Daring Daddy
Laylah Roberts
Laylah Roberts
Daring Daddy
© 2020, Laylah Roberts
[email protected]
laylahroberts.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
Cover Design by: Allycat’s Creations
Editing: Celeste Jones
Created with Vellum
Contents
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Books by Laylah Roberts
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Warrior Daddy
Motorcycle Daddy
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Books by Laylah Roberts
Doms of Decadence
Just for You, Sir
Forever Yours, Sir
For the Love of Sir
Sinfully Yours, Sir
Make me, Sir
A Taste of Sir
To Save Sir
Sir’s Redemption
Reveal Me, Sir
Montana Daddies
Daddy Bear
Daddy’s Little Darling
Daddy’s Naughty Darling (in the Dirty Daddies Anthology)
Daddy’s Sweet Girl
Daddy’s Lost Love
A Montana Daddies Christmas
Daring Daddy
Warrior Daddy (coming March 2020)
Haven, Texas Series
Lila’s Loves
Laken’s Surrender
Saving Savannah
Molly’s Man
Saxon’s Soul
Mastered by Malone
How West was Won
Cole’s Mistake (coming April, 2020)
Men of Orion
Worlds Apart
Cavan Gang
Rectify
Redemption
Redemption Valley
Audra’s Awakening
Old-Fashioned Series
An Old-Fashioned Man
Two Old-Fashioned Men
Her Old-Fashioned Husband
Her Old-Fashioned Boss
His Old-Fashioned Love
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Bad Boys of Wildeside
Wilde
Sinclair
Luke
1
Night of Bear and Ellie’s Wedding
“Dance with me?”
He was talking to someone else, right?
He had to be because the only times he ever spoke to her were to scold or criticize. No way he’d ever ask her to dance.
And obviously, you know, she couldn’t freaking dance anyway.
She kept her gaze down, not wanting to see who he was speaking to. Because then she’d get that tight, nasty feeling in her tummy. The same one she got whenever she thought about him with someone else. Someone that wasn’t her.
She hated this feeling. Because it meant she cared. And she did not want to care about Zeke Jonas.
Caring about people only led to heartbreak.
“Eden? Are you ignoring me? That’s not very polite is it? Although I’m not sure why I was expecting you to suddenly develop manners.”
Oh no, he didn’t just say that. The ass.
Her head shot up. “I have manners, you jerk. But I only use them on people that deserve them.”
“What did I do to earn your ire tonight, hmm, princess?”
Christ, where had that stupid nickname come from? She had no idea but she hated it.
And secretly loved it.
Nope. Not going there. Zeke Jonas was a pain in her ass. Always thinking he had the right to tell her what to do.
“My name isn’t princess and aren’t you about to dance?”
Except, as she looked around, she noticed that there was no one else close by. So, who had he been asking talking to?
“Well, I was hoping to, but the person I was asking seems more intent on biting my head off than letting me spin her around the dance floor.” There was amusement in his voice but that only served to fuel her anger.
And sadness.
“You know, even though you seem to live for pissing me off, I didn’t think you could be cruel.” She grabbed the wheels of her chair, ready to push herself away.
Asshole. Jerk. Bastard.
This is just what she needed to remind her that she should hold no soft feelings for Zeke Jonas.
He grabbed the back of her chair. Most people hesitated to touch her chair, to touch her. Not Zeke. “Cruel? What the hell do you mean? How is asking you to dance being cruel?”
She glared at him over her shoulder. “You’re not dumb, Zeke. But if you need me to point out the obvious, I will. I can’t dance.”
Duh.
The word was unspoken but clearly implied. Around them people continued to talk and laugh, not paying the two of them any attention. Glasses clinked against one another. People danced a few feet away from them. The trees had fairy lights strung through their branches, giving off a soft, gentle light.
Zeke moved around to block her path. Then he leaned in so their noses were only inches apart. Which made it all too easy to see his anger.
“Do you think I’m mocking you, Eden? You really think I’d do something so horrible?”
No. He wouldn’t. As much as he seemed to constantly disapprove of her, to disagree with everything she did, he wasn’t mean.
“N-no.”
“No. I wouldn’t. I would never do that to you. Ever.” He placed his hands on hers, squeezing lightly.
“Sorry,” she managed to get out. And she was. What had she been thinking? She guessed she hadn’t been. She’d seen a reason to lash out and she had, without thinking.
