Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
The laughter from the stick horse race was still rolling across the field when Master Derek’s voice boomed from near the equipment shed.
The camp staff had already set the stage for the next event.
“All right, cowboys and cowgirls,” he called, clapping his hands once.
“It’s time to start the Rawhide Ranch Little Bronco Bustin’ Event.
Daddies and Mommies, find your Littles and keep them close.
I’ll explain the rules in a second, so gather around. ”
A ripple of excited squeals moved through the Littles as they all scattered to find their Bigs.
Fiera wiped sweat from her temple and looked around for her Daddy.
That was the problem with having your Daddy run the rodeo.
He was busy most of the time. Okay, so not most of the time, but a lot of it anyway.
Giving up, she sat on one of the picnic tables facing away from the crowd.
It would probably be a long time. He might not be able to do the event with her at all.
That really stunk, because she’d been looking forward to the Bronco Bustin’ event with the giant inflatable set up near the edge of the clearing.
Her eyes widened when a pair of large, calloused hands landed on her shoulders. “I thought you wanted to go Bronco Bustin’, little girl. Is that still what you want? How are you feeling with all the noise and sunlight?”
Who was this man? He’d known her such a short time, and yet he’d paid more attention to her Waardenburg Syndrome than anyone she’d ever known.
Growing up, her parents decided that WS wasn’t a good look for them.
They refused to accept her diagnosis or work to implement any of the accommodations the doctors suggested.
Erwin the Vermin thought it was an act she put on to take her attention away from him.
But Master Mace had been incredible. He made sure all her things were transferred to his cabin, including her special lightbulbs, her blanket, and all her stuffies and snacks. He certainly took care of her sensitive eyes. And here he was, making sure she wasn’t getting overstimulated.
“It is kind of… busy,” she admitted.
With a nod of his head, he took her hand. “Let’s go for a walk. We can join the fun whenever you’re ready. How’s that sound?”
A weight she hadn’t known she carried lifted from her shoulders. “A walk would be nice.”
“I know a trail I think you’d really like. Would you like to give it a try?”
At her nod, he guided her toward the woods to a path she’d never noticed before. They walked in silence for a long time. It was nice to have a chance to decompress. She was having a great time at the rodeo, but it was a bit… constant.
Once they’d walked for a while, guilt began to scratch her conscience. “Don’t you need to get back, Daddy? I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”
He glanced at her, and his eyes swallowed her whole.
People talked about her eyes all the time, but her Daddy’s eyes were unlike any she’d ever seen.
They were as dark as a thundercloud with thin rings of black at the outer edges of his irises.
She was so mesmerized she forgot to watch where she was going.
“Listen to me, firefly. Thank you so much for caring about me that much. Now, I want you to let all the worry go. When you are with me, all you have to worry about is minding Daddy and being honest about your needs. You don’t have to worry about things like time and other people getting upset.
That’s a Daddy’s job. My shoulders are big enough to carry all that weight, and I want you to relax and let me do the worrying. Can you do that for Daddy?”
She stared at him, no words forming in her mind. What would it be like to turn all her worries over to him? Was she brave enough to find out?
Come on, Fiera. Answer him.
“I-I’d like that.” His smile stole the remaining air from her lungs. Those dimples were going to kill her. In no more than a whisper, she said, “I have a need right now, Daddy.”
His brows furrowed as concern filled his stormy eyes. She was botching everything up.
“Anything, little one. Tell Daddy what you need.”
Taking a deep breath, she told her Daddy what she needed. “A kiss, Daddy. I need a kiss like last night.”
His face relaxed. One look at him and she understood what all the books meant by naked heat. Her clit pulsed at the carnal desire filling his eyes. “Now, that is a very, very good idea.”
His eyes flared with heat as he ran his gaze from the top of her head to the comic-book-print Converse sneakers she wore that day. It took time because he paused several times along the way. The air around her sizzled. Had it gotten hotter all the sudden?
Awareness stole her breath at the primal maleness of him as the muscles of his jaw flexed. How had she not noticed the last time they’d walked through the woods? She’d carried an image of the perfect Daddy in her head for a long time, but Master Mace put that image to shame.
Her feet refused to move. She stood transfixed by the strong line of his jaw, the fullness of his lips, and those charcoal eyes that looked like dark smoke curling in slow motion. Her fingers itched to run through his thick hair and tug at the curls brushing the nape of his neck.
Holding her gaze, he moved them backward, slow and steady, until her back pressed against one of the pines lining the trail. His scent of hay, leather, and male was intoxicating. A thrum began low in her abdomen. Heat bloomed along her skin, soft and intoxicating.
He hooked one broad knuckle beneath her chin and tilted her face up, the rough pad of his finger commanding and impossibly gentle all at once. What had she been thinking? He was so tall, and so strong, and so… so Daddy.
