Page 117 of Daddy's Trust
“There’s something more, isn’t there?” he asked.
“It isn’t real.”
“What do you mean, it isn’t real?”
“I know you feel responsible for me, but you aren’t really,” she wrote. “You aren’t my Daddy Dom. I’m not your . . . your problem. You’re a good person and you seem to truly care, but you don’t have to pretend to be anything because you think I need it. I want someone who takes care of me, who is my Daddy, because it’s what he needs and wants as well. Does that make sense?”
Cash was silent for a long moment, and she wondered if she’d said the wrong thing. The last thing she ever wanted was to upset him.
Was she being an idiot? Here he was, watching over them in his free time, maybe even putting his life at risk. And she was complaining because she didn’t like the way he was doing it.
“I’m sorry,” she typed. “Just ignore all that. You can do whatever you want.”
What was she thinking? She always just went along with what anybody else wanted. Why couldn’t she do that now?
Him trying to Daddy her hurt more because it wasn’t real.
But she couldn’t tell him that, could she? That she wanted it to be real, but she knew it never would be. And that it would hurt even more to say goodbye.
Yep, she’d made a total mess of this.
“Why are you apologizing for telling me what you need?” he said to her. “Don’t do that. You told me what was wrong. You were honest with me. I appreciate that. Do you think you’ve upset me?”
She twisted her fingers together. “Haven’t I?”
This time she spoke and her voice seemed to sound a bit better. Or maybe that was wishful thinking.
Suddenly, his hand slid over hers. “Nope, you haven’t. I’m in the wrong here, Addie. And even if I wasn’t, we can still talk about it. We’re adults. We know how to communicate, right?”
He might. She was pretty shitty at the whole communication thing. She tapped at the tablet as if to show him that.
“You know that’s not what I mean by communication. You can still use your words by typing them.”
Darn it.
“What if I don’t want to use my words?” she said, her throat complaining.
Shoot.
“There is nothing wrong with going non-verbal sometimes, as long as you communicate when you need to. Being non-verbal also requires a level of trust. You have to know that the person with you is going to look after you. That they aren’t going to push you too far, or into something that you don’t want.”
He was right. It would require a lot of trust.
“I get why you feel this way, Addie. We barely know each other, and here I am claiming ownership over you.” He gave her a small smile. “Would it make a difference if I told you that all of this caught me by surprise too? I wasn’t just trying to give you what I thought you wanted. My Daddy side wants to look after you, but you can always tell me if you don’t want something. I’m not ever going to get mad at you for telling me the truth.”
Jesus, how was he so perfect? It boggled her mind.
It was like someone had reached into her brain and plucked out a man that would be perfect for her. It was just cruel that she couldn’t have him.
“Can I give you a hug?” he asked.
The way she was feeling right now, with her skin all tingly and electric, she might shoot up in flames if he touched her. But there was no way she was saying no.
So she nodded, and then he moved closer, pulling her into his arms and holding her gently. She rested her head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent.
God, he smelled so good.
“Are you sniffing me, Stowaway?” he asked, sounding amused.
