Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 124140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
“Thank you, I saw them. But I don’t want to take advantage. I have money. I can buy myself stuff.”
His gaze narrowed. “Not happening. You’ll use my credit card to buy what you need.”
Damn, he was stubborn. “Fine. I’ll pay you back once I get my purse from Michelle’s.”
“You try to pay me back, and you’ll end up over my knee.”
“You can’t threaten to spank me for not wanting to spend your money!”
Easy, Cat.
You cannot smack some sense into him.
“I believe I just did.”
Grr! The man was going to drive her insane!
“You’re just addicted to my butt.”
“Of course I am. It’s a gorgeous bottom. And one day soon, it will be mine. Now, tomorrow you’re going to use my credit card to order some clothes and underwear. But you’re not to wear panties to bed or I’ll cut them off. Understand?”
“So, does that mean that you . . . that you’re going to sleep with me?” She dropped her gaze, hating how vulnerable she sounded.
His finger went under her chin and he tilted her head back. “Could you not sleep without me, Pequeña?”
“No,” she whispered. And she hated admitting that. Because it was bad enough that she needed a toy pirate and an old blanket to sleep.
Now she needed him, too?
“It’s only because I’m in a big bed. If I had a smaller bed I’d be all right.”
Or that’s what she was telling herself anyway.
“A smaller bed?” he asked. “Like the one in the pink room?”
“I guess.”
He brushed her hair back. “You can sleep in there when I’m not here.”
She winced at the idea of sleeping in that room. Those bunnies were really going to give her nightmares. Some of them were smiling.
It was unnatural.
But she couldn’t tell him that. She didn’t want to upset him since he obviously wanted a Little who liked pink and bunnies and lacy things. Yep, there had been a lot of lace on the outfits he’d bought her.
There was nothing wrong with any of that . . . Immy would adore all of it. But it wasn’t Cat.
He took another sip of Scotch before sitting it down on the desk. “I had a meeting tonight with the others.”
“And it didn’t go well?” Her heart raced. What had happened? Was he in trouble for killing Vince?
If he is, it’s your fault.
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“What you think of the outcome.”
“I don’t understand.” She frowned.
“They didn’t understand why I would kill Vince for touching someone who wasn’t anyone of importance to me.”
“Ouch. Way to punch a girl in the gut.” She winced.
He cupped her face between his hands. “But they would be understanding if she was important. If she was mine.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered. The way he was looking at her . . . it was like he was trying to tell her something.
And she was too stupid to understand.
She clenched her hands into fists. She hated feeling like people were keeping stuff from her. Because she was too young. Too dumb to understand.
Mama had done that.
She would never tell Cat what happened to her dad. Or why they were on the run. Cat had always been left in the dark . . . and now, those secrets had taken over her life.
“They agreed that I was right to kill Vince for daring to touch my woman.”
“B-but I’m not your woman.”
“You are now.”
35
You are now.
Hmm. He probably should have softened that blow a bit more. Still, he wasn’t expecting her to look so . . . horrified.
Her eyes went wide and she grew pale.
“Pequeña, it’s not a death sentence.”
“I’m yours now? What does that mean?”
“It means just that,” he told her in a gentle but firm tone. “You’re my girl. My woman. My sub. My Little. Everyone will know that you belong to Alejandro De Leon. It will give you protection in some ways. But also put a target on your back. So you’ll need to be protected at all times. You won’t be able to leave the house without guards. No more work. But you can buy whatever you like with my card, anyway. There’s no limit.”
Her mouth opened and closed.
“We can make it official, I guess. If that’s what you’d want. You’ll sleep in my bed every night. Questions?”
He frowned as she didn’t say anything and turned away from him. When she turned back, she was holding his Scotch. Before he could stop her, she was taking a large gulp.
“Whoa. Careful. You’re not supposed to take such a big mouthful.”
She started coughing and the Scotch ended up all over his face and shirt.
“And that’s why.” What was she thinking?
She continued coughing and he rubbed her back.
“Easy, the burn will fade.” He reached over to grab a tissue, wiping her streaming eyes and under her nose before he got another one to clean himself up.
“Why do you drink that? It’s like drinking liquid fire!” she said hoarsely.