She blew out her breath.“Well, that doesn’t really make sense.I mean, you can drive me to the shoot.”
“It doesn’t matter.The car is yours and you resent your sister for using it.Right?”
She sounded rather petty when he put it that way.“Well, sort of, yeah.Because she doesn’t ask, she just assumes.”
“Okay, so set some healthy limits.”
Her shoulders sagged.She couldn’t.Her sister and mom were stranded and she didn’t need the car.She spread her hands.“Well, they’re totally stranded without a car.”
Joel didn’t say a word.
“So you think I should just tell them to fuck off?”
He swatted her backside with a stinging blow.“Language, young lady.And no, I definitely don’t think you should tell them to fuck off.”
“So what do you think I should do?”
He shrugged.“It’s not my decision to make, it’s yours.I’m just demanding you make it with integrity.”
She felt like stomping on his toe.“What the hell does that mean?”
Another spank.“You make the choice that’s right for you, and then be happy with it.I’m not going to let you get pushed into something that upsets you.”
Tears blurred her vision and she blinked them back.Jesus Christ.When had anyone ever cared about her feelings on anything before?
He eased his grip on her wrists and rubbed her back.“Do you understand, baby girl?No one’s going to walk on you when I’m around.So what’s your decision?Do you want her to borrow your car or not?”
She did understand what he was saying, but she still couldn’t find her way out of her tangled desires.Yes, she wanted to tell Bev no.But it didn’t make sense when she had no good reason to do so.And then it clicked into place.She was choosing, of her own free will, to let her sister borrow the car.So she had no right to begrudge Bev for it.
She drew in a deep breath.“I’m going to let her borrow it.”
“And you’re happy with that choice?You’re not going to be grouching about it later?”
Her mouth firmed and her eyes narrowed.
“Okay, I’m just making sure.”He drew her into his arms, squeezing her butt with his big hands.“I’m not judging you, angel.But it’s my job to protect you, even if it’s from yourself.”
“Who protects me from you?”she asked, just to give him a hard time.“Shouldn’t I have a safe word or something?”
“You may have a safe word if you like, but a good daddy doesn’t need one.My job is to be so in tune with you that I know when to push your boundaries and when to pull back.”
Why did those words make her feel all swimmy inside?
“Have I pushed too far yet?”
“No, Daddy,” she said and tucked her face into his chest.She felt like sayingI love youagain, but this time managed to keep her imprudent confessions to herself.
She need to stop falling in love with this man right away.
“Am I in trouble?”Marissa asked, drawing back, her big eyes even wider than usual.
He kept his expression inscrutable.“What do you think?”
Her hands went to cover her bottom, which made his cock surge against his jeans.God, she really tweaked him.She started to back away.
He advanced without hurry, following her as she backed into the living room.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said.“I shouldn’t have snapped at you.Or cursed.”
