Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I stopped short and swung around, almost knocking over a display with my basket.
Fucking hell!
Not a goddamn word in the English language could describe how fucking proud I was, all of a sudden.
“Excuse me?” Oh, the guy wasn’t happy now either. “Look, bitch—”
“Whoa, we got a problem over here?” Was that Noa? It sounded like Noa.
I was ready to come running again. Nobody called my daughter a bitch and got away with it. But I was too curious to see how Noa and Hallie would work it out. I had to let my girl do this her way. She was clearly brilliant at brushing off idiots already.
“No,” the guy responded sourly. “Fuck this store anyway.”
“Yeah, okay,” Noa said, way more cheerful. “Have a blessed day, fucknut.”
I grinned to myself.
The guy must’ve walked off.
“Store policy—we have to be nice to customers,” Noa explained. “That’s why I like to bless their day.”
I stifled a laugh while Hallie let hers out.
“You did great,” Noa added. “Never take their shit.”
I made up my mind. I walked back toward the entrance and left my basket, then headed over to my truck.
This was her moment. Goddamn, I was proud of her. And when I saw Noa tomorrow, I’d give him a big hug.
Maybe I glanced around to see if I could spot a guy who might’ve insulted my baby girl, but unless it was that eightysomething-year-old over there in the motorized wheelchair, the blessed fucknut had already escaped.
It didn’t take long before Hallie appeared from the side of the building, and I couldn’t stop smiling at her.
“Hi, Dad! Why aren’t you in the truck?”
I shrugged. “The sun is nice. How was work?”
“It was great! Noa is like the big brother I wish I had.”
I chuckled and winced. “Baby, whatever war you and Dylan are waging on each other needs to fucking stop.”
“Whatever,” she sang.
I opened the door for her, but before she could climb up, I pulled her in for a hug.
I had to.
“I love you,” I murmured.
“I know, Daddy,” she chuckled awkwardly. “I love you too. Are you okay?”
“More than. I just want you to know that Dad and I are so proud of you.” I released her at last and nodded for her to jump in. “Tell me all about your day, and spare no details.”
I had to bide my time the following day, ’cause everyone was focused on the event—and so was I, of course. Nora and I faked it till we made it; she pretended to be a good slave, and I pretended to be a Master.
I was fairly sure I did more pretending than she did. She was a sub through and through and at least curious about high-protocol. I had zero interest in the Master/slave business.
That said, it felt great to be around kink again, and my buddies were hella forgiving.
Now, did it take the edge off? Not as much as I’d hoped. I was still thinking too much about James and Jordan, but as I’d told Penelope and Nora the other day—nothing had happened and nothing would. I’d made up my mind. Fucking around with my neighbors? That could get messy, and then what? I’d live right next to them.
At the end of the day, Nora and I gathered with the others just south of the pool out on the lawn, because it was time to see who won.
Nora stood slightly behind me, ’cause God forbid a slave stood next to you.
Reese was munching on one of the cookies the slaves had baked during the event. Part of the whole domestic servitude schtick.
“As always,” he said, brushing crumbs off his tee, “it’s been fun watching brats suffer.”
“I will make you suffer sometime!” Noa hollered.
KC sighed loudly at his boy. “Noa, I fucking swear. Shut your little piehole for one minute.”
I grinned.
Countless members had signed up for today’s event, even people like me who weren’t into the high-protocol shit. But it was part of a monthly challenge they were running, and competitive brats wanted to collect points.
This time, it’d been Reese, Penelope, and two newer members, Jack and August, who’d hosted the event.
They kept talking about what we’d done today, and maybe I zoned out a bit and focused on Nora. She’d taken one hell of a beating from me today, but the smile on her face calmed me down.
I was just rusty. It took some time to get back into the mind-set.
I folded my arms over my chest and glanced at her. “I know you’re gonna fuck off with your Mistress as soon as this is over, but I expect frequent updates on your mood after that beating. You hear?”
“Yes, Sir,” she said cheekily. “You can relax, Big Bear.”
I was trying—
“Anything you wanna share with the class, Ash?” Reese asked.
My bad. I faced forward again. “Sorry about that, sugar. Please proceed to tell us who won.”