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Chapter 8
Baldor
I had planned on rescuing Shelby and offering her a haven for a night or two while I straightened her stalker issue out. She hadn’t believed for a second that tonight was anything more than a temporary respite from her problems, and neither had I. So, when we went on our date, intending to cheer her up, the most unexpected thing occurred—I had fun.
Our date had been the most authentic time I’d spent with a woman in quite some time. Shelby wasn’t acting; she was just herself and I glimpsed how playful and competitive she was.
Finding her rundown apartment filled with effort and love created without a budget but from everyday things that most people threw away was cathartic in that it endeared her more to me, but also made me sad, knowing that her life had been tough while others were so easy.
Finding that one lonely stuffed bear pulled my heartstrings, but knowing he got to snuggle with her every night almost made me jealous. Who was Shelby really? Where had the bear come from? Did she talk to it when she was lonely?
These thoughts filled my mind on the drive to my place. The further we went from her neighborhood, the quieter and more fidgety she became. Her hands were a tell-all, clasping and grasping like they’d taken on a life of their own. Her having a physical and creative job made sense. It engaged her senses yet offered a way to release pent-up energy and hide her tell-all. I wondered if she had ever tested for ADHD or, if instinctually, she’d found natural ways like gaming to help give her focus and a physical outlet.
For a trained Dom, Shelby was an open book, very easy to read her cues, but there was more than met the eye with her. I suspected there was a warrior buried within that needed some encouragement and a healthy outlet to grow. I could help her with that, with all of her issues, but I needed to know what this was, and what I was doing.
Currently, she was a Little under my protection and would be until the stalker issue was resolved, then we would go back to our lives. Who knew, we might discover she could turn into that weekend Little I had been wanting.
She could. If you give her the chance.
Stay focused on what you can control, Noah, and for right now, that is getting Shelby set up and safe and then a conversation with Heimdall, my best friend, and fellow fraternity brother. He had a top-notch security firm and employed two of our other brothers, Váli and Vidar, who’d been key in rescuing Raia when she’d fallen into the hands of a twisted ex who wanted to hurt her.
We would get to the bottom of Shelby’s stalker problem. For now, regardless of what I wanted or thought I needed from a partner, in the long term, being clear with Shelby regarding expectations during her forced proximity was the priority.
“Shelby, what is bothering you?”
I watched her in my peripheral vision and caught her turning her head to look out the passenger window. Another tell, not wanting to face her demons.
“Shelby, I asked you a question and I expect an answer.”
Her head snapped back in my direction. Good, at least I knew she would respond to my Daddy tone as I expected her to.
“Promise not to laugh?”
“Shelby, I promise never to laugh when you are sharing, unless, of course, you are sharing something to laugh at.”
A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I have been on my own a long time. I was kicked out of the orphanage at eighteen and have been on my own ever since. Other than the streets and then my place I haven’t, uh slept, anywhere else since.”
Shelby was an orphan? How had I not known that? My heart almost broke for her and my Daddy instincts went into overdrive. I reached for her hand and held it protectively in mine.
“I’m sorry, Shelby, that life seems to have served you up a shit sandwich.”
“Thanks. I’m used to not having much, you know? But I don’t expect anything either. I just, well, I’m nervous about your place and your rules, what’s expected of me.”
That I could understand, and she was right in thinking there would be rules. “Shelby, I’ll give you the tour, and then we can discuss expectations. Please try to remember that you are a guest and, as such, you will be treated with the utmost respect. But as a Little, sorry, Middle, we will have special rules in place, so the lines aren’t blurry. Does that ease your stress a bit?”
Her grin widened, and she nodded her head vigorously.
“Good girl. See that tall one just ahead?”
She followed my finger to where I was pointing.
“That’s my place, top floor.”
“That’s a super tall building, what floor are you on?”
“The forty-eighth.”
“Uh, I thought the only residential building with that many floors was the Residences at The Ritz Carlton.”
