Page 35 of Melt For Us, Daddy (Big Daddy Energy #4)

Jacob

H e wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. All he knew for sure was that Ivy was in trouble and she looked miserable. Cordelia, on the other hand, looked rather pleased with herself as she worked her way through the sandwich and chips Ivy had placed on a plate in front of her.

It was uncomfortable, and he couldn’t help but feel bad for Ivy. But at the same time, his… cock was once again hard as a rock and he had to shift in his seat a few times to ease the ache as he watched a naked Ivy pick at her food, quite literally.

“Blossom, you’ve about picked that poor sandwich to pieces. Eat.”

Ivy’s bottom lip puffed out even further than it had been. “Not really hungry, Ma’am.”

“No, you’re sulking. And while I happen to think it’s adorable, I draw the line at you not taking care of yourself, Ivy Mae.”

It was fascinating watching Cordelia become…

whatever it was she had become just then.

Everything about her was slightly harder, not in a mean way but simply in a way that demanded obedience.

At least, as far as Jacob was concerned.

He just knew that if she’d aimed all that potent dominant energy his way he would give in to whatever she demanded.

And judging by the flush on Ivy’s cheeks and the way her shoulders hunched forward ever so slightly, she wasn’t immune either. “Yes, Daddy,” Ivy mumbled, picking up a tattered piece of her sandwich and popping it in her mouth.

Daddy . Maybe that’s what Cordelia had become, that harder, more commanding version of herself.

“That’s my good girl. While you’re finishing up, Jacob and I can do the dishes.”

Since it wasn’t offered as a suggestion or even a question, he interpreted it as an order, immediately jumping to his feet and reaching for Cordelia’s plate. And he was rewarded with another of those beaming smiles.

“Thank you, baby boy. I’ll be over in a moment.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Her smile brightened even further at his response, and he nearly skipped over to the sink, his entire being aglow with the knowledge that he’d pleased her.

“Eyes on me, Ivy-baby.”

The words were soft, and yet no less of a command than anything else he’d heard from Cordelia’s mouth. “Ma’am?”

“After lunch is our rest time. Do you want to take the time I promised you for just the two of us? Or would you prefer to spend it with our boy?”

Spine straightening, he flipped the water on to rinse their dishes, doing his best to pretend he wasn’t listening.

“Oh. Ummm. I guess it depends.”

“On?”

“On which of those options gets me to an orgasm faster.”

Cordelia’s laughter rang out in the kitchen at Ivy’s cheeky response. “Unfortunately for you, the answer is neither. Little girls who cuss at their Daddies don’t get rewarded with orgasms.”

“But Daddy ,” Ivy whined in response. “That’s not fair! You’ve been teasing me all morning!”

“Yes, I have. And why is that, Ivy Mae?”

Ivy’s sigh was so deep and full of drama, it made him want to laugh. She really did remind him of his younger sisters sometimes.

At that thought, guilt slammed into him, knocking the air from his lungs. His sisters were back home, suffering through God only knew what, while he was here falling into sin and temptation with not just one but two women.

How could he be so selfish?

Setting the plates in the sink, he turned back to the table, praying they couldn’t see the guilt and shame that was sitting like a rock on his chest, making it impossible to breathe. “Actually, I think I’m gonna go lie down. I’m kinda tired.”

Cordelia frowned, and for a moment he worried she’d push back. He wasn’t strong enough to resist her if she demanded he stay.

But then she nodded, slowly, and his knees nearly went weak with relief. “All right. We’ll be up to get you when rest time is up.”

“Okay.”

Something sharp twisted inside him at his own response. He’d gotten so used to calling her Ma’am, it felt wrong not to. But he couldn't bring himself to say the words, not when the shame was burning so bright inside him it felt like he might actually catch fire from it.

So he ignored that little twist in his gut and strode from the kitchen, and straight up the stairs to his room. Where he curled up on his bed, his eyes squeezed shut against the threat of tears, and tried to will himself to breathe.

Just breathe.

Cordelia

“What was that all about?”

