Chapter 54
R ock stood in the entrance to the playroom.
His girl was upset and he didn’t like it. He’d do anything to protect her.
Anything.
And not just from physical pain. But emotional pain as well. If he could be in two places at once, he’d have been with Quaid, hunting down this asshole.
But he needed to be with his girl more.
Although he wasn’t quite sure why she was so upset. This was good news.
That fuckwit, Billy, was dead. Quaid messaged Slade to let them know.
He’d also said that he wasn’t returning home straight away. After Indie heard that she’d grown quiet. And now she’d retreated into the playroom alone.
She had trouble slipping into Little headspace. She needed Spencer or Slade to help her.
Or you.
Rock knew he needed to step up in their relationship. He just felt like he wasn’t on an even footing .
His job was to protect her.
To protect all of them. He was the foot soldier in this relationship and he didn’t care as long as he was in it.
Too often he’d felt like the outsider looking in, until these guys had taken him in. Made him part of their group.
Now, he owed them forever.
But he owed her more.
What was she doing? She was sitting at the table with Gary on a chair next to her.
Gary. What kind of name was that for a gargoyle? He needed some strong name like Granite or Goliath or Griffin.
Not freaking Gary.
He watched her make a movement with her fingers. Was that sign language?
“I’m not getting this, Gary. I’m just not smart enough!”
What. The. Fuck.
He knew she had hang-ups from her time with Billy. That fucker had demolished her self-esteem and confidence. They were working to build it back up. Slowly and surely.
But she had to know how fucking smart she was. She’d gone to university and graduated in the top five percent of her class.
She was fucking amazing.
Also, she was trying to learn sign language. For him.
“Indie,” he growled.
She jumped, turning to face him. There was a decidedly guilty look on her face as she glanced up at him.
“Um. Hi. Ah, how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Stupid?”
Frustration filled her face. “I just can’t get this right. I’m just . . . I don’t know. I can’t shut everything else out to learn this. It shouldn’t be this hard.”
Stepping into the playroom, he closed the door behind him and crooked a finger at her .
She stood and walked over. He drew her close and hugged her. Maybe he should have been scolding her. Or trying to tell her that everything would be fine.
But he thought what she needed was a hug.
For a moment she was stiff and he thought he’d gotten it wrong. But then she melted into him, sobbing her heart out.
His own heart started to splinter.
His girl should never feel this upset. Should never feel this sort of pain.
After a while he grew alarmed that she wouldn’t stop. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her to the rocking chair and sat with her in his lap.
It felt so right having her here.
He still owed her for the way he’d turned his back on her. He never should’ve believed that she could betray them. If only he’d listened to his heart and taken her side, she never would have been hurt.
He’d regret that forever. But she was here now and he had to show her that he could take care of her too.
Deciding she might feel more secure wrapped up, he stood and laid her on the bed.
“Rock!” she cried.
“Da,” he told her firmly.
She swiped at her tears and nodded, watching curiously as he spread a thin blanket out on the bed.
“I feel like I’m falling apart and I don’t know why. I didn’t love him. He was evil. I don’t care that he’s dead. I just thought that after he was dealt with that Quaid might . . . might . . .”
Rock got it. “He’ll come.”
“That’s what the others say too.”
But she was losing hope.
“It’s not like you guys aren’t enough. You are. I love you all. I want to always be with you. So it shouldn’t matter.”
Reaching over, he put his finger on her lips. “Shh. Does. ”
Relief filled her face. She shouldn’t be trying to make them feel better. It should be the other way around.
He picked her up and laid her on the blanket, wrapping it around her. He didn’t do it too tightly, not wanting her to feel trapped.
Grabbing a couple of tissues, he wiped her eyes and held it to her nose. “Blow.”
She wrinkled her nose but did as she was ordered.
“Good.”
Picking her up, he sat back in the rocking chair and held her cradled against him. And he started to rock her back and forth. Reaching for his phone in his pocket, he drew it out, typing a message that he showed her.
Quaid will come back to you. Just wait. Right now, though, I want to make sure you are taken care of.
“You always take care of me. Sometimes I worry you do too much.”
He frowned and typed again. No such thing.
