“All of it, Sage.”
Taking a deep breath, she said, “I belong to Daddy. If you decide I’ve been bad…”
“You are never bad, Pet. You just misbehave sometimes. Try again.”
“I belong to Daddy.” Why was there so much comfort and joy in saying those four little words? “I will try to follow Daddy’s rules. If I don’t or misbehave, Daddy will punish me.”
“That’s my good girl,” he murmured seductively. Rubbing her backside lightly, he chuckled when she winced from the lightest contact. “You have a beautifully responsive bottom, Sage. It colors easily and well and has the most delightful give and bounce when my hand lands.”
“I’m so glad you enjoy it,” she said with a touch of snark.
“Careful, Sage. Start sassing me and I’ll drag you out of this bed, wash your mouth out with soap, then spank you until you’re crying and begging me to stop. For the record, if you earn yourself a discipline spanking when you’re already scheduled for maintenance, you’ll receive the discipline spanking, and maintenance will be moved to the next day.”
“How did you learn all this? I didn’t write you like this.”
“But you wanted to,” he whispered. “You created me for yourself. You never told anyone what you wanted and instinctively knew you needed, but I knew. Go to sleep, Sage.”
He felt her sag against him as sleep claimed her. Once she rested peacefully, he kissed her cheek and sat up on the edge of the bed. Sage fidgeted; he leaned over to kiss her again and stroked her body until she settled.
Who tried to kill her… and why? Did any of the incidents in North Carolina have anything to do with this latest attempt on her life? Were they part and parcel of the same thing?
Roark got up and pulled on his jeans, then grabbed her laptop and stretched back out on the bed. He worked his way through, looking for information on the net while not being a part of it. He idly wondered if he could move back and forth between the two existences, but was unwilling to try, fearing if he succeeded in returning to the ether of her laptop, he might never escape it again. Sage needed him here in the physical world. She needed him to protect her from this clear-and-present danger, as well as from herself.
Running his hand down her body and rubbing her still slightly colored backside, he smiled at her preening under his attention.
“Don’t worry, Sage. Daddy’s here, and he’s going to take good care of you.”
He watched the news and learned the body of the man who tried to kill Sage had been found and identified as a killer for hire. So, no motive for the man himself, but somebody hired him. Sage didn’t seem to know anything, and nothing he knew led him to believe she’d done anything that would warrant notice from any criminal element, much less something of the magnitude they’d want her dead. No one knew her better than he did, including Sage herself. She wrote erotic romance books, for God’s sake, not in-depth investigative journalism pieces, exposing the wrongdoings of someone in power.
Roark pulled up her financial documents and began combing them. At first glance, they appeared to be in order, but something kept tickling his brain—something was off, something didn’t seem quite right. He ordered room service and leaned over to nuzzle and kiss her awake.
She opened her eyes and seemed confused at first.
“Roark?”
“Yes, Pet, Daddy’s here. I’ve ordered breakfast. Why don’t you go hop in the shower?”
“The hotel knows you’re here?”
“It’s where I live. I had the butler bring up the ice last night.”
“You… you don’t really exist,” she whispered.
He patted her backside, smiling when she winced. “Your bottom seems to think I exist, and I am rather sure your pussy is well aware of it as well. Maybe I should reinsert the butt plug, so you have a constant reminder that I’m here and now in the physical world.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Did they seemed surprised at all that you were calling?”
“Not at all. As far as anyone can tell, you, Felix, Holmes, and I are the only ones who are aware that until recently, the three of us only existed in the pages of your books.”
She nodded. “The weird thing is that the names in the books have all been changed, and all of you are sentient… and solid. I mean, it’s not like you’re an apparition I can put my hands through.”
“And aren’t you glad Daddy’s cock is nice and solid,” he teased, kissing her when she smiled. “In some ways, it feels a bit odd, but in others, it feels as if I’ve always been here. I don’t want you to worry about that. I will ensure that you are safe, which leads me to another rule.”
“Pfft… you and your ru—”
Her statement was cut off when he flipped her on her belly and his hand connected with her backside in a hard swat.
“My rules, little girl, are to be followed. Deviation from the rules gets you spanked or more. Now, as I was saying before you interrupted me… Until further notice, you do not leave this room or open the door without my permission. Understood?”
Sage nodded but didn’t say anything.
Another harsh smack.
“You answer with words when I ask you a question. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she said sullenly.
Thwack!
“Yes, what?” he barked. “Watch the attitude, little girl. If you need a spanking in order to behave, you let me know. Do you?” He hid his grin when she backed off.
“No, Daddy, I don’t need a spanking, and yes, Daddy, I understand.”
“Better,” he said, idly petting her bottom. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking a shower?”
“I don’t remember you being so bossy.”
“And I don’t remember you being so sassy. When you get showered, we’ll have breakfast and lay out the rest of the day.”
Sage stood under the shower, letting the hot, steamy water pelt down on her.
