The heat rises in my face and I know, for certain, I’ll never be able to hide my reaction from my very perceptive friend. Horrorstricken, I watch as she studies my face, her eyes widening in disbelief.
She says in a hushed whisper, “No. Way. Oh, my God.”
I stand from the bed, going to the other end of the room, which is only a few inches from her. “Stop. Just stop and let’s pretend this conversation never, ever happened. Let’s just finish packing, get my stuff to the new apartment, then go out dancing like we planned.”
She holds her hands beneath her chin, batting her eyes. “Does your daddy let you go out at night all by your little self?”
“Lulu...” I warn.
She laughs, collapsing onto the bed. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. But after I get a few drinks in you, you have to spill it, and tell me everything about your kinky ass sex life.”
Mortified, I shake my head. “Not going to happen.”
She shakes her finger at me. “We’ll see. I know how loose a few margaritas make your tongue. Two drinks and all your secrets come tumbling out.”
I hope she’s wrong.
We finish packing. Get the boxes and a very cranky Mr. Stuffings to the apartment. Luke isn’t there, having planned to be out to give us space to unpack. My cat tiptoes around the place, sniffing everything disdainfully. Then, satisfied he’s smelled everything there is to smell, he curls up on the red rug and naps.
Lulu and I order pizza and collapse onto the couch. Luke stops by to meet Lulu and hangs out for a while. When he leaves, Lulu tells me he’s a ‘hottie,’ and with a body like that he can spank her anytime, which only serves to further embarrass me.
Thanks, Lulu.
After lunch and a rest, Lulu takes the car back to the apartment to shower and dress. The car will return to me, and then I’ll take it to pick her back up and we’ll go out.
I take a nap in the huge bed, so grateful to be living in this beautiful apartment with Luke. I shower, and dress in a short little silver number that’s perfect for a night out with my girl.
Luke pops in to see me before I leave. Taking me in with lust-filled eyes, he lets out a low whistle.
I do a spin, showing off my figure in the dress.
He shakes his head. “I can’t believe I’m letting you out in that.”
I say, “Letting me? No one tells me what to wear.”
One dark brow shoots up high in the air. “No one but your daddy, little girl. If I tell you to change, you’ll change.”
I study his face trying to gauge his seriousness. Knowing Luke, he’s joking. He’s bossy when it comes to my safety, but he’s not the kind of man to tell his woman how to dress. I tease back, “You won’t make me because you like looking at me in this too much.”
A smile cracks his face. “You’re right. The things I’d like to do to you in that tiny little dress.” He takes me in his arms, kissing me. His hands go to the hem of the short number, inching it up over my thighs.
I push it back down, shooing him away. “Stop that. You’ll make me late.”
Disappointed, he asks, “What time are you supposed to pick Lulu up?”
I say, “In ten minutes.”
“Then you’d best get going. But first, my rules.” Sitting on the bed, he pulls me down onto his lap.
I wrap my arms around his neck, pouting. “What rules?”
His eyes search mine. “You really think I’d let my baby girl out on the town without laying down the rules first?”
His protective nature causes a warmth to spread over my chest. I ask, “What are your rules, Daddy?”
He says, “No drinking too much. No dancing too close with strange men.”
I assure him, “I’m just going to dance with Lulu. We have so much fun, just the two of us. And she won’t give a man the time of day—you don’t have to worry about her.”
“I’m not finished,” he says, giving me his daddy tone. “You keep your phone on you and answer me if I call you.”
I agree to his requests, but I have to sass back a little—it’s in my nature. “I’ll be fine. I went out before we dated, and I can take care of myself—I’m a big girl.”
He stares back, not a hint of joking in his eyes. “A big girl who’s going to find herself over Daddy’s lap with her panties around her ankles if she doesn’t answer my calls.”
The panties he speaks of suddenly feel damp. My throat feels tight. I clear it with a cough, squeezing my thighs together. “I’ll be good. I promise.”