She sighed, turning her face into his chest. “I’ve got a headache, Da.”
Damn, he liked hearing her call him that. He sent a text to the guys.
“Just wanna forget everything.”
“Forget.” He rubbed her forehead with his fingers. She sighed with pleasure.
Damn, her jaw was clenched tight. He should have left one hand free so she could suck on her thumb. That might have helped.
Standing, he carried her over and laid her on the bed. Then he searched through the drawers until he found a pacifier.
Indie’s eyes were closed as he picked her back up and then turned off the lights before sitting again with her on his lap.
When Slade had bad headaches he liked the dark and quiet.
He rocked her while pressing the pacifier to her lips. “Open.”
“Don’t wanna. Just sleep.”
“Soon. Open. ”
She opened her mouth and took the pacifier with a frown. That frown started to ease the longer she sucked.
Good.
He glanced up as Spencer entered the room, carrying some painkillers and a bottle of water.
Rock nodded to him as he set them down next to him.
“She okay?” Spencer asked.
Indie opened her eyes, staring up at him. The pacifier dropped out. “Dada?”
“You okay, Princess? Need anything else? Are your legs okay?” Spencer asked.
“Legs fine. Don’t hurt anymore. I’m okay. Da is taking care of me.”
Damn.
The amount of pride he felt was off the charts. Spencer nodded and walked out. For once not bouncing everywhere he went. That man had more energy than a toddler hyped up on sugar.
Rock grabbed the pills and helped her take them, holding the bottle of water to her mouth.
“All,” he ordered. She drank it all and he rocked her until she fell asleep.
Thank God the burns on her legs were healing nicely and not hurting her anymore.
Finally, he stood and carried her to the bed. He was reluctant to let her go, so he laid beside her, holding her tight.
Indie woke up with just one thing on her mind. “Pee! Da!”
Rock sat up immediately and pulled the blanket away from her. Then, picking her up, he ran with her to the bathroom.
All that bouncing really didn’t help.
He set her down and helped her pull off her pants and panties. There was no time for embarrassment or telling him to get out. She was just grateful to make it .
“Jeez that was close,” she said, shaking her head as she cleaned herself up. How long had she been asleep for?
He helped her get herself in order and she hugged him tight. “Thanks for the help, Da.”
He patted her back.
Drawing back, she smiled up at him. “How would you feel about playing dress-up?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, unless you don’t have time.”
“Always time for you.”
Oh man.
She really thought he meant that.
This wasn’t exactly what Rock thought he’d be doing today. His girl prodded him in his thigh, very close to where his dick was and he jumped.
“Da! You got to stay still.” She frowned up at him. “How am I supposed to get this outfit perfect if you keep moving around?”
He wasn’t sure why he’d thought that only she would be getting dressed up.
No, it turns out that he was her guinea pig. Or her mannequin, he guessed.
She had quickly pulled an outfit together from the huge box of dress-up items that Spencer had bought for her.
She wore a pink tutu skirt with a white feather boa and a sparkly red waistcoat. On her head was a big floppy hat.
Again, she poked him, only this time she got him right in the dick. He let out a grunt of pain.
“Oops. What did I do? I’m sorry!” she cried, looking upset.
“Nothing.”
“It was too something.” The worry fled her face as she glared up at him, her hands on her hips as she tapped her foot. “Don’t lie, Da. It’s not nice and you might get punished. ”
He raised his eyebrow. That wasn’t the way things worked in this relationship.
“What did I do? Please don’t keep things from me just to try and spare my feelings. If I don’t know what I did, how will I make things better?”
“Hit my dick,” he said.
She put her hand over her mouth. “Oh no, Da! I’m so sorry! I would never hurt your wee willy.”
He snorted. Wee willy? That wasn’t something anyone had ever said about his cock.
“Who has a wee willy?” Spencer said, gliding into the room.
He glided because he was on his hoverboard.
“Da does,” she said as she glanced around. What was she looking for?
“He does?” Spencer asked, smirking as he rocked back and forth on the hoverboard. “First time I’ve heard it called a wee willy.”
Rock scowled at him. Asshole was going to take great delight in this, wasn’t he?
Spencer just smiled innocently.
Great.
