Chapter 38
38
Rule Seven: No orgasms without permission
How was it possible to feel exhausted and energized at the same time?
Confessing everything about her business and the debts she owed made her feel lighter. As though she’d been freed from a heavy weight.
But she also felt completely done in.
A yawn escaped her as they made their way down to the parking garage for his apartment building.
Reuben shot her a look. “You’re tired.”
“I’m good.” She smiled at him.
“What is rule two?”
Urgh. Why did she have the most trouble with this rule? He’d texted her rule seven this morning.
She flushed as she thought about it.
Rule Seven: No orgasms without permission.
Yikes
“Honesty,” she muttered. She kind of liked being nonverbal. Unfortunately, they were about to go out in public, so that wouldn’t work.
Unless she pretended to be mute.
Ugh.
“I’m a little bit tired, but I’ll be all right.”
He eyed her suspiciously before drawing her into his chest and holding her tight. “We’ll only go out for a short time, then you can have a nap.”
“I’m really fine.”
“Who is in charge?”
A sigh escaped her before she could stop it. “You are, Daddy.”
He patted her bottom as the elevator doors opened. “That’s right.”
Taking hold of her hand, he led her over to his car and opened the passenger door. She climbed in and buckled up her seatbelt.
He stared down at her for a long moment. “Faith.”
“Yes?” She stared up at him, wondering why he was calling her by her first name.
“I don’t like this show of independence.”
What was he talking about?
“I only buckled my seatbelt.”
“Exactly.”
Holy. Moly.
He was delusional. And she wanted him more with every breath that she took.
Reuben got in the car and started it. They pulled out into a busy Manhattan street.
“I’m glad I don’t have to drive in the city. Back home, we only have one set of lights. And that’s because old man Ramsey complained so much about not having time to cross the road that the town council felt obliged to put them in. Unfortunately, he died about a week later and everyone is left with the lights.”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about driving in the city because if you want to go anywhere, Steven or I will take you.”
“While you were away, that worked. But don’t you need Steven to drive you?”
“Rule four.”
Rule four was safety.
“Public transportation isn’t unsafe,” she protested.
“I could find you a number of police incident reports that say otherwise.”
“Daddy.” She gave him a firm look.
“Little Blossom.” He gave her a firm look back.
She sighed. “I’m not going to win this one, am I?”
“I hate to tell you, baby. But you’re not going to ever win any of them.”
Well, not if she had her way.
She was determined that she was going to win some arguments with him. At least she’d gotten him to promise not to pay off her debts.
Take the win.
He pulled into an underground parking lot.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“We’re going to do some shopping for your playroom.”
She bit her lip. They were going to a toy store? Would people think it weird that they didn’t have kids with them?
You could be shopping for kids. No one knows the truth.
True.
Reuben opened her door, making her startle. She hadn’t even noticed him getting out of the car.
“Baby, you okay?”
“Yep.” She reached for her belt buckle and he brushed her hands away.
“Obviously, you’re not since you’ve forgotten that you’re not to touch your seatbelt.”
She poked her tongue out at him as he bent his head down.
“Put that tongue away.”
“Daddy! Do you have eyes in the back of your head?”
“Yes.” He undid her belt and helped her out. “I also know that you’re feeling nervous. But you don’t have to be. Glaze recommended this place. It’s for Littles.”
“Really?” She turned to look up at him.
“Yep. So you don’t have to worry. You can let Little Blossom run rampant. I’ve heard they even have a punishment room for private spankings. Although if you misbehave in public, you should really be punished in public.”
“You wouldn’t.” She gave him a look of horror.
He just raised his eyebrows. He totally would.
“You are so mean, Daddy!” She put her hands on her hips as she glared up at him.
“Poor Little Blossom. I know it must be hard to have such a strict, protective Daddy.”
“Uh-huh. It really is.”
“Just as well he’s also good with his tongue, huh?” he murmured. “Benefits.”
Oh yeah. There were definitely benefits.