So broken and sad.
Crap, what was wrong with her? She had no right to feel this way. She still breathed in air. Still got to experience life.
Her parents didn’t.
She shouldn’t be sitting here in the shadows, feeling sorrow over the fact that she’d never have someone who would look at her the way Bear looked at Ellie. With utter adoration. The whole white wedding and happy-ever-after wasn’t in the cards for her.
“You want to tell me what’s wrong?” Zeke asked. There was no anger in his voice now. He’d taken her apology and moved on.
“No,” she replied honestly.
He huffed out a laugh. “Well, at least you’re not lying to me, princess.”
Did he really think she was a princess? Grr, why was she letting him tie in her knots?
He gently squeezed her hand. “Dance with me, Eden.”
“How?” she asked, wi
th a frown.
“By trusting me.”
“I don’t trust people easily.”
“I know you don’t. But you know you can trust me, don’t you? I won’t hurt you. I’d never let anything harm you.”
It sounded like a vow. A promise. But she tried not to read anything into it. Maybe he’d been drinking. Maybe he was affected by the romantic atmosphere. Or maybe he did mean it, but in a platonic way. She was part of Sanctuary. The men on the ranch were very protective of the women who lived there. And Zeke was no different.
He was close to her brothers as well, which was why he seemed to be constantly pushing himself into her business.
“Dance with me, Eden. Trust me.”
Nope, she wasn’t going to do it. No way.
“All right.”
Oh, crap.
Amusement filled him. Could she have sounded less enthusiastic? As though he was asking her to have a colonoscopy rather than to dance with him. But he didn’t take offense. That was Eden. She didn’t open up with others. Communication wasn’t her strong point. Secrets lurked in those hazel eyes.
But she had been known to lose that control. She’d lost it several times around him. When she was angry. Or scared.
Like the night he’d gone with Kent to collect her from Suck ‘n Blow when those assholes had cornered her in the parking lot, and threatened to rape her.
That night she’d been terrified. Anyone who didn’t know her as well might not have seen it. But he’d made an art out of studying Eden Jensen. When she was scared, she tended to ramble. And that night, she’d talked non-stop all the way back to the ranch. He’d wanted to take her to the hospital to get checked over and he’d been furious that she’d talked her brother into letting her go home instead. The fact that he hadn’t had the right to make that decision for her care still burned a hole in his gut.
One day, soon, he would.
And she wouldn’t wrap him around her little finger the way she did her brothers. He wouldn’t bow to her pleas if it meant jeopardizing her health and safety. Once she was his, he would firmly take the reins.
He would always put her first. But he intended to ensure that she followed his rules. And if there was ever any dispute, he would have the final say.
Right now, though, he pushed those thoughts aside. This wasn’t the time to assert his claim.
Slow and steady would win him Eden. He was going to slide on through those barriers she’d erected around herself. Discover all those secrets she kept hidden until he knew her better than she knew herself.
Strategize. Battle. Win.
“Well?” Eden asked him. “Have you changed your mind already? Not sure exactly how you’re planning on doing this. . .oomph.” She let out a startled cry as he picked her up. “What are you doing?”
He held her against his chest, the way he’d imagined doing so many times before. Her chest against his, one arm strong and sure under her bottom, his other arm around her back holding her tight. Keeping her close. And secure.
“I’m dancing with you.” He started swaying with the beat, moving from side to side. Dancing had never been his thing, but he’d noticed the way she’d watched everyone else as they danced. With a hint of longing and sadness.
She didn’t know how many nights he’d followed her and sat in the shadows of whatever bar she’d gone to with her idiot friends to watch over her.
Too bad you weren’t following her that night she got cornered at the Suck ‘n Blow.
Those assholes wouldn’t have gotten close to her. He wished he knew what she’d been doing there that night. But she had refused to tell him. Multiple times.
When she was his, holding things back would be completely unacceptable.
Patience.
“Like this?” she squeaked as he turned gently.
“How else?”
“I-I don’t know. But this doesn’t. . .I mean. . . what if you drop me?”
He paused. Was she for real? He stared down at her. “Eden, don’t you know? I’ll never drop you.”
She snorted. “You say that, but I’ll get heavy after a while. I’ll become too much for you to handle. Then you’ll let me go.”