“Just answer my call so I know you’re safe. And keep the driver outside the club till you’re ready to go. And—”
I put my hand on his chest. “Don’t drink too much. I got it, Daddy.”
He says, “It’s just that I care about you and I want you to be safe. If anything ever happened to you...”
I say, “It won’t. I’m a very safe, grown woman.”
He places a gentle kiss on my cheek. “And you’re my little girl.”
I melt, suddenly not wanting to leave at all.
He stands me up and gives my bottom a pat. “You’d best get going. Lulu will be waiting for you.”
When I pull up to my old building, she’s waiting outside. Her long red hair tumbles over her shoulders, whipping in the wind. She wears a short turquoise shimmery dress with long sleeves and heels, making her already long legs look positively endless. A huge bright pink purse hangs from her arm.
She climbs into the backseat of the car. “It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for hours.”
I say, “I’m five minutes late.”
“Well, it felt like ages. I’m just so excited.” She bounces in her seat, clapping her hands.
Her excitement is contagious. “Me too. Where do you want to go first?”
She presses her hand against her flat stomach. “I’m starving. That pizza did nothing for me. After moving all those boxes, I could eat a horse. Where should we go?”
“It depends on what you’re in the mood for. You can fulfill any craving now that you live in the city.”
She gives a dramatic pause, thinking it over. “Hmm... how about a hotdog from the cart?”
I laugh. “You’re dressed impeccably, we have our own driver, we can go anyplace you want, and you want a hotdog? From a cart?”
She shrugs. “I have simple tastes.”
“Sounds delicious. Let’s go.” I tell the driver our request.
We eat hotdogs and drink sodas in the park like a couple of teenagers. She has me laughing so hard, I snort diet cola up my nose and have to beg the man at the cart for a dozen napkins to mop it up. When I recover, I say, “I’ve missed you, Lulu.”
“I’ve missed you too. I’m so glad we’ll be in the city together. But when you eventually marry this Bachman character, will I still be allowed to see you? Aren’t there like, rules against it?”
“We haven’t talked about marriage. I wouldn’t make an assumption. And even if, of course we’d still be able to see one another. Remember Charlotte Greene from back home? She married a Bachman and I still see her all the time.”
She says, “But it won’t be the same, will it?”
“I don’t know. But you’ll make other friends here. And besides, who knows? Maybe you’ll fall for a Bachman guy yourself,” I tease.
She looks at me as if I’m crazy, her red brows knitting into one. “Do you know me? I could never let a guy tell me what to do.”
I shrug, “It’s not so bad. There are perks to having a guy look after you, you know.”
She licks a drop of mustard from her knuckles. “Like what?”
I think of Luke and a delicious warmth spreads over my whole body. “Like, I don’t know. Knowing a man would do anything to protect you, to make sure you’re safe. To go out of his way to do little things to make you happy, to put a smile on your face. It’s wonderful.”
She says, “Aww... you’re almost making me rethink my stance on the uselessness of the male sex.”
“Do
n’t be so cold. You know what they say about people who protest something too much,” I tease.
She shakes her head adamantly. “Never. I will never, ever fall for a guy like that. You can mark my words. Right here, right now.”
I say, “Let’s drop it. Ready to dance?”
She puts her hand over her belly. “Ugh. I’m too full to dance. Besides, it’s early. Let’s go get a drink first.”
We have the driver take us to an old church that was renovated into a bar. I’ve heard it’s the hottest place right now for people our age to go for a drink. When we arrive, it’s more beautiful than I’ve heard it described.
Lit candles hang from sconces on the stone walls. A huge crystal chandelier looms over the dark wood bar. A woman in a silver gown softly plays a grand piano, the music floating through the room. Everyone is dressed to impress.
The place is packed. Lulu presses forward and manages to get us two seats at the bar.
“This place is unbelievable,” she breathes, looking around and taking it in.
I agree. “A lot better than any of those seedy pool halls back at home.”
