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“I’m hungry.” Slowly my tongue licks across my lips, and his eyes follow the gesture. Registering movement to my right, I notice a man with a sneer on his face and fists balled at his sides. His eyes are on Nick. “So is Mickey.” Clicking my tongue, I release my savage feline, and he goes straight for the man, swiping his powerful paw—nails erect—across his calf. Pouncing when the stranger drops to the ground, his neck caught between his crushing jaws.
“Get this fucking thing off me!” the man screeches.
“Rue?” Nick didn’t catch it. I bite my lip, wondering if what I saw meant what I thought it did. My lips twitch back and forth as Nick and Marco approach the man. “Call him off, little girl.” I don’t want to.
Shaking my head, his eyes narrow on me. I’m not disobedient; I always do as he asks. But if he gets to protect me, I get to protect him.
Clicking my tongue again, I release Minnie. She drops down between the man’s legs, her jaw open and saliva dripping to the floor, ready to eat his manhood if he so much as twitches. “Mickey,” I call him off. He growls and releases his prey, his feral eyes never leaving the man’s face or the pulse pounding in his neck.
“Rue, explain.” Nick’s eyes are on me while Marco and Granger hold a gun towards the man.
“He’s a threat.” How else can I explain it? I saw what I saw, and it wasn’t the respect the rest of these men show Nick when they listen to him.
“How do you know?” Nick holds out a hand for me, beckoning me closer to him.
“I’m not a threat!” the man tries to defend.
Wrapped in Nick’s arms, I look up at him. “Watch him,” I beg. His eyes shift down to the person at his feet. “You are a threat. You don’t respect my Daddy.” Nick’s face tenses, and I now know he picked up on what I did.
“You sneer at my woman?” I bury my face in Nick’s chest when I notice him pull out a gun. His other hand covers my ear, pressing the exposed side of my face into his muscled pec. The shot is muffled but still loud.
Nick must hand off his weapon because he cups my cheeks, pulling my face up to his and slanting his lips across mine. His heart hammers beneath my hands. I feel his bulge pulsing against my stomach, and my body is out of control when he slides his tongue along mine, stealing my breathy moan.
“Fuck, I love you, little girl. Protecting Daddy like it’s your birthright.” Wrapping my arms around his waist, I purr in his arms, loving the praise he gives me. “Such a sweet, good girl for Daddy.”
A blush works furiously up my skin, staining my neck and cheeks in a rosy hue, I’m sure. “I love you too, Daddy Nick.” Kissing the underside of his jaw, his hands strain where they hold my face and throat.
“Go get your snack, then come right back.” I bite my lip and nod, not giving the man I just had executed another look as I leave.
Minnie follows behind. Mickey has appointed himself Nick’s guard, and the brooding man I’ve come to love doesn’t seem to mind a bit. Even Marco appears to have grown somewhat fond of my babies.
“Hello, Miss.” Winston always has a smile for me as I enter the kitchen. “Care for a snack?” Just like he’s always trying to get me to eat.
Sitting on the stool across from where he’s cutting up vegetables, I grab a carrot stick and munch on it. It’s been fun discovering the foods I enjoy. I’m not huge on cooked vegetables; I prefer them fresh and dipped in either ranch or queso. I don’t like blueberries or blackberries, but I can eat an entire bowl of raspberries myself.
Despite everyone’s objections, pineapple does belong on pizza, with extra ham and a crispy crust. My favorite thing for breakfast is scrambled eggs and toast. I love a creamy-with-a-hint-of-sweet cup of coffee. I don’t like the fizz of soda, it burns my tongue and tickles my nose. But I could drink flavored water all the time. Watermelon is my favorite, but I also enjoy lemon.
“How about this?” He reaches down to the oven below the stove as it chimes and pulls out an individual pineapple pizza.
“How did you know?” I’ve been thinking about it for hours.
“You’ve been eating it every day for lunch since you discovered it.” He winks at me as he places it on the cooling rack for a few minutes before cutting it into slices and handing me the plate and a honey garlic sauce he makes from scratch that I enjoy for dipping the crust.
“Thank you, Winston,” I moan gratefully as I take the first hot bite. He watches me closely as I chew, savoring the taste. “Did you do something different to it?” It tastes…better. More flavorful. I’m not sure why, but I’m just enjoying it more.
Winston cocks his head to the side as he answers, “Nope, same as always.” I shrug my shoulders, going back to eating. Before I know it, I’ve devoured the whole thing and want more. He must sense it because he starts preparing another.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Much as I want it, I should be stuffed full already.
“Nonsense, I’ll bring it to you once it’s finished. Why don’t you grab a water and that bag of jalapeno cheddar popcorn and relax? I’ll be along shortly.” Jumping off the stool, I grab two pieces of ham, give one to Minnie, and hold onto the other for Mickey.
Kissing his cheek, I wander back to Nick’s office. Everything is back to normal, and I think I should feel some guilt for the man who died, but I can’t find it in me. If he couldn’t school his features because of how we speak to each other, then I wouldn’t trust him to have Nick’s back.
Our eyes connect as soon as I enter the room, his never leaving me until I’m at his side and holding out my offering to Mickey. “Did you get enough to eat?” I shake my head, and he frowns. “Why the hell not?”
“I ate,” I respond. I did eat. Pizza and veggies, more than I usually do, but I don’t say anything further. His eyes remain glued to me as I get comfortable in my spot again. Hitting the app for the Disney movies, I return to watching the Marvel films I’ve found I enjoy.
“Nick?” He immediately stops what he’s saying to turn to me.