“Poor Da’s wee willy,” she said as she finally walked over to a chair and picked it up, carrying it toward him.
“Stop!” Rock barked. Well he tried to. He started coughing, his throat protesting. Spencer jumped off his hoverboard, moving quickly over to her.
“What are you doing?” Spencer asked, taking the chair from her and setting it down.
“Hey, Dada! That’s my chair. You shouldn’t snatch.”
“And you’re pregnant with broken ribs so you shouldn’t be carrying it around,” Spencer countered.
Rock grunted in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. Part of his outfit fell off.
“No moving!” She pointed at him.
Shoot. The piece that had fallen off was a piece of sheer pink organza. It slipped onto the floor. As he glanced down. The bright yellow shawl that was wrapped around his waist and tucked into the back of his pants nearly fell off too.
“Sorry,” he said.
“I was getting the chair so I could stand on it to get up high. Da is so tall and I can’t get the outfit right if I can’t reach his shoulders.”
Rock glared at her. “No.”
“That is not happening,” Spencer told her.
“But I can’t reach!”
“Then Da will have to kneel or you will have to skip his shoulders,” Spencer said. “I mean, he looks delightful as he is.”
Rock glowered as Spencer drew out his phone and took a photo.
“Give me that!” he said, lumbering after him.
“Nope. It’s already loaded to the cloud!” Spencer crowed.
Rock growled.
“Dada, don’t be mean to Da or he might spank you,” Indie said, waving a finger at Spencer. “And, Da, you keep moving and my outfit is ruined.”
He sent her a look of apology as he got into place. This time, he kneeled so she could put some material around his shoulders and clip it into place.
“Do you need any help?” Spencer asked. “I could do his face for you.”
“Hmm,” she said. “I hadn’t thought of doing his face.”
Rock shook his head. Not happening.
“Da, don’t be a party pooper. You need to be all pretty for your presentation.”
“Presentation?” Spencer asked.
“I present to you Lord Gary of Garyson Village.”
“Oh, I am impressed,” Spencer said. “And is he being presented to his Lordship today?”
“Yes, he is,” Indie replied. “It’s a very important ceremony. He has to meet Princess Indie.”
“Ahh, yes, that is important. May I help?” Spencer asked .
Rock sent Spencer a look. He did not need to help for fuck’s sake.
“Yes, you may serve as the royal servant.”
Spencer bowed. “I’m at your service.”
Great. Just fucking great.
Twenty minutes later, Indie stepped away from him and stretched out her back.
Rock immediately glanced over at Spencer, silently ordering him to help her.
“Hey, Princess. Are you all right? Does your back hurt?” Spencer asked, leading her to the bed so she could sit.
“Ahh, yeah. Sorry.”
“No apologies,” Rock said.
“The big guy is right,” Spencer told her as Rock attempted to walk over to her. “No apologies out of you. I think you’ve done too much today.”
She pouted. “But Da still needs some work.”
“I don’t know,” Spencer said with a smirk. “I think he looks beautiful.”
Beautiful?
What the hell? After checking Indie again, but she seemed to be better now that she was sitting down, he stormed to the mirror in the attached wardrobe.
Oh God.
He looked awful. Red lipstick was on his lips, his cheeks, and his eyelids.
There were clumps of mascara on his eyelashes and under his eyes.
His nose had a brown dot on the end and his outfit .
. . there was so much colorful material wrapped around him, he looked like a tye-dye experiment gone wrong.
“What do you think, Da?” Indie asked.
He turned to find her and Spencer studying him. Spencer took another photo.
He was going to rip that phone off him.
The wanker.
“Beautiful,” he said through gritted teeth .
But it was worth all that pain as Indie started to giggle. She giggled so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.
“What?” he asked, walking over to her. He picked her up and held her against his chest.
“You! You look so good, Da! So, so pretty!” She continued to laugh.
“What’s going on here?” Slade asked, walking in. His eyebrows rose as he took Rock in. “You look . . .”
“Beautiful,” Spencer supplied. “He looks sooooo pretty.”
Indie started giggling again.
Rock pretended to be annoyed. But he’d do far worse than let her dress him up and put makeup on him to hear her laugh like that.