Page 5

Chapter Four

Molly was such a delight.

Gavin couldn’t take his eyes off her for more than a few seconds at a time. After carrying her inside, he settled her in the highchair where he intended to feed her as often as reasonably possible.

She giggled and rolled her eyes as he fastened a strap around her middle. “I’m not sure I understand this custom. You don’t seriously think I might fall off of a chair, do you?”

He chuckled, trying to decide if he should give her a taste of what submission felt like. Now seemed like as good a time as any.

Dominance among males in the valley was the norm. Females submitted to their mates in most households. It was a natural tendency among wolf shifters. However, nothing she’d witnessed could have prepared her for the level of submission he would expect from her.

It wasn’t simply a matter of convincing her to adhere to some odd antiquated societal norms. Not even close. It was Fated and would fall into place with no effort.

But Molly couldn’t grasp it yet. He cupped her chin, tipping her head back so she was looking him in the eyes. Damn she was perfect. Yeah, he was going to give her a taste of what deeper submission felt like.

He released her chin, lifted one of her delicate hands, and kissed her fingertips.

She trembled, eyes wide with wonder as he lowered her hand to her side and fastened her wrist securely next to her hip. The hitch in her breath made his cock jump. Her pulse was instantly rapid.

He secured her other hand the same way before pulling a chair closer and sitting, putting them eye-to-eye. Gavin set his hands on her thighs, wishing she wasn’t wearing several layers of ceremonial clothing.

After a few moments, he smoothed his palms over her hands and up her arms until he was cupping her face.

Molly was panting. Her cheeks were bright red. He could smell her arousal. It probably confused her to death. There was very little chance she’d ever experienced arousal like she was right now.

Perhaps in the past few years she’d thought of what it would be like to be with her mate.

It was possible she’d touched herself to thoughts of him.

But nothing she could have conjured in her mind would have compared to what she was experiencing at this moment.

And this was just the beginning. The tip of the iceberg.

Gavin stroked his thumbs along her bottom lip, watching her expression as her eyes slowly hooded with lust. Her cheeks were flaming hot. Her pulse was visible in her neck. And her scent…

Her scent filled the house, making his cock harder than ever. He knew he would find her pussy wet if he reached under the layers of her skirt and shifts, but now wasn’t the time for that. His goal was to demonstrate how submissive she felt. Describing it would do no good.

“Gavin…” The one word was breathy and filled with need. She arched her chest forward, straining against the straps around her wrists.

He leaned forward and gently kissed her lips, teasing her. He did so again, lingering until she whimpered.

“Daddy,” he whispered against her mouth.

“Daddy…” she repeated. Nothing had ever sounded sweeter.

He wouldn’t pressure her, but he didn’t feel apologetic about teasing her just enough to make her understand. So he kissed her again before trailing a finger down her chin, along the center of her neck, and lower between her breasts.

She moaned, arching for him. Her eyes rolled back. She gripped her thighs together. “Daddy…”

He kissed her again before reluctantly releasing her wrists. When her hands were free, he brought her right hand up to his mouth, kissed her palm, and then pushed her sleeve down just far enough that he could press his lips against the edge of her mark.

Molly gasped. “Oh heavens.”

He did it again and again, flicking his tongue over the design before finally releasing her.

She was breathing heavily, and sweat beaded on her forehead. She stared at him in awe.

He smiled. “You’ll submit to me because it feels good, Baby girl.

I’ll restrain you often because it will drive you up a wall.

When I hold you down, your arousal will consume you.

You’ll learn to trust that I would never in a million years hurt you.

You’ll crave my dominance because it makes your heart race.

When you’re fully ready to take me into your body, you’ll know. You’ll be desperate.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He kissed her again, lingering, letting his tongue drag along the seam of her lips until she parted for him. Her sweet moan filled his mouth as he teased her tongue with his.

It took every ounce of his self-control to release her lips and pull away. “I’ll make dinner.”

She swallowed hard. “Maybe I’m not so hungry after all.”

He chuckled. “Is my Little girl being funny?”

She bit her lip.

Gavin popped the tray onto her highchair and moved away quickly.

He needed a few feet of space between them if they were ever going to eat.

He suspected they would not survive many more hours before she begged him to take her.

It would behoove them to eat first. She would need a lot of fuel for the coming hours and into tomorrow.

Granted, he would feed her bottles and snacks while her body prepared for her first shift, but filling her tummy first was imperative.

