Page 16 of Koa’s Little Girl (Soldier Daddies #8)

A fter parking her truck, Giana took a moment to gather her energy.

She hoped Koa would understand that she was completely wiped out.

All she wanted to do was wash the smoke smell out of her hair and crawl into bed.

The quiet thunk of his door closing made her look toward the now-empty passenger seat.

She checked the mirror and saw him circle the back of the truck and arrive at her door. When he opened it, she rushed to say, “Koa, I’m…”

“Daddy,” he corrected gently and reached in to unfasten her seatbelt before scooping her up in his arms. “Come on, little girl. Let’s get cleaned up and take a nap.”

She wanted to suggest something else he might rather do, but that sounded heavenly. After nodding, she rested her cheek on his shoulder as he carried her into the house. “Daddy,” she whispered.

“Have you eaten?”

“No. That fire burned so hot. We roasted in our gear. I couldn’t imagine eating.” Some of the guys had iron stomachs, and they’d refueled while she was filling out forms. They’d brought her a sandwich, but the thought of taking a bite made her stomach roll.

“We’ll get some nutrition in you before you sleep,” Koa promised.

She nodded. “Shower, Daddy.”

“Bath, Flame,” he suggested as they walked down the hall to the large bathroom.

“Not hot,” she pleaded.

“Cool. It will help bring your temperature down. Trust your daddy.”

“Will you wash my hair? It smells like smoke.”

“Of course. Daddy’s going to get every part of you clean.”

That promise made her stomach do another flip-flop.

Not the bad kind that made her sick, but the type that kindled a different type of fire inside her.

She couldn’t believe she could even consider hanky-panky.

But her body was all in—especially when Koa sat her on the side of the tub and turned to start the water.

She reached out to pat his hard butt. It felt amazing. Her face heated as he stood back up to look at her.

“I’m glad you’re recovering. Let’s get you in the tub and find some toys for you to play with instead of Daddy’s butt.”

“No toys are finer than that,” she assured him and her face flamed even hotter.

“Thank you, little girl. I like your bottom as well. Now, let’s get you undressed and in the tub.”

Koa undressed her carefully, running his fingers over her skin to check for any injuries or hot spots.

That sensation in her tummy grew hotter as he examined her.

When her clothes lay scattered on the floor, Koa lifted her into the tub and helped her settle before turning off the water.

The liquid flowed around her, feeling delicious as it cooled her fever.

Giana settled back against the tub, loving the additional chill of the porcelain. Koa knelt by her side, gently sloshing cool water over her skin. A deep sigh eased from her lips as she relaxed. The pressure and worry of the day floated away on the surface of the water as it lapped over her.

“This is heaven,” she whispered.

“Good. Scoot down and wet your hair, Flame. Let’s wash away the smokiness first.”

She nodded and slid her bottom along the tub to dunk her head under the water. When she emerged, Koa handed her a soft, dry washcloth.

“Hold this over your eyes, little girl.”

When Giana had followed his instructions, Koa poured a bit of shampoo from the bottle she’d brought from home and rubbed it over her tresses and scalp with firm but gentle fingertips. She loved the feel of having her hair washed. “You are so good at that.”

“I have three younger sisters. They trained me well.”

“Really? Are you the only boy in your family?” Giana asked, peeking from under the washcloth.

“Keep that in place, little girl. You don’t want soap in your eyes,” he told her firmly.

Immediately, Giana followed his instruction. “So? Are you the only son?”

“I am. I’m twenty-seven. My sisters are twenty-five, twenty-three, and twenty-one.”

“I’m older than you?” she asked, shocked.

“Age doesn’t matter to me, Flame. Is it important to you?” he asked.

She noticed he didn’t ask how old she was. “Well, it kind of matters. Twenty years from now when I’m talking about the music I listened to in high school, you won’t recognize any of the artists.”

“I like that thought. I’m glad you’re planning to stay with me for twenty years,” he commented, totally missing her point.

“No, I mean we won’t have anything in common.”

“We’ll have twenty years in common,” he pointed out before adding, “besides, these were probably your favorite groups in high school.” Koa named off four bands she’d loved.

“That’s impressive. How did you know?”

“Lean back. Let’s rinse the suds away. Do you like conditioner?”

“No, thank you. I have a leave-in one that I like,” Giana answered before following his directions. His fingers swishing her hair through the water felt magical. Giana could feel her tight shoulder muscles relaxing.

