Page 50

After Grif closed the door, Tildi shifted to look at him. The pain in her eyes was a punch to the gut. “So, no extra time to take me anywhere? What, are you just going to drop me off at the first bus stop you see?”

Her assumption she was that unimportant pissed him off, not at his bluebell, but at her miserable excuse for a family. If he ever had the misfortune to stumble across that father of hers, they were going to have a discussion about child abuse.

A very physical discussion.

“No, babygirl. I have other plans. But even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t put you on a bus. Those buses aren’t safe for Little girls.”

She eyed him with suspicion and maybe a little guarded hope. That might be wishful thinking on his part.

“But you said you were going straight to your ranch.”

“No, Bluebell. I saidwewill be going straight there. I meant all of us, including you. That’s what I want, but you have to decide if it’s what you want.”

The fear and hope that warred in her eyes almost broke him. He held her gaze, letting her see the truth and desire in his own.

Hope won. She threw her arms around his neck and cried, “Yes, Daddy! Yes, yes, yes, yes. YES!!” She leaned back and asked, “Can I ride a real horse?”

He grinned. “Don’t have many fake ones there, Bluebell.”

He reached for her but stopped himself. She’d had a traumatic morning. She didn’t have to tell him to be careful because her bruises spoke for her.

Evidently, his babygirl had other plans. She grabbed his hand and placed it on her cheek. “Don’t pull back from me, Daddy. I want you to touch me.”

His brows furrowed. Did she understand what she was starting? There was no way he’d be able to stop at caressing her cheek.

“Please, Daddy,” she begged. The rise and fall of her chest sped up. “I said the magic word. Don’t you want to touch me?”

She was killing him. He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Of course, I want to touch you, Bluebell. But I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t, Daddy. It looks way worse than it feels. I don’t hurt at all. And I’ll feel even better if you touch me.”

Little minx. How was he supposed to stand up to that? He cupped her cheek and leaned forward, brushing his lips lightly across hers. “All right, babygirl. I promise I’ll be gentle.”

“I don’t want gentle, Daddy. I want real. I want to celebrate. We can’t celebrate if you’re being a big ole fraidy cat.”

The pout she gave him was cute. He’d warm her bottom later. Right now, his girl had made it clear she had other, more important needs.

He let the predator in him out in his smile. “Are you saying you want Daddy to fuck you, babygirl?”

A pretty pink blossomed across her cheeks, and she squirmed at his crass words. She sucked in a deep breath, nipples already pebbling to tight points.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“I want to hear the words, Bluebell. Tell Daddy exactly what you want.”

A shiver raced over her. She notched up her chin. “Fuck me, Daddy. Please.”

“What a good girl, always doing what Daddy says.”

A spark of mischief lit her eyes as he reached for her. She pulled her arm away and rolled to the other side of the bed.

Seemed his Little girl wanted to play. Well, he wasn’t one to deny her what she wanted. He put plenty of gravel in his voice when he demanded, “What are you doing, naughty girl?”

She grinned, excitement pinkening her cheeks even more. Rolling the rest of the way off the bed, she bounced on her toes and said, “Catch me if you can!” Quick as a wink, she ran to the other side of the room.

He’d seen frightened Tildi, caring Tilde, tearful Tildi, and now she was showing him playful Tildi. He looked forward to a lifetime of exploring every one of her facets and moods.

“Last chance to come peacefully, naughty girl,” he growled. Never let it be said he was a Daddy who didn’t know how to play his part.