Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
“ A m I going to have to testify in court?” Pippa asked a few days later when the news stations still featured details about the crimes.
“Probably not. You got away. The others that didn’t will be much stronger witnesses to the atrocities that the Scroggins family executed. If so, I’ll be there to support you,” Zale promised.
“I know. You’re always there for me.”
Detectives Wilcox and Moore had stopped by earlier to give them an update on what was happening. The Feds had taken over the case so the amount of information they knew was limited, but they’d wanted to let Pippa know that both father and son would go away for a long time and the judge hadn’t approved bail fearing they were a flight risk.
Pippa cuddled on her daddy’s chest as they watched the evening news. Each day, the bruises faded a bit more, and Pippa had more strength. She planned to go in to work in the office tomorrow. Random moments of panic flooded through her like she was still in danger, but those were infrequent now and less severe. Seeing the coverage of the men appearing in court and being led to jail helped.
Zale had walked her down to talk to the neighbor who’d called the police. The sweet lady who navigated with the help of a walker had tried to apologize for not coming out to help. Both she and Zale had assured her they were glad she’d called in the experts.
“What would you like to do this weekend, kitten?”
“Could we have another barbecue? I’d like to thank the team for helping us,” Pippa asked.
“Of course we can. My team would never have not come to our aid. Just as we will always be there for them,” Zale told her.
“I know. You all are bonded. I wish the other guys would find their Littles. I love getting together with Aspen. She’s my best friend now.”
“I’m glad. Aspen’s pretty awesome. Finding a Little is tough. You all like to hide,” Zale teased.
“We do. I’m going to send all sorts of good vibes out into the world for everyone to find their Littles.”
“I think that’s the nicest way you could thank them.” Zale pulled her in for a kiss. “I’m very glad I found you, but I’m going to wrap you in bubble wrap to keep you from getting hurt again.”
“My bruises are all fading. They’re turning green around the edges.” She drew a caressing hand down his chest. “Want to check them out?”
“Yes. I think a nice hot bath with some Epsom salts would do you a world of good,” Zale said.
“Um. That’s not what I meant, Daddy.”
“Come on, kitten. Let’s soak the soreness out of those bruises.” He looped an arm under her knees as he stood and carried Pippa from the room.
She couldn’t believe he wasn’t picking up on her clues. Her daddy had treated her like she was wrapped in cotton since she’d been released from the hospital. She was ready for him to make love to her.
He set her feet down on the bathroom tile and made sure she was steady. “Let me get the water on,” he instructed.
A moment later, liquid gushed into the tub. He poured in a healthy amount of Epsom salts before grabbing something from the vanity. She smiled as he returned with a large hair clip he’d purchased to tether her hair on top of her head. He took such good care of her.
By the time he’d stripped off her clothes and secured her hair, the tub was halfway full. “In you go, kitten.” He lifted her into the tub and helped her settle down on her bottom.
“Um, Daddy. I could use some more water,” she told him.
Zale reached over his shoulders to pull his T-shirt off. “Let me give you a science lesson. Mass displaces water.”
“What?” Pippa watched him unfasten his pants as he stepped out his shoes. Distracted as more skin appeared, she forgot completely about his ‘science’ lesson.
“Put a finger on the tub where the water is now.” Zale pushed his pants over his hips and down to the floor.
When he stepped away from the pile of clothes to approach the side of the tub, she squeaked, “You’re going to take a bath with me?”
“We haven’t tried to squeeze into this big tub together. Do you think there’s room, kitten?”
“Yes! Where do you want to sit?”
“How about if you scoot up a bit and I’ll settle right behind you?”
Immediately, she moved toward the faucet, leaving a big space behind her. “Come on, Daddy.”
“Remember, mark on the tub where the water is,” he reminded her. “Let’s see how big your daddy is.” He stepped in and agilely sat down behind her.
“Whoa, Daddy. You almost flooded the tub.”
“See, it’s the perfect level now for us. Come here, Pippa. I need to hold you.” Zale drew her back toward him. Holding her close, he leaned against the side of the tub and kissed her forehead. “I love you, little girl.”
