Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“I don’t want a break. I’m her mama. I have to stay with her.”
“And we’re her daddies,” Spencer said. “Unless you don’t think that we can take care of Hope?”
It was surprisingly aggressive from Spencer. But right now, Indie needed firmness. And they could all see it.
“One night,” Quaid told her quietly. “That’s all I ask. You can have a bath and relax. I’ll take care of everything. You don’t have to think or do anything. Just relax.”
“It doesn’t feel right to leave her.”
“Spencer and Rock will be here. They won’t take their eyes off her.”
“I promise,” Spencer said.
She gazed from Spencer to Quaid, chewing at her lip.
“Sometimes a break to recharge your batteries helps you better cope with everything,” Quaid told her. “You take care of yourself so you can take care of her.”
“All right. I’ll come home.”
Thank God.
Several hours later, Quad walked into the living room of their penthouse with a mug of hot chocolate for his girl, only to find she’d disappeared.
Frowning, he went searching for her.
The Christmas tree was still up, the presents underneath. They’d decided to postpone Christmas until Hope was home.
Moving down the hallway, he checked the bedrooms, then the playroom.
Where was she?
Setting the hot chocolate down on the table, he looked in the teepee.
Not there.
Fuck. Would she have gone back to the hospital on her own?
He was about to yell out for Slade when he realized the wardrobe door was open.
Could she be . . .
Walking over, he pushed the door open slightly. Surprise and sadness filled him as he found her huddled in the corner with Gary in her arms.
What should he do? Was she in Little headspace? He’d explained to her that he wasn’t a Daddy Dom. That he preferred to be Sir to Daddy. He didn’t think he had enough of the softer emotions to take care of a Little.
Then again . . . he also didn’t want to be an emotionless bastard all his life.
However, he wasn’t going to call Slade to come take care of her. Slade was giving the two of them some time to themselves which he was grateful for.
“Hey, baby girl.” Walking into the wardrobe, Quaid sat in front of her. “You okay?”
Dumb question.
Obviously, she wasn’t okay.
“I’m going to pick you up.” He lifted her into his lap and hugged her tight as she let out a protest. “I know it’s hard to be away from Hope. I know it’s scary. But she’s in good hands and frankly, right now, I’m more worried about you than her.”
Silence.
How to get her to talk?
Maybe she’ll talk if you talk.
Shit. Not his forte, but he’d try.
He rocked her back and forth. “When Spencer called and said you were being rushed to hospital, I thought I was going to lose my mind. I imagined the worst, that we’d lose you both. That one of you might die. I . . . I don’t think I could have gone on if I’d lost you, baby girl.”
She sighed, relaxing into him. “I’m still so scared.”
“I know you are,” he murmured, turning her to face him. He cupped her face between his hands. “But you have to look after yourself in order to look after Hope. We have to make sure that you get enough rest. That you’re happy. Or she won’t be.”
“How do I do that?” she cried. “I feel so numb.”
She did?
Shit. If anyone knew about feeling numb, it was him.
“I think I pushed everything deep just to get through it and now I can’t access any of it. I’m scared. Always scared. But I can’t seem to express it. I can’t get it out. It’s stuck inside me.”
She leaned forward and he rubbed her back. “What would help?”
“I don’t know.”
He hummed. “When I feel myself losing control, I go to the gym. But you want to lose control not keep hold of it, so you should . . .”
“Laze on the sofa and eat chocolate?”
He snorted. “You could do that. You could also spend some time in Little headspace? Your Little might be able to find those emotions. To relax.”
“Maybe,” she said. “I don’t know how to do that. And you won’t want . . . you won’t want that.”
He cupped her chin, giving her a firm look. “I want you no matter what. Little or Big. Submissive or bratty. Understand?”
“I’m never bratty,” she grumbled.
He had to smile. They’d see.
Indie stared up at him in amazement.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You are just so gorgeous when you smile.”
“Thank you, baby girl.” Leaning in, he kissed her nose. “I can handle your Little. More than that, I want to take care of her. Show me her. Do you think you can trust me with this?”
“I trust you with everything. But I’m not very good at slipping into Little headspace on my own; the guys usually help e.”