Chapter 32
Mia
IT WAS WORKING OUT terribly. For two weeks, my daily reports to him got dirtier and dirtier as my need for him grew and grew. I couldn’t help that he came to my bed every night and made me scream his name.
My mind told me this job was for the money—to go toward my goals and my sister—but my heart led me down a different path. One that was more dangerous and deeply entangled, but it felt so refreshingly authentic.
And I relished in that thought. This, here with Jameson, was real.
He’d shared his secrets, let me into his world, and was waiting for me to confide in him mine.
We were building a place here where I didn’t have to hide what I really felt, and I cherished that after so many years of my parents wanting me to stay quiet, to fit into a mold, and to not cause waves even when I needed to.
A whole week passed in bliss. Sure, men filtered in and out to talk with Jameson. Sure, I never looked behind that door, but I was happy.
Franny was happy.
Jameson seemed happy too.
After a week had passed, we had settled into a routine.
On Monday, he asked for an update after Franny went to bed, and I invited him to my room rather than actually giving him a written one.
We talked before we fucked, not that we should have.
Our relationship was building into something I wasn’t sure I could keep under control, but I told myself bosses could be friends with benefits and we could end things when we both thought it was the right time.
I told him how Franny was smiling more, how the tennis lessons were the highlight of her day, how she could read almost faster than me now.
It didn’t escape my attention that Valerie didn’t show that evening.
On Tuesday, Rosy winked at me and said, “Well, I think you’re sticking, Mia. You rid us of Val finally, and Mrs. Knight complimented my breakfast!” Then she danced around her kitchen like she was celebrating.
On Wednesday, I called my sister again. She answered this time, sounding like sunshine and rainbows while Felix hovered in the background. She told me we could maybe wait on visits, and I read between the lines, knowing she was avoiding leaving him again.
I took solace in Jameson’s arms that night, not mentioning my sister but instead letting him occupy my mind and body.
Every morning, the man woke up and watered my plants as I watched him.
On Friday morning, I murmured to him, “You need to stop tending to Ms. Prim and Mr. Bos.”
“Why?”
“Because they’ll get more used to you than me and want you watering them forever.”
“Plants can’t tell the difference.” Did he smirk before he said it, though? And I could swear he had started whispering to them, like he wanted to imprint on them.
He wanted to imprint on me, make it so I’d never forget how perfect he was, I was sure of it. That day, Franny told me over schoolwork, “I think you should stay here forever. And you should get a pet too.”
She patted Malek’s head. The dog was lying between us, and his tail wagged at hearing his name. “You think I need one?”
“Of course. I think Malek would like a friend, don’t you think?”
“I think that’s a decision for your dad.”
“Oh, he wouldn’t mind you having a pet.” She lifted her binoculars and scanned the room. “Want a dog? The pup’s bed can go right there.” The corner of our study had a reading rug, but of course that would be the perfect spot for my dog. It could then sit right next to Franny while we read.
“We’ll see,” I told her right as Jameson stopped into the study, glancing at his watch. A new one without jewels all over it.
I should probably find a way to get him a replacement, although I knew he wouldn’t take it out of my salary.
“See about what?” he asked, leaning on the doorframe and smiling at both of us in his three-piece suit, so relaxed in the way he approached me now.
Franny ran over to my ear to whisper, “Repeat after me. ‘I think another pet would be nice. A friend for Malek who can sleep by my bed.’”
I said exactly what Franny told me and tried not to laugh as Jameson’s smile dropped off.
“You two have already commandeered the guard dog. He doesn’t come near me anymore.”
“Okay, but say you’re lonely at night too!” Franny whisper-yelled so loud that Jameson could hear her, but he still waited for me to repeat it.
One side of his mouth curled up. “Go on, Mia. Say what Franny told you.”
A blush rose to my cheeks as I said, “I’m lonely at night.”
“Are you, now?” Jameson pushed off the doorway. “And a dog will help?”
Franny looked between us with narrowed eyes and whispered in my ear fast, “Say yes, Mia!”
“Yes. A dog would help.”
“You want a dog keeping you company?” His hands were on his hips.
She grabbed my hand and put her other hand to her chin as if thinking. “Well, tell him I did a report on rabbits.”
I smirked to myself, because she was such a good little negotiator. The truth had come out. A pet for her was necessary, not me.
She elbowed me, and I rolled my eyes, not thinking much of it as I repeated her words. “Franny’s done a whole report on rabbits, and we think she’s ready to take care of one.”
Franny leaned in. “For company, and it’ll teach her responsibility.” She glared at me expectantly to repeat.
“It’s to keep us company, Jameson. You understand? Plus, it will teach her responsibility.” I batted my eyelashes at him.
Franny whispered, “And will be my best friend.”
“And it will be one of her best friends, because of course I’m her best friend at the moment.”