Ivy’s thoughts mirrored her own as Cordelia stared at the doorway Jacob had just disappeared through. “I have no fucking idea.”

“Should we go up and check on him?” Worry colored Ivy’s tone. “He seemed upset.”

“He did.” But she wasn’t sure if she should check on him or not. With Ivy, she generally knew how to handle her different moods. Knew, with an accuracy gained over years of friendship and more, when Ivy needed space and when she needed to be smothered with attention.

But Jacob was a brand-new entity. She didn’t know him nearly as well as she knew Ivy.

And even though her gut instinct was to march up the stairs and demand he talk to them, some part of her recognized that she didn’t really have that right.

While she’d taken on the dominant role during their play, she wasn’t actually his Domme.

She was, as frustrating as it was to admit, a bit out of her depth. But there was one person at the table who seemed to understand Jacob, on a level Cordelia couldn’t.

“I don’t know,” she said, looking over at her babygirl. “What do you think we should do?”

Ivy blinked. “Me?”

If the situation hadn’t felt so heavy, she would have laughed at the sheer confusion on her girl’s face.

“Yes, you, baby. Your instincts with him have been spot-on so far. So, what do you think we should do? Leave him to work through whatever’s bothering him on his own, or go up there and make him talk to us? ”

Lips turning down in a thoughtful frown, Ivy looked back over at the doorway. “I think… I think there’s something wrong. And I think if we leave him to work it through on his own, it’s just going to make whatever that ‘something’ is even worse. I can’t explain it, it’s just a gut feeling.”

Reaching across the table, Cordelia gave her hand a hard squeeze. “Your gut’s been right so far. Go put your clothes on and we’ll go upstairs to check on our boy.”

Ivy immediately hopped up from the table and hurried toward the living room.

Giving Cordelia enough time to clear the table—with a mental note to push something with plenty of protein on her girl for a snack later since she still hadn’t finished her sandwich—and soothe her own jumping nerves with a few deep, calming breaths.

By the time Ivy returned to the kitchen, fully dressed again, Cordelia was feeling much more in control of her own emotions. Silently holding her hand out, she linked her fingers with Ivy’s and together they made their way upstairs to Jacob’s room.

The door was closed, but not all the way, and her gentle knock sent it swinging slightly open. “Jacob? Can we come in, honey?”

A long silence was their only response. Sharing a worried look with Ivy, Cordelia pushed the door open further.

And her heart nearly shattered in her chest at the sight that greeted them.

Despite his size, he looked so small, curled up in that tight little ball on top of his comforter, a pillow held against his chest.

“Oh, Jakey.” Dropping Cordelia’s hand, Ivy raced across the room to climb up on the bed beside him. Facing him, but not touching him. “What’s wrong, baby boy? Talk to us.”

“Please go away.”

God. He sounded so young . So vulnerable. And even as it sent her own heart racing, it pulled her across the room to the bed where she climbed up behind him, sandwiching him between herself and Ivy.

Gently, so she wouldn’t startle him, she placed a hand on his shoulder and found it trembling. “Jacob. We need you to talk to us, sweetheart. Tell us what’s got you so upset.”

“C-can’t.”

His voice hitched, and it hit her then that he was holding back tears. Shifting closer, she ran her hand up and down his arm as her mind raced, searching for just the right thing to say.

“Oh, honey.” Ivy cupped his face, her own expression growing more worried by the second. “It’s okay. You can cry if you need to.”

If anything, Jacob seemed to curl even more tightly in on himself. “Can’t. Not allowed.”

It took a moment for his words to register. And when they did, fury flared in Cordelia’s chest, burning bright and hot.

Those fucking assholes .

Shifting her gaze to meet Ivy’s, seeing her own fury reflected there, she gave a subtle shake of her head.

There would be time to help him unlearn all the bullshit he’d been taught growing up, but her own gut instincts told her this wasn’t the time.

And though she frowned, Ivy gave a small, hesitant nod of understanding.

“Can you roll on your tummy for me, baby boy?” Cordelia asked, deliberately keeping her tone soft, as non-threatening as possible.

