Page 49 of Gene
Sammi took a step back and shook her head. “No, not yet. I… need to work right now.”
Daddy sighed but nodded. “I understand. I’m not going to take your ability to work and be independent away. But I’m also not allowing you to run yourself into the grave because you’re working too much. When you’re ready to not work anymore allow me to just pamper and spoil you, which I’ll do anyway even if you’re still working, let me know. You don’t need to work if you don’t want to. You don’t need to deal with things on your own, either. So, if you have anything you need help with, I’ll help you if I know about it.”
She nodded. Sammi felt bad for not telling Daddy about the debt her brother owed since it involved her. It wasn’t her debt, and she wasn’t technically allowed to speak about it. Her brother didn’t want anyone to know that he owed Deccan money, and she was being respectful of that. Was it hard? Absolutely. So many times, she wanted to just tell Daddy about the debt so he could help out somehow.
“He’s going to know something’s up when he sees me walking around. I mean, he already does know that I was sucking you from under the desk. How are you not worried about this? He could tell anybody!” Sammi exclaimed.
“But he won’t. Ezekiel won’t tell anybody. I promise.” Daddy gave her a smile. “Now, come here and give Daddy a hug.”
She slowly walked to Daddy and wrapped her arms around him. Even sitting, he was still a little taller than her. But she loved that. It made her feel secure and protected.
Sammi relaxed into her Daddy’s embrace, his hands wrapped around her. If she had her way, Daddy would always hold on to her, never letting go. She wanted to be safe and secure all the time. This was one of the only ways that she felt it.
Pulling away, she looked at Daddy. “When can I go back to work?”
They hadn’t talked about when she could get back to work. It was driving her crazy, not knowing. Was he trying to hold off so she stopped thinking about work and eventually didn’t want to go back to it?
She really didn’t want to go back to work. Or, well, the long hours. She loved working on the farm, but they were long days, which meant she couldn’t do anything else if she wanted to. Before her brother told her about the debt, she had been about to buy membership at BTS so she could go hang out with all the other Littles.
Maybe when the debt was repaid, she would still be able to, which meant she had to work some more. But maybe if she brought it up to Daddy and he was a member, he could take her someday. It was worth a try, and that was a question Daddy wanted her to ask him because it was something she wanted and partially needed.
“When I say it’s okay to,” Daddy replied after several seconds.
“Do you know when that will be?”
“Why are you in a hurry to go back to work? You’re on sick leave, so you’re getting paid.”
“But I’m not sick,” she pointed out, and Daddy gave her a look. “Okay, technically, I am, but I’m going to be sick for the rest of my life. I can’t just take sick leave every single day until I die or retire… if I make it that long.”
Daddy cupped her face, his hands firm on her cheeks. “You will not talk about dying or not making it to retirement. You will. You are going to have a long and happy life with me, your Daddy, lover, and future husband.”
Her eyes went wide as he saidhusband. It’s not like she hasn’t fantasized about them getting married, but she just thought it was too soon
“Yes, husband. You are mine. Nobody will take that away. You will always be mine, and everybody is going to know that. They’re going to know that if they try and flirt with you they will be meeting the end of my fist.”
“You aren’t going to punch them.” Sammi chuckled, trying to imagine Daddy hitting someone.
Daddy’s face went serious as he looked at her. “You’re right. I’m not going to punch them. I’m going to torture them and make sure that they know that you are off-limits if they try to so much as flirt with you. No one will know they are missing. Everyone will think that they decided to leave Springfield to pursue something else.”
Sammi sobered up as she looked at Daddy. “You’re serious.”
“Deadly.”
“Oh,” she whispered, not knowing how to respond.
“If anyone bothers you, makes you uncomfortable, teases you, and you don’t like it, anything at all, you let me know, and I’ll take care of them.”
“Really?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yes, really. And if I find out that you didn’t tell me something, there will be consequences for you as well.” His voice was deep and not wavering in the slightest.
“And the other person?”
“Like I said before, torture. I will make sure they and everyone else in town understand it means that you are mine. No one will mess with you. If they do, there will be examples for them to know I’m serious.”
“But... But Sheriff Baxter. What about him? I don’t want you to get thrown in jail.”
Sammi should have been concerned with what he was saying about torturing people, but she was trying not to think about it too much. He would do that for her. What else was he willing to do?
