He chuckled. “Pole dancing. I’m known for my routines in heels and lacy underwear.”
My mouth dropped open. “Pole dancing? Wow.”
His laughter deepened. “I’m quite talented with poles, if you know what I mean, honey bear.”
I flushed and ducked my head. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
“Aw, you’re so cute!” He reached over to pinch my cheeks, and I couldn’t help the small, amused sound I made.
My gaze traveled back to the door and I wondered what Vic was saying to JP. I hoped it was all good things because I hadn’t meant to upset my Daddy or make him feel bad. “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they’ll get out the Dom handbook and summon demons.”
I frowned at him. “Is there a Dom handbook?”
Cassidy’s smile fell and he groaned. “No, honey bear. I’m sorry, that was a terrible attempt at humor. My own Dom says I’m not always as funny as I think I am.” He grinned.
“Can you tell me about your Dom?” I didn’t want to think about what Vic was saying to JP, but I hoped it wasn’t anything bad. JP didn’t deserve a lecture, he’d been good to me. But Vic had said he wanted to talk some sense into my Daddy. Maybe that should have been my job, though. I was the one who’d hurt his feelings.
As though he could tell what I was thinking, Cassidy patted the blanket where my knee was. “It’s okay. This is a first for both of you, and while you have me, JP needs Vic, okay?”
I nodded, though I didn’t feel any better. My stomach roiled with disappointment in myself.
“Let me tell you about my Dom. We actually met at Triple X.”
“Really?” I forced myself to smile.
“Yep. His stage name is Adonis.” He giggled, actuallygiggled, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound. He called me adorable, but I swore Cassidy was an innocent angel. Although hewasa sub, so maybe he was an angel with a wicked side. “Hottest man alive if you ask me. Greek god if I ever saw one….”
I let him ramble on about his Dom and listened as well as I could, but my focus was on JP. I truly hoped he was okay, and now that I felt better about my little episode, I wanted nothing more than for him to hug me. We would cuddle in bed like we had since I moved back in, him stroking my bare back and plopping kisses on my neck. Sometimes I looked at things around the bedroom I wanted to rearrange, and it was like he had a second sense and knew what I was doing and would start talking to me about something random to take my mind off it. That’s what I wanted right now.
“I had a psych appointment today,” I said when Cassidy stared at me, waiting for me to say something. “Do you think that could have made it worse?”
Cassidy shifted until he sat against the wall beside me, his thigh touching mine with only the blanket and his leather pants as a barrier. He rested his wrists on his knees and looked so casual that I was jealous of his calm. “It could have. Counseling sessions usually bring up issues that frustrate us.”
“Have you been to one?” I asked, then realized that probably wasn’t a good question. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my—”
“I have, when I was a teenager.” He smiled at me and knocked his knee against mine. “I was bullied a lot in school for wearing makeup, to the point that I was a very miserable person.”
“You were miserable?” I gave him a once-over. “You seem so happy.”
He grinned and plopped a kiss on my cheek, and I jumped in surprise. “Thank you, honey bear. Yes, I am a happy person right now, but I wasn’t always. I hated who I was when I was a teen. I never embraced myself. I grew up in a small town, and people weren’t used to fabulous little me. Not only did I enjoy dancing,butI wore makeup? The travesty!” He slapped a hand over his forehead and made an exaggerated gasp.
My mouth curled into a half smile.
“My parents loved me and supported me, it was everyone else I had to deal with.” He shrugged. “I learned to love myself, and I moved to New York City to go to a dance school. But have you seen the bitches in those places? They’re no better than a pack of flamingos ready to peck your eyes out. So I packed my shit and came here. Best thing I ever did.”
I thought about telling him I was pretty sure flamingos couldn’t peck your eyes out, but I chose not to. Cassidy appeared to be the kind of person who purposely went for dramatics. My gaze slid to the door again and he patted my knee.
“Wait here. I’ll see what they’re doing.”
I thanked him with a small smile. “I really want my Daddy right now.”
He kissed my cheek again, and I didn’t shy away this time. “I completely understand, honey bear. Wait right here.”
I watched him go, holding my breath and hoping JP would return very soon.
19
