Chapter 28
28
W hen I rouse from my nap, it takes me a second to get my bearings, wondering if I’ve slept into the night by how dark the room is. The headache from lack of sleep that was brewing before Wesley compelled me to rest is gone, and something warm and solid is pressed against my back.
“Mmm, you’re awake,” Wesley purrs. The minotaur lying behind me strokes his fingers idly along my thighs. He plays with the hem of my dress, dipping his fingertips underneath but not straying any higher. “How do you feel?”
There’s a part of me that wants to make a snarky complaint about my forced nap, but I feel too good. He must’ve been touching me for a while before I woke, because when I shift, I notice how wet I am. A fantasy of him sneaking into bed with me, and using my body while I sleep floods my mind. Why is that so hot? I flush, wondering if he can read my dirty thoughts and if he’d be interested in that kind of play. Being with Wes has awoken a number of strange and exhilarating needs that I didn’t even know I had.
My skin prickles as he moves his hand up to caress my stomach. His lazy touch isn’t inherently sexual, but it makes me want him all the same.
“G-good,” I say, the word a breathy sigh as he skims his hand just underneath my breasts. I attempt to push away my horny thoughts as the sleep fog fades, but in their wake comes harsh reality.
My stomach sinks. I took a nap when I should’ve been catching up on work, and now I have to pay the price. “What time is it?”
“A little after 7. I checked on you a few times, but you were out cold.”
Anxiety surges through me, and I push myself up and out of his hold. “What?! You let me sleep for three hours?” I shouldn’t have let him talk me into this. It felt so nice to let him take charge, but that was obviously a mistake. “Next time, wake me up! Shit, I need to go home.”
Wesley sits up next to me and rests his hand on the back of my neck. “Breathe, baby girl. You needed the rest. Let’s have some dinner and discuss a plan of action for the week.” He massages my neck, and the even, deep rumble of his voice helps diminish some of my panic. “I promise you didn’t make things worse by getting much needed sleep. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
I turn myself around to face him with a slight frown. “A plan of action?”
“Yeah. I do a lot of project management in my job. So consider me not only your stunningly handsome and amazing sex god boyfriend, but your new business consultant. Don’t worry. My services will be completely free of charge. Unles s you want to add in some roleplay where you get on your knees in exchange for?—”
I shove against his chest with a scoff, and he laughs, grabbing my hand and bringing it up to his snout for a kiss.
“Here’s the deal. I know I can be domineering—it’s part of my nature and general personality. But I’m not arrogant enough to think that I’m always right or I can jump in and be the hero.”
“You’re not?”
He nips at my finger with his blunt teeth, and I giggle in surprise. “Nope. Let me finish, I’m trying to be serious.”
“Wow, there’s a first time for everything,” I say, unable to keep my snark at bay.
“Careful, baby girl. What did I tell you about being a brat?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” I take a deep breath and sober my expression. “No more jokes. I’m listening.”
Wesley narrows his eyes at me like he doesn’t quite believe me, but continues. “I have ideas for how I can help you balance your business and personal life, but say the word at any time and I’ll back off. You don’t want me involved with your work, I won’t be. You don’t want me to set boundaries to help you rest, I won’t. You’re in charge, Ari. Yeah, I’ll be really fucking happy if you give me the chance to try to help make your life easier. But I’ll also be happy just being by your side at all.”
His tone is so earnest and loving that I can’t resist wrapping my arms around him and pulling him into a hug. His apple spice scent envelops me as he holds me against his chest and lets out a soft sigh.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “I want you to help. I just don’t want to be a burden.”
Wesley huffs, ruffling my hair, and holds me tighter. “You will never be a burden. I’ve waited my whole life to have someone to spoil and take care o f.”
I pull back a bit to search his face. “You sound like you want a trophy wife or a pet. You know that’s not me, right?”
“Oh, I know.” Wes chuckles and squeezes my arm. “That’s why this thing between us works—we both know that you don’t need saving. I may pretend to be your daddy, but you’re enough on your own to do anything you set your mind to. You’re brilliant , Ari. So when I say I want to spoil you, it’s because I want to help you shine even brighter.”
Tears well in my eyes at my magnificent minotaur’s unwavering confidence in me. I swallow down the lump of emotion in my throat, and grin at him even as a tear slides down my cheek. “The fact that helping me makes your dick hard doesn’t factor in at all?”
Wesley reaches up and swipes the tear away, and heat pools in my belly as a wicked smile stretches across his lips. “I never said that.”
My eyes fall to his lap where his cock strains against his jeans. I lick my lips. “Want me to help you out with that?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Not yet. Get me even more worked up by letting me run some ideas by you during dinner.”
Turns out, Wesley’s help is less brainstorming and more concrete steps he’s taken to help me. I bristle when he tells me that he asked his friends about finding me an assistant, but when he explains that Tomas’ mate is interested, I can’t stay too mad at him. Yes, he should’ve asked first—I tell him he’s not allowed to do that again. But having an assistant who we already know is trustworthy and nice would be an incredible help, and it’s exhilarating to have a problem that I’ve avoided for months potentially resolved. The perpetual knot of stress in my stomach eases at the prospect of finally having help.
