draws in a deep breath. Between the eye-rolling and the tone of her sassy voice, I’m lucky I haven’t instinctively flipped her over on my lap and flattened my palm to her bottom.
I’m going to have to rein in my reactions to this woman. She’s not mine. She’s fucking adorable, and it’s impossible not to fantasize about her under me in my bed, but the last thing she needs is for some man to make advances on her after what she’s been through. She needs help and a shoulder, not a Daddy she didn’t ask for.
I find the will to bring my cock under control, and I stand, taking her hand. “Let’s get that pizza going and you can make a list of what you need from your apartment.”