Page 42 of Daddy’s Naughty List (Dirty Daddies 2024 Anthology #4)

Chapter Six

Connor

Connor’s nostrils flared like a bull ready to charge. Two seconds in her presence and his control was already shot to hell. When he’d seen her sitting in the middle of the road, his heart almost stopped. He’d seen the skid marks arched over both sides of the road and chalked it up to idiot teenagers out for a joyride.

Rounding the curve and spotting Bliss’s car angled off the road, he’d had a moment of relief. At least she was all right. That relief had morphed into anger such as he’d never experienced—which was saying a lot considering her antics in Nevada—when he saw her seated on the pavement, cradling something in her arms.

For a split second, he’d thought it was one of her girls. For some reason, cold fear shot through him at that possibility. Of course, it was no more than any compassionate person would have. It didn’t evidence any feeling for those particular children. At least, that’s what he told himself.

She hadn’t learned one thing from what they went through when he’d caught up with the men who’d taken her, with the Society’s blessing, to marry a Russian crime boss. She hadn’t given a rat’s ass about her personal safety then, and it was obvious she still didn’t.

No, he wasn’t being reasonable. But she was sitting in the middle of a well-traveled road and best he could tell didn’t even notice when he pulled off the road behind her car. And then, to pretend like he was some casual acquaintance from school?

Not happening.

“It’s been a while?” His voice was deep and dangerous. And Daddy. Just like it should be. He was feeling like a dangerous Daddy right now. She stood there, as beautiful as he remembered, her looks alone making him want to snatch her up and kiss her, and all she had was it’s been a while ?

The only thing saving her well-rounded bottom right now was the way she pressed her thighs together and did her best not to squirm. Evidently, it hadn’t been that long of a while since he’d been on her mind. No one reacted that way to someone they’d forgotten. And why did that soothe him?

It doesn’t. You don’t care if she’s been thinking of you because you aren’t going there, remember?

Regaining a modicum of control, he tried again, albeit through gritted teeth. “I asked you a question, young lady. What were you doing sitting in the middle of the road in the freezing cold? And where is your coat?”

She peered down at the ridiculous sweater she wore like she hadn’t seen it before. Okay, she looked adorable in the oversized sweater with—were those jingle bells sewn to the antlers of that moose? He did not need her looking cute right now. Cute was distracting. He was not going to be distracted.

He stalked to her, took her by the arm, and all but dragged her to the snow- covered grass on the far side of her car. Staring down at her feet, he ground out, “Where are your snowshoes?”

She was wearing a pair of green canvas sneakers. Already the moisture of the snow soaked through the fabric.

“Oh, I don’t have any yet.”

“You were on a Society compound in western Nebraska, and you don’t have snowshoes?”

She scrunched her face as if he was the one not making sense. “Well, I had snowshoes in Nebraska. But it wasn’t snowing yet when I left, so I forgot to bring them.”

Why did that make sense to him? She needed someone who would look after her. Someone who would think ahead and plan for all the possibilities. Someone like him.

No. Not him. Anyone could print out a packing list off the internet. She was a mother now. She had to be able to think of these things.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in and out through his nose.

When he opened his eyes, she blinded him with one of what he’d come to think of as her stadium light smiles. Knowing he shouldn’t, he asked, “What are you smiling at?”

“You. You still do that thing.”

“What thing?”

“You know. That thing where you breathe all the air in the room through your nose. You did that in Vegas all the time.”

He thought he was losing control again. He saw now he’d never really had it in the first place.

“It tends to happen a lot more when I’m around you. Stop avoiding my question.” When her lips parted, he held up his hand. “Do not ask me what question. You know perfectly well what question. Why were you sitting in the road, trouble?”

At his use of her nickname, she flinched. He caught himself before he apologized. If she didn’t want to be called trouble, she shouldn’t cause it.

After a beat, she shrugged her shoulders, which made the bells on her shirt jingle. She sucked in a breath, grinning and bopping her shoulders up and down. The jingle bells did their job surprisingly well.

