“I’ll clean up this mess before the staff comes in. There’s nae need for anyone to know.”
This time, I’m unable to keep my eyes from meeting his. What I see there isnae what I expected. Instead of condemnation and disrespect or disbelief, what I see is just the opposite. Acceptance, respect, and the realization that he seems to understand what I lost when Tavish was tossed in that boat.
Holding his gaze for several moments, I bow my head to him in a show o’ respect and thanks. “Thank you Mackenzie. I owe you a great debt. One I probably can never repay.”
His eyes widen and I turn on my heel, grabbing Tavish’s laptop, and pulling up the chat function. There’s a message from Cato that says he’s on their tail, and he’ll call when he has something. Shutting the lid, I leave Mack behind in the room I destroyed without further comment. I shouldnae leave it to him to clean the mess, but I cannae bring myself to stay.
Out in the hall, I realize there’s no way we’re going to clean this mess before the staff comes in for the day, even if we had several hours. The house is a right mess. Setting Tavish’s computer off to the side, I walk over to the door I kicked down. Bending over, I lift the door back into place, wedging it into the frame so that it’ll stay shut. I move a chair in front of it for good measure. The door is heavy as fuck, and I dinnae want someone being squashed under it if it should it fall.
I reach for the laptop I set aside and come face to face with Jane, the cook. She curtsies to me even though I told them to stop that nonsense. That there’s no sense in it, they still do it. I know I have the title and the bank account to match, but I feel no different from them.
“Good morning, my Laird.”
“Good morning, Jane,” reply.
“I’ve started breakfast. But I’ve nae seen Mister Tavish.”
Sighing, I rub my hands over my face, then say, “He’s not here.”
Her eyes bounce over the mess in the hallway with the broken glass and the chair that now sits in front of the door that’s already fallen out of its frame. I’m sure she and the rest of the staff will have a field day gossiping about what took place here but, before I can reply, the study door opens.
Mack’s brogue rumbles through the hall as he says, “Janie, love, just the woman that I was looking for. I need a broom and a fry up, iffn ye dinnae mind.”
Janie’s face turns a vibrant shade of red, and she bobs another curtsy and turns to run away.
I turn to Mack. “You’re a flirt.”
“I dinnae lead them on, and I never do it with someone who would expect me to follow through.”
“I dinnae give a fuck. Unless it’s dropped at my doorstep to fix, that is.”
“Dinnae fash yerself, Laird. I ken where and where nae to play.”
I nod, turning toward the stairs. “Come get me if Cato calls or messages.”
“Yes, Laird.”
I take myself up the stairs, feeling guilty about the things I broke and the mess I left for my staff, but I cannae bring myself to regret it. I’d burn the fucking castle to the ground if I had to.
The world best be prepared. I’m about to tear it limb from limb to find my boy.
CHAPTER THIRTY
TAVISH
I pacethe bedroom for the millionth time. I’ve been in this room without clothes, food, or water or seeing another person since I woke up hours ago.
I’m not used to being alone anymore, especially not since Daddy brought me to Scotland. He and I were always together. From the time we woke until we went to bed, and then either he was cuddled up against my back, or I was draped over his big, broad chest.
If I close my eyes, I can hear his heartbeat thumping and his lungs filling and emptying with every breath. I can feel his fingers trace my spine, tickle that sexy button in the crook of my knee and play with the curls on my head. I can hear his voice as he reads aloud to me like a parent would a child.
Neither of us is into age play, but there are a few age-ish things we both like. He enjoys reading to me. I love cuddling up on his lap with my head on his shoulder. When I asked him about it, he said kink is fluid, and needs and desires change. I don’t think either of us would ever want or need regression. But as someone who experienced very little in the way of parental love, the reading and cuddling filled a void I wouldn’t have everpointed to and said, “There. That’s what’s missing,” but when Daddy came into my life, it was as natural as breathing.
Everything with Daddy was easy and natural.
I cover my mouth as a chuckle threatens, swallowing it down so that it cannot escape, and I admit to myself that not everything was easy and natural. Draven is a hard man. Demanding and bossy as fuck. His fixation on food and sleep drove me nuts, but once I gave in, I realized Daddy was right.
We won’t ever tell him that.
