Her mother stood and started for the door.“Oh, Iunderstand.I understand what you’ve done to our girl.Daisy, I want you toknow how much I love you and how proud I am of you.I’m going to have adiscussion with your father and he’s going to stay out of your relationshipwith Nate.I’ll send over supper for both of you tonight, and I hope you have alovely time.You should try the privacy rooms.They’re a lot of fun.”
“You shouldn’t…” her da began but her mom was alreadywalking out of the conference room.Her da followed behind.“Avery, slow down.”
The door closed behind them.
“Dais,” her brother began.
“So, all those times I worked up the courage to ask someoneto play with me, you knew they never would?”It felt like a betrayal.
Her brother’s face fell.“It wasn’t like that.I wasn’ttrying to hurt you.”
“And yet you did a fabulous job.”Carys stared at her fiancélike she didn’t know him.“I can’t believe you did this.”
Aidan leaned her way, an earnest expression on his face.“Why is it wrong to protect my sister?”
“You’re protecting her from what, Aidan?From enjoying herlife?From having good sex?From finding someone who she can love?You damnstraight didn’t protect her from feeling like no one wanted her,” Carys pointedout.
It was good to know Carys hadn’t realized what washappening.Another woman being in on it would have hurt far worse.“So myfriends didn’t know?”
Carys shook her head.“Absolutely not.I’m shocked no onetalked, and now I’m worried the guys are being assholes and have some sort ofpact to protect the little women.Are the other guys in on it?TJ?Tristan?”
“TJ doesn’t have anything to do with it.Tris is looking outfor his sister like I’m looking out for mine.When we started the club, Da wasworried,” Aidan began.
The door came open and Nate strode in, carrying the bags ofsandwiches her mom had sent with Da this morning.Food was her mother’s lovelanguage, but she didn’t feel much like eating now.
“Are your parents okay?”Nate asked, setting the bag down.He also had a green can he handed to her.“You still like lemon lime?It’s allyou used to drink as a kid.”
She loved it.“You remembered?”
His expression softened.“I remember a lot, love.”
The way he was looking at her…like she was precious.Likeshe was the whole world.
“My parents aren’t okay.”Aidan reminded her he was stillhere.
“Neither are we,” Carys said.“Nate, did he try to warn youoff Daisy and Brianna?Any other young virgins who need to be protected at allcosts?”
Nate whistled and started unpacking the food.“So, I wasright and that’s why all the Doms freaked out when they realized it was Daisy.”He sat down beside her.“I watched you from the lounge.You should understandthere wasn’t an eye not on you last night.Every Dom in the club wanted you theminute you stepped out because you were the most gorgeous sub on the floor.Itwas only after they realized it was you that they started acting like you hadan infectious disease or something.”
Every word was a balm to her soul.“Well, I’m kind of gladnow because I think it worked out for me.”
He shook his head and took her hand in both of his.“I wouldhave come after you.I knew what I wanted, and even if you’d started playingwith someone else, I would have made a move.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, sending athrill of arousal through her.
“Is that what you wanted to protect her from?”Carys askedquietly.
Aidan’s eyes closed, and he took a long breath.When heopened them again, there was regret in his gaze.“From the moment you wereborn, Da told me it was up to me to protect you.It’s always been my job.Ihonestly wasn’t trying to hurt you.I want the best for you, and I know that’syou finding someone who loves you and having a great…sex life, but you’re stillmy kid sister.The one I’m supposed to protect from everything.”
“He’s going to stop now,” Carys promised.“And we’re goingto have a long talk with Tristan if he ever fucking comes home again.”
Carys had enough on her plate.“I’m sorry.I don’t mean tocause trouble between the two of you.Aidan, you should know I had alreadydecided to find a new club.You won’t have to worry about watching me make anymistakes.”
“Daisy, please don’t.”Aidan slumped down onto the chairacross from her.“I was trying to please Da.You know how much he adores you,and he’s never been able to see beyond you being the five-year-old girl whowanted nothing more than to be with her father.Can you forgive me?I will talkto every Dom at the club and explain I was wrong.”
“Maybe we should play on different nights.”It still hurt,but it was easy to see her brother loved her.She wasn’t so sure about her da,who seemed to be figuring out she wasn’t a little girl.Daisy wasn’t sure hewould be able to love the woman she’d become.
“Nate and I will work that out,” Aidan promised.“Car, doyou want to talk?”
