“I believe you said it was a nightmare.”
Addie grimaced. “Sorry about that.”
Cash raised his eyebrows. “So you’re kissing me in your dreams, are you?”
She typed into the phone. “In your dreams, buddy.”
He let out a snort as she froze, looking alarmed.
Instead of typing, she started to speak. “I didn’t mean that you, um, that you . . .” She broke off into a cough.
He fucking hated that. He didn’t like that she was in pain. And that he couldn’t fix it.
“No more talking, young lady. And yes, I’m aware I’m not supposed to Daddy you, but I’ve decided that you putting your health or safety in jeopardy is an exception to that rule.”
Yeah, maybe he was coming on too strong again. But he definitely didn’t care.
She reached out and placed her hand on his wrist as he reached for the mug again.
“What if I want to get rid of that rule entirely?”
Cash frowned. What did she mean? Get rid of what rule? The rule about no talking?
Addie couldn’t believeshe’d just done that, and she hastily typed something into his phone. “Forget I said that. Just ignore it. I’ve got to go back to bed.”
She attempted to get up, but he placed his arm over her lap.
Darn it. Too late.
“Eyes on me,” he ordered, waiting for her gaze to rise to his. “What did you mean? Don’t lie to me, Addie.”
There was a real warning in his tone, and a shiver ran through her. It wasn’t one of fear. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t get scared when he got stern. Maybe because he’d never yelled or truly gotten mad at her.
He always seemed so in control. Perhaps that was it. She liked the way he was in control.
“I like that you’re always in control, that you never lose your temper and yell.”
She wasn’t sure why she felt the urge to tell him that. She just did.
He stiffened, and she wondered what she’d said wrong. There wasn’t a lot of light out here, just from the moon and the phone. But he seemed to be surprised.
Cash let out a breath. “You know, I didn’t think about it, but I do feel more in control when I’m looking after you. It might be hard to believe, but I’ve always had a bit of a temper, been a hothead who just jumps into things without thinking them through.”
Hmm. She wouldn’t say it was that hard to believe. She’d seen him at the brawl, then later when that guy tried to take Crystal. When he’d wanted to go back and beat the guy up who had hit her.
Yeah, there had been signs.
“Which is what I think might have happened this morning. I failed to think about how you might feel and what you might want, which is pretty unforgivable.”
“Can’t be unforgivable when I already forgave you.”
It was so frustrating having to type everything out on his phone.
She’d been too scared this morning to tell him what she really wanted. And now she was probably going to chicken out again.
“I guess when I’m in Daddy mode, I do feel more in control,” he said. “Doesn’t mean I get to do anything against your will.”
Be brave, Addie.
