Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fiera squealed as Giddy danced around with her, sitting alone in the saddle.
Master Mace patted Giddy's neck, and the horse calmed. “I’m right here, babygirl. Giddy isn’t going anywhere without me.”
She couldn’t remember any of the songs she’d learned in Sunday school, so she settled for singing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”. Maybe Giddy would recognize some of the words and understand that Fiera came in peace.
When her Daddy said they were riding his horse, she didn’t know he meant they were riding his massive, woolly mammoth-sized beast. Giddy hadn’t looked like a Clydesdale when she’d fed him a carrot, but it sure felt like that now.
It wasn’t that she’d never ridden a horse before. Of course, she had. But it had been a very long time. Shetland ponies might have been involved. She wasn’t sure how her Daddy had gotten his hands on one of the Jolly Green Giant’s horses, but he obviously had.
Leaning forward, she clutched Giddy’s dark, silky mane. “Hey, Giddy, what do you say we agree to shake and be friends? My Daddy can be your rider, and I’ll be your carrot dealer.”
After Master Mace mounted Giddy, he settled behind her and bracketed her ribs with his arms and took the reins.
That was all it took for her to forget about where she sat as heat sizzled through her body.
How could he get her so turned on so fast?
Desire spiraled through her like a windstorm breaking loose beneath her skin.
A rush of bright sensation followed, shimmering outward in a thousand startled sparks.
He leaned forward, whispering against her ear. “Relax, babygirl. Daddy’s got you.”
Her nipples pebbled, and the world blurred at the edges. God, what he could do to her. Her breath quickened as a fierce, breathless longing coursed through her.
The horse huffed.
Her Daddy’s arms wrapped around her as his strong, calloused hands took the reins. She bit back the moan fighting to be released.
When he leaned forward, his beard tickled her neck. “All right?” His breath teased her senses.
She couldn’t help pressing herself against his muscular chest as she nodded.
“Giddy will do whatever we tell him to. To control him, we have to hold the reins tight and squeeze with our thighs.”
Oh, come on. How was she supposed to do anything when he talked like that? Now all she could do was wonder if her thighs would work on him, too. She already knew his would work on her.
She swallowed. Focus, Fiera. “I, ah...” Good grief, was that her voice? When had it gotten so sultry?”
“Listen to Daddy, firefly. I’ve got you, and I’ll keep you safe.”
His voice was deep and rumbly. Was it just her, or was he talking about more than a horse ride?
She tightened the grip of her thighs. “Okay, Daddy. What now?”
“Just use your tongue and use your heels to give him a gentle nudge.”
Her eyes fluttered. Thank goodness he couldn't see her face. She wasn’t sure you should steer a horse with your eyes closed, but it was so much easier to imagine all the wickedly delicious things she wanted to do to her Daddy that way.
As if Giddy could read her mind, he snorted.
The heat from his hard chest caused flutters in her princess parts that had nothing to do with fear. Or riding. Well, riding horses anyway.
Man, she needed to get a grip.
A tight grip.
Of your Daddy’s cock…
No! Bad Fiera!
At least she would be bad Fiera if her Daddy would let her. She wanted to do very, very naughty things to him.
When Master Mace nudged Giddy’s side, the horse moved forward.
She sucked in air scented with pine and hot male. Desire weighed down her eyelids, while her breasts ached and her princess parts tingled. The bouncy trot Master Mace had coaxed Giddy into wasn’t helping.
“Okay. Now it’s your turn.” The sound of his voice roughened to gravel.
A long, slow shiver meandered its way down her spine. Without thinking, she snuggled her bottom into him. Wait, was that his… was he as turned on as she was?
How was this happening? Wanting someone this bad, this fast, only happened in romance books. Did he feel it, too? The hard bulge pressing against her backside would say yes.
“Firefly,” he ground out. “You’re killin’ me.”
She turned her head to rub her cheek on his chest. “Daddy.”
He stilled and blew out a harsh exhale. “Fiera Danielle, you need to focus on riding.”
“I am, Daddy. Promise.”
He stiffened. “I’m talking about riding the horse.” His voice was harsh, but she didn’t think he was angry.
“Don’t wanna.” Desire unraveled her ability to think, and she had not the slightest urge to resist.
His muscles were so tight they practically vibrated. “Then what do you want, babygirl?”
