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Stop being silly, Chloe.
“Chloe. Hey, look at me, little darlin’. Look at me.”
The command in his voice surprised her enough that she turned to look at him. He grasped one of her hands in his and a zing of warmth raced through her.
It helped cut through her panic.
“That’s it. You’re fine. I’m here with you. Tell me what you need.”
“I . . . can you . . .”
“Can I what?” His face was filled with patience. And kindness. More of the panic leached out of her.
What was wrong with her? Who panicked because they couldn’t get out of a chair? But it was so much more than that, she knew. It was years of being told that she wasn’t good enough. That she had to be better. Of being criticized over every aspect of her life.
“Help me up?”
“Of course I can.” He jumped out. How did he do that?
“Abs of steel,” she muttered.
“I do. Thanks for noticing though.” He held out his hands to her and she slipped hers in. He drew her up so easily that she fell against him.
Had he done that on purpose?
“Sorry. Don’t know my own strength.”
He was so naughty. She kind of loved it, though.
But she forced herself to step back. A flash of something filled his face. Hurt? But that couldn’t be right. She hated that she might have hurt him.
She took a chance and slid her hand back into his. It was becoming far too easy to touch him. “I’m sorry I’m emotionally stunted.”
“You’re not stunted. Well, maybe height wise. You still got some growing to do, little darlin’?”
“I’m not that short.”
“Pretty sure you’re so short that legally you need a booster seat.”
“I do not!” she protested.
“Uh-huh. We’ll see. Now, what toy are we getting?” he asked.
“I really don’t need one. We should probably go.”
“Doesn’t matter if you need it or not. Although I think you do.” He picked up a really soft-looking teddy bear. “Someone to whisper your secrets to. To cuddle at night. Wouldn’t you like that? A special friend.”
Damn him.
“You never said what you are.”
“Hmm?” He gave her a puzzled look.
“Are you a Daddy Dom?” She wasn’t sure, but there had been hints here and there. Well, more than hints.
“Most people don’t think I am. Or they think I’m not a proper Daddy because I try not to take things too seriously. Beck, they easily believe. Even Judd. Owen can fool people into believing whatever they want about him.”
“He can?”
“Yeah, most people think he’s just an ordinary guy. A bit quiet. But polite and friendly.”
Shock filled her. “Are they all nuts?”
“No. See . . . he’s shown you the real Owen. He usually only lets the four of us see him.”
Whoa. She didn’t know what to make of that.
“Most people think I can’t be a Daddy Dom because I joke around a lot. I like to play. They think I’m not a real Daddy Dom.”
She could see the hurt in his face, hear it in his voice and she hated that someone had treated him like that.
“Who thinks that?” she asked fiercely. “I’ll set them right.”
A grin filled his face. “You going to defend my honor, little darlin’?”
“Sure will.”
A laugh broke out of him. Whoever said that to him were idiots. Why couldn’t he be who he wanted to be?
“Our ex-girlfriend was a Little, but she only ever called Beck and Judd, Daddy. I think she was scared of Owen. And me, well, it turns out that I was the one she really wanted because of who my father is and how wealthy my family is.”
Oh God.
She hated that. What was that woman thinking?
“What a bitch,” she said.
His eyes widened and he grinned. “Oh yeah, total bitch.” He tapped his finger against her lips. “Don’t let Beck hear you swearing like that, though. You might just get your butt spanked.”
“He doesn’t have that right.”
“Not yet,” he said.
She squeezed his hand that she was still holding. “Not ever, Hux. This can’t happen.”
“Well, little darlin’, you can think like that. But me . . . I’m a believer.”
He was nuts.
But he couldn’t say that she didn’t try and warn him.
15
“So are we getting this teddy bear?” Hux held up the gorgeous bear.
She wanted it.
So badly.
“How did you know?” she whispered in a raw voice. Shoot. She hadn’t meant to show that much reaction.
“That you were a Little?”
She nodded. “I don’t . . . I barely even acknowledge it to myself. I keep that side locked down. I never let her out. I’ve never even . . . I haven’t had a Daddy Dom before. All I know about the lifestyle is from what I’ve read. So how did you know?”
“Well, I didn’t really. Not until I brought you here.”
Great. So she’d given her secret away.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
He canted his head to one side, studying her. “I don’t keep secrets from my brothers.”
