Page 20 of Hayes (Alpha Daddies #7)

Chapter Seventeen

Rylee was too hyped up to go back to sleep. She let her Daddy change her into a nightie without argument, but she refused to lie down in their bed. She was on her knees, rocking back and forth, too much nervous energy coursing through her to settle.

Her Daddy was humoring her as he nearly always did. He stretched out next to her on his side, propped up on one elbow. He’d stripped down to just his shorts, which she appreciated because there was nothing better to look at in the world than her Daddy’s sexy chest.

He smiled at her indulgently, probably because he was also enjoying the view. The nightie she now wore was white and nearly translucent. She didn’t have on panties.

Ignoring her arousal, she tapped her lips, still shifting her weight from knee to knee. “Lions live in a pride, right?”

“Yes.”

“Twelve lions is a lot of lions. There could be more. What if they want to eat us?”

Daddy did not laugh at her. Even though her question was worded in a slightly comical manner, the issue was a serious one.

She continued, “We’re all spread out. Even if there were only twelve lions, they could surround any home and kill the occupants in seconds.

There could be even more of them. Groups of four of them could each sneak up on a home and pounce at the same time, wiping out entire households.

” Why was her mind being so cruel to her?

Daddy reached out a hand and toyed with the hem of her nightie which rested just an inch below her pussy. “You’re forgetting that Khloe would know this in advance. Plus you would scent them just like you did tonight.”

“That wouldn’t do me any good if I don’t smell them until they are upon us. Khloe either.”

He nodded. “True. But let’s look at this from another angle.

Shifters have existed in relative peace and harmony for hundreds of years.

Though it’s been a long time since bears have occupied this general territory and even longer since I’ve heard of lions being spotted, there is a distinct difference between now and two or three hundred years ago, Little one. ”

She inched closer to him. “What’s that, Daddy?” She’d love it if he could shed light on any detail that would make her feel safer.

“We have weapons now, Baby girl,” he said gently.

She swallowed. “You mean guns?”

“Yes. Among other things. But rifles are powerful tools. If the lions don’t believe we have them, they would find out the hard way.”

Rylee glanced around the room. “Do you have guns in the house, Daddy?”

“Yes, Little one. Several. They are secure, and you do not have permission to touch them for any reason. If you ever come upon a weapon, I expect you to stay away from it. Do you understand?”

She nodded slowly. “But…”

Daddy shook his head. “No buts. I don’t let you touch the hot stove or run out of the house unprotected. Same safety rule applies to guns.”

She licked her suddenly very dry lips. She needed to say something, but she didn’t want to sound argumentative.

“Daddy, you said yourself that the women need to learn self-defense tactics. Wouldn’t gun safety be an important part of that?

What if something ever happened to you? What if you were incapacitated for some reason and I didn’t know how to shoot an intruder? ”

He pushed to sitting and pulled her onto his lap, tucking her against his chest before kissing the top of her head. “You’re right, Baby girl.”

That was a relief. All the air left her lungs.

He rocked her gently back and forth. “I’ll talk to the others. In the meantime, my rule stands.”

“Yes, Sir.” That was easy to agree to. There was no way she ever wanted to be in a position where she’d need to shoot someone, and she certainly wouldn’t consider picking up a gun without knowing anything about how it worked.

But she was glad he acknowledged the logic in her thinking.

She and the other girls needed to know how to protect themselves, and it would seem that extended to weapons now.

After a few minutes, she tipped her head back to look at him.

“I was scared,” she admitted. “When I first smelled that lion, I was scared. But I feel better now. I know I will scent him sooner next time. He can’t hide from me.

Plus Khloe will know their intentions. She’ll be faster, too.

He caught us off-guard tonight. Next time, he will not. ”

Rylee turned in her Daddy’s arms so she could straddle his lap and hold his face.

“I know Molly can’t open herself up to the constant noises in the world.

She’d lose her mind. She will have to rely on me and Khloe to alert her when we need her to jump in and pay attention.

But I don’t have the same problem as her.

It was weird at first, smelling everything.

Annoying. Especially foods. But I’m not as bothered anymore.

I can handle the barrage of scents coming at me. ”

Daddy cupped her naked butt. “What are you suggesting, Little one? I can see your mind spinning.”

