Chapter 41
41
C ate put down her eReader. She never thought this would happen . . . but she didn’t want to read anymore.
It had been nice and relaxing in her fort, to begin with, but after fifteen minutes, she began to feel lonely and all of her worries started to leak through the calmness she’d achieved with Ethan.
What if the stalker hurt Rhoddy?
What if he came after her and hurt Ethan?
Maybe she should take herself out of the equation and go to the vacation house. She wouldn’t need any protection and Ethan could help protect Rhodes.
She rolled over onto her tummy. Then to her back.
“Baby? You all right in there?”
Was she all right?
Not really. And she knew what would make her feel better. Going back to her routine. Which would likely mean heading to her closet to read or to the office to work.
But she didn’t want to be alone or to work.
There was one other thing . . .
She crawled out of the fort and over to where Ethan sat on the sofa. Which had no cushions on it.
“Is that comfortable?” she asked.
“It’s fine. Baby, why are you crawling? What’s wrong?”
“I just . . . I feel like I’m . . . the thoughts won’t stop.”
He set aside his laptop, looking concerned. “Baby, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you in there alone. I thought you might like some time to relax with your book. Come here.”
Ethan patted his lap.
But she shook her head. His forehead started to wrinkle.
“Baby?”
“I have another idea,” she blurted out. “Could I . . . while you’re working . . . could I, um, suck on you?”
Yikes. It had never been so hard for her to ask someone for something before.
Please don’t say no. Please.
“You want to suck my cock while I do my shopping?”
“Is that okay?” she asked in a rush. “I understand if it’s not. It might be too much of a distraction. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
She turned around, but he picked her up, setting her down on his lap. Lightly grasping hold of her chin, he tilted her head back.
“What have I said about saying sorry when something isn’t your fault?” he said in a low voice.
“But . . . I interrupted.”
“You are never an interruption. And if anyone is at fault, it’s me. I just wanted to make certain that sucking my dick was what you really wanted to do.”
“It . . . it is. I like it. My head feels clearer.”
“All right, baby. Then that’s what we’ll do. You realize I might come, right? I can warn you so you can pull back.”
“But then I wouldn’t get to swallow.”
“Baby, you were fucking born for me, weren’t you?”
“Yes, Daddy. I’m starting to think that I was.”
He undid the zipper on his jeans and drew them down as well as his boxers.
Oh, goody.
Christ.
This was torture.
Sweet, sweet torture. And he couldn’t help but want more. It was hard to concentrate on his laptop as she slurped on his dick like it was candy.
He knew he had to tell Ink to take him off the books. He’d still protect her, but this way, he didn’t have to worry that he was taking advantage of Ink.
And he wouldn’t have to choose between protecting Cate and her brother.
It was going to leave Ink in a bit of a mess though. He wouldn’t have anyone to cover for him.
He entered his credit card details, which he had memorized, and then checked the cameras using his laptop. Everything looked clear. Which is just as well because he was about to come.
Placing his hand on the back of Cate’s head, he lightly guided her. “I’m going to come, baby. Get ready.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment as his balls tightened and he came in her mouth.
Lord. Fuck.
She was getting so good at that.
Catching his breath, he rubbed her cheek lightly. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Murmuring, she licked at his dick, taking more of him into her mouth now that he wasn’t so hard.
And so the torture began all over again.
He was the luckiest fucking bastard he knew.
“Is it bad if I say that I don’t want this time to end?” Cate whispered to Ethan as he carried her into her bedroom that night. She held onto Lady and her pacifier.
Rhodes and Samantha were due back in the morning and their little holiday to themselves was over.
“I know, baby. I feel the same.” Ethan laid her down on the bed.
She stared up at him in confusion. “What are you doing, Daddy?”
“I’m going to get you into your pajamas. Then potty, teeth, and sleep.”
Cate could feel herself blushing. He was going to undress her? Put her on the toilet?
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Such a good girl. And don’t worry about Rhodes and Samantha returning, we’ll find some time for us. I’ve texted Ink to tell him I need to take an unpaid leave of absence.”
Guilt filled her. How long could he afford to go without getting paid? But she knew better than to offer to pay him again.