If they ended up together, he’d put bells on all her clothes. That way he’d always know where she was. A growl rumbled his throat. Now she had him doing it.

“Trouble.” He knew he’d hit the perfect tone when she stepped back and put her hands behind her to cover her bottom.

Smart girl.

Matching rose flags waved across her cheeks. She huffed out a sigh worthy of a teenager. “Fine. I was talking to Guacamole.”

His mind blinked, just like the television he’d watched at his grandmother’s house as a kid used to do. He tried to decipher her code, but he was out of practice. Eleven months was a long time, and they’d only had a day and a half together.

He’d been a Daddy for a long time. His Littles were always well behaved and submissive. He knew from experience how submissive Bliss was, and his hand ached to work on the well-behaved part.

His brain rejected that notion as soon as the thought crossed his mind. He didn’t want to change her. She was fun, and joyful, and if he was honest, a challenge he could see himself never getting tired of. But that couldn’t happen now. He was a great Daddy, but he was not father material.

Focusing back on the matter at hand, he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll bite. What do you mean you were talking to Guacamole?”

She looked at him with sympathy, as if he was the dimmest bulb in the chandelier. “Guacamole, Dad—um, I mean, Connor. My car… it’s green. Avocado-green, like guacamole. Get it?”

Her Little stared up at him, eyes eager for him to tell her how clever her joke was. He’d realized in Vegas that she pretty much lived in her Little headspace. How did that work with three babies?

Part of him was thrilled to see she hadn’t lost her innocence and joy. Most of him worried what would happen to Bliss and her children without someone around to care for all four of them.

Bliss

She still couldn’t believe she had to explain the name of her car. It was perfectly obvious. Did he think she was weird? She hoped not. Because he was the smartest person she knew, and if he thought she was weird then she was.

One of the things she’d looked forward to the most in moving back to Darling, other than finally having Winnie back in her life, was fitting in. This was a town for Littles and their Daddies and Mommies, for fudge’s sake. If she didn’t fit in here, she might as well give up.

That thought sobered her right into her Big headspace. In her Big headspace, Mary and Miranda didn’t talk to her. Her Big space was lonely. The only reason she loved it was she could take care of Sadie, Sophie, and Nori there. She stayed in Big space for them. Well, she tried. Sometimes it was hard.

“Sorry,” she said. “I appreciate you stopping to help, but I’ll figure it out. I know you have a meeting to get to and I wouldn’t want to hold you up. If you don’t mind, could you please tell Winnie what happened and that I’ll call her as soon I can?”

All her words earned her was a frown. No, not a frown, a scowl. What had she done wrong now?

Connor studied her with narrowed eyes before glancing back at her car. Glaring at her, he snarled, “Don’t move.”

He grabbed the key to her car from the ignition and proceeded to open the trunk. Thank goodness her spare tire wasn’t visible until you opened the storage compartment. She stepped toward him. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll take care of it.”

She hadn’t realized he could narrow his eyes any further, but he could. “If you move from that spot, you will be one very sorry Little girl.”

A shiver scraped across her entire body and settled between her thighs. As her pussy pulsed, her Little tried to take back over. She couldn’t let that happen. She was an adult, and as such, she could handle her own problem. Somehow.

Yet, she didn’t move from her spot.

He pulled the carpet away and spun the screw thingy to get the cover off the spare tire. Dread skittered like tiny spiders across her skin.

She glanced at his shiny black muscle car that must have cost a fortune. He probably thought everyone could drive around in a souped-up hotrod. She had other priorities, like diapers and formula and electricity bills.

Of course, a car like that had other uses. She’d read more than one book where the Daddy had bent his Little girl over the hood and pounded into her from behind until she saw stars.

The shiver now snaked up her spine. Connor noticed, of course, and quirked a brow. “Are you cold, trouble? Let me get your tire changed for you. Then you can be on your way.”

