Protector Daddy (MC Daddies 3)

When he reached the top of the stairs, he placed his hands on her hips and studied her closely. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got shot, had a migraine then slept for fifteen hours straight.”

He grunted. “If you’d wanted up, you should have called for me.”

“I didn’t feel like screaming. How did you know I was up anyway?”

He wrapped his hand around the back of his neck. “Ah, I might have put a camera in the bedroom.”

She raised her eyebrows. “That’s kind of kinky.”

“Not a camera that records. More like a baby camera.”

“Oh.” She blushed. “You’ve been watching me sleep?”

He shrugged. “I don’t like leaving you when you’re injured or ill. This lets me keep watch over you while I’m somewhere else in the house. And you obviously need watching since you got out of bed without permission.”

“I need permission to get out of bed?” He had to be kidding, right?

“You do,” he replied, completely serious.

“Spike, I can get out of bed on my own.”

He shook his head. “Nope. No can do. You could get light-headed and fall, hit your head, knock yourself unconscious and end up back in the hospital. Do you want to be in the hospital again?”

“Not sure they’d let us back in after last time,” she muttered.

“From now on, you want out of bed, you call for me. And there is no going up and down the stairs on your own.”

She sighed. “More rules.”

“More rules.”

“I’m not made of glass.”

“To me you are. To me you’re more precious than anything.”

Tears entered her eyes and she leaned her forehead against his chest.

“Hey, what is it? Did you hurt yourself? Fuck it, from now on, I’m just carrying you everywhere. Come on, back to bed.”

“I didn’t hurt myself. I’m not in pain.”

He ran his hand up and down her back and just waited for her to continue. She drew away to look up at him, aware of a tear escaping. “Don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

He snorted. “Think that’s my line. From what I know of you, baby doll, you deserve everything.” He gently ran his fingers through her hair. “Sounds to me like you’ve spent most of your life taking care of everyone else. Time to let me take care of you.”

She gave him a tremulous smile. “I’d like that. Just, try not to go too far overboard, huh?”

“I did warn you.”

He was right. He had.

“I want to have a shower and get changed. Then I need you to tell me about my sister.”

“Sure you’re ready for it?”

“I’m ready.” Not really. But then she never would be. There was a ball of dread in her tummy telling her that she didn’t want to know.