She couldn’t tell him that. What if she was wrong? What if he didn’t want her at all? He’d certainly been able to restrain himself the night before with no effort at all. “Daddy!” Her voice came out as a whine, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Fiera, either tell me what you want, or do what I told you to do.”
She wanted him. But she was obviously doing it wrong if he couldn’t tell. This was a mistake. She was humiliating herself.
“I need to hear your words, babygirl. This has to be something you want. So, if you do, be brave for Daddy and tell him what you’re feeling.”
Could she be that brave? That answer was easy. For him, she could be anything he wanted. Taking a deep breath, she said, “You, Daddy. I want you.”
Mace went utterly still, pride and protectiveness tightening through him at the sight of his brave girl. The wind tangled her curls around her face and plastered her shirt to her breasts in a way that stole his breath.
A fierce claiming rose in his chest. This woman was his.
Turning Giddy, he rode to their cabin as fast as he could without scaring Fiera. If his girl was going to be a foreman’s wife—and she was—he’d have to get her more accustomed to being on the back of a horse.
But that was for later. Right now, he needed to get his firefly naked and show her what wanting someone really meant.
“Let’s get you down and see what Daddy can do about all that wanting,” he said as he helped her dismount.
“That sounds like a plan, Daddy,” she said and skipped into the cabin.
He tied off Giddy’s reins and followed her, grinning as he stalked after her, feeling every bit like a predator chasing his Little prey.
His dick had been hard the second Fiera had snuggled her sweet ass against him when he’d mounted Giddy.
But that was nothing compared to the throbbing need he felt now.
Visions of the night before, the sounds she’d made when his face was planted between her thighs, and when she’d come on his tongue filled his head. All he wanted was to do it again and again before sinking his cock deep in her pussy.
He wasn’t interested in a quick romp in the hay. Lasting relationships took time. But they needed to both be on the same page. They both had to believe what they’d started had a chance of lasting. She was everything he’d ever wanted, and he had to figure out how to make her see that.
For now, he entered the cabin… to find the main room empty.
He walked to his bedroom, his heart pounding hard enough to shake the air in his lungs.
He found her standing by the window. Crossing to her, he took her hips in his hands and pulled her to him.
“Let’s see… I believe you have three strikes for today already, don’t you? ”
Her mouth dropped open, but the twinkle in her eye told a different story. “Daddy! That can’t be right. Why do I have three strikes?”
He loved this part of being a Daddy. Those “funishment” times. All the fun without the angst. “Well, let’s see. Strike one was when you told that fib at breakfast.”
“What fib?”
Right on cue, she pulled the “butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth” look. Little minx. “The fib about running into Sadie and the others by accident.”
She gasped, “But, Daddy! Why would you think that was a fib?”
“Well, it might be that they were saving a place for you. But it was probably that I overheard you talking to her about meeting this morning when you were supposed to be making your bed.”
“Daddy!” she said. “It’s rude to listen to people’s conversation.”
“That’s true, but it’s very naughty to fib to your Daddy.” She giggled. He had the best time with his little firefly. She was just fun to be around.
“Okay. But that’s only one. How did I get strike number two?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled, or at least he tried to. He hadn’t had this much fun in… he couldn’t remember when.
“I believe I told you to be at the art tent on time. But you didn’t do that, did you?”
“No, Daddy, but that wasn’t my fault!”
“Do tell.”
“Well, I wanted to go straight to the art tent, but everyone else wanted to take the scenic route. I couldn’t abandon my friends, could I?”
“Of course not. Just like I can’t abandon my duty to hold you accountable for not minding Daddy.”
“Hmph!” She stuck out her lip and crossed her arms just like he had. “That still doesn’t make three strikes.”
Ah, his firefly thought she had him. “Strike number three is for saying bad things about yourself and your painting. Are you allowed to talk down about my Little girl?”
She shook her head. “No, Daddy. But that’s a hard one. I think I should get a second chance.”
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll give you three more chances. But that will be tomorrow. Today you’re getting your butt spanked.”
He lunged for her, purposefully missing. She squealed and ran to the main room. He chased her around the couch and then around the kitchen table. She made a dash for the door, and he caught her, snatching her off her feet and tossing her over his shoulder.
He carried her to his bedroom and put her down on his bed. Right where she belonged. His heart thundered—and not from the running around.
She made it to her hands and knees and tried to crawl out of reach, but he caught her feet and dragged her back until her hips were at the edge of the bed and her feet were on the floor.