Page 11 of Daddy’s Oath (The Daddy Guard #2)

Chapter Eleven

Lana was exhausted by the time she reached the mansion that served as the Daddy Guard’s headquarters.

She was excited to see it in the daylight, because it looked awesome in the dead of night. She could only imagine what treasures the sunlight would reveal.

“This place looks like one of those old movie star palaces they built back in the Twenties!” she told Ace as he walked her into the bedroom where she’d be staying.

“That’s exactly what it is,” he said. “A famous actress used to live here. You ever heard of Theda Bara?”

“Theda Bera? Of course! She was the original Cleopatra, you know! Way before Liz Taylor.”

Ace’s eyes seemed to hold a healthy dose of appreciation as he said, “I didn’t know that, actually. You’re pretty smart.”

She blushed. Shrugging the praise off, she said, “I’m just a film nut. All I’ve ever wanted to do was work in theater or in the movies. I can’t be an actress now. That would sort of defeat the idea of keeping a low profile. But I work at a movie studio. At least… I did.”

Feeling suddenly deflated, she sat on the bed. Her shoulders shook as she cried. She felt silly for breaking down in front of Ace, but she just couldn’t help it.

It wasn’t a second before he was sitting next to her, his arm draped around her shoulders.

“It’s okay. I bet you’ll get to keep that job yet. Let the Daddy Guard work its magic.”

Her sadness temporarily subsided as he pulled her closer and rested his cheek atop her head.

Mmm. Being so close to him—being held by him—felt wonderful.

“I love my life. I thought all this stuff with the gang was finally behind me,” she told him with a sniffle. “But then everything just caught up to me.”

“I’m sure this is very scary. And chaotic. But I promise you, Lana. I’m going to help you. You have my word.”

She wanted to tell him her real name, just so he’d know, but then stopped short of doing so. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. For some reason, she trusted Ace more than any man she’d ever met.

But that old name wasn’t her anymore. Her parents had given it to her. The same parents who were mixed up in so much crime and ugliness and evil.

No, she was Lana now. That old existence from Boston was gone. Those people weren’t in her life anymore.

“You p-promise me?” she asked, ashamed that she was forcing him to commit. This man owed her nothing. Yet here she was, being held by him, crying her eyes out in the guest bedroom of the mansion he called home.

“I swear an oath,” he said solemnly.

He left it at that. What else was there to say? She could tell he wasn’t being dramatic or simply placating her.

Ace was swearing that he would help her.

She believed him.

Despite the reassurance, she was still fighting back more tears.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. “It’s not that I doubt you. It’s just…”

Now his other arm came across her as he held her tight. “Would you like me to sleep on the floor, honey?”

Lana’s stomach muscles clenched tightly. What she really wanted was for Ace to sleep in the bed with her. There was no way she was going to admit that to him.

Though she hadn’t seen any indication that he had a Little around.

“It’s okay,” she told him.

“I don’t mind.”

“That would be so uncomfortable,” she argued.

“Nah. I can make a nice, cozy bed right there on the floor. We have plenty of blankets and pillows.”

She nodded but didn’t commit to it yet. A moment later, she said, “I could sleep on your floor.”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’ve been through a rough night. I want you to get plenty of rest and a nice big bed is the best way to accomplish that.”

She pulled away enough to flash him a sly smile. “So you admit the floor isn’t very comfortable.”

He laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Man, I’m really going to have to keep my eyes on you. You’re smart. Maybe too smart for your own good.”

She laughed, too.

“Okay. What about this?” he said, offering a compromise. “This bed is huge. California king, aptly named. There’s plenty of room for both of us. But if that would make you uncomfortable, then?—”

“No!” she blurted out quickly and much louder than she’d meant to. Blushing, and in a quieter tone, she said, “I mean, no. It wouldn’t make me uncomfortable at all. But what about you?”

He shook his head. “I’ll go change, honey. Brush my teeth. That will give you some time to get ready for bed, too. You have the clothes we got for you at Athena’s place. There’s a new toothbrush in there.” He jerked his head toward the door that led to the attached bathroom.

“Okay. Thank you,” she said again.

Unable to stop him, she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug.

Mmm. It felt wonderful.

What was even more wonderful was what happened five minutes later. After dressing in the clean pajama shorts and shirt, and with her teeth cleaned and face washed, she came back into the bedroom to hear a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

It opened to reveal Ace.

But this time, he was wearing only gray sweatshorts.

That. Was. It.

Gray. Sweatshorts.

Holy crap.

His abs were rock-hard, with plenty of jagged crevices. His chest was bulky with protruding muscles. His shoulders looked as if they were carved out of granite.

Suddenly, all the fears and stress of the day melted away. Nothing else existed in the world except that exquisite man who stood before her, his muscular frame filling the doorway.

“You sure it won’t bother you if I’m in here tonight?” he asked.

“Bother me?” she repeated absentmindedly. She wasn’t sure how much time passed next before she stood up straighter and closed her jaw. Clearing her throat, she said, “What was the question?”

He wore a knowing smirk.

Oh gosh! How embarrassing could this be?

“Are you sure you want me to sleep in here?” Ace repeated. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. You know, I realized we have another Little in the house. Jack’s sweet girl, Iris. She loves making new friends. I bet she’d be happy to sleep with you. Might even bring her dog, Benson, in here.”

As fun as that sounded—a new friend and a doggy—there was no chance Lana was going to pass up an opportunity to sleep with Ace.

Well, they weren’t going to sleep together in the sense of sleeping together . But even just sleeping next to him was something she couldn’t resist.

She’d regret it her whole life if she did.

Enjoy every second of it, Lana. Because this is as close as you’re ever going to get to Ace being your Daddy.

She quieted that familiar self-doubt, smiled, and said, “It’s not going to bother me at all. And thank you, Sir.”

He smiled and moved in for a hug.

That hard body pressed against her was enough to soak her panties.

She was tired and needed some sleep. But she wasn’t sure she was going to get any. Not with that god of a man next to her!

“Come on, honey. Bedtime.”

“Yes, Sir,” she said in a demure voice

She climbed under the covers, snuggled with her pillow, and sighed wistfully at the sensation of feeling his body heat so close to hers.

What had started as a hellish night had somehow turned into heaven.

Pure, absolute heaven.