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“How about a bath?”
He removed his arm. “With bubbles?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And toys?”
“Of course.”
“And you won’t look at my bloated belly.”
She rolled her eyes. “Your belly isn’t bloated and you know it.”
“Will you hop in with me? We could play games?”
“What sort of games?” she asked suspiciously.
“I don’t know. We could see whose rubber ducky is the fastest swimmer. Or who can catch the wiggly sea snake. Things like that.”
She grinned. “Okay. If you’re up to sea snake games.”
“The sea snake is willing. It’s the rest of the body that’s the problem.”
“I’ll run the bath.” She climbed off him.
“You take such good care of me, La-la. I’d be lost without you. I hope you know that.”
“I do,” she whispered. Leaning over him, she kissed him lightly.
A knock on the door had her turning toward the other room. “Do you think it’s Cullen?”
“Likely,” Marcus groaned. “I’ll get it.”
“Don’t worry. I’m up.”
“No, wait, Isla!”
But she ignored his protests, opening the door to their suite only to come face-to-face with a plaid-covered chest.
Oh.
Her gaze moved up to where Eliot Baird was frowning down at her. The look on his face was so full of disapproval that she found herself stepping back.
Then Marcus was in front of her, pushing her behind him.
“Did you just answer the door without seeing who it was first, little one?” Eliot asked in a low voice.
She peered around Marcus’ arm. That’s why he was upset? “I thought it was Cullen.”
The big man’s frown deepened. “That doesn’t matter. You should always check first. Understand me?”
She nodded. She did know that. In the city, she’d never open a door without checking who was there first. But there was something so safe about Rawhide… she hadn’t been thinking.
“You don’t need to scold her. You’re not her Top,” Marcus said.
She sucked in a breath as Eliot glared down at Marcus. Was he going to snap back? Scold him? Tell Master Derek so they got kicked out? All sorts of scenarios ran through her head.
To her shock, though, Eliot just nodded. The frown disappeared. “You’re right, I’m not. But I was wondering if we might change that?”
She moved to Marcus’ side and took his hand in hers. “What do you mean?”
“I thought you didn’t want us?” Marcus asked.
She could hear the note of hurt in his voice. Knew Eliot did too by the way he flinched.
“It’s not that I didn’t want you. Not that at all.”
“We know that,” she replied. She squeezed Marcus’ hand in support. “We understand, really.”
Marcus let out a long breath, looking down at his feet.
“Could I come in?” Eliot asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said when Marcus didn’t reply. “It’s maybe not a good idea.”
“You feel like I rejected you.” There was self-reproach in his voice, and she quickly raised her head, studying his face. “It had nothing to do with the two of you. And everything to do with me.”
“I know,” she replied. “It’s just… this is new to us. I’m not… I’ve never… and Marcus…”
Damn, she was making a hash of this. Which is why she liked to let Marcus do the talking.
“You’ve never what?” he asked.
She licked her dry lips, aware that the door was still open. That anyone could come along and hear what they were saying.
Marcus raised his head. “Isla has never had a chance to explore her Little side. And I don’t handle rejection well. No matter the reason for it.”
Eliot flinched but nodded. “And so, you wouldn’t consider giving me another chance?”
“Another chance?” she whispered. “To do what?”
“To help you explore being a Little, to help give you both the support you need, to perhaps be your Daddy while you’re here.”
Chapter 13
Marcus rocked back on his heels.
He wanted them now?
But wait… he’d said while they were here.
That wasn’t what Marcus wanted.
However, he knew his expectations were too high. As Isla had told him, they didn’t actually know this guy. Yeah, they were both attracted to him. And he seemed like he’d be a good Daddy, but they still didn’t know him.
He might be a terrible person. Maybe he kicked puppies or made babies cry and they’d be happy for something temporary.
Or maybe he was amazing, wonderful, and they’d never want to let him go.
The real question was… was he willing to open up and try something with Eliot, knowing that this might go nowhere. That he might get his heart broken.
Worse, that Isla might.
He suddenly realized they’d both gone silent and were staring at him.
“I know that I might be too late. That the two of you might not want an arrangement like this. I get that. I can’t tell you that I’m looking for a relationship. I don’t know that I am, that I will ever be. Perhaps the easiest thing would have been to stay away from you both. But the thing is, I went back to my room, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I tried to leave. Several times. Even got to the gate once. Turned around and came back. Then I decided to imagine you both offering another Dom what you did me. And I was furious. So, while I don’t know whether I’m ready for this… and I realise that’s not exactly fair to you both, I also know I can’t walk away from you both without getting to know you better. What do you think? Could you spend some time with me? Get to know me? Could I be your Daddy while you’re here?”
