“I love when you carry me,” she confessed.
“That’s good, baby girl, because I really love carrying you.” He quickly checked the rest of the windows, with her held against him then carried her into the bathroom. He set her down on the counter.
“Stay there. Gonna run you a bath.”
She yawned. “That sounds nice.”
He turned on the taps then looked around. “Got any bubbles?”
“Um, yep, in the bathroom cupboard at the back.” She shifted and he grasped hold of her waist.
“Told you to stay.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “I’m taking care of things tonight.”
“How is that different from any other night,” she teased, giving him hope she was starting to feel better.
“Seems I haven’t been taking care of you as well as I should have been.”
“This wasn’t your fault, Jed,” she told him. “Really. If anything, it was mine.”
“How do you figure that one, sugar?” He grabbed the bubble bath and poured some into the tub before putting it away.
“I must have done something to lead him—”
He placed his hand over her mouth. “I’m going to stop you right there, babe. Don’t care what the fuck you did and I don’t for one-minute think that you did a thing to lead him on but even if you did, he had no right to do what he did. Sending you things, especially those notes. Watching you through the window. Scaring you. Said it once, and I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it to believe it. That behavior ain’t right and it ain’t on you, it’s on him. Got me?”
She looked at him for a moment. “It’s not on you either. You couldn’t know when I didn’t tell you.”
“That won’t happen again, will it?” he asked sternly.
“No. It won’t.”
He cupped her face with his hand. “I’m sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion and stormed off.” He clenched his jaw. “I keep thinking about what might have happened if I hadn’t come back.”
“You did,” she whispered. “You came back. And you got him. I’m safe.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. And she’d stay that way.
He turned the taps off as she yawned. Yep, she was crashing. Fast. He needed to get her all tucked up into bed and relaxed. He’d need to talk to Kent about some time off. He had some downtime coming after the last job. But a few days wouldn’t be enough. His girl needed him here, helping her through this shit.
First things first. Bath. Bed. Sleep.
“Come on, baby girl. Let me help you get undressed.” He moved slowly, keeping his voice soft and steady so as not to frighten her.
She surprised him by being co-operative. She’d only let him undress her once before. She would usually scamper into the bathroom to get changed when he was putting her to bed. Still, as exhausted as she was it was understandable that she’d let him take total control.
He might not like the circumstances around it, but he did enjoy the trust she was giving him. He had her sweater and t-shirt off then without lingering to stare, he whisked off her bra.
This wasn’t about sex tonight. It was about taking care of his baby.
“What a good girl you are for Daddy,” he murmured to her as he helped her stand.
He grabbed hold of her sweatpants and drew them over her hips and down. “Put your hands on Daddy’s shoulders while I help you out. Don’t want my girl falling and hurting herself.”
A very real possibility when she was dead on her feet. She rested her hands on his shoulders and stepped out of her pants. He stood. His cock was already hard, pressing against his jeans.
She needs softness. Compassion. Understanding.
Not his forte, but he’d try to give her whatever it was she needed.