Chapter 13
Chapter thirteen
Walker
I didn’t think she could surprise me, not after the way she’d come apart on my fingers, but the way that small hand crept over my stomach, barely touching, her breath warm and shaky on my chest—I nearly lost it.
“Lottie,” I managed, and my voice was a mess. “You don’t need to do anything. You don’t have to pay me back or even think about it.”
But her eyes were huge, soft, clear. “I want to.” She touched the waistband of my jeans, barely brushing. “I want to learn. I want to take care of you too.”
It was the way she said it. Like it was the most important thing in the world.
God, I was going to die.
Her hand trembled, her whole body tucked in against my side, still in those ridiculous fuzzy socks and nothing else. Her hair was all over her face, pink scrunchie slipping loose, and she was so Little it broke my brain.
“You sure?” My voice was low. Consent was a principle I lived by, but with her it seemed even more important.
She nodded, almost frantic. “Please, Walker. I want you to feel good too.”
I choked out a breath. No way was I going to last five minutes with her looking at me like that.
She moved slowly, still hesitant, but determined.
She touched the button on my jeans and then looked up, waiting for permission.
I nodded once, barely holding it together.
Her hands were tiny, but she managed the button, then the zipper, and I thought I’d go insane just from the way her knuckles brushed my skin.
She didn’t rush. Palms flat, she eased my jeans then my boxers down, then just stared at me like she’d never seen anything so fascinating. I was rock-hard and leaking. Every vein stood out on my cock like it was going to burst.
“Is-is it supposed to be like that?” Her voice was small, but I saw curiosity in her eyes, not fear.
I let out a low laugh. Couldn’t help it. “Yeah, princess. You’re perfect. It’s just…you do that to me.”
She blushed pink all the way to the roots of her hair. Her fingers hovered, then touched me, light as butterfly wings. I shuddered. She was so careful, so gentle, like she might break me if she pressed too hard.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this close to losing control.
“Do you want me to…um…use my hand?” The uncertainty in her voice just about killed me.
“Whatever you want,” I told her, and meant it. “I’ll show you, if you’re not sure.”
She nodded, biting her lip, and I covered her hand with mine, guiding her. Her skin was soft, and when she wrapped her fist around me, I groaned out loud. She jerked, startled, but I caught her wrist.
“It’s good,” I managed. “You’re doing good. Just slow. Like that.” I moved her hand, showing her the right pressure. She watched, so captivated it made my head spin.
She copied me, and the way her eyes went wide as she felt me throb in her hand—I nearly lost it.
My hips jerked up, totally outside my control.
I caught her wrist and tried to breathe but the heat in my body was already spiraling out.
“You’re so good at this,” I managed, the words coming out hoarse.
“You’re making me feel incredible, princess. ”
Her lips parted. She looked up at me, all big eyes and raw need, and her hand squeezed a little tighter.
Shit, I almost came right then and there.
She stroked me, slowly at first, watching every movement like she was memorizing it for later. It was the most intense thing I’d ever felt. Her palm was so small, so soft. She bit her lip, curious and shy, and I nearly lost it again.
“You can go a little faster,” I told her, voice rough with how much I wanted it. “Just like that. Squeeze at the top.”
She did and my vision blurred. I wanted to warn her, wanted to say I wouldn’t last, but she was so wrapped up in what she was doing, so completely focused, I couldn’t interrupt.
“Is it supposed to get even harder?” Her voice shook.
I let out a rough laugh. “Yeah, baby, that means you’re doing it right. You’re making Daddy feel so good.”
She squirmed, clearly turned on by the praise, and I reached down and cupped her cheek. “You look so pretty like this. You make me want to lose my mind.”
She blushed but didn’t stop. Her hand moved faster, learning my body, and every time she squeezed, I felt my whole system light up.
It was too much. I'd kept control in every scene I'd ever done, but not this. Not her.
“Lottie, I’m…I’m gonna come,” I warned.
She nodded, biting her lip, eyes huge. “Please.”
God, she wanted it. She wanted me. The thought undid me completely.
I tried to hold back, tried to let her enjoy it, but it was useless. Her thumb brushed over the tip and I exploded with no warning, groaning her name, spilling over her hand and my stomach. She didn’t even flinch, just watched, fascinated, as my body shuddered in her grip.
She looked up, surprised. “It’s warm.”
I almost laughed, too breathless to make a sound. “Yeah, sweetheart. That’s normal.”