He got the feeling that she wasn’t talking about him holding her right now. He dipped his mouth down to her ear. “I know just how to handle you, baby girl. No matter what you throw at me.”
He felt her shiver and knew it wasn’t because she was cold.
“I’m not throwing anything at you. I’m talking about you carrying me like this.”
“No, you’re not.”
He drew his head back, holding her gaze with his as he moved to the beat. Sort of. He wasn’t a dancer. However, there wasn’t much he wouldn’t do to give her what she desired.
“Zeke, you should put me down,” she told him. Her voice sounded breathless.
“You look so beautiful. When I first caught sight of you, my breath caught in my chest. I had to think unsexy thoughts to keep myself from growing so hard that someone noticed.”
“Zeke!” she squeaked. “You can’t say things like that.”
“I like to always tell the truth. I don’t like lies and deceptions, Eden.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked defensively. “That I lie?”
“You and I both know there’s so much going on inside that you don’t let out. I know you have your secrets, princess. And I’m going to uncover each one.”
Maybe it wasn’t the best strategy, letting her know his intentions. It might just shore up her defenses further.
As if she had that same thought, she grew tense. “My secrets are my own. They’re not even that interesting.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Everything you do is interesting.”
She snorted. “You can’t have much of a life if you need to go digging around in mine.”
If he had his way, she would become his life. His reason for getting up in the morning. For going to sleep each night. Maybe even with a smile on his face.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d genuinely smiled. He might strain something if he tried.
“You can’t hide from me forever. I see you. I’ll always see you.”
“Careful, you’re starting to sound like a stalker.”
Hmm, if only she knew. . .
“I think the song has changed; you can put me back down now.”
“No.”
“No?” She tried to pull back but he held her tight.
“Easy, princess. Just settle down.”
“Settle down? Do you remember who you’re talking to?”
Ahh, there was her prickly side. He enjoyed both her softness and her bite.
“Oh, I’d never forget you. The person who torments me night and day.”
“I do not torment you.” There was a hesitant note in her voice.
“You keep me up at night, with thoughts of what it might feel like to have you touch me, kiss me, wrap your hand around my—”
She reached up and placed her hand over his mouth. “Zeke!”
He turned his head, dislodging her hand. He had to laugh as she glared up at him. “I was only going to say my bicep.”
“No, you weren’t. If my brothers hear you. . .”
“What? Will they get out the shotgun?”
“Probably,” she muttered. “You’ve seen how overprotective they are.”
“Not protective enough in my opinion.” Not nearly as protective as he would be once he got her in his bed, under his roof, subject to his command.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing that we need to discuss right now.”
“Urgh, you’re infuriating. Will you please set me down?”
He stepped back into the shadows of the trees until they were completely hidden. He leaned her back against a tree and slid his leg between hers so she was riding his thigh. He kept hold of her hips, not wanting to risk her falling. She’d never fall with him around.
“If I had my way; I
’d never let you leave my arms.”
“Zeke, why are you saying these things to me?”
“You haven’t guessed yet that I want you?” How could she have missed it?
“How would I have guessed that? You’re always snapping and snarling at me. Calling me a brat. Telling Clint that he should be stricter on me.”
“You are a brat. And he should be stricter on you. That doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”
“What are we? Five? Were you the sort of boy to pull girls pigtails because you secretly liked them?”
“I have never pulled your hair,” he rumbled. “Although the thought of you in pigtails. . .yes, we need to make that happen.”
She tensed in his arms. “In your dreams.”
“Oh, you most definitely feature in my dreams.”
He could hear the way her breathing hitched. Did she like that idea? He’d caught the longing looks she’d given Charlie and her friends. All of them were Littles with daddies to take care of them. Eden wanted that. He knew she did.
And he intended to give it to her. To give her the security of his guidance and command. His rules and boundaries. His love and tenderness. That last part didn’t come so easily to him. But he’d learned over the years that Littles required gentleness. So, he’d worked on that side of himself, in preparation for having a Little of his own.
For having her.
“I think you like the idea of me putting your hair in pigtails. Maybe braids. A cute little dress. Yellow. Something that comes to just below your bottom so when you bend over, I can catch sight of white, ruffled panties.”
“I’m not a Little.”
“You are,” he countered. “You’re just scared to admit it.”
He held her securely between him and the tree, but he was all too aware of the warmth of her pussy against his thigh.
Daring Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 5) Page 1