She wanted to kiss him again more than she wanted to breathe. But tomorrow was their last day together. She’d never been a worrier. She grabbed life by the horns and steered it in the direction she wanted it to go.
But this was different. Her heart was getting more and more involved. It made no sense that things like that could happen so fast, but they could. And her heart had been through enough in the past few years. She should run. Away from danger. Away from heartache. Away from him.
But something… something wouldn’t let her.
Maybe she was curious about what having a real Daddy would be like.
Maybe she hoped that Erwin hadn’t extinguished every spark of desire inside her.
Maybe it didn’t matter because her body wouldn't move.
Except her heart rate. That was growing faster by the second.
And then the time for her to move was over. Mace lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. Then his mouth claimed hers, solid, knowing, devastatingly hot. A fragile, aching moan trembled from her throat before she could stop it.
He moved into her space without hesitation, one hand locking around her hip while the other tipped her face up to his.
His kiss turned hungry, deliberate, and he pulled her firmly against him, his larger body molding hers to its shape, leaving no space between them, the ridge of his erection erasing any doubt about what he wanted.
Longing sparked low and surged upward, quick and electric, so sharp and sweet it left her trembling. Her thighs softened. Her nipples hardened to diamond points.
His hand lifted from the curve of her jaw, fingers tunneling into her hair and tethering her in place as his kiss consumed her. His familiar taste sizzled through her. She was lost in a sea of longing.
Then he released her mouth and trailed wet kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Hard, demanding kisses. Kisses that stole her breath and weakened her knees.
But he didn’t stop there. His lips dipped lower as he kissed his way to the tops of her breasts. The vibrations of his low growl of male appreciation pebbled her skin and caused her pussy to spasm.
Unable to stop herself, she ran her fingers through his thick hair and pulled him closer.
She’d never wanted anyone as much as she wanted him as his mouth continued to explore her body.
After what she’d endured over the last few years, she hadn’t thought her body was capable of the cravings Mace brought to life.
She squeaked when his hands cupped her ass and lifted her to fit against him. Without even thinking, she wrapped her legs around his waist. If someone else walked up the trail, those people would get quite a show. And she did not care. All she wanted in that moment was more.
For the first time in two years, she felt wanted. It was like she was Sleeping Beauty, coming back to life with the power of her Daddy’s kiss.
From the hardness of his cock, she wasn’t alone. His mouth destroyed her ability to think. All she could do was feel as his strong hands gripped her bottom. He held her there, pressed against him. A moan escaped her as she tightened her thighs around him.
She rubbed against him, needing more. She wanted to rip his clothes off right there and do deliciously wicked things to him. He pressed his thick, hard cock to her core, rocking against her until she thought she’d scream.
He must have sensed it, because suddenly his lips were back on hers as he ran his hands down the backs of her thighs, drawing a whimper from her. Had anyone ever died from need?
Finally, he lifted his head. Storms of desire swirled in his eyes. Heat and something dangerously unrestrained radiated from him, and it set off a shimmering rush inside her, quick and eager and alive. For the first time, she was wanted. No… needed. He needed her as much as she needed him.
Possession burned in his gray eyes, dark and glinting and threaded with raw desire. They’d been doing something a few minutes before, right? They had, but all she could think about now was the promise of something dark and wonderful held in his gaze.
“Firefly, if we don’t stop this now, I’m gonna take you right here. You need to help me, because I don’t want our first time together to be on the forest floor where anyone could stumble by.” He spoke in a low, raw murmur that skimmed over her skin and sank straight into her fraying nerves.
Her dazed brain was slow to react. Before she could speak, the shrill ring of his phone broke the silence around them. She shook her head, trying to clear her muddled thoughts. His phone rang again.
With a growl, Mace squeezed her bottom and pulled her sex tighter against his own. Then he lowered her until her feet touched the ground. He held her captive, with his eyes and his hands, until he knew she could stand.
She missed the heat of him the second he took a small step back. Her body still pulsed with need.
His phone rang a third time, and he pulled it from his back pocket. She’d never wanted to snatch something from someone’s hand in her life, but somehow she didn’t think her Daddy would appreciate that.
Without taking his eyes off her, he answered. “Mace.” His jaw flexed as he listened to whoever was calling him. “Yeah. I had to take care of someone. We’re headed back that way now.”
He reached for her, cupping her jaw with one hand and running his thumb along her lip. “We have to get back,” he confirmed what she’d already guessed. “But when the Bronco Bustin’ is over, we are going to get a few things settled.”
Her heart stuttered. He sounded so growly and mad. She could only hope he wasn’t angry with her. He hadn’t seemed angry a minute ago.
Pulling her to him again, he pressed his lips to her forehead. “Let’s get this done.” With that, he took her hand, and they walked back to camp.