“Please wake up, Little Hurricane. You’re having a bad dream. You’re with me and safe. Shhh, wake up now.”
He kept his voice gentle, as if he was speaking to a spooked horse. Slowly, Arabella calmed in his arms. He knew she was finally awake when she wrapped her arms around his neck, her sobs filling the air. He continued rubbing his hands on her back and held her as tears soaked into his skin. When her crying slowed, Arabella rocked his entire world with three words.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
He didn’t think she realized what she’d said, but he did and it answered every question he’d had about how she’d fit into his world. At that moment, Tanner knew he’d do anything to make her his.
Chapter Four
Shit!
Arabella couldn’t believe she’d said that, but his hands soothing her back, his gentle hold, and his calming words had combined to take her straight to Little space. She didn’t know if he was a Daddy Dom but he’d make an excellent one if he wasn’t one already. She hadn’t gone into that place in her mind for more than five years, yet he’d managed to pull her there in less than a day.
Tanner hadn’t said anything about her words. He’d simply held her for a while more, then tucked her in. He’d kissed her forehead before retreating to his room. Now Arabella was alone with her thoughts and her memories. There was no way she’d sleep now.
She didn’t have long to worry before Tanner reappeared, carrying blankets and a pillow.
“I’d like to bunk down on the floor, if you don’t mind. That way I can be close if you have another nightmare.”
Arabella wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. She knew she’d sleep much better with him close by. She didn’t know why that was, but she was grateful for it right now.
“Please.”
No sooner was the word out her mouth, then he’d laid out his blanket, folding it like a sleeping bag right by the bed. He laid down and reached up to hold her hand. Neither said a word. The soothing silence had Arabella drifting off to sleep in no time.
Arabella woke to the smell of bacon and coffee. There was no better way to wake up, in her opinion. She didn’t know if Tanner had stayed all night, but she knew that had been the best night of sleep she’d had in years, though it couldn’t have been comfortable for Tanner, being on the floor all night. Arabella suspected her uninterrupted rest was because Tanner was there, keeping watch. He struck her as a protector, making her feel safer in his company than she had in ages.
She rolled out of bed, discovering his bedding was already gone. Arabella wondered again if he’d stayed the whole night. As she headed across the hall to relieve her bladder, she made out the sound of him humming while he cooked, and smiled. She didn’t know heavy metal songs could be hummed, but she recognized the tune and hummed along.
Morning ablutions done, she made her way to the kitchen. She cleared her throat and hoped she wouldn’t startle him. Tanner was busy flipping a pancake but he pointed to the coffee pot.
“Coffee’s ready if you want a cup. I’d make it for you, but I don’t know how you like it and I figured quicker caffeine was better than teaching me.”
She made her cup without saying a word. Noticing him watching, her cheeks pinkened and she was brought back to the embarrassment of what she’d said last night.
“Thank you.”
She wasn’t just thanking him for coffee or breakfast, she was thanking him for being what she’d needed last night. For not asking questions she couldn’t answer and for coming back and staying with her. She couldn’t convey all that properly so she kept it at that, hoping he’d understand.
“You’re welcome, Little Hurricane. Have a seat, these pancakes are about done and the eggs and bacon are warming.”
She headed to the table as she’d been told and found it already set with her seat right next to his. She knew it was her seat because there was a thick book on it. Arabella figured he was trying to make a dig on her height, but the joke was on him since most of what height she had was in her legs, she’d actually need that book to sit at the right level. She left it there and sat atop it.
Tanner came over a moment later, carrying a platter topped with enough food to feed an army. Arabella gaped at the offering, causing Tanner to laugh.
“I’m starving. Don’t worry, it will all get eaten.”
Arabella shrugged at his words and proceeded to reach for her plate. Tanner reached over as if to grab her hand and she flinched away. He immediately retreated and held his hands up.
“I’m not gonna hurt you, Little Hurricane. I just wanted to make your plate for you.”
Arabella nodded, her heart was racing too hard, her breathing was erratic at best. Actually, she couldn’t breathe. At all. Her heart raced harder; she felt it was going to beat out of her chest. Her lungs were starting to hurt, but she couldn’t force herself to breathe. Her ears were ringing, and black was edging her vision. She saw Tanner’s lips moving, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. His panicked face was the last thing she saw before the world went completely dark.
Arabella’s eyes fluttered and she heard Tanner speaking to someone. As her lids lifted, she realized he must have moved her to the couch. Turning her head, she saw him on the phone. “She just passed out… Wait! She’s waking up. What should I do? Okay… Mmhmm, alright. Thank you.” He hung up the call and was by her side faster than she thought possible. He took her cheeks in his hands, gently turning her face more toward his. Looking her directly in the eyes, he asked, “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine.” At his skeptical look, she rushed to reassure him, “Really. I promise I feel fine. It was just a panic attack. A bit of a headache but that happens. Nothing to worry about.”
“Do you get them often? Panic attacks.”
“Often enough to know what it was. It’s just something I live with. Normally, I’d take the meds but I left them behind when I ran.”
She immediately realized her mistake and rushed to cover it, but it was already too late. She couldn’t get a single word out.
“Ran from what, Arabella?”
“Look, I can’t tell you, okay? It isn’t because I don’t trust you, or that I don’t want to, but people who know me tend to end up dead. I’m trying to protect you.”
“What the fuck? Dead? Arabella, please, tell me. I can keep you safe. You can trust me.”
“I can’t.”
Her whispered words had barely passed her lips when she was up and on the run. She didn’t know where she was going; she just needed to get away from this amazing man. She couldn’t keep putting him in danger like this.
Her life was complicated and had only gotten more so in the last few months. If only she hadn’t gotten so comfortable. If only she hadn’t called her family. If only she hadn’t changed her hair back, wanting some semblance of her old self. She’d done this by getting complacent. She already felt too at home here and that was dangerous. That got people killed. She had to get away.
Arabella had been running fast but came up short when she spotted the tall, broad barrier between her and the door. Arabella had no idea how he’d beaten her there but Tanner was standing with his arms crossed, giving her a commanding look.