Why hadn’t he mentioned what happened in Vegas? Despite what the ads said, it didn’t feel like what happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas. It hung like a giant weight above her head by a string. She’d been waiting for that string to snap for two months. She couldn’t take it.

“Why are you helping me after what I did to you in Vegas?” She blurted the question out before she could stop herself.

His eyes darkened for a split second, and then he was smiling again. “I wouldn’t mind discussing that with you one day. But not on the side of the road. And not when anyone could happen by and see.”

Wait, what?

“What is it you don’t want them to see?”

He widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest. “Trouble, the kind of discussion I plan to have with you is going to take place with you across my lap. Trust me when I tell you it is not something you are going to want anyone to witness.”

There was her Daddy For A Day. She was beginning to think the man standing in front of her was some pod person like in The Invasion of the Body Snatchers .

Her breath caught at his use of the name he’d given her. Why did that send tingles to her middle and further south? This Connor, the one threatening to spank her for what she’d done in Vegas, this was the man who’d filled her thoughts and fantasies for the past ten months.

The tingling in her pussy blew past a throb and landed on pounding. Thank the lord she’d worn her moose sweater because her nipples were tight nubs waiting impatiently for his attention. Still, she couldn’t keep her hands from once again covering her threatened backside.

Connor gave one quick nod. “I see we understand each other. Okay then, now that we’ve hashed that out, let’s get you on your way.”

Bliss froze. “Oh, um…” This was not going to go well.

Connor took one look at her face, dropped his gaze to his feet and pinched the bridge of his nose. “What am I going to find when I lift the cover to your spare tire, trouble. Do you know?”

“Of course I know.” What kind of idiot did he take her for? “I don’t exactly have a spare that works.”

“How exactly?”

“Um, not inflated exactly.”

His tiger eyes flared hot and angry. “You’ve been driving around with four bald tires and no spare?”

Hm, that started out as a question, but it ended more like a demand. The skin on her bottom began to crawl. “I meant to get it fixed, or replaced, but I barely have time to work and take care of the girls.”

“So, let me make sure I have this straight. You are driving, alone, in an isolated area with bad tires and no spare.”

Her mouth was as dry as cotton. She couldn’t answer him if she wanted to, which she didn’t. But by the expression on his face, not answering was out of the question, so she nodded.

The gold flecks in his eye became molten. Glancing around, she tried to figure out the best escape route. Instead of exploding, however, he drew in another deep breath and banked the flames. Completely.

When he spoke, he was calm and controlled. Nothing at all like the Connor she remembered. He would have had her in tears from his stern lecture alone.

She liked the old Connor better. This new Connor was one faulty breath away from losing it. She’d hate to be the one around when that happened.

“You’re lucky we haven’t had our discussion yet, trouble, or you’d be over my knee right now for the third time tonight.”

She wanted to ask what each one would have been for, but when he started slapping his hand against his thigh—hard–she thought better of it. After another breath, this one even deeper and longer, he once again banked his anger. It was freaky.

“All right. Here’s what we are going to do. I have a repair kit in my car. I’ll fix the spare and change the tire for you. What time was Winnie expecting you?”

“By 5:30 because Reid has you guys meeting at their house tonight.”

“I’m aware. So, while I change to tire, you get your phone and call Winnie. I know for a fact she’s worried. It’s after six now. Unless you’ve already called her, that is.”

Oh, fudge. Should she tell him?

Connor blanked his face. “Should you tell me what?”

Argh! She was going to start putting tape over her mouth so she couldn’t blurt out her thoughts.

“Nothing.” Her voice came out three octaves higher. “Would, um, would you mind if I borrow your phone?”

Oh boy. The tiger eyes were back, brighter than ever. And the way he rubbed his thumb over the palm of his other hand had those Vegas butterfly piranhas back and in a frenzy. Still, a part of her wondered what would happen if he couldn’t bank the fire billowing in his eyes. She was tingling again, too, but lower than her tummy this time. Much, much lower.