While I’m embarrassed at first to divulge all of the things that I’m falling behind on or unable to tackle, along with my neverending to-do list, it also feels like a weight is lifted off my chest just by letting someone else know what’s going on. I’ve tried to hide how much I’m struggling, but I guess I wasn’t doing a great job because Wesley doesn’t balk at anything I mention.
Talking business with Wes is surprisingly easy. I knew he was smart, but he has a lot more business acumen than I realized. I wrongly assumed his success was due more to his charisma and good looks than practical skills. But my minotaur isn’t just a beefcake bro, he’s a wealth of knowledge. By the time we’re done with dinner, I have action plans for a few of my biggest pain points, broken into steps that are manageable for even my overloaded schedule.
For the first time since starting my shop, I accept that I can’t be perfect at every aspect of my business. I’m creative and intelligent, but I’m mediocre at best when it comes to strategic planning and time management. Not to mention that I’m complete shit at separating work from my personal life. It’ll take a while for me to not feel like any shortcomings are a reflection of my worth, but at least I see that I’m hurting myself and my business by stubbornly clinging to the idea that I can do it all without help.
Wesley pulls me into a hug after we finish clearing the dishes, and I sink into his embrace, tucking my chin against his chest. “I’m so proud of you, baby girl,” he murmurs against my hair.
I feel lighter than I can ever remember. Hopeful and excited about my business in a way I haven’t been since I first started it. All thanks to him. Happy, relieved tears well in my eyes. “Thank you. I love you so much. I… I don’t know if I’ve said it yet, but I’m here for you for whatever you need, too. I know you have your shit together, and I’m a mess, but I take care of the people I love.”
“I know, angel. I saw everything you did for your brother, and I have no doubt that when I need your support, you’ll be there for me.” Wesley rubs his snout against my hair, letting out a contented sigh. After a few more seconds he releases the hug, and levels his steady, slightly stern gaze on me. “You’re not a mess. You’re in a huge transition in your life. Don’t compare yourself to me. In case you forgot, I’m almost ten years older than you. I’ve had a lot more time than you to find my footing.”
Warmth suffuses me at his reassurance, but I can’t help teasing him. “True, you are pretty damn old…”
“That’s it. Time for daddy to teach you some manners after how bratty you’ve been today. ”
I squeal as he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder. “Wait!” I flail against his hold feebly, but he laughs and grips me tighter. God, I’ll never get over how strong he is. There’s no escaping Wesley as he strides to the bedroom and deposits me on the edge of the bed.
The dark intensity in his gaze has my pulse racing. “Daddy, I was good! I took a nap and talked through stuff for my business.”
“True, but you’ve also been a snarky little brat all day. You don’t think I should let you get away with such rude behavior, do you?”
I reach forward and grab his thighs, attempting to beseech him for lenience. He’s hard, the girth of his cock looking even more erotic framed by my small hands. “I was just teasing, daddy. I can make it up to you.” I slide one of my hands in to palm his length, fluttering my eyelashes as I gaze up at him.
His stern expression shows no sign of my touch or begging affecting him, but his cock jerks in my hold. “I don’t want to encourage bad behavior, sweetheart. Now, because you were good, I’ll only give you ten.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he cuts me off with a shake of his head. “If you argue, I’ll give you twenty.”
Though I’m nervous about his discipline, I’m secretly thrilled at the thought of Wes spanking me again. I never knew I was into any kind of pain, but last time it made me needy and desperate to come. I’m sure Wesley knows that—he’s only doing this because we’ll both enjoy it, not as an actual punishment. At least that’s what I assumed until he continues.
“I’ll give you twenty, and when I’m done you’ll have to suck daddy’s cock and drink down his cum, but you won’t be allowed to touch yourself or come.”
“What? Daddy, that’s not fair!”
Wesley gives me a cruel smile that makes me shiver, then sits beside me on the bed.. “Last warning. You’re going to lie across daddy’s lap and take your punishment without argument. If you don’t, you know the consequences.”
Part of me that wants to push him and take this game between us somewhere unexplored, reveling in the thought of him using me and leaving me wanting. But at my core, pleasing him is a much stronger urge. I want to be my daddy’s good girl.
“Yes, daddy,” I say softly, then maneuver myself so that I’m lying over his legs. Wes grunts as I wriggle my way into position, my hips raised up slightly by the bulk of his body. Heat suffuses me at the press of his stiff cock against my low belly.
“That’s better.” Wesley tugs the hem of my dress up to expose my panties. He rubs a hand in large circles around each globe of my ass, his fingertips dipping in ever so briefly to stroke the gusset of my panties. I do my best not to squirm or spread my legs, knowing that he might take that as me misbehaving.
When his fingers hook under the el astic of my panties and he tugs them down to my thighs, my stomach clenches in anticipation. He removes his touch and I wait for what feels like ages, cheeks burning at the thought of him staring down at my huge, cellulite dimpled ass. I know Wesley likes my body, but he’s never spent so much time examining it.
“D-daddy,” I whimper, when I can’t stand the wait any longer.
“So fucking beautiful,” Wesley groans, finally returning his hand to my ass, giving it an appreciative squeeze. “Are you ready, baby girl?”
I nod into the blanket my cheek is resting on. “Yes, daddy.”
He lets out a rumble of approval. “Count for me.”