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B ebe wasn’t sure that she’d ever been this tired.

It seemed like everything in her world had turned on its axis. There really was a threat to her. She hadn’t believed it and she felt so stupid.

And Corbin had very nearly paid the price for her foolishness.

He could have been killed.

Flashbacks hit her hard as she washed herself in the shower, and she very nearly called out to him, wanting him with her.

Needing him close.

But she stuffed that back inside her. He’d done enough for her tonight. And she really wanted to get into her pajamas, climb into bed, and hide under the covers.

Build a fort!

She pushed that voice back into its box.

No. She couldn’t let her Little out now.

However, she was going to take the stalker seriously. She didn’t want anyone else getting hurt because of her. Obviously, her mother hadn’t created these threats, so she felt a bit bad about thinking that she had.

Shutting off the shower, she dried herself off.

“Want me to get you some pajamas?” Corbin called out.

“Yes, please.” Wrapping the towel around herself, she moved to the door. He handed her a pair of her favorite pajamas with squirrels all over them. Some of them were drinking mimosas while others were dancing and playing.

With the pajamas was a pair of pale yellow panties.

Yikes.

He’d been in her panties drawer. His big muscular hands had touched her panties.

Stop being ridiculous. They’re just pieces of clothing.

“Th-thank you.”

“I’ve got you some more things packed up, so you don’t have to worry about it in the morning. Get dressed and I’ll put you to bed.”

Put her to bed? That was a strange way to word that.

But she brushed it off as she got dressed. She was too exhausted to argue that she could pack her own stuff.

Walking into the bedroom, she found him next to her side of the bed. He’d pulled the covers down for her.

“You don’t have to do this,” she told him.

“But I want to.” He waited until she was lying on the bed, then drew the covers up. “Here you are, Little one.”

Bebe glanced up to see that he had Nutters in his hand.

She’d been sleeping with Nutters lately and obviously hadn’t put her away in a drawer this morning.

Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Nutters had become her guilty secret. Just a touch of who she’d been. Not enough to pull her back into that world.

But enough to help her sleep at night.

Would he think her strange?

Plenty of adults who aren’t Little sleep with stuffed toys, right?

You’re overreacting. And he’s going to notice that you’ve gone all silent.

Then, his words penetrated her panic. “What . . . what did you call me?”

“Little one.”

“I’m not little,” she whispered.

“Aren’t you?” he countered, tucking the covers around her.

Much like a Daddy might do. Was he a Daddy?

How had she missed that he was a Daddy? She’d noticed he had a dominant streak, but had she unconsciously sensed any other things?

Was that why she was attracted to him? Because he was a Daddy?

Was she falling into old habits? Into bad patterns?

No.

This really wasn’t proof that he was a Daddy Dom. He was just a caring guy.

Perhaps to him, ‘little one’ was just a term of endearment.

“No, I’m not,” she said firmly.

Sitting on the bed facing her, he stared down at her for a long moment. “All right.”

Bebe breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Get a good night’s sleep. Don’t worry about the stalker or the attack or anything else.” He smoothed the blankets over her. “I’ll turn your night-light on before I turn off the main one.”

He got to his feet and walked over to switch her night-light on.

Her breathing grew faster again. He knew.

Bebe was positive he knew. So he really was a Daddy? Was he interested in her because he thought she was a Little?

Was that the only reason?

No, it couldn’t be. He wanted her.

Didn’t he?

What would he say when he learned she could never be a Little again? That the thought of it made her pulse race. It made her an anxious mess.

Bebe could feel her hands starting to shake.

This is why she should stay away from all men. She was a mess. And she shouldn’t be with anyone.

Let alone someone kind and normal like Corbin.

Moving to her, he crouched over her and kissed her forehead.

She felt herself melting.

You can’t do this, Bebe. You can’t do this to yourself. Or to him.

“Night, baby,” he said to her. “Do you need me to stay with you until you fall asleep?”

“N-no. I have this.” Stay calm or he will know something is wrong. “Thank you.”

“I’ll be right outside your room. All the doors and windows are locked. The alarm is on. You’re safe. Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

He left, shutting the door behind him.

Great.

Now she was going to be awake all night worrying that he might only want her because she was a Little.

That there was a stalker out there trying to hurt her.

That she was supposed to go to Montana and stay on a Ranch where she knew no one and people might judge her.

And now she had to worry that there could be bedbugs!