Franny snickered at that and then eyed her father as if calculating how much more work we had to do in order to get him to say yes. He was staring at me with those eyes and took a sip of coffee as Franny whispered in my ear, “We almost have him. Just say, ‘Please, Daddy.’”
We were on a roll now, and I didn’t even think as I blurted out, “Please, Daddy. We promise to …”
The words died on my lips as Jameson choked on the coffee he was drinking from his mug. He set it down so hard that some of the dark liquid sloshed over the rim of it. “I’ll consider it,” he grumbled.
A low whistle came from the doorway, and there stood Callahan. He must have seen the look in Jameson’s eyes, because he called to Franny, “Let’s go look around the house to see if there’s a place to put a bunny cage while Ms. Darling and your dad discuss it, huh?”
“Uncle Cal, you really think I’m going to get one?!” Franny skipped out of the room while Jameson’s eyes stayed glued to me, like I was all he could see, and he wanted to see everything.
“Jameson, I’m sorry. You don’t really have to get her one—”
“Say it again.”
“What?”
“Beg again, Ms. Darling, and you might get exactly what you want from me.”
I chuckled but felt his command shoot directly to my core because I had no self-control. Still, I tried to make a joke of it because maybe that’s all this was anyway. “Oh sure. Should I say daddy too?”
“I’m not opposed to it.” His voice was full of gravel.
“Please, Daddy.”
That must have pushed him over the edge, because he sucked on his teeth and slowly reached behind himself to remove the gun holstered at his back, placing it on the desk with a heavy thud that echoed through the room.
Then his fingers went to his belt, and I watched how he loosened it with measured precision.
“Bend over the desk, Mia Darling. You’ve been a bad girl today.”
“Bad enough that you’re going to punish me?” I raised an eyebrow now, because I couldn’t stop myself from being defiant with him. I grinned, planting my hands on my hips instead of obeying him outright. His eyes flared at my challenging him.
He was so used to being in charge and in control that I think he expected me to submit easily every time. Did he ever let go of the reins? Would he with me—just a little, so that I could worship the man he didn’t let many see?
“Maybe I should get on my knees instead? Apologize for making you agree to a bunny or …” I stepped forward slowly, raising my dress a little as I did. “Maybe I should show you how thankful I am that you’re the kind of father Franny deserves.”
His jaw ticked, his hands curling at his sides, belt dangling in one. “I don’t need you on your knees.”
“Why not?” I stepped closer then and dropped to them in front of him. He sucked in a breath when I brushed my fingers over the expensive fabric of his slacks. “You don’t like rewards when you’ve been a good boy?”
“Fuck.” He swore, his voice hoarse as he stared down at me with a raw hunger in his eyes. He wanted this as much as I wanted to give it to him. “Mia …”
He said my name in warning, but my hands were already working on the zipper. When I wrapped my hands around his cock, he didn’t protest, only groaned. I leaned forward to taste the precum that was already building at the tip, and his hand went into my hair immediately.
I dragged my lips over as much of him as I could fit in my mouth and squeezed the base of him while I listened to the way he hummed my name in a sort of reverence. I looked up at him and saw how his blue eyes had deepened, how he watched my every movement as he let me set the pace.
I only was able to taste him in the back of my throat three or four times before he gripped my hair and yanked me back. “I’ll come down your throat if you don’t stop.”
“That’s what I was aiming for, Daddy,” I said, licking my bottom lip where I knew my spit would glisten over it.
He watched how my tongue darted out, and then he shook his head. “You’re fucking trouble, Darling.”
“Am I?” I smirked and—so fast—his hand went my throat and maneuvered that belt around me. He wrapped it around my neck, pulling the leather through the buckle and tightening it so it was snug against my skin. His eyes were trained on me as if assessing whether what we were doing was okay.
With him and only him, I found it was. I trusted Jameson and knew he’d always keep me safe. Restraint with him brought pleasure, rather than fear.
“So much so that I should keep you leashed, baby. Seeing you on my cock has me wanting you with a damn collar for me to make sure you don’t ever do that with another man.”
“Hmmm. I don’t think you could make this leash worth it.” I tapped the leather and taunted him enough that his jaw ticked.
He yanked it a little, and I felt how it cinched on my neck, how he had full control now, how he could make me do just about anything he wanted. It should have scared me. I didn’t like being restrained in any way.
Yet, with him, I felt a thrill and completely safe.
“I’ll show you it’s always worth it with me, Mia.” He leaned close and whispered in my ear, “Now, slide your dress off.”
I had a flowy white halter one on, and it was easy enough to untie and drop. I kept my eyes on him the whole time, watching how his gaze dragged all over my body. I shivered at the sensation, feeling it heat every part of me.
“Now, I want you to walk over to that desk, Darling. Nice and slow so I can watch.” When I turned to do it, he stopped me with a yank. “Better yet, crawl.”
Guess I had no other choice considering he had promised me a bunny.