“I think we should leave some of the windows open just an inch. It will be enough for me to scent anything outside better. I might have noticed the lion sooner if the scent hadn’t been dampened.”

His brows furrowed as he held her gaze. “Okay, Little one. I think that’s a good idea.”

She sat taller on his lap, smiling. She liked that he didn’t automatically shoot her down. He took her ideas seriously. He had several times tonight alone. He also hadn’t doubted her or made light of anything she’d said.

Rylee wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in closer, kissing him before speaking again. “Thank you, Daddy. I promise to submit to you on everything you ask of me. I know you’re still the Daddy, but I appreciate you listening to me when I have something to say.”

He kissed her back. “And I promise to always listen to you, Baby girl. I expect you to submit to me most of the time because it’s in our nature.

It’s how we’re wired. I need you to let me take care of you in nearly every way, which includes ensuring you are safe, fed, healthy, and happy.

But I will never doubt you when it comes to your powers.

There’s a reason Fate brought you to me.

We might not know what the reason is yet, but She doesn’t make mistakes.

She’s sending mates with extraordinary abilities lately, and all Alpha Protectors need to take heed and pay attention.

She’s preparing us for something. Or perhaps She’s simply arming us for a new world, one that includes bears and lions and who knows what other shifters. ”

Rylee smiled. “I’ll know.”

“I suspect you will, Little one.” He eased his fingers closer together on her bottom, gently parting her butt cheeks. “Are you ready to go back to sleep, Baby girl?” His voice was deeper and laced with arousal. It didn’t go with his words, but she knew his words weren’t meant to be serious.

She shook her head as she squirmed against his palms. “Will you give me a good-girl spanking and then have sex with me?”

He growled as he hitched her body closer, taking her lips with his. He kissed her with fierce determination, hard and fast. When he released her lips, he met her gaze. “I have a better idea. Will you submit to Daddy if I promise to fuck you clear into tomorrow afterward?”

Her cheeks heated at the suggestion. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Instead of spanking you, I’d like to give you a sensual experience I think you’ll enjoy.”

She smiled broadly. “I’ll enjoy anything you do to me, Daddy.”

He lifted her off his lap and set her on her knees on the mattress. After sliding off the side of the bed, he turned toward her and stared at her. Finally, he set his palms down in front of her and leaned in closer. “I love you so much, Rylee.”

“I love you, too, Daddy.”

“You’re so incredibly sexy. You keep my cock hard all the time. Day and night.” He lowered his head a few inches and nuzzled between her breasts, dragging the sheer material across her nipples.

She whimpered and set her hands on his head.

When Daddy moved his lips to one side and suckled one of her nipples through the material, she gasped. He always made her feel so good. Wetness gathered at the entrance to her pussy, and she was panting hard as he switched to her other nipple to treat it to the same suckling.

“Daddy…” There was no way he was going to let her come yet.

He had a plan. He was just getting started.

It was hard to rein in her arousal, but she had to find a way because his current actions—the best kind of foreplay—were not going to lead to release.

Not yet anyway. She knew him well enough to be certain of that.

When he released her nipple and shoved off the bed with his hands, she shuddered. Her breasts were heavy and full. Her nipples ached. Wetness leaked down her thighs.

Daddy reached out to tweak her nipples at the same time, making her whimper and rock forward. Finally, he released them and eased the lingerie over her head. “You look sexy as fuck in this sheer, white nightie, but I want you naked now.”

Goosebumps rose on her skin. She was good with naked. She wished he was also completely bare, but she wouldn’t make that request. Sexy times were not times when she had free rein to make demands. If she scented danger, that would be another story, but their bed was a place for her to submit.

“Turn and face the headboard, Little one.” His voice was deep and gravelly. Filled with promise. He gave her bottom a swat as she turned. “Crawl closer, Baby girl. I want you on your knees a few inches from the wall.”

She did as instructed, loving the chill that cooled her heated skin. Her Daddy was full of surprises. This was going to be a good one.

Rylee didn’t dare look over her shoulder as she listened to rustling sounds. She had no idea what Daddy was doing, but eventually the bed dipped, and he was behind her, also on his knees.

“Close your eyes, Rylee,” he commanded.