After the stressful day, she’d tensed up even more when she’d realized she was five years older than Koa. He oozed confidence and control—probably a result of his training and skills. Perhaps he was right—the difference in their age didn’t matter.

“Up you go, little girl,” he said, lifting her easily to sit in the tub. Koa steadied her before wrapping her wet hair in a towel, turban-style, like he’d done that a million times.

“You’re thinking too hard, little girl. Are you okay?” Koa asked, pulling the washcloth away from her eyes.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get lost in my head.”

“Being quiet is fine, Flame. Unless you’re worrying about something that isn’t important.”

“Like our age?” she asked.

“Exactly. Our private business is ours.”

Koa dipped the washcloth into the water, saturating it. He added some floral-scented soap and stroked the cloth over her back. The sensation of the pull of the terrycloth over her skin mesmerized her. She leaned into his touch.

“That’s it, little girl. Just let me take over.”

After the day she’d had, releasing control to him was surprisingly easy. Giana realized she trusted Koa. She could allow her inner self to come out safely around him. He kissed her forehead, making her heart melt.

“I’ve got you, Giana.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

By the time he’d washed every inch of her body, Giana was half asleep. Koa dried her skin and wrapped her in a towel. She lolled against his hard muscles as he carried her to the bedroom and tucked her under the covers.

“Don’t leave,” she whispered as he eased off the bed.

“I’ll be right back, Flame.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, little girl.”

She hovered on the brink of sleep, fighting to stay awake when he returned. “Daddy,” she whispered. “I thought you’d forgotten me.”

“Never, Giana.” He settled on the pillows next to her and wrapped an arm around Giana to slide her closer to him. “I want you to try this, little girl. You need some nourishment. Then you can sleep.”

He brushed something rubbery over her lips. “Open your mouth, Flame.” When she followed his directions, he inserted the nipple.

She pushed at the alien thing in her mouth. A small drizzle of delicious liquid landed on her tongue. “Mmm,” she hummed and tried it again. Wanting more, she sucked tentatively, and her mouth filled with the tasty concoction. Giana swallowed quickly and devoured more.

“That’s it, Flame. Drink your bottle for Daddy.”

By the time the bottle was empty, Giana’s struggle to keep her eyes open had evaporated. Koa removed the nipple from her mouth and replaced it with something that filled her mouth as well, but didn’t hold any of the scrumptious formula.

“More, Daddy,” she mumbled around the device.

“Not right now, Giana. Your tummy is full.” He stroked a hand down her silky skin to rub her stomach softly.

“I’ll make you a bottle when you wake up,” he promised and rocked her slowly against him. “Sleep, Flame.”

When she woke up, Giana couldn’t move. Jelly and Tiger had crowded onto the bed and weighed her down.

She struggled out of the tightly tucked sheet.

When she’d freed her arms, Giana picked up each stuffie and kissed its fuzzy head before setting them aside.

Koa had bracketed her with large pillows smooshed tightly at her sides.

She attempted to push the fluffy obstacles away, but Koa must have used Daddy magic to pin her in place.

Giving up, she called, “Daddy! I’m stuck! ”

Almost instantly, she heard the whisper of his light steps in the hallway. “Hi, Flame. I’m glad you’re awake.”

When Koa whisked away the fluffy pillows holding her in place, she asked, “Why did you do that?”

“I didn’t want you to fall out of bed, little girl. I’ve ordered a crib for you.”

“A crib?” Giana repeated, pushing herself up to sit, tucking the blanket around her nude body. She tried to ignore the flash of excitement that flared inside her at that idea to focus on logic. “I won’t be comfortable in that.”

“Not a baby crib, Flame. A little girl crib. I ordered a light oak one with pink upholstered crowns at each end.”

“Really? Like my old headboard?” Her queen-size headboard from her apartment hadn’t fit Koa’s king-size bed. They’d stored it in his basement. Koa thought the team could modify it somehow.

“As close as I could get to it. I think I remember oak is the same type of wood as your bedroom furniture.”

“It is.” She studied his face to make sure he wasn’t messing with her. “Really? You ordered a little girl crib?”

“And some other things. I thought I might let you choose your bedding. Want to come sit with Daddy and tell me what you like?”

Giana nodded eagerly. “Nothing scratchy.”

“Of course not.” Koa tugged her cover away, pulling it gently from her hands. “Daddy loves your body, Giana. You don’t need to hide from me.”

She opened her mouth to protest and snapped it shut. He’d definitely seen her from all angles. “Could I have a T-shirt to wear? You know, just so I don’t get cold?”