chapter 2

I stood listening at the door to Daddy’s study. I could hear Daddy,

his voice raised as he yelled at someone. The only other voice I heard

sounded like Victor’s, which I was expecting. Still, I waited a little while

longer just to make certain there was no one else. Victor knew at least some

of the problems going on, but I didn’t want this conversation in front of

anyone else.

Finally, satisfied it was only Daddy and Victor, I took a deep breath

and knocked softly three times. Then I waited. I heard Daddy yell.

“Who the fuck is that?”

Followed by Victor’s soft, “I’m not sure, Jacob. I’ll tell them to

leave.”

“This is fucking ridiculous. I’m firing Raymond. I explicitly told

him I was seeing no one else today!”

“Calm down, Jacob.”

“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down!”

The door opened just as Daddy roared the last bit and slammed his

fist on the table. It took everything I had in me not to jump or to look in any

way as if I were frightened. I felt the color drain from my face, but I kept

my head up and my shoulders back. My hands clasped behind my back

were clenched, but no one could see that.

“Jacob,” Victor said quietly as he stepped back and opened the door

a little wider so Daddy could see me.

Daddy just stared at me a moment before he stood. He looked nearly

as pale as I knew I was. “Kitten,” he said softly. “Is everything OK?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I said. My voice only wavered a little, but I kept my

chin up and tried to put a serene expression on my face. “May I come in,

please?”

“Of course, Kitten. Come to me.”

I did, without hesitation. Victor closed the door softly behind me as I

hurried to Daddy. He held out his hands to me and I wrapped my arms

around his waist as he closed around me in a solid wall of love. He held me

for several minutes, his body shuddering around mine in a rare show of

emotion. Daddy always made me feel like he loved me every bit as much as

he said he did, but he never acted like he needed me as much as I needed

him. I was beginning to think there was much more he needed than he was

taking from me.

“I love you, Daddy,” I said, knowing he needed to hear it.

“I love you too, Kitten. So damned much.” Finally, he let me go

only to scoop me up and sit in his chair with me. I curled myself around

him, just hugging him, petting him like he might pet me in an effort to

comfort him.

“Where’s Max? Does he know you’re here?”

“No, Daddy,” I said softly. “He’s in the gym. I needed to talk to you.

I know you’re busy, but it’s important.”

Daddy straightened, looking down at me as if he were ready to give

me anything in the world I asked. “What can I help you with, Kitten?”

I took a deep breath before taking the plunge. “Something’s wrong,

Daddy. I can feel it. You’re not happy, and I don’t know how to make it

better.”

If I’d slapped him, I’m not sure Daddy could have looked more

surprised. “I -- what? Kitten, I’m extremely happy. I’ve never been more

content in my life. You fulfill parts of me I didn’t know were empty.” He

leaned down to place a gentle kiss on my mouth. I turned my face up to meet his happily, but I didn’t encourage him to deepen the kiss. “Tell me

what’s wrong, baby. I promise, I’ll fix it.”

“It’s you, Daddy. I can tell something’s wrong. You’re so sweet and

kind to me, but you’re snapping at everyone else. Even Max, and he doesn’t

know how to react. He’s trying his best. What happened this morning

wasn’t his fault. I got up early. He’s never not been there when I woke up

before. And you never told him he had to be there. He doesn’t sleep in our

room so we have privacy, but now he’s making plans to sleep outside our

door.”

Daddy closed his eyes and winced. “I’m so sorry, Kitten.”

I cupped his face in my hands, needing him to look at me. “You

have nothing to apologize to me for, Daddy. You’ve tried to keep your

temper from me and you’ve never taken it out on me. But you need to tell

me why you’re feeling like this.” I shook my head slightly. “Is it me? Am I

not being the good Kitten you need?”

“No, Isabella,” Daddy said immediately. “You’re the perfect little

Kitten. Perfect in every way. I never have to worry about your behavior.

You’ve never been afraid to do what I ask of you sexually. I can’t imagine

my life without you in it.”

“Then what is it, Daddy? Tell me what you need.” I smiled at him.

“That’s why I’m here. To make you happy.”

Daddy sighed. “You do, sweetheart. You absolutely do.”

I did my best to do what Daddy always does to me when I’m either

afraid to say something, or just struggle vocalizing exactly what I need. I

waited patiently, holding his gaze with mine. Finally, Daddy lowered his

head, pressing his forehead against mine. “You’re the perfect Kitten,

Isabella. The perfect woman. But maybe you’re a little too perfect.”

I stilled. “Are you tired of me, Daddy?” I tried to ask the question in

a matter of fact way so he felt free to tell me if that were the case. Much as it hurt to say those words, I had to know the answer.

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