After a moment of hesitation, he rolled, burying his face in the pillow as he stretched his limbs out between them.

Laying her hand flat on his back, Cordelia rubbed in small, slow circles, the way she always did with Ivy after a spanking or when she just needed a good cry.

Even if he couldn’t or wouldn’t let the tears come, at least she could offer this little bit of comfort.

Ivy joined in, too, running her hands through his hair just like she had during his spanking the day before. “Our sweet boy,” she murmured. “You’re safe now, baby. We’re here and we’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

A fierce sense of possessiveness she’d never felt for anyone but Ivy welled in Cordelia’s chest. They would protect him, because he was theirs .

It was as simple and as complicated as that.

Bit by bit, Jacob relaxed under Cordelia’s hand, until at last he let out a long, sad sigh and turned his head on the pillow, his eyes locking on Ivy’s face. “I’m okay. Sorry for being such a wimp.”

The palm of Cordelia’s hand physically itched to connect with his ass, and judging by the way Ivy’s eyes flashed, she was feeling much the same way. “You never, ever have to apologize to us for having emotions. Do you understand me, Jacob?”

She’d watched Ivy scene with countless others over the years.

Watched her submit, over and over. But she’d never gotten to see the toppy side of her girl until now, and even though this was clearly a serious moment, she had to admit it was really fucking hot watching her get all bossy with their boy.

Pink slashed across Jacob’s cheek. “I don’t understand. I’m not supposed to… men aren’t supposed to be weak.”

Threading her fingers through his hair, Cordelia gently pulled his head back so she could look down into those pale gray eyes, so full of the emotions he was trying so desperately to keep locked inside.

“Men are supposed to be whatever they want to be, baby boy. You aren’t less of a man for feeling sad or upset or whatever it is you’re feeling right now. ”

“What about abandoning my sisters? Does that make me less of a man?”

There it was. The root of his meltdown, though she wasn’t even sure she could call it that when he was clinging so tightly to his emotions.

“You didn’t abandon them,” she reminded him gently. “You left to save them.”

“But I haven’t saved them.” Sorrow wound around his words, filling them with such heaviness they seemed to physically sit in Cordelia’s chest. “They’re still in there, living with him and I’m not doing anything to help. Instead, I’m here with you, and I’m?—”

He cut off, pressing his lips together and Cordelia tightened her grip on his hair until he whimpered softly.

“None of that, boy,” she murmured in a tone so deadly soft it had Ivy’s eyes going wide even though it wasn’t directed at her. “We have a rule. You start a thought, you finish the thought. What were you going to say?”

It took several long moments and another tug of his hair for the words to finally come, his voice trembling with his confession. “I’m here, with you, giving into temptation. Falling into sin. How can I expect God to help me, to help my sisters if I’m flaunting his word with every breath?”

“Oh, baby.” Tears shimmered on Ivy’s lashes as she dipped her head, pressing a soft kiss to his trembling lips. “God won’t abandon you just because you’re letting yourself be loved on.”

“You don’t know that. What if they never get rescued? What if something happens to them and it’s all my fault? Because I couldn’t resist you?”

The thought of never touching him again, tasting him again was like a knife in Cordelia’s chest. “Do you want to resist us?”

Craning his neck, he looked up at her, a million emotions swirling in the stormy gray of his eyes. “No. And I think that might be my worst sin of all. I know it’s wrong, but I don’t want to stop.”

“Baby, baby, baby,” she murmured, lowering her head to capture his lips in a long, slow kiss.

“I know how hard this is for you. Letting go of all those bullshit rules they’ve filled your head with over the years.

I had to do the same thing when I left. So much of what they taught you is either a truth they’ve twisted to support their own quest for power or it’s an outright lie.

And there is one rule they never taught you, one absolute truth it took me years to understand and accept. Do you want to know what it is?”

All those emotions converged into a hope so bright and shining it threatened to blind her. “What?”

Looking over, she met her girl’s eyes, still wet with tears. And she smiled.

“Love is never, ever wrong.”