Page 58 of Finding Little Fiera

Her brows drew together. “Daddy, you don’t know him.”

“I don’t need to.” His tone didn’t rise. It hardened. “Men like that are the same everywhere.”

She shifted on his lap. “He’ll make things hard for you. Make you look bad. Use his family’s weight to push against you and whoever supports you.”

His thumb slid under her chin, lifting her face so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. Would she support him? He knew the answer, but he still wanted the words. “Would I embarrass you, babygirl?”

Her response was instant. “No!”

Not even a flicker of hesitation. He pressed further. “Would you be ashamed to claim me?”

Her eyes flashed. “Of course not.”

Good. He nodded once. “I can handle Erwin.”

She opened her mouth to argue. “I’ve handled worse,” he continued. “Men with more money, more power, and more reason to come after me.” His gaze didn’t waver. “I’m not easy to scare off, firefly.”

Her breathing hitched.

“The only thing I need to know is whether you want me there. Because, if I come to Wilder,” he went on quietly, “it’ll be because of you. And if this thing between us sticks the way I think it will, I’ll stay with you. But if that happens, it’s becauseyouchoseme.”

The rocking chair creaked again. Her tight grip on his shirt loosened. He held her gaze with his own. “So, tell me, little firefly. Do you want me?”

She didn’t whisper. Her voice didn’t tremble. There was no hesitation. “Yes.”

Mace went still. He didn’t even breathe. He searched her face, making sure she understood the promise she was making. This wasn’t flirting on a porch swing. It wasn’t campfires and contests. This was a choice.

Her choice.

His hand slid into her silken hair, fingers threading through the damp strands at her nape. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t look away.

He leaned in slowly, giving her plenty of time to move. She didn’t. His mouth claimed hers, and she melted into it. Her hand slid up to his shoulder, her fingers curling into muscle.

He deepened the kiss slowly. His thumb traced along her jaw as he angled her face to deepen the kiss. Her lips parted on a quiet exhale, and he tasted rain and promise and something that was entirely her.

The rocking chair moved beneath them, steady and rhythmic. A realization settled heavy in his chest. This wasn’t temporary anymore. Not for him.

He broke the kiss just enough to rest his forehead against hers. His hand stayed in her hair. His other arm remained firm at her waist. “Listen to me, babygirl. I don’t do halfway,” he murmured in a low but unwavering voice. The backs of his fingers brushed once along her cheek. “If we do this, it’s with the goal of forever. It’s not something we do as long as it feels good and walk away from when it gets hard.”

His eyes searched hers, and he saw it there. She was vulnerable yet unflinching and unafraid. That was all he could ask.

“I don’t play at forever,” he said. “If I say I’m yours, it’s because I intend to build something that lasts. Even when it’s messy. Even when Wilder pushes back. Even when Erwin the Vermin tries to take us down.”

A flicker of heat crossed her expression at that. His girl liked that.

He brushed his nose lightly against hers. “You understand what you’re sayin’ yes to?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she replied again. A small, fierce smile curved her mouth. “I don’t scare easy either, Daddy.”

He no longer tried to hold back his smile. “I’ve picked up on that.”

He kissed her again, slower this time. Deeper. He gripped her hair, gently forcing her where he wanted her. When he pulled back, his gaze held hers. His thumb brushed once along her jaw before his hand fell away completely. “Speaking of that, we still have your punishment to deal with.”

Chapter Twenty

Fiera stood near the edge of the rug, fingers still tingling from where they’d curled into his shirt. Her lips felt swollen. Her chest felt too tight and too full all at once. Man, her Daddy could kiss!

Her Daddy. He was hers. Fire shot to her core at the picture of licking him everywhere to claim him.