"I gave Nema the night off," she says. "Her grandbaby is sick."
I love that she's ordering my staff around like it's her right. As far as I'm concerned, it is her right. This is her home as much as it's mine. At least, it will be soon enough.
"Can we declare a truce?" I murmur against her ear before pressing my lips against her temple. "At least for tonight?"
"I didn't realize we were at war," she mutters.
"No?"
"Will you let me go home if I agree?"
I smile at her persistence and nuzzle my face into her neck. She smells so damn good. "When are you going to figure out that you're already home? This is where you belong."
The spoon clangs against the side of the pot.
"Don't," she says, her breath trembling.
"Don't what?" I nip her ear and then nuzzle her neck again.
"Don't say things you don't mean."
"I meant exactly what I said."
"Justice."
"Milan."
"You drive me crazy sometimes, you know that?" she mutters. She relaxes in my arms though, letting me cuddle her. And God, I never knew cuddling someone could be such a turn on. But having her in my arms, being able to touch her…there's not a single thing about either that I don't love.
"Seems only fair since you've been driving me crazy since I met you, princess. I've known for the last year that you were mine. Had I known I was hurting you, I would have done something about it long ago," I murmur, needing her to hear it even if she doesn't believe it.
"Justice," she whispers again.
"No, Milan," I growl when she tries to pull away. "You need to hear this. I'm not ashamed of you. I accepted a long time ago that you were the one for me. I stayed away for your sake. You're so goddamn beautiful. You're young and intelligent and passionate. I've done a lot of shit I can't take back. I thought you deserved better. I still think you deserve better."
"It's my choice to make, not yours."
"I know."
"I'm still mad at you."
"I know." I smile, placing another kiss on the side of her neck. "And I'll let you be mad at me, but I won't let you think I'm ashamed of you."
"Are you…" She hesitates.
"Am I what?"
"Are you ashamed of…"
"Of you calling me daddy?" I finish when she trails off again, practically squirming where she stands. She's so damn feisty. Sometimes, I forget that she's pure innocence too.
"Yes," she whispers.
"No. Maybe I should be ashamed of the shit I want to do to you. If I were a better man, maybe I would be," I admit, reaching around her to stir the noodles before they stick to the pot. "But I'm not. And I don't want you feeling that way either. It's our little secret, baby girl. No one has to know the filthy things you let daddy do to you behind closed doors."
"Justice," she whimpers.
"I can't wait to hear you call me your daddy again, Milan. I'm going to work like a fucking dog to earn it," I growl, pressing up against her so she feels for herself how badly I want it. My erection digs into her lower back, making her whimper. "When you trust me enough to call me your daddy again, I'll give us both what we need."
"W-what do we need?" she asks.
I bury my face in her throat and groan loudly, my dick throbbing at her question. She's so innocent, so sweet. No, I'm not ashamed of the things I want to do to her. I've already accepted that I'm going straight to hell for them. But I'm not there yet. In fact, I've never been further from hell than I am at this exact moment. "To fuck, Milan," I growl against her skin. "Daddy needs to fill that little cunt with his seed."
"Justice," she moans, her entire body trembling against mine.
Knowing she's turned on, that she's hurting for me…. It takes everything I have to place a kiss to her throat and then move away from her. But until she trusts me, until she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that she's mine, I won't make love to her. I need her to know she can trust me to always put her and her wellbeing first.
She cries out, damn near breaking my resolve and my heart, when I back away. Her wide eyes meet mine over her shoulder, her cheeks flushed, her expression dazed. She's the prettiest little angel I've ever set eyes on. And I already know, once she realizes how much power she has over me…she's going to bring me to my fucking knees.
I can't wait.