She ran her thumb over the mess on my skin, eyes wide, and I caught her hand in mine before I did something idiotic like pull her onto my cock and fuck her until she screamed.
“You okay?” My voice was ragged.
She nodded, so shy but so damn proud of herself. “Did I do good?”
I pulled her up, arms tight around her back, and kissed her so hard she made a tiny squeak. “You were perfect, princess. You were so fucking perfect. I’ve never felt anything like that.”
She melted into me, soft and trusting, and I held her there, letting her heart slow down. For a second, I just wanted to stay like that forever.
Three days later I hated leaving her, but there was no way around it.
Lottie was practically vibrating with nerves or excitement, standing in the middle of my living room with both hands wrapped tightly around Mr. Snuggles.
The fuzzy socks and new purple hoodie nearly swallowed her, but she looked up at me like she was wearing fuckin’ armor.
Lottie had insisted on this new job and there was no way around it.
She'd officially quit Sunny's and emailed her notice accompanied by another doctor's note meaning she didn't have to work it. Marco didn't reply.
“You ready?” I tried to keep it gentle. She nodded, but it was the kind of nod that happened right before a rabbit bolted.
I made her eat. Blood sugar first, always.
She sat at the island, eyes big, and I fixed her oatmeal, then checked the number myself, not even pretending it was up to her.
I expected her to flinch, maybe even push back, but she just let me.
Sucked the tip of her thumb, spaced out, then blinked back to herself when I handed her the bowl.
She finished and disappeared to brush her teeth.
I watched her go, already missing her. Christ, I was pathetic.
The drive only took twenty minutes. I parked in the alley behind the bakery and walked her up, hand steady at her lower back.
Fiona’s aunt’s place was called The Sweetest Bite.
The sign was in yellow, hand-painted, and the window was full of cupcakes and little pink cookies.
The inside was even cuter. Lace curtains.
Glass cake stands. Chalkboard menu with swirly writing.
If a Little ever built a bakery, this would be it, and I knew as soon as the team and their Littles started supporting it, it would be a gold mine.
Fiona was there, purple hair in a messy bun, leaning over the counter to talk to her aunt, who looked like the original badass grandma. Full sleeve tattoo of birds, nose ring, smile that could split the sun. She clocked us instantly.
“This Lottie?” The woman’s voice could have sanded wood, but she grinned and gave a little wave.
Lottie blushed so hard I thought she’d ignite. “Um…hi,” she managed, and I swear I could see her shrinking. Not in a bad way. In a safe way. Like she’d finally found her size.
Fiona came out from behind the counter, phone in her hand, and hip-checked Lottie like they were already friends. “You made it! I told Auntie Vera you’d be perfect.”
Lottie’s cheeks got pinker if that was even possible. Mr. Snuggles was pressed to her chest like a life preserver, but she let Fiona drag her to the back, giggling a little.
I followed, hands jammed in my pockets, but there was nothing for me to do.
Vera had the paperwork ready—the weird kind, where you could sign with a bunny sticker if you wanted.
“Just a couple hours today for training, honey,” Vera said, patting Lottie’s shoulder.
“Nothing scary. Fiona will show you everything, and if you need to sit, you just grab some fruit and do it. No fainting on my watch.”
“Thank you,” Lottie whispered, and she looked at me, blue eyes so wide I could barely look away.
“You want me to stay?” I offered, voice low, but she shook her head, so I kissed her gently and left for Salvation, hating every second I got farther away but knowing she needed it. Needed to know I had faith in her.
Gideon and Maddox were both there. I closed the office door and accepted the coffee Maddox passed me. I slumped in my chair and let out a long, shaky breath. Maddox clocked it instantly. “That good, huh?” The video monitor flickered to show Eric’s face.
I scrubbed my hand over my jaw. “You have no idea.”
Gideon took a sip of his coffee, eyes on me. “You didn’t want to leave her?”
Nope. Fuck, I didn’t. But she was with Fiona. I needed to let her do it. I needed to let her try. Even if it made my skin itch.
“I have news,” Eric said, voice coming over the speaker. “Marco’s got a record now, thanks to last night. Assaulted one of the new hires in the stockroom after closing. She called the cops. I got the hospital paperwork. It’s bad.”
My stomach twisted. “Will she be okay?”
“She’ll be fine. Shaken up, but she’ll be fine. She has family. He’s under arrest. Whole thing is on one of the cameras we installed that he didn’t know about.”
Maddox let out a low whistle. “That’s one problem dealt with.”