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Chapter Seventeen
Ashlyn
“Why did Joseph have to leave?” I asked as I sat down at the kitchen island. I winced when my sore bottom settled onto the padded stool, but the discomfort was accompanied by a rush of heat between my legs.
I still didn’t understand why I was like this, and I’d wanted to talk to both of them more. But after my tears had dried, Joseph regretfully told me he had to leave me with Marco for the day.
Just last week, the thought of being alone with Marco would have made me anxious. Now, he still made me a little nervous, but I craved more time with him. I wanted to understand him better. I wanted to understand what was happening between us better.
Us. The three of us. Joseph, Marco, and me.
I could still barely wrap my head around it. This was… Well, Marco had told me it wasn’t wrong. But it was certainly unconventional, to say the least.
How could I have feelings for two men at the same time? And how could they possibly be okay with that?
Marco had promised that they wouldn’t get jealous, that they wanted to be with me. At the same time.
The memory of their hands holding me down—Marco kissing me while Joseph licked my pussy and fingered my ass—made me flush, and not with shame.
I’d been a fool to try to run away without giving them the chance to explain. And even though my bottom smarted from Marco’s belt, I felt more centered and at peace than I had since I’d arrived at his estate. I’d spent weeks skirting around Marco, hiding behind Joseph. I’d told myself he frightened me, but I was actually scared of the dark chemistry we shared.
I still didn’t fully understand it, but that didn’t change my feelings or the intensity of my sensual connection to both men.
“Joseph’s father asked to meet with him,” Marco answered my question as he made his way to the refrigerator. “They need to talk business.”
“Oh.” My heart sank a little. I couldn’t help caring for both Joseph and Marco, but the reminder that Joseph had other responsibilities shattered the illusion of my happy little reality. No matter what he wanted for his life, he was still part of the criminal underworld. And so was Marco.
“What’s wrong, babygirl?”
I blinked and focused on Marco again. I didn’t want to bring up their violent lifestyle, not when I knew there was nothing they could do about it. At least, not right now. Joseph had made it clear that he wanted out, that he
wanted to go back to Cambridge with me when the danger had passed. I hoped Marco would feel the same, because I didn’t want to leave him behind, either.
“Why do you call me that?” I asked instead of telling him what was really bothering me.
“Because you’re my girl, and I want to take care of you.”
“Is that why…” I blushed, but I pressed on. “Is that why you want me to call you Daddy?”
He nodded. “Exactly. I don’t just want you to be my girlfriend, Ashlyn. What I want is so much more than that: a deeper bond. I know this is new for you, but I want to show you what that means. I have a special day planned for us.”
“What did you have in mind?” I fiddled with my fingernails, feeling suddenly nervous. So far, Marco had spanked me and whipped me with his belt. “Are you going to punish me again? Because I’m sorry for trying to run away. I really am.”
“I know you are, princess. And no, I’m not going to punish you again. Not unless you decide to be very naughty. I know your bottom is sore right now, and I don’t want to discipline you again so soon. What I do want is to take care of you, in the way I need to. I want you to let me.”
“But what does that mean?” I liked the idea of Marco taking care of me—his affection for me was like nothing I’d ever known. Joseph had been obsessed with me from the very beginning of our relationship. He’d wanted me to belong to him, to submit to him. I understood that now.
But Marco wanted something different from me. Something dark and strange. Something that made me tremble, even as my entire body heated for him.
“I’m your Daddy. I’ll show you what it means. All you need to do is be a good girl and do as you’re told.”
“What if I don’t want to do what I’m told?”
He gave me a lopsided grin that made my heart melt. How had it taken me so long to appreciate how handsome he was? Joseph might be gorgeous, but Marco possessed his own dark beauty.
“You can pout all you want, princess. It’s adorable, but it won’t get you anywhere with me. You’ll do as you’re told, because it’ll make me happy. And you want to make Daddy happy, don’t you?”
I mulled that over. It was weird, unlike anything I’d ever heard of.