At the advice of his brother and his parents, Gavin had made a stew before he’d ever left the house that morning. It had been simmering on low in the oven all day. As soon as he opened the oven door, the scent filled the room.

“Oh wow, you are a good cook,” she said.

He turned to wink at her. “I can hold my own.”

Gavin filled a large bowl and set it on the table before preparing them both a drink and setting a sippy cup of juice in front of her.

She giggled as she picked it up. “A sippy cup?”

He chuckled.

“Let me guess. It’s another one of your odd customs.”

“Yep.”

“And all the mates of Alpha Protectors have highchairs and sippy cups?”

“They do.”

“Cribs? Changing tables? And don’t think for a minute I haven’t noticed the playpen filled with toys in the living room.”

“Nothing gets by you, does it?” he teased.

She sighed as she took a drink, but she didn’t balk or throw the cup at him. That had been a possibility. She was perplexed but good-natured about everything he was tossing at her.

He sat at the table and angled her chair so she was facing him.

She leaned forward on her elbows. “You’re seriously going to feed me, aren’t you?”

“Yep.” He dipped the spoon into the stew, gathered the perfect bite, and blew on it before offering it to her. “Careful, it’s hot.”

Watching her open her mouth to accept this first bite made his chest tighten. He took a mental picture. It was impossible for her to understand the overprotective nature of an Alpha Protector. It was ingrained in him. The need to care for her in every way was in his blood.

Every Alpha went through this transition period with their mate. It was unavoidable. No newly claimed mate was prepared for the level of dominance she would encounter. Some accepted it easier than others.

Molly was taking things in stride. He suspected she was so relieved to find out she wouldn’t be expected to cook for him that she would accept just about anything.

He needed to prepare himself for the fact that she would eventually balk.

Every Little girl did. Be it today or tomorrow or another day in the near future, something would cause her to hesitate and push back.

Considering how adorable she was, he was almost looking forward to meeting a disagreeable Molly.

She purred around the bite.

Purred .

His Little wolf shifter had a soft, delicate feline purr that endeared him to her even further.

“That’s so good,” she said, reaching out with one hand. “You know…you could put some in my own bowl and hand me a spoon. I promise not to choke.”

“You know…” he echoed, “I could restrain your wrists to your sides for every meal and make you squirm as you wait for each bite, sassy girl.”

She quickly tucked her hands under the tray, her cheeks turning pink. Her expression sobered, and she lowered her gaze. “Sorry, Sir.”

He frowned as he set the bowl down on the table and fully faced her before lifting her chin. “What are you apologizing for, Little one?” He didn’t like this timid retreat.

She swallowed. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

“Molly, I didn’t take it that way at all. I teased you. You teased me. I like your sassy side.”

“I don’t have a sassy side.”

He smiled. “Sure you do. Maybe it just hasn’t had a chance to fully come out yet.”

She searched his eyes with her pretty blue ones. “My mother?—”

He shook his head. “Your mother meant well when she gave you advice about all kinds of things. She shared what she thought best. But she isn’t here.

It’s you and me now. Forever. We’ll forge our own path.

I will be bossy and dominant with you because it’s my way, but I do so from a place of affection.

I will have rules that exist to keep you safe.

I will have other rules that exist because they will make you squirm. ”

Her brow furrowed, and she pursed her lips.

He couldn’t expect her to understand. In time she would. “Do you know what happens to naughty Little girls who break rules or sass their Daddies?”

She shook her head as he slid his hand around to cup her neck. Her pale skin turned an even darker pink.

“They get their bottoms spanked.”

Molly’s eyes widened as she gasped, but she also clenched her thighs together.

“Do you know why naughty Little girls break rules and sass their Daddies?”

Another head shake.

“Because they like having their bottoms spanked.”

Her brows drew in tighter.

“You’ll see, Little one. In no time at all, you’ll understand. The dynamic between you and me will look nothing like any relationship you’ve witnessed in the valley. What you watched between your parents won’t resemble our interactions at all. It’s jarring at first, but you’ll grow to love it.”

“I don’t understand.”

Gavin leaned in to kiss her briefly. “You will, Baby girl. In the meantime, I don’t want you to fret over anything like sassing me. It’s adorable. I enjoy the banter. When you’re ready to experience a spanking, I’ll take you over my knees and introduce you to a world you can’t begin to grasp.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, not blinking. Her pulse increased under his palm. She was absolute perfection.

Gavin was one fucking lucky Alpha.