Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Anson waited for her in bed.
He had the blankets pulled up over his legs to his waist. He’d left her one of his T-shirts to get changed into before grabbing everything out of his truck.
When he’d come back into the bedroom the shower had still been running.
Fuck. He wished he could see her in the shower. Naked. Sexy. A groan escaped him and he had to reach under the covers to squeeze his hard cock.
Now was not the time to get aroused.
He knew he probably shouldn’t have threatened to spank her earlier. They weren’t in a relationship. And just because he was determined she would be his didn’t mean she was there yet.
He was supposed to be giving her time. Pushing her at this stage could alienate her.
It was just unfortunate that he was such a pushy bastard.
The bathroom door opened and he quickly slid his hand away from his dick. No way did he want her walking in on him touching himself.
But as she walked out in his shirt, he could feel his dick hardening again.
She stilled and he caught sight of her face. Suddenly, he wasn’t feeling turned on at all.
Nope, all he felt was concern.
Her eyes were even more red and swollen.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were in bed. I should have been quicker. I’ll, um, I’ll . . .” She looked around as though searching for what she was meant to do.
“Baby, come here.”
She shook her head. “I should let you sleep.” She wrapped her arms around herself.
“I will sleep. As soon as you’re asleep. And to make sure you’re sleeping, I need you next to me.”
“In . . . in your bed?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“Are you sure? I can sleep in my bed.”
“You can,” he said reluctantly. He’d let her sleep in the other room if that’s really what she wanted. “But I would rather you slept in here. I’m not going to sleep well if you’re in another room.”
“Why not?” she asked with wide eyes.
“Because I’ll be worried about you.”
“But I’ve been sleeping in a different house,” she told him as if he didn’t know.
“And I’ve barely slept for worrying over you.”
“Oh no.” She took a step toward him. “I’m so sorry.”
“Alice,” he growled at her.
“Sorry, I mean, not sorry . . . urgh!” She stomped her foot and he found himself smiling. “It’s so hard to remember not to do that.”
“Hmm, do I need to give you some incentives?”
“Like what?” she asked suspiciously.
“Well, incentive might be the wrong word. Maybe deterrent?”
“Are you saying that you’re going to spank me every time I say sorry when I shouldn’t?”
“Now, that’s an idea.” He tapped his chin as though he was thinking about it. “I was going to say that I’d make you write fifty lines each time. Saying: I will not say I am sorry when I do not need to.”
Her mouth dropped open and she looked delightfully put out. “That sounds terrible.”
“Hmm. Punishments are meant to be terrible so you remember to follow the rules.”
“I don’t think I should have rules,” she grumbled.
“Everyone has rules. But I don’t have the right to enforce them without your consent.”
“My consent?”
“Yes.”
“What if I never consent?” she asked.
“You will,” he said arrogantly.
“Oh, I will?”
“Yes, because you want this. You want a Daddy, a man who puts you first, who looks after you, who just wants what is best for you.”
“And that involves punishments?” She pouted.
“It doesn’t have to,” he told her. “If that’s a limit you want.”
He could tell she was thinking that through.
“Or you can limit what punishments you’re given. Maybe no spanking.”
She wrinkled her nose. No, it seemed she wanted to leave spankings on the table.
“Perhaps no corner time?”
“That idea has merit.”
At least she was thinking about the sort of relationship they might have.
“Because it would upset you too much or you just don’t like the idea of having to stand in the corner?” he asked.
She shot him a look and he saw the exhaustion weighing her down.
“Come here, baby. Get into bed. We can discuss this at a different time.”
“You’re sure?” she asked.
“I’m not the sort of guy who says anything he doesn’t mean.”
Something like relief filled her face and she moved to his bed. He drew back the covers and she climbed in, freezing as she spotted Lola, who he’d put in bed for her.
“Thought you’d want to sleep with her,” he told her gruffly.
“You don’t mind?” she asked.
“Wouldn’t have put her there if I did, baby.”
She climbed in and put Lola on her other side.
God, she looked hot in his shirt. He wanted to insist that she wear his clothes to bed every night.
Unless she wore nothing at all, of course.
That was acceptable too.
He lay down and she rolled over to face him. He moved onto his good side and reached over to brush her dark hair off her face.
“How are you doing, baby?”
“I’m a lot better than I was. I’m clean for a start.” She grinned but those words just made him angry.
Fucking Caldwell.
He’d call him in the morning and let him know that Anson was going to make his life a living hell.
“Good. And I want you to know that sleeping in my bed doesn’t come with any expectations, all right? I just want to keep a close eye on you.”
She smiled. “That’s good. Because I don’t think I’d be up for much right now.”
“My poor baby. You can sleep. I’ll look after you.” He rolled back to switch off the lights, ignoring the pain that shot up his leg.
He’d put a bit too much strain on his leg lately and not getting enough sleep didn’t help it.
When he turned back, her eyes were closed. He placed his hand on her head and gently massaged.
“Oh, that feels so nice,” she murmured.
“Go to sleep, baby, don’t think about anything. I’m here. I’m going to take care of everything. Just sleep.”
He continued to rub her head until she slipped off to sleep. Then he lay there and watched her for a long moment. Closing his eyes, he tried to sleep but found he couldn’t.
Fuck it. Why wait until tomorrow to deal with this? Reaching over to his bedside drawers, he grabbed his phone.
He didn’t give a shit if this woke Caldwell up. He hoped it did.
Anson:
You fucked with the wrong person, Caldwell.
It took less than thirty seconds for Caldwell to reply. Which meant he could easily have answered Alice’s messages.
Caldwell:
What do you mean? I’m not even home.
Anson:
Alice Madison is under my protection. And you left her in a freezing cabin with no hot water. You fuck with mine, you fuck with me. And you know you don’t want that.
Caldwell:
What? I didn’t know that!
Anson:
Now you do.
Caldwell:
Then shouldn’t you have been taking care of her?
That asshole.
Anson:
I am now. But even if she wasn’t mine, you left a woman alone with no heat or hot water. She didn’t even have firewood! You’re going to suffer for this Caldwell. Enjoy your vacation.
He turned his phone on silent and set it aside.
Now, he could sleep.