Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“There was nothing any of us could have done.”
“Maybe not. That was the worst thing about that place. The feeling of helplessness. Of being out of control. I have to have control, Immy.”
He had his hands clenched and there was a strange look on his face. One that scared her.
“You have control now.” She placed her hands on his hands, but he stood and they dropped away.
“I don’t. Not enough. But I’m getting there. I will be worthy of you, Immy. I promise.” Turning, he strode to the door. Then he turned. “And you shouldn’t let your father’s words stop you from getting what you need. He might have called you childish and immature, but I happen to think that you are the best person I’ve ever met. I love it when you laugh and play. When you’re carefree and happy. That makes me happy.”
She gaped after him.
What in the unicorn poop had just happened?
Tobias finished cleaning up the broken egg, glancing up as Jenner walked back into the kitchen. The other man started pacing. He was like a boiling kettle about to spill over.
“Immy all right?” he asked, feeling surprisingly calm considering he’d just been throwing eggs. Well, one egg. But he’d wanted to throw the whole fucking carton.
“I can’t believe that bastard used to say those things to her. I knew he was an asshole. A selfish dick. Fucking bastard. Wish I could dig him up and piss on his dead body.”
Tobias slowly nodded. “Yeah. I get that. I can make it happen.”
Jenner stopped and gaped at him. “You’re not serious.”
“Sure, I am.” He watched as the other man swallowed heavily. Then he sat at the kitchen island. “Fuck. Fuck! That’s likely the reason why she denies that she’s a Little. She tries to suppress it.”
“Probably. Most of it, anyway.”
“She should be free to be whoever she wants. She should never be limited by that asshole.”
“No, she shouldn’t be.”
“Immy shouldn’t be limited by anything,” Jenner said. “She gets whatever she wants and I’m going to see that happens.”
“She’ll probably need help accepting her Little side.”
“You know about Littles because of Cat? Or do you have more experience than that?” Jenner asked him bluntly.
“More experience than that. I’ve been in several relationships, and all of my partners were submissive. Two were Littles.”
“I’ve gone to the club. Spent time with Littles. Time with Cat and Maeve, obviously. But I’ve never dated anyone who was a Little. I’ve barely dated.”
“And yet, from what I’ve seen, all of you act as Immy’s Daddy.”
Jenner gave him a shocked look.
He didn’t know why he was telling him this. He certainly didn’t want to help the other guy gain more of Immy’s affection and love. Nope, he should be actively trying to separate them so he could move on in.
But, fuck, for some reason he couldn’t kick this man when he looked so fucking devastated. When he was upset because of what had been done to his girl.
Their girl.
No. Nope.
He wasn’t going to share her. Immy was going to be his. Tobias could be a selfish asshole with the things that belonged to him. Everyone knew that.
And yet . . . would it be bad to have someone else who was looking out for his girl? Watching over her.
Fuck.
“I’ve got that concert this weekend,” Jenner said suddenly. “Immy won’t be able to come with us, now. She’ll have to stay here. With you.”
“She will,” Tobias said.
“You care about her, don’t you?”
“Yes. I do.”
Jenner nodded. “Just make sure you look after her.” Jenner turned and walked away.
Fucking hell.
He wanted to hate the other man. He wanted to take him down.
What he didn’t want was to feel sorry for him. Or to admire the way he loved Immy. Because Tobias couldn’t be that fucking selfless.
27
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Immy let out a cry of surprise. She turned on the step-stool to find Tobias glaring up at her.
“Oh, hello,” she said. “What are you doing?”
Tobias raised an eyebrow. “I think that’s the question I should be asking, don’t you?”
“Umm, well, I think it’s obvious what I’m doing.” She smiled at him. “But now that you’re here, you can hand me things.”
“That’s not happening.”
She stuck her lower lip out. “Why not?”
“Because there is no way you’re standing on that ladder while I hand you stuff.”
“I’d hardly call it a ladder. More like a tall step-stool.”
“Immy, get down. Now.”
“You are so bossy,” she grumbled as she started moving down the steps. “It’s not attractive, you know.”
He reached up and grabbed her hips, lifting her the rest of the way. “You like it.”
“That’s a rather arrogant statement,” she said, even as she discreetly sniffed him.
God, he always smelled so good. She couldn’t really describe his scent. A little spicy, a bit woodsy. All masculine.
“You’re bossy and arrogant,” she told him, spinning and putting her hands on her hips.