Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Beaming at him, Essie studied his handsome face. She wanted to pinch herself again but knew Zander would punish her this time. He’d always meant what he warned her before. A massive yawn stretched her jaw. Essie blinked at him, not understanding how she could be sleepy with him so close.
“Shut your eyes, sweetheart. You’ve had an exciting but stressful day. It’s time to let yourself relax.”
He held her gaze until she closed her eyelids to escape from his perceptive eyes. The instant everything went dark, the last of her energy slipped away. Zander’s deep voice rumbled over her. Her final thought was how surprised she was that she could fall asleep with him watching and that she’d give anything to have this every night.
“I’d love that too, sweetheart. Sleep.” A whisper of warmth brushed her lips. With a happy sigh, Essie drifted to sleep.
Chapter Seven
Two days later, the sun rose over the beautiful Ferguson’s Folly’s garden to create a gorgeous day. The thunderstorms that had raced through last night had prevented the decorators from preparing for the children’s birthday party happening amongst the manicured floral displays. Essie threw herself into a frantic flurry of activity as she attached the bunting and balloons to decorative pillars surrounding the tables and game area.
Hanging out in her room to be alone, she and Zander had snatched as much time as possible between their busy schedules. Between sizzling kisses, they’d reconnected their lives, sharing highlights of their time apart and their hopes and dreams with each other. Together, they’d discussed a range of Daddy Dom and Little girl activities to figure out what they were interested in exploring and what didn’t appeal to them.
Essie still blushed at several items that appeared on his requirements: medical care, spanking and other punishments, bathing, and even a reward chart with her daily “chores”. She didn’t understand how he could define activities like eating regular meals, drinking water, and free time as chores, but Zander hadn’t budged on those requirements.
He’d come home last night with a chart and the cutest baby animal stickers. After taping the chart on the inside of her bathroom door where no one should see the display, Zander had absconded with the stickers. Essie picked up her new water bottle from one of the raised flower beds and took a big drink. Until she had a chance to search his room for those darn kitten and puppy stickers, she’d have to earn them the hard way.
Zander spotted her action and winked at her. Essie scolded herself when she smiled back. His approval shouldn’t mean that much. But it did. She stifled a moan when he leaned over to pick up a new bag of balloons to fill. His athletic ass was bitable. She snickered. She’d enjoy nibbling on any part of him.
Over the last two days, they’d kissed a lot—delicious, deep exchanges that left her wanting more. Zander hadn’t pressured her to take things faster. While he seemed really into her, other men had battered her confidence in the past. Could she be naked in front of him?
“Hey, I brought an extra set of hands,” Ivan called, showing up with his ethereal sister, Tiffanie. Essie bet a stiff breeze could knock Tiffanie over.
Eager to stop her self-reflection, Essie waved and called her greetings. Having chatted with Tiffanie repeatedly over the weeks Ivan had worked, enhancing the manor for the activities, Essie had learned Tiffanie wasn’t one for feeling sorry for herself despite her cancer treatments. The frail blonde pitched in whenever she could muster the energy. Essie treasured her newest friend’s sweet and positive nature. Bad things shouldn’t happen to such good people.
“Do I have a job for you!” Essie said. “Could I talk you into fluffing these bunting pieces? Then we could come grab them and hang them up. You know, like an assembly line?”
“Of course. I’m glad to whip them into shape,” Tiffanie said, claiming the chair and getting busy.
Ivan met Essie’s gaze and nodded his appreciation. He patted his sister on the back and hurried off to attend to a clogged toilet. “Hey, Zander! Good to see you!”
“Ivan! Thank goodness you’re here. We’ve got a dozen six-year-olds coming for a birthday party,” Zander said.
“Should I put down puppy pads to catch the oopsies on the bathroom floor?” Ivan joked.
“I wish!” Essie said and laughed. How lucky was she to get to work with this crew?
“The pony trailer is coming down the driveway,” Sara called from the doorway.
“I’ll go help get Bubbles unloaded and settled in the field,” Zander told Essie, stopping by where she stood to run his hand over her back. His touch sent shivers down her spine. “Save anything high for me. I don’t want you on a ladder.”
“Thank you! I’ll be good,” Essie assured him as she continued to decorate frantically. Of course, the birthday boy had to request a pony. She couldn’t use the tent for this one and had set everything up yesterday.