“See what you’ve done,” she accused and stomped to the door, yelling through it. “I’m fine. I saw something that startled me.”
The door opened, making her dance back to avoid it. “You can’t just waltz in here, Zander.”
“What scared you? A mouse? Tell me where the creature ran,” Zander demanded as he walked inside, scanning the place.
“No mice scurry around in Ferguson’s Folly!” Essie answered, outraged. A rumor like that would ruin her business.
Zander turned to face her fully. One corner of his mouth lifted in a wry smile. “Tux?”
Essie started to move the penguin stuffie behind her but froze, realizing she only wore the battered T-shirt she normally slept in. “Ummm, yeah?”
Her face heated. Essie suspected her cheeks were completely scarlet. “You shouldn’t be in my room.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve been in your room, Little girl.” He walked toward her as she slowly edged backward.
He’d called her Little girl again. What did he mean by that?
“Oops!” Essie ran into the dresser behind her and jolted forward. His arms closed around her, holding the two of them close.
Quickly, she said, “But you were a kid then.”
“True. I’m not interested how far we can throw water balloons now.”
“That was a fun afternoon until the gardener got mad because we smashed his dahlias. I don’t even know what dahlias are.”
“I don’t care what dahlias are, do you?” His gaze centered on her lips.
Instant heat ricocheted into her as she remembered the kiss they’d exchanged earlier. Essie shook her head.Dahlia, daisies, dandle….All thoughts vanished from her mind as he tasted her. A soft butterfly kiss that deepened as he pulled her firmly against him. His tongue swept across hers, teasing and tempting her to respond.
She wanted to play it cool, but her body had other ideas. Her hands slid over his broad shoulders to wrap around his neck. She thrust her fingers into his thick hair, loving the silky texture. Her nipples hardened into tight points against the heat of his chest. She wiggled, trying to get closer to him, but Tux was in the way.
Zander gently tugged the stuffie from between them and set the penguin on the furniture behind her before stroking his hand down her spine. His fingers brushed over her full bottom, cupping her curves. “So perfect,” he murmured against her mouth before kissing her deeply again.
“Damn,” he said several long minutes later as he looked down at her. Zander tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before adding, “I knew kissing you would be incredible, but….”
“I am awake, aren’t I?” she asked before pinching herself to make sure.
His hand covered hers quickly. “None of that, Little girl. No hurting yourself.”
“Little girl?” she forced herself to ask this time. What did hemean by that? She’d always been curvy. Surely, he couldn’t mean….
His lips curved in a sensual smile that made her heart skip a beat. “I like your curves a lot. And I do mean Little girl in terms of Daddy Doms and precious Littles.”
“I said that aloud?”
“You did.”
“You’re a Daddy?” she whispered.
“Yes, Essie. I always have been, just as you have always been Little.”
“You knew?” She peeked over her shoulder at Tux, who looked back at her with wide black eyes. He seemed surprised too.
“I did. Missing you tore me up inside when our families separated us. I didn’t understand why back then, but as I got older, I figured out the reason. Even as kids, our relationship was special.”
“So, what do we do now?” she asked, trying to squelch her hopes.
“We spend time together. I’ll help you when I can with your new business.” He must have seen her bristle because he added, “Not because I don’t think you can succeed alone, but because I want to support your efforts.”
