Page 128 of Monster Daddies

I really needed to find my phone even if it was simply to see what time it was.

“I don’t know my way around and I’m pretty sure I passed a couple of alligators on the side of the roads.” Alligators. “I’m not sure that’s safe. What if I get a flat tire?”

I’d get eaten.

Malik’s chest jerked again, but he was really good at holding back laughter. “Well, we can’t put you in danger. Especially since you make questionable decisions and would probably try to get to know the gator.”

I should be able to tell him no, but we both knew that wouldn’t be completely believable.

“What if it’s a shifter and I didn’t try to talk to it? They’d think I was rude.” I’d run into weirder people in my travels, so it wasn’t completely unreasonable.

“And being rude still might get you in trouble.” Malik sighed but there was still a hint of humor in his voice. “So the safest option is for you to stay in my guest room.”

There were some mixed signals in that offer, but it was easy to see him wanting to be careful with me.

“I think that’s a good plan.” For a variety of reasons. “Can I leave my car out there?”

I really didn’t want to have it stolen or make someone think a tourist was out in the state park overnight.

“No.” Malik shook his head. “We’ll bring it around through the back way and around to the house. The roads don’t show up on GPS and they’re kind of confusing, which is why I didn’t have you come that way to begin with.”

Good because I wasn’t sure my sense of direction could’ve handled that.

Before I could ask about maps and directions and to see more of his house… because he was right, he didn’t have any green… a timer in the kitchen went off.

Dinner.

“Starving already, huh?” Malik made another dramatic sound when I nodded. “Chips and sparkly juice. I remember.”

He’d never forget was what he seemed to mean.

“Because you’re a good Daddy.” And I was going to need to be a cute sub who had good distractions. “You even made me dinner.”

He finally chuckled as he lifted me off his lap and set me on the floor. “I had to make sure I had a good enough bribe to get you to stay if you were too embarrassed or worried after our park trip.”

Good plan.

It seemed like I’d finally found a smart Daddy with a pretty aura.

Yep, I needed to start paying more attention and figure out if I was playing Capture the Flag or not.

Chapter Six

Malik

“For the sake of all things holy.” I couldn’t help the dramatic groan that accompanied my low curse as Alton snickered. “You’re not going to think this is funny in about five seconds.”

“Malik! Is that you, sweetheart?” The loud singsong voice had an over-the-top innocent sound that made me groan again. “What are you doing out here so late?”

Late?

It was seven in the evening and the sun hadn’t even gone down completely.

“Who is that?” Alton hadn’t gotten his giggles under control but he whispered as we walked along the trail pretending not to hear the insistent voice calling through the woods.

“My mother.”

And that stopped the giggles.