“Even if I’m all gross and covered in bruises?”
“Always. I would do anything to erase not only the marks on your body, but the memories I know linger in your mind.”
She squirmed in front of him and grabbed his arms as she slipped. His powerful hands steadied her as she turned to stretch out on his torso, facing him.
“Whoa, little girl. Or should I start calling you mermaid?” he asked.
“No, Daddy. I like kitten.”
“I do, too.”
“I don’t want you to be sad. I survived and I’m here with you. They’re both going to jail for a long time.”
“You’re right, Pippa. There’s too much evidence against them to skate out of this,” Zale agreed. “Stop wiggling, little girl. You’re going to bang into the tub and add more bruises.”
“What if I want a different kind of bang?” she sassed.
“You do, huh? Do you think you’re ready for that? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I know. But I’m better now. Really!” she assured him when he hesitated.
“Ten minutes of soaking in the tub, little girl. But you need to actually be in the water. Hold on to my shoulders. Let’s see if I can turn us without drowning us both.”
Girlish giggles and a few masculine curse words later, Pippa was extremely pleased with the position they now occupied. She tightened her legs around her daddy’s waist. The effect of their play was stiffly obvious against her pussy. Bouncing herself a bit up and down on him, she moaned as his hard shaft brushed across extremely sensitive spots.
“That feels good, kitten. But soak. Then play.”
“Promise?”
“Every inch of me promises,” he told her with a wink. “Now to distract both of us, tell me something I would never guess about you.”
“I’m grumpy in the morning.”
“That I already know. Something I don’t.”
“And you’ll tell me, too?” she double-checked.
“Definitely.”
Taking a deep breath, she got distracted by the slide of her body against his. A sharp swat on her bottom that had miraculously avoided bruising during the attack brought her attention back to him. “Mean. Okay. I wanted to be a librarian when I was a teenager. I didn’t know that I needed an advanced college degree to be one. I didn’t have the money to do that when I got out of high school.”
“A librarian, hmmm. You know, you’re not too old to go back to school. You could work on achieving that goal if that’s still a dream of yours.”
She tilted her head as she considered his suggestion. “I’ll keep that in mind. Right now, I’m happy in the daycare. Those kiddos need me, and I enjoy being there.”
“You let me know if that changes.”
“Okay. Now it’s your turn. What’s something I don’t know about you?”
“I got stuffed in a locker twice on my first day of junior high.”
“No way!”
“I didn’t have many muscles back then. The football coach let me out the second time. He took me to practice. Turns out I had pretty good hands.”
“Yes, you do,” she said with a knowing grin. “They do like to spank my bottom too much.”
“Of course they do.”
“Have we soaked in here long enough?” she asked before pressing kisses to his chest.
Her squeal echoed through the bathroom as he sat up, splashing water over the side of the tub. Zale carefully helped her climb out of the tub and he followed her to wrap her in a thick, thirsty towel. Drying himself quickly, he repeated the process on Pippa, but with gentle care interspersed with kisses and caresses.
“You are so beautiful, little girl.”
“I’m all purple and green, Daddy.”
“Even bruised, kitten, you take my breath away.”
His expression told her he meant it. Her daddy loved her with all his heart.
“Make love to me, Daddy.”
“You’ll tell me if you’re hurting?”
“Yes.” Pippa nodded quickly. She’d definitely tell him if something hurt a lot.
“Pinky promise?” he asked, extending his pinky toward her.
“Pinky promise.” That was like a rock solemn vow. She’d have to tell him now.
“Good girl.” Zale scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the nursery.
“In here?”
“I think we’re going to try out each room in this house at least a dozen times.”
She grinned. Zale was so much fun.
He sat down on the soft rocking chair. “Straddle my hips, kitten.” Zale helped her into that position before drawing her face toward his. The kiss that followed made her cling to him eagerly. Passion flared back to life inside her as Zale caressed and kissed her. Her daddy always knew exactly what she needed.