She gives a happy sigh. “This is much better. I think I’m going to like city living.”
We order drinks. And talk. And laugh. About an hour later we debate leaving to find a dance club, but this place is so enchanting we decide to stay.
Lulu’s been studying journalism and finally landed a job that paid well enough for her to live in the city. I ask, “You never told me which paper ended up hiring you.”
Her nose squinches up like she’s smelled something awful. “That’s because it’s embarrassing.”
“It shouldn’t be. I’ve only worked in a jewelry store and a club. That’s it. Tell me!” I demand.
“Okay, okay, but if anyone from back home asks, you have to lie and say I work for the New Yorker,” she jokes.
“Just spill it,” I say.
Her brow crinkles and she lifts her hands as if in apology. “It’s The Spread.”
I ask, “That tabloid magazine with all the scandalous spreads about celebrities?”
She covers her face, her voice squeaking out, “The very same piece of trash.”
“Are you kidding? I love that magazine!”
She lets out a groan. “But it’s total garbage.”
I shake my head. “Not to me. Sometimes we need a little salacious reading to get our minds off our own screwed-up lives. Those trashy magazines got me through some tough times.”
She gives an understanding nod. “Living with your mom?”
“Yeah,” I answer.
Her face wrinkles with disgust. “God, that was so depressing. Her trying to dress like you, do her hair like you. Oh, my God, do you remember when she got those blue contacts because one of her boyfriends complimented your eyes? Gross.”
My stomach turns, remembering that terrible time. My mother hating me, yet trying to be me. The men she dated had no morals, unable to keep their eyes off her teen daughter. Jealousy ate at her till I was finally old enough to be kicked out.
Luke is so protective of me; I can only imagine he would be even more so with his own little girl. If a man like one of my mom’s boyfriends ever came around his teen daughter—let’s just say heads would roll.
The door of the bar busts wide open, interrupting my thoughts. In the doorway stands a very angry daddy. I murmur to myself, “Why is Luke here, and why is he so angry?”
“What did you say?” Lulu asks.
“Shit!” Dipping into my purse, I find my phone, pulling it out as he storms over to us. “Ten missed calls? How did that happen?”
She asks, “Your ringer must have been off. What’s the problem?”
Nodding, I gesture behind her. “Him.”
After giving me a curious stare, she spins her stool to see what holds my attention. Livid, Luke is hovering over her shoulder. “Oh. Shit is right. He’s pissed. Do you think it’s because I sent the driver home?”
She sent the driver home! Double shit. Thinking of Luke’s rules, I search her face, begging, “Tell me you didn’t.”
She shrugs. “When we were getting out of the car, I figured he could use the night off, so I sent him home and told him we’d take a cab.”
Double shit, and double trouble.
Luke’s hands lock onto his hips. He’s staring past her, his fiery gaze zoned in on me. “Tori, Lulu, let’s go.”
Nervous, I’m expecting Lulu to stand from her chair and go on some rant to Luke about how he has no right to be here. How I can do as I please. Give him a lecture on equality and woman power.
I’m surprised to find her lowering her gaze. Looking flustered, like a naughty girl; one who’s in trouble. She’s grabbing my elbow, tugging me toward him. “We’d better get moving.”
But I’m not going out that easily. I throw my hand on my hip. “What are you doing here, Luke?”
“Do you really need to ask, young lady?” He raises a brow so high, it makes my butt cheeks clench.
But I can’t back down. Not with Lulu watching. I toss my hair over my shoulder. “Last time I checked, overprotective boyfriends were not invited to Girls’ Night Out.”
He gives a low growl. “I’m going to count to three and if you’re not standing right here,” he points to the floor before him, “when I get to three, so help me I will put you right over my knee. Right now. Right here. One—”
My resolve dissolves. “Coming!” I scurry over to where he and Lulu stand, ignoring the look of surprise in her face.
Standing between us, Luke wraps one of his long arms around my waist, another around Lulu’s. He leads us out of the bar to the car he has waiting. The driver opens the door and Lulu scurries in. I climb in next, then Luke.