“Where is your phone, Belissa Jayne?”

The growl in his voice was doing nothing to ease her tingling lady bits. No wonder people feared she wouldn’t handle being a mother. She must be certifiably insane. “It’s in the car.” There. She didn’t even have to lie.

“If your phone is in your car, why do you need to borrow mine?”

Darn it. She might as well get the confession over with. So, he’d be unhappy. After all, what could he do? She decided not to think about that.

“The battery on my phone is dead.”

Her words were met with absolute silence. She was not relieved.

She should have reached out to Winnie about her tires, then she wouldn’t be in this predicament. But it was important everyone saw her as a grownup, including, no, especially, her sister.

A pang of longing whooshed through her. She wouldn’t have to be a grownup if she had a Daddy. A Daddy like Connor would make sure her tires were safe and spank her bottom if she forgot to charge her phone. A Daddy would know how much she loved being a mother but make sure she knew she was his Little girl, too.

Winnie had enough on her plate with her new business and her bear of a puppy. Bliss needed to be able to do everything by herself. Independent mothers of three could make it on their own. But all she ever managed to do was prove the opposite.

Connor was right. Her forgetfulness and pride had put her children’s safety at risk. How selfish could she be? The best thing for her children would be for her to let someone else raise them. Her heart stuttered at the thought. They were her whole world. She was doing the best she could, but maybe that wasn’t enough. Her body rebelled at the thought.

All of Ivy’s questions before shone in a whole new light. Did Ivy think she was a bad mother, too?

“Bliss? Babygirl, are you all right? What’s wrong?” Concern filled Connor’s voice, though it came from far away. It was nice, but how did he make his voice echo like that? All of a sudden, her head felt funny.

“I’m fine. Is it hot out here to you?” Heat washed over her, coating her skin, and yet inside, she was freezing. Her body started to shake, and she feared she was about to fall.

“Bliss? Say something, babygirl. Daddy needs you to use your words. Can you do that?”

Connor lifted her off her feet as if she weighed nothing. Greyed darkness slowly swallowed her field of vision. He jostled her as a car door creaked. Then she sat, cradled in his lap. His fingers ran along her face, and he called her name over and over.

She should answer, but her mouth wouldn’t cooperate. It was like her brain was lost in a fog. Still, she loved the way he said her name. Step by halting step, his voice burned away the fog, and the darkness clouding her vision faded.

“Feel better?” Connor’s gentle voice soothed her.

He turned her to face him and brushed the stray hair from her face. He had her long hair fisted, held off her neck, and out of the way. He was such a Daddy. Just not hers.

Maybe he would be if not for Nori and the twins. Guilt smashed through her with the force of a sledgehammer. He didn’t even know Nori was his. Yet another responsibility she’d shirked. He’d said he never, ever wanted children. Now he had a daughter, and it was all her fault.

They’d insisted she get a new implant at the Darling compound. They’d done the procedure right before everything had fallen apart, and they’d sold her to the Russian. Since all they’d done was replace the one she’d already had, she’d thought she was protected. No one had told her she might get pregnant until it was in her system.

Now she had a secret she didn’t know what to do with. Would Connor want to know? Could her heart take it if he didn’t care? What if he was mad at her? She was new to Darling, and he’d been here forever. Would everyone hate her? Would Winnie?

And that was it. She covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.

His strong, warm arms enveloped her and pulled her tighter against his hard, broad chest. It should have given her just as much comfort and security as it had all those months ago. But now she had a secret.

She wriggled against his hold, but he wouldn’t let her go. Being in his arms was thrilling and so very dangerous. She couldn’t get used to having his arms around her. Once he understood everything, he would never touch her again.

Just one more minute. She’d soak this feeling up and store it away for the future when she’d be alone again to love, cherish, feed, and protect three babies.

She pressed her cheek against him, still sniffling. The steadiness of his heartbeat warmed her. A lifetime of this would have been wonderful.