Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10) by Laylah Roberts (good book club books txt) 📗

like to be judged for my needs. I’ve been a Mommy for years.”

She was?

Safe zone?

Judgment?

“Just breathe slowly for me. I promise. No one will ever know you were here. I’d take your secret to my grave.”

She didn’t know this woman. Didn’t know that she could trust her. But there was sincerity in her gaze.

“That’s it,” Aunt Marie said. “Nice and slow.”

Gradually, her breathing started to ease. Aunt Marie’s words and the tight hold Ed had on her, helping to ground her.

“The Littles and their caregivers in this town rely on me to be discreet. They trust me. I’d never betray that. Okay?”

She managed to nod.

Aunt Marie turned her gaze up to Ed. “I can’t believe you didn’t explain this all to her before bringing her here, Edward Michael Granger.”

Ooh. Full name. Big Daddy was in trouble.

How was it possible that her Little was coming out? She could still feel the remnants of the panic attack. She was trembling, she felt ill.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Ed said.

“Language,” Aunty Marie scolded. She turned her gaze back to Georgina and her face softened. “I know that you don’t know me. But I promise, no one will know you were here.”

“S-sorry for the freak-out.”

“Don’t call it a freak-out,” Ed grumbled. She felt him press a kiss to her head. “And this is my fault, not yours. Fuck, I can’t believe I didn’t think to explain. I wanted it to be a surprise and instead, I caused you to have a panic attack.”

“You d-didn’t know I’d react like that.”

“I’m going to leave you alone. Call me back when you need me.” Aunty Marie stood. “Although I do have a few suggestions if anxiety is something you need help with?”

She stiffened then let out a breath. “It is.”

Aunt Marie nodded then leaned down and whispered to Ed.

“Thanks, Aunt Marie. We’ll call you back when we’re finished.”

She gave Georgina a small smile. “Nice to meet you, sweetheart. Have some fun now, okay?”

Fun? She wasn’t so sure after that.

But she was here now. Aunt Marie had seen her freak out. It wouldn’t make any difference if she was just to walk out without looking around.

Aunt Marie left as quietly as she’d arrived. What did she say? Should she apologize? She’d probably embarrassed him, right? Freaking out like that in front of his friend.

She took a steadying breath. She felt weak. Drained. Which often happened after an attack like this.

She leaned back to look up at him. “I’m really sorry, Ed.”

He blinked, looking surprised. Then his eyes narrowed. “And why are you sorry?”

She winced. She hated when people made her spell out what she’d done wrong. It was something her mother did all the time.

“For embarrassing you,” she whispered.

“You think you embarrassed me?”

“I had a panic attack in front of your friend. All because I thought she was going to talk about me being here. Being a Little. Kind of stupid, right?”

“Embarrassed me,” he said slowly.

She tensed. How mad was he? Whatever he said, she could take it.

Suddenly, he lifted and turned her. She yelped. Would she ever get used to how strong he was? His biceps were enormous. She could barely get two hands around him. The way he lifted her as though she weighed nothing . . . yeah, it was a turn on.

Now she was straddling his lap, her legs on either side of his thighs.

“Eyes on me.”

She looked straight up at his brown eyes. “Okay, my girl, let’s get a few things straight. I am not, nor would I ever be, embarrassed by you.”

“But I—”

He held up a finger to her lips. “Daddy is speaking. Please wait for your turn.”

It was her turn to blink in surprise. She’d never heard him sound so stern. At least, not with her. She bit her lip then realized quickly what she was doing. She straightened, giving him her calmest look.

He shook his head. “I fucking hate that look on your face.”

“W-what?”

“That look. Where you hide all your emotions. Do you think I’m going to be upset if you show that you’re unhappy or mad? If you don’t sit straight and proper? Do and say the wrong thing? What would happen if you’d laid down on the floor here and had a massive tantrum in front of Aunt Marie? I’m talking about feet kicking, hands thumping on the floor, tears and yelling.”

Her eyes widened. Where was this coming from? She couldn’t ever imagine doing something like that. Ever.

“Well?” he pressed as he placed his hand against her cheek. “What do you think would happen?”

“I don’t . . . I don’t know. Would you walk out and leave me?”

“Thought that might be your first thought. My girl, I would not leave you. Not for that. Not for anything.”

“What if I danced naked through the town?”

“Nope.”

“What if I murdered someone?”

“Nope. Although it might be difficult to continue a relationship while you’re in jail, I’m sure we can figure it out.”

“If I slipped into Little mode in front of others?” she whispered. What if that happened? Was it possible? She’d lived with her Little side for years without letting it slip. But sometimes it was draining. And she’d never indulged that part of herself like she had these past few days.

He ran his thumb over her cheek. “Nope. Not leaving you.”

She could see the sincerity in his gaze and something eased inside her. “So what would you do if I threw a massive tantrum on the floor?”

“Likely pick you up, put your over my knee, and spank your cute ass.”

“In front of Aunt Marie!”

He shrugged. “You threw the tantrum in front of her, so I’d think she would deserve to see you get your butt spanked. But if that’s a hard limit, I could take you out to the truck. Course, she’d know you were getting your butt whipped.”

Her cheeks went red at the thought. “I don’t think that will ever happen,” she said primly.

His eyes danced with amusement. “Never say never. Do you know what would happen after that spanking?”

“Um, I’d apologize.”

“Yep.