The door shuts.
Should I start explaining to him now, or wait till we’re alone?
The submissive cloud that momentarily wrapped around Lulu has dissipated into the night. She sits, sulking, arms crossed over her chest.
Is she... pouting?
She sniffs, “I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”
Luke growls, “It was after one in the morning. You two told me you’d be home by midnight. Midnight.”
She snaps, “What—do we turn into a pumpkin when the clock strikes twelve?”
I hold in a nervous giggle.
Staring over me, he gives her his dangerous daddy gaze. “No, but you could have the common decency to answer a call from a worried man, or better yet, give a call to tell me you’d be late. It’s common courtesy.”
To my surprise, she wilts beneath his gaze, muttering something unintelligible.
We arrive at her building. She gives me a quick goodbye hug, whispering in my ear, “Good luck with your caveman.”
I say, “Thanks. Good night.”
Leaning over me, Luke gives her a wave. “Bye now, Lulu. Be good.”
My friend’s cheeks turn pink. She closes the door.
We watch to make sure she gets into the building safely, then our driver pulls from the curve. We’re headed to my new home.
Where I’m in big trouble.
I know it for a fact, when Luke turns to me and says, “You’re in big trouble.” He settles back down in his seat. “And you’re not the only one who needs a firm hand. Your friend is in desperate need of a daddy. And a good hard spanking.”
Forgetting my own trouble, I snort, thinking of Lulu going head to head with a dom. “My man-hating friend? I highly doubt it. What makes you say that?”
He shakes his head. “I can spot them a mile away. Especially the ones like her, always touting off some feminist notion, telling other women what is acceptable in their relationships. Not realizing that true feminism means letting a woman choose what’s right for them—even if it means having a daddy.”
I argue, “But she despises men. I don’t see her being submissive to a man, let alone calling one Daddy and letting them... spank her.”
A dark chuckle escapes him as he wraps his a
rm around my shoulders. “She needs it. She’s longing for it. She wants nothing more than to put up a fight against a strong man and lose terribly. To have him take all her power away as he takes her into his arms.”
Better get the cuddles while I can. Nestling against him, I say, “Did you know that about me? When I first started working at the club.”
“You? You were the most desperate case I’d seen in a long time. I knew you were a baby girl from the moment I laid eyes on you. If I didn’t think I had you figured out, I knew for sure at the dishwasher.”
Racking my brain, I try to think of what time he’s referring to. “What do you mean?”
“I had just told you how important it was to be sure you stand away from the dishwasher when you open it so the steam doesn’t burn you. The very first time you went to open it, you were hanging over it, exactly how I had told you not to. I grabbed your arm and said, ‘Are you forgetting something, young lady?’ Your face flushed and your breathing changed. And I knew.”
I remember the feeling I got when he said the words, young lady. The fluttering of butterfly wings taking flight in my tummy. “I remember.”
Lowering his mouth to my ear, he whispers, “When we get home, I’m going to make you remember how important it is that you listen to Daddy’s words. And obey my rules when I’m not there to protect you.”
I murmur, “I didn’t realize my ringer was on silent, or that Lulu sent the driver away.”
He says, “That’s one.”
“One what?” I ask.
“Excuse. And therefore, lick with my belt.”
A cold creeping rises in my belly. “What do you mean? No way.”
He raises a brow in warning. “Yes way.”
Scooting away from him, I protest, “But I didn’t even know what time it was. That’s not fair.”
“That’s two,” he says.
“This is crazy! It wasn’t my fault.”
“And that’s three. Want to keep going?”
Slumping down in my seat, I remain silent for the rest of the ride.
Competing emotions flood me as I imagine what it will feel like to have his brown leather belt come down across my backside. Excitement tightens my core, making my pussy slick. Nervous energy fills my stomach as I tremble with dread.
Say Daddy: A Mafia Billionaire Romance Page 11