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I shake my head. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
Simultaneously, she rolls her eyes and slumps back against the seat. “Is she also a cousin of Liam?”
Nico returns to our car to drive us home, pulling to the shoulder of the road. I glance down at her seat belt. “Buckle yourself up. And you don’t need to worry about her.”
She grabs her seat belt, tugging it over her and latching it. “She said she has your baby—and you’re trying to marry me. I think I deserve to know who she is.”
“You deserve to know what I share with you,” I say. “Now, sit tight and prepare to enjoy the rest of the ride in silence. Please.”
She mumbles back her final retort. “She almost snapped my neck with that car stunt she pulled, and I can’t even ask a few questions?”
At Ophelia’s mention of getting hurt, my entire body bristles. Bianca was only pulling a stunt, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have gone further than she meant. Ophelia could have been hurt. The idea makes me feel lightheaded, like I’m spinning out of control.
Retrieving my phone, I message the head of security, letting him know I want around-the-clock coverage of Bianca starting yesterday. With Bianca handled, I focus on the next task at hand.
For Ophelia’s safety and my sanity, she must obey every command or suffer the consequences.
I eye the black box stowed below the seat in front of me.
Inside is something I’ve hand-selected for her.
If she won’t listen to me, I’ll train her body to obey me.
“You’ve asked a lot of questions, Ophelia. I think it’s time I asked one of my own.” Cupping her face, I lean in close enough to kiss her. Our eyes lock, and my voice drops two octaves. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car?”
CHAPTER 7
Ophelia
With our eyeslocked like this, something akin to trust passes between us. His hand is warm against my skin as he holds my face, guiding me achingly close to his expert mouth. His breath rustles my hair as he speaks with a rough, even tone.
Each word is clear and firm as he demands, “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car?”
I’m getting wet when I should be getting angry. Speechless, I clear my throat, shift my weight, and pull away. “I’m not a child.”
“Yet somehow you’ve found yourself under the care of a daddy.” His hand drops.
Daddy.
Rational thoughts don’t come, and his statement leaves me wordless, wet, and squirming with shame. Shaking my head, finally, I stutter, “Th...that’s not… a thing.”
“Isn’t it?” He eyes me, studying every flicker of emotion on my face.
Hearing that taboo, weighted word fall from those sexy lips of his shifts something deep within me—something I can’t put words to, but I know what hearing that word makes me feel.
Blazing licks of fiery shameeverywhere.
Daddy…
The word instantly dredges up my deep-seated desire for protection and care and childhood feelings of safety—which I assume came with the role of daddy’s girl. Deeper still, the ultimate desire to submit to a man in control, one you trust.
Warm, fuzzy feelings of attachment lead to something hotter...
Power and dominance.
The idea of submitting to him in every way.
Luckily, Nico’s voice comes over the speaker, cooling the volcano that’s erupted within me and breaking the heated moment between us.