Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“You were amazing, Quinn. Don’t escape back into your head.”
“How did you know?” I groaned when he shifted around to dispose of the condom. He was right, but after so much time spent apart I was surprised that he read me so easily.
“I’ve been paying more attention than you give me credit for,” he said quietly.
“Shower? Bed? I’m not a night owl anymore. Not when I have responsibilities.” I didn’t acknowledge what he said only because I wasn’t sure how to answer. It wasn’t really anything about what he was doing, and more about my deep-seated fears. I had to work through them and trust him. At the end of the day it was me versus me when it came to feeling worthy and seen. His guidelines and structure helped immensely, but I needed to allow myself room to bloom no matter what.
“Sure, spitfire. We have an early day. I’ll make you pancakes.”
“And spank me in the kitchen?” I waggled my eyebrows. “A spanking a day keeps the sass away or whatever?”
“While that’s an excellent motto, babygirl, your ass will still be sore tomorrow morning.” He leaned down and kissed my hip. “Don’t worry, we’ll reassess in the evening. Perhaps a bedtime session.”
“And the next day? And the next day?” I grabbed his hands in mine.
“Absolutely. Whatever I have to do to remind you that I’m not going anywhere.” Callum tugged me to the edge of the mattress, stood and swept me into his arms bridal-style.
“Yes, Daddy. I know you mean it. And I look forward to spending more time together.”
“Good girl. I’m going to keep showing up until you finally feel it in your heart, beautiful.”
“And if I don’t feel it there, you’ll make sure my ass feels it?”
“Don’t you start, spitfire,” he said, chuckling as he walked us to the bathroom.
I was kidding mostly, but his words held weight. Things had started off a bit rocky, but his handling of the situation and the improvements he’d already taken care of along with plans for bigger things around the ranch showed me that despite my initial resistance, we were better as a team.
Chapter Five
Quinn
Two weeks of being bent over the kitchen nook and having my ass pinkened by Callum had settled my brat. Or bent over the couch, or his bed, or previously mentioned hay bale.
Who was I kidding? I was only mostly compliant. My mouth walked me into trouble more often than I cared for, as if I had no control. It had been easier to hand him the reins on our relationship, but not so easy when it came to matters of the ranch.
“I hear you, Callum,” I grumbled into the table. He had been lecturing while he spoke. I was only half listening, which was unfortunately an ongoing issue.
“What did I say, spitfire?”
“Something about staying away from the northwest pasture until the… something is… uh… fixed.” I blinked. What had he been dithering on about?
“Listen carefully, Quinn. Please pay attention. I’m not speaking because I love the sound of my voice.” He landed a few hard swats on my bare bottom. “The southeast pasture is off-limits until the fence is fixed. I don’t need you and Glimmer getting hurt.”
“Right, that’s what I said,” I pointed out. “Don’t go there because we can get hurt.”
“Close but you misheard me, beautiful. You said northwest. Commit the spot to memory. It matters which one because if you go riding and the fence is broken Glimmer can get stuck or wreck it. Worse than that, you could get hurt. Now, tell Daddy. Which pasture is off-limits?”
Callum targeted my tender sit-spots several times in a row. “Ouch! Southeast! I am listening. Promise.”
“What did I say about the black-eyed Susans?”
My mind went blank. What did wildflowers have to do with his lesson of the day? “I admit you’ve got me there, Daddy.”
“I knew you weren’t listening fully, babygirl. I added in some nonsense to see where your head was at. I told you that I replaced every flower in Nana’s garden with black-eyed Susan. Remember now?”
Callum rubbed his fingers into each of my bottom cheeks and it wasn’t pleasant. He found a partially sore spot. “Ow, Daddy. My ears are working but my brain is a million miles away.”
“Let’s finish up so we can get to our tasks. I have plans for us this afternoon.”
We had eaten breakfast and shared two cups of coffee, our typical routine. That he had something else planned piqued my interest. It trumped everything else on my to-do list. He shifted me, pulling my hips closer.
I raised myself up on my elbows. “Is this going to turn into something sexier, Sir?”
“Head down, babygirl. We aren’t done.”
“Yes, Daddy.” But I didn’t comply. Callum cupped his palm around my mound and I pressed into the movement, arching and moaning. He leaned across my body.