Daddy's little princess (Daddy 2)

Chapter 5

Gage kept her by his side. He stopped them outside and shook hands with the officers, thanking them for their help before leading her to his car. After opening her door, he put her bag in the back and then closed it as she settled in the seat.

He started the car and pulled away before he reached for her hand. “I’m sorry about that. I had a bad feeling, and I couldn’t just let you work there another minute.”

She nodded, even though she didn’t understand and looked out her window. Too many things were rolling through her mind. How would her roommates react? Where to try to find another job? And why he was there in the first place? “If you’ll just drop me off at my apartment, I’d appreciate it.”

Gage squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart. You’re not going back there. We’ll go back tomorrow to get your things, but otherwise, you’ll be with me.”

She looked at him. “I’m still confused. What exactly is going on right now?”

He stopped at a stoplight and sighed. “First, let me ask you a question. Have you thought about me at all?”

She paused and then nodded slowly. He was all she had thought about. She dreamed of him the night before only to wake up that morning covered in sweat and aroused to the point of pain. She’d always been a little shocked she could sleep when she was at Darian’s house. Maybe the fact she felt safe made it possible. Most of the time, she struggled to get three or four hours of sleep a day.

“Good,” he said. “Do you want to get to know me?”

She bit her lip and nodded again.

He exhaled in relief. “Thank you for giving us a chance.”

“So, what’s going to happen right now?”

“I’m taking you home with me.”

Brylee tensed. “I don’t feel comfortable having … sex…”

He shook his head. “I understand. I want us to take the time to get to know each other before we take that step.”

She exhaled. “Okay, good.”

“I have a spare bedroom I’ll put you in.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, princess.”

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

Brylee perked up when Gage drove down into a private parking lot under a tall building.

“Where are we?”

“We’re home. I live in a condo right now. I’ve never really required a house, but we’ll see about that down the line.”

Gage helped her out of the car and grabbed her bag. He took her up into the elevator.

They stood across from each other as the elevator rose. The elevator doors opened into a large foyer with slate tile and light-gray walls. Then they moved into a huge room with the same gray color and floor. On the opposite wall were humongous windows and a set of French doors that led out onto a balcony.

In the room, there was a big sofa and several chairs. A fireplace covered a large amount of the wall to the left of the windows with a large-screen TV over that. Brylee’s head swiveled back and forth, trying to take in everything at once. She could tell it was a man’s place. There were no soft touches or color. Everything was black, gray, and white.

Gage led her into an open kitchen. He released her hand, opened the refrigerator, and bent down. “Are you hungry?”

“Um, no.”

Gage glanced over his shoulder at her. He closed the refrigerator door, lifted her hand, pulled her into the living room, and sat them on the sofa. “I know you probably have a lot of questions.”

She nodded. “I do. I just don’t know where to start.”

“We have time. If it weren’t so late, I’d let you call Larkin. How about we do that first thing in the morning?”

She visibly relaxed. “I’d like that.”

“Why don’t we get you settled into a room, and you can get some rest? We have plenty of time for answers later.”

She nodded and stood when he did. Then she followed him down a long hallway and into a nondescript room in the same dull tones as the rest of the place.

“There’s a bathroom through here.” Gage indicated the room with his arm. “There is soap and shampoo in the shower and toothpaste and a new toothbrush in one of the drawers. I’ll go get you something to wear tonight. All right?”

Brylee nodded.

Gage grinned when he got back. She hadn’t moved an inch. “Here you go. Have a shower and some rest. We’ll have breakfast in the morning, and I’ll answer any questions you have.”

Brylee reached for the shirt and held it tightly against her chest. “Okay. Thank you, and good night.”

Gage smiled gently and stepped up to her. He cupped her face with both hands and tilted it up. “Everything’s going to be fine, princess.” He bent his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips before he took a step back. “Good night,” he said before he walked out and closed the door behind him.

Brylee exhaled. The whole night had been weird. Her boss at the strip joint had been on her since she arrived at work. He touched her more than any other night before and made more and disturbing sexually suggestive comments to her.

Her roommates had also been in rare form. She could usually ignore them, but they had made one insult after the other. She wished once again she had talked to Larkin about it sooner. It made it worse that they were so sweet toward Larkin when she was at Brylee’s apartment, but after her friend left, they tore into her.

She knew Larkin worried about her, so she was determined not to make it worse by telling her all the problems she’d been having with them. Now it seemed she was without a job she hated, roommates who hated her and having a sleepover with a man she’d known for a day.

Brylee didn’t know if she should feel happy about the recent events or terrified.

She walked into the bathroom and stopped when the light came on. Although the same gray colors were in the room, it was brighter and had a beautiful bathtub she wanted to soak in for hours. She never had a chance at a bath growing up because it took too much water. Later, her apartments never had a tub, so she had to shower. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to sit in a bubble bath except the one at Larkin’s the night before.

If she felt more comfortable with Gage, she’d be in the tub at that moment.

Brylee sighed and decided to take another shower and try to get some sleep. She hoped in the morning, she wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed and could ask some intelligent questions and make plans for her future.

Once she’d undressed, she stepped into the shower and washed quickly, taking care not to get her braid to wet.

After hershower, she looked into the mirror and grinned at herself as she rolled up the sleeves to the shirt Gage had given her to wear for the night. She looked like a small child dressed in her father’s shirt. It hung on her small frame, and the bottom went past her knees. Then she brushed her teeth. She left the light on in the bathroom and partially closed the door, so the bedroom wasn’t completely dark, and climbed into bed.

She snuggled down into the mattress and pulled the blanket up to her chin. The bed was the most comfortable one she’d ever slept in, although she liked the one at Larkin’s house as well.

She closed her eyes, sighed, and prayed for sleep.