“Angry? You shouted at me! Barking things like I’m one of your employees, but maybe that is what I am. You said you would never be cold and mean to me like I’ve heard you be with other people. You lied to me.” Her words rip at my insides. She couldn't be more wrong.
“Cold?” I shake my head. “The last thing I feel when I’m with you is cold.”
“Then what was last night all about?”
“Burning anger.”
“See! I accidentally passed out finding a book and you’re mad at me.”
“No, sweetheart. I was mad at myself for losing you.” Her eyebrows pull together. I keep going. “When I couldn't find you, I started to panic. I haven't felt fear since I was a young boy.” I reach up, touching the scar on my face. “You’re far from being one of my employees. I could care less what they think of me. For you, everything I do is to try and please you. To make you fall in love with me.”
She lets out a small gasp. “That’s a lot to take in.”
“I am sorry if I upset you. One of my biggest fears is something happening to you or someone taking you from me.” Her eyes start to water. What I don’t say is that the thought of her leaving me on her own is my worst nightmare. Now that I’ve had her, I’ll never be able to live without her. I’m not used to having a weakness, and now I can’t imagine life without her or Ace.
“I’m not used to someone checking on me.” I stroke her cheek. I’ll never understand how no one took care of her. She’s spent her whole life taking care of everyone else. Even her father, who didn't deserve it. I’m lucky no one saw her before me and got to her first. It’s a fucking miracle. One I’m trying not to mess up.
“I’ll always worry about you, Fawn. I don’t think you’ll ever understand how much you mean to me.” She peeks up at me through her eyelashes.
“I think maybe I do. Can I ask you something?” She shifts so that she’s straddling me. Her warm cunt presses into my cock.
“Anything.” Her hand reaches up to touch my face. I close my eyes for a second, enjoying her touch. She runs her fingertips over my scar.
“Were you looking for a wife all along?” Her question has me opening my eyes to stare into hers.
“No. I was trying to find a nanny at the time.”
“What changed then?”
“You. I saw you and wanted you. I knew I had to have you.”
“You do know that’s not how things actually work?” She tries to fight a smile, but I see it.
“But it worked,” I point out.
“You could have asked me out. Things could have been different for us.”
“I’m not a patient man, and I wasn't sure you’d say yes. Your focus was on other things. I don’t think you would have given yourself the opportunity to date.” She bites her lip, knowing I’m right. “I wanted you out of that house and here where I could take care of you. I do that, don’t I? I take care of you, Fawn?”
“You do.” I cup the back of her neck. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure that every dream and every need she has is fulfilled.
“Do you enjoy being here?”
“Yes, things are better here,” she admits. She no longer has those dark circles under her eyes. Every time I saw her before she came here, she looked exhausted. “Can I ask you something else?” Her pink tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. I swear she’s trying to kill me.
“Fawn, you can always ask me anything you want.”
“You said that you want me to fall in love with you.” She pauses for a long moment. I wait her out, wondering where she might be going with this. “Do you love me?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. Her eyes widen. “At least, this is what I think love is. I can’t go thirty minutes without thinking about you. I always wonder what you are doing or if you are satisfied. Everything for me starts and ends with you.”
A smile lights up her face. “Have you ever been in love before?”
“Not even close.”
“Me either.” I pull her closer to me, needing to kiss her. I will be her first everything. Or I’ll die trying to be. “I need to go check on Ace and Grams.” I release my hold on her. She slips off my lap, coming to her feet.
I watch her leave, but she pauses at the door, turning back to me. “I am falling in love with you, Roman. That’s why last night I got so upset. I care. Don’t break my heart.” With that, she leaves.
I smile. Something I’ve done a lot more since Fawn came into my life. I will own every part of her one day. Even her heart.