Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
She tried to stand, and several people reached out to help her. Including him. From the surprised look on her face, she wasn’t expecting that.
But she should.
Why was no one taking care of her properly?
Hmm. The answer might be right in front of him. Were they here to find a Top?
That could be you.
No. Nope. Not happening.
He stepped back as Marcus helped her up. Did she wince again? Had she hurt something else?
Or had she been walking stiffly when she came into the restaurant? Maybe she already had an injury.
Shit. His Daddy instincts were in overdrive. He wanted to bundle this girl up and carry her out of here. To wrap her up in his protection and care.
But he hadn’t forgotten about the boy… he wanted him as well.
Shit.
He hadn’t been with a man since he was in college. Which was a long time ago.
Marcus wrapped his arm around her. The other two crowded close as they led her away, Derek guiding them.
“Excuse me, Sir,” a quiet voice said, and he glanced over to find one of the waitstaff waiting with a broom to clean up the glass.
He gave them a sheepish gaze. “My apologies.”
He should go back to his meal. But he didn’t feel like eating anymore. Anna would be shocked by that. He’d always had a huge appetite.
Well, he still did.
But it wasn’t food he wanted right now.
Chapter 8
Isla entered their rooms with a sigh of relief.
She hated being fussed over.
Well. Not quite true. She didn’t mind if Marcus did the fussing. But with anyone else, she just felt awkward.
She sat on the sofa and closed her eyes.
“La-la? You okay? What am I saying? Of course you’re not okay. You just cut your hand open all because I couldn’t contain myself. I’m so sorry.”
Whoa. Nope. She wasn’t having that.
Here she was having a pity party and Marcus was wallowing in guilt.
Opening her eyes, she watched him pace back and forth.
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“I knocked over the glass.” He turned to her, his eyes slightly wild.
Getting up, she moved to him. He stepped away and that made her freeze. What was going on? Marcus never shied away from her. He was always there. Always touching her. Crossing boundaries as though he had no clue they were there. Which he probably hadn’t.
But that didn’t matter now since she didn’t want any boundaries between them. Had that changed? What was happening? Marcus had been her one constant since she’d met him. If he wasn’t there, then what was she going to do?
As suddenly as he’d stepped back, he was in front of her, gently drawing her close. His arms went around her, and she took in a deep breath, a small sob escaping her.
“La-la, sweetie, what is it?”
“I thought you didn’t want to touch me,” she whispered. “And I-I think I panicked a little.”
“I always want to touch you. Hear me?” he said fiercely.
“You drew back.”
“I’m sorry. That was about me. You’ve just been through so much lately. You’re still bruised from what happened with that intruder. I’ve thrown all this stuff at you, dragged you here when you didn’t really want to come, and now you’ve cut yourself on a glass I smashed. I’m just feeling guilty, and I don’t like it.”
“You don’t need to feel guilty,” she soothed. “You had nothing to do with the guy who broke into my apartment. You’ve done nothing since but take care of me. And if I didn’t want to come here, I would have said. Just because I’m nervous doesn’t mean I don’t want to try. I want to try.” She said the words, trying them out and found that they fit.
She did.
And not just for Marcus.
For her.
“Yeah? Sure?”
“I’m sure.” She smiled at him. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”
“I sure feel guilty for someone who wasn’t at fault.”
She saw the worry in his eyes and wished she could do something to help alleviate it. Was this where a Daddy would help? Would he know what to do? Would they be okay without a Top or would they flounder? Would one of them always feel forced to take a more dominant role?
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Do you really think the two of us can work without a Daddy?” she asked.
Because the idea of having him and losing him… this is why she’d resisted his pull for so long.
“I know what you’re thinking. But I know we can do this as long as we have each other.”
But would they be even better with a Daddy to guide and nurture them? To make sure Marcus didn’t go too far, to ensure he took care of himself? To reassure her that she wasn’t a bother. That everything that happened wasn’t her fault?
Definitely something to think about.
“Right. We both need to stop this,” Marcus said. “We’re on holiday! We need to loosen up.”