“What did I say about talking badly about yourself? You can act however you want around me. I don’t want you to hide any part of yourself from me. You’re safe with me, and I’ll remind you every hour of every day for the rest of our lives, if that’s what it takes for you to believe me.”
I want to believe him—I truly do—but it’s hard to break twenty-six years of learned behavior.
“Let’s use the bookcase as a backdrop. I’d prefer to keep our little love nest private,” he says as he leads me to the side of the room with his books.
“Love nest, huh?” I snicker.
He huffs, smacks my butt, then turns me into his side. Before I can complain about the spank, he tips the phone toward us and says, “Smile, baby. Say Daddy.”
Oh no, he didn’t. Fuck. My jaw drops, and the asshat actually takes the damn picture. “You need to delete that one,” I beg, reaching for his phone to do it myself.
Andrew chuckles as he holds it so far above my head, I need a stepladder to get to his hand. “Nope, not happening. It’ll be a precious memory. Are you ready to smile this time?” Then the fucker freaking winks. He hasn’t shown a playful side before, and I love it—kind of.
“Yeah, just warn me next time.”
Andrew quirks an eyebrow at me, then shakes his head. “Ready, baby?”
I answer with a nod, keeping my jaw firmly in place. As he positions his phone to get us both perfectly centered in the frame, we both smile.
“The picture looks great, we look happy. In love. This is crazy,” I whisper to myself. He hears me because, of course, he does.
“Jaclyn, look at me,” he demands as he tips my chin with his fingers until our eyes meet. “We are happy and in love, even if you’re not ready to admit it yet. From this day forward, I will do everything to ensure you’re happy and feel loved for as long as we live. Do you hear what I’m saying, baby?”
Drowning in his deep blue gaze, I whisper, “I hear you.”
“Good. Let me know if you need a reminder, and I’ll be happy to oblige.”
I expect to see amusement shining in his eyes, but all I see is truth. This man is tearing down my walls one brick at a time and showing me no mercy. But I find, I don’t give a damn.
I slide my hands up his defined chest and tug on his ponytail. “Are you going to fuck me now?”
“No, I’m not.” His mouth hovers above mine. As he speaks, his breath teases my lips.
“You’re not?” I sound whiny even to myself.
“No, want to know what I am going to do?” he says, then bites my lower lip, but not hard enough to hurt.
“Yes.” My words are barely more than a sigh.
“First, we need to discuss a few things.” His expression is serious to begin with, but then he smirks. I swear it sends a wave of heat straight to my pussy, my desire soaking the lacy thong I put on earlier to avoid panty lines under my silk dress.
“Now? Can’t it be sex now, talk later?” I even try to do one of the pouts that seem to happen in all the books.
“Cute, but that won’t work with me. Do you remember your safe word?”
I nod, but remember he’s in Daddy mode and will want my words. “Yes. It’s zucchini.”
“Perfect. And what do you say if you want to slow down?”
“Yellow, or if I can’t use my mouth, I tap on you three times, right?”
“Good girl, that’s exactly right.”
I’m not preening, you’re preening. Why does it make my knees weak when he says that?
“Baby, I need to know you’ll use your words if you need to stop or are scared and need to slow down. It’s my job to take care of you, but I can’t if I don’t know what’s going on inside that head of yours. You hate to ask for help, and I’m worried you won’t tell me if you’re uncomfortable or hurting because of how I’ll react. But I’m telling you right now, I will never get angry with you for telling me how you feel or asking for what you need. I’m not promising you’ll get it, but I will always want to know. Can you promise me?”
“Yes, Daddy.” He’s right, I hate admitting weakness or asking for help, but I also realize if I’m not honest with him, it could do irrevocable damage to our relationship. “I promise, pinky swear.” I lift my hand with my pinky extended.
