Nurturing Britney (Surrender Book 7) by Becca Jameson (best books to read fiction .TXT) 📗

all, that’s the last time you’re going to thank me. Second of all, you’re staying until I’m certain it’s safe for you to leave. That’s going to take more than a few days. So, get comfortable.”

She licks her sweet full lips, making me stifle a groan. “I don’t want to be an imposition.”

“You’re not. I’m happy to have you. Like I said, it was too quiet here.”

She sighs. “Okay. Thank you.”

I narrow my gaze. “What did I say about thanking me again?”

She rolls her eyes. “Okay. Got it. I’ll try.”

My body goes from zero to ten in seconds. My full Daddy rears his head and draws in a deep breath. Between the eye-rolling and the tone of her sassy voice, I’m lucky I haven’t instinctively flipped her over on my lap and flattened my palm to her bottom.

I’m going to have to rein in my reactions to this woman. She’s not mine. She’s fucking adorable, and it’s impossible not to fantasize about her under me in my bed, but the last thing she needs is for some man to make advances on her after what she’s been through. She needs help and a shoulder, not a Daddy she didn’t ask for.

I find the will to bring my cock under control, and I stand, taking her hand. “Let’s get that pizza going and you can make a list of what you need from your apartment.”

Chapter 5

Britney

Holy shit. I’m practically fanning myself as I follow Davis into the kitchen area. I’m shaking as I watch him remove a pepperoni pizza from the freezer and stick it in the oven.

I stand awkwardly next to his island as he moves around the room. He pulls a drawer open next and takes out a pen and paper, setting both on the island.

Before I can grasp his intentions, he grabs me by the waist and spins around to sit me on one of the stools.

I suck in a breath as I’m seated, shocked and more than a little turned on. He smells so good, and he’s so attentive. Why does he live alone? He’s like a God. Surely women flock to him everywhere he goes.

As he pushes my stool up to the island, he meets my gaze and freezes, eyes blinking before he winces. “Sorry. Habit.”

“Habit?” I’m confused.

He takes a seat next to me and rubs his hand along his thigh. “My last girlfriend was…petite, like you. We were together for a year. I got in the habit of lifting her onto anything higher than a chair. It was easier than watching her struggle to climb up.” He smiles but his expression is odd. I feel like he’s leaving something out, but I don’t know what that would be.

“Oh.”

“Anyway. Sorry. I’ll try not to be so…familiar. It just comes naturally.”

“I don’t mind,” I tell him. And I don’t. It felt nice. I was just shocked. “How long ago did you break up?”

“Six months. I moved here from Oklahoma. She didn’t want to leave Tulsa, so we broke up.”

I cringe. “Sorry. That must have sucked.”

“Yeah. It was rough for a while. I’m over it now.” He taps the paper in front of me. “Make that list.”

I pick up the pen and tap my lips with it, thinking. When I glance at him, he’s grinning.

“I could just wander around and grab the obvious things if you want. Clothes. Shoes. Toiletries.”

“Yeah. I’m not sure how to make a list.” It seems very strange to send this man I hardly know to my apartment to get my things. What will he think of me? It’s so…intimate. “My place is small. I’m kinda frugal. I don’t have much. I could just go with you and make it easier,” I hedge.

He shakes his head. “Not a chance. Too risky. I want you to take this seriously, Britney. What you overheard was human trafficking. This isn’t fun and games. It’s dangerous. If your boss already has a buyer for you, then he’s pissed that you’ve disappeared. If he’s already sold you, he will do anything to find you.”

I can’t breathe. He’s right. “Should I call the police?”

“Possibly, but let’s wait. Let me dig around a bit first. I’m in the business of protecting people, so I have connections. My boss has even more connections. I hate to say it, but it’s hard for the cops to do anything when a crime hasn’t been committed and all they have is your word that you overheard a conversation.”

I draw in a breath. Now I’m freaking out a bit.

He cups my face and leans closer. “I don’t want you to worry. Like I said, you’re safe here. I mean it about not leaving the house or opening the door though. Don’t even think about it, okay?”

I nod. My heart is racing. His touch stirs things in me I’m not used to feeling. His intensity is so over the top. I want to climb into his lap and lean against his chest again. Irrational of course, and that would be cruel. Davis is a good guy who’s trying to help me. He’s not thinking about me that way. Why would he? He could have any woman on earth. He probably thinks I’m a baby. I’m much younger than him, and I have nothing to offer. I haven’t even gone to college. Ha. How could I have done that? Pipe dream.

It seems like forever before he releases my cheek to go check on the pizza, and I miss his touch. In fact, as soon as he’s not facing me, I palm my face where his hand was. I’ve known him for all of about ten hours and already I’m like a lovesick puppy.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Of course, I would fall for the first man to give one single fuck about me. Sure, men hit on me. They have for years. Catcalls are part of my daily life. And then there are the men at the Lounge. I shudder even thinking about them. In my experience, all