He returned with her pajamas. “I’m going to strip you now, baby.”
Cate nodded. She was ready for this.
Sort of.
She put her pacifier in her mouth to distract herself as he started with her pants. He left her warm socks on as he drew up her pajama bottoms.
Then he stripped off her sweatshirt, long-sleeved shirt, and singlet. He reached his hands underneath her to undo her bra.
She knew she was bright red, but he didn’t linger. Didn’t stare at her or try to grope her.
That was slightly disappointing.
After he got her into her pajama top, he carried her into the bathroom to get her ready for bed.
When he laid her into bed, he tucked the covers around her and Lady.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, Catie-pie?”
“Where are you going to sleep tonight?” she whispered. Because she wasn’t sure that she could stand for him to be away from her.
She didn’t want to be alone.
Which was strange, when she used to relish being alone. Because being on her own meant no one could hurt her.
Ethan brushed the hair off her face. “I thought I’d sit in the armchair again.”
“But that doesn’t seem very comfy.” Cate cleared her throat. “You could sleep with me. If you want. If you don’t, then that’s okay.”
Wow.
She couldn’t believe that had just come out of her mouth. What was wrong with her?
“Believe me, I want to. There’s nothing I want more. But I’m not planning on sleeping much tonight. If the stalker is going to strike again, it will be at night.”
“So you’re planning on staying up all night?” she asked.
“Most of it anyway.”
“You need your sleep, though. You’re not in your twenties anymore. Pulling an all-nighter isn’t something you can do without consequences.”
“Um. Thanks for the insight, baby. But I’ll be fine. I’ll nap and keep an eye on security. I don’t want to keep you awake though. So perhaps I should stay out in the living room.”
“No!” She reached for him and he sat on the mattress, facing her.
Wrapping her arms around him, she held on tight. “Please don’t leave me, Daddy. I don’t want to be all alone! I’m scared.”
“Hey, listen to me,” he said firmly. “I’m not going to let this asshole get to you or hurt you.”
She shook with fear. “What about ghosts?”
There was a moment of silence. “Ghosts?”
“Uh-huh. Who will stop the ghosts from getting to me?”
“You believe in ghosts?” he asked skeptically.
Well, no, of course she didn’t. Or Big Cate didn’t. But Little Catie-pie?
Yeah, ghosts were really, really scary. And if that meant that Daddy had to stay with her all night . . . well, she thought she might just believe in ghosts.
“Uh-huh. And then there’s the Oogie-Boogie man.”
“There’s an Oogie-Boogie man?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you mean the Boogeyman?” he asked.
“No!” she wailed. “That’s a completely different scary monster!”
“Oh, right. My apologies. I didn’t mean to get them confused.”
“Daddy, I thought you’d be up-to-date with your scary monsters.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re a Daddy. Don’t all Daddies go through ‘getting rid of scary monsters’ courses before they’re officially allowed to call themselves a Daddy?”
“Of course we do. But the, uh, instructor on our course said that the Boogeyman and Oogie-Boogie man were the same person.”
“They aren’t,” she told him solemnly. “And what about your normal types of scary monsters?”
“There are normal types?” he asked.
“Honestly, Daddy, I don’t think your instructor was very good.”
“I’m beginning to see that. What do you think normal monsters are?”
“Your standard ones . . . like wizards, witches, vampires, demons.”
“Ahh, right. Of course. Your standard monsters. How could I have forgotten?”
“Your instructor was definitely not very knowledgeable.” There was still a part of her, deep inside, that was amazed at what she was saying.
Monsters? Ghosts? Vampires?
All silly nonsense.
That her Little was using to keep Daddy with her.
“Of course I’ll stay here and fight off the monsters, baby. I’ll protect you.”
“Thank you, Daddy. You are the bestest. Will you lie in bed with me? You know, because that would be the best way to protect me.”
“Nice try, baby girl. But Daddy is going to sit in the chair. I can’t afford to fall into a deep sleep.”
She pouted and he tapped her lower lip. “Put that away before it gets you into trouble.”
Well, all right.
But maybe trouble was what she wanted.
Seriously. Who was she now? She wasn’t sure . . . but she thought she might like this person.
A lot.