When I woke up, Daddy was gone. But I know he’d slept with me. He hadn’t left like I assumed he would, and I know that because I’d woken up at one point and the quilt had been pulled up over top of us, but I was still lying in Daddy’s arms. And fuck it felt good. It didn’t make any sense at all, but when I was with Mr. Conrad, it felt so…good. Better than any relationship I’d ever had.

Not that what we had was a relationship.

But why couldn’t it be?

We’d only known each other a few days, and sure, we didn’t even know each other all that well, but it was different with him. It could maybe even go somewhere. Somewhere real.

And it wasn’t just the sex, although that was fucking fantastic. I couldn’t get enough of him. I was completely insatiable.

But there was more, too.

I liked his company. He was actually interested in what I was doing and the things that were important to me. Men never were interested in that stuff. At least, none of the men I’d been with. But I’d been with boys.

And Mr. Conrad was a man.

I rolled over in the oversized bed and instantly regretted it. My ass hurt. But it was a delicious kind of hurt. I reached down between the silky sheets and smoothed my hand over my cheeks. They were still hot, and they throbbed under my hand. I rubbed gentle circles and closed my eyes, remembering my spanking.

I’d been scared of what it would feel like. Terrified even. But that only added to my excitement and I knew that Daddy wouldn’t hurt me. Not in any real way. He was punishing me and I deserved it.

I wanted it.

But when that first blow had landed on my soft ass, I wasn’t prepared for the barrage of sensations that flooded through me. It stung. But it was erotic. It was humiliating but empowering. And fuck did it make me wet.

My pussy clenched, remembering how he’d delivered blow after blow on my stinging ass and how I’d thanked him after each one like the good girl that I was. I slid my fingers around to the cleft of my legs and dipped them into my now dripping pussy.

Daddy had the power to make me come even when he wasn’t around. Just thinking of the man and his fierce sexuality was enough to make me scream in pleasure.

I pinched my clit. I could do it, too. I could come right now, just thinking about him.

But I wouldn’t.

I’d wait for him. I desperately wanted to come. But only if Daddy’s cock was inside me.

With a groan, I pulled my fingers away and pushed myself out of bed, taking a moment to revel in the feeling of my body. I ached all over from the constant fucking. But it felt good. In fact, I’d never felt better. Apparently being a good little whore agreed with me.

I couldn’t argue with that.

It was late. I’d slept way past ten and that sent me into a mild panic. I only had the weekend there with Mr. Conrad, and it was already Saturday.

Only Saturday.

Fuck, so much had happened and I was completely falling for this man, and it had only been one day. It didn’t even seem possible. But it was.

I ran a shower and despite the fact that I’d wanted to hurry to spend as much time with Mr. Conrad as I could, the hot, steamy water felt so good that I probably spent a full thirty minutes in the shower, washing every inch of myself.

While I toweled off, I relived every moment I’d already spent with him. Maybe it was because the sex was so amazing, maybe it was a primal instinct, but I couldn’t deny it—I was definitely falling for the man. Love seemed like such a strange word to use considering the situation. But it was the only one I could think of.

The house was quiet when I made my way downstairs to the kitchen, but just as I would expect, Mrs. McClean was preparing something at the stove.

“Your breakfast will be ready shortly.”

“How did you know I was awake?” It was a stupid question, because I was pretty sure Mrs. McClean knew everything about everything that went on in the house. “Never mind,” I added under my breath. She handed me a cup of coffee and I immediately took a sip before asking, “Will Mr. Conrad be joining me for breakfast?”

“No.”

A surge of disappointment flashed through me.

“Where is he?”

“He was called away,” she said matter-of-factly without turning away from the stove. “He told me to inform you he would be gone for the rest of the day. You are to make yourself at home—enjoy the swimming pool, the library, the theater and anything else you would like.”

“He’s gone?”

“He was called away, yes.”

“When will he be back?”

I felt desperate, and pathetic, asking so many questions, but I didn’t care. I needed to know. Maybe if he would be back later that night, I could surprise him in his room? Maybe if I knew he would be back soon, then the unexplainable sadness that flooded through me might subside.

“Tomorrow perhaps.”

“Tomorrow?” The word came out on a sob.

“Miss Blakely, I really can’t say any more than I already have.” Her tone, more than her words, silenced me. “Your breakfast will be served to you on the patio next to the pool.”

I’d been dismissed.

I ate my breakfast alone, hardly tasting what I assumed was a delicious omelet. I should have been starving—after all, I hadn’t eaten more than a few bites at the restaurant the night before. But I couldn’t bring myself to eat much of what was put in front of me. All I could think of was where Mr. Conrad could be. Why would he have left without saying good-bye? Was it me? Had I done something wrong?

I’d been good.

Well, mostly.

And I accepted my punishment and…he’d held me. I could still remember falling asleep in his arms, with my head on his chest. I’d never been like that with another man before. I’d never been so intimate and close with anyone in that way. And there had been something intensely intimate about it. He’d stroked my hair, and I felt safe enough to close my eyes and fall asleep. That had never happened before. Not with any of the men I’d been with.

Daddy was different.

But now he was gone.

I spent the rest of the day wandering aimlessly around the estate until finally I found myself lying by the pool. It seemed like as good of a place as any to nurse what was quickly starting to feel like a broken heart, so I picked a chaise, laid down and closed my eyes in an effort to keep the tears that had been building all day at bay.

It didn’t work.

I was alone.

Daddy had left me and it didn’t feel like a coincidence.

My heart hurt.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

I didn’t try to wipe it away. No one was there to see it anyway.