The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection Frost, J (good beach reads .TXT) 📖

thought of being cool, of being big and undemanding, flies right out of the balcony doors when I see Logan. His hair’s rumpled and spiky from his shower. Jaw freshly shaven. Skin a deeper gold from our day in the sun. A white Oxford stretches across his wide chest, sleeves rolled up to show his corded forearms. Strong forearms always make me think of a spanking, and that thought ignites a fire in my butt. The black belt riding low on his hips makes me hotter, and the way his broken-in jeans fit him just right spreads the heat up between my legs.

How can I possibly be cool when this man is my daddy?

I shriek with delight, jump up from my desk, and race to him, waving my arms over my head. Chuckling, he holds out his arms, scoops me up when I launch myself at him, and wraps me into a koala-baby hug before he sits down on the edge of my bed and lets me cover his face with kisses.

He eventually takes control, fisting my hair to hold me still and nipping at my lips to make me wriggle. When I’m pushing at him and protesting the stings, he pulls back and spears me with those hot, dark eyes. “Miss me?”

“So much, Daddy.” I wrap my arms around his neck and squeeze tight. “You were gone foreeeeever.”

“I was, huh? Forever and ever?”

I nod solemnly, tugging my hair against his hold even though it smarts. The little stings in my scalp and lips join the heat between my legs and make me tingle all over.

“What’d you do while I was gone forever and ever?”

“I took a shower and got the sand out, which was harder than it sounds because there was sand everywhere. Like an entire beach in my bathing suit, seriously. And I did the lotion ritual because I think I got a little too much sun even though I did put enough sunblock on, promise. I didn’t put any lotion on my bottom because you said I was going to get paddled.” He gives me a nod and a smile that make my heart squeeze tight while butterflies fill my belly. “And then I wrote, but I can’t tell you what about.”

“You can’t?” Logan’s eyes narrow. “Because it has bad words in it?”

“No, Daddy. I can’t tell you about it because it’s about a wolfy-daddy and you’re my inspiration and if I tell you, it’ll mess up my muse.”

He chuckles, a rich, masculine roll of amusement.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that. Let’s see if we can give you some more inspiration, little girl. Did you think about a reward while I was gone forever and ever?”

I did, but I’m still not sure if I should ask for it. If he takes it wrong, it could go as badly as our first dinner together when I reached for the check and ended up plugged for my stupidity. “Please promise you won’t take it wrong?”

He lifts an eyebrow, but he’s still smiling his Wolfy-Daddy smile so I plunge ahead.

“There’s a sushi restaurant on board,” I begin.

“I noticed.”

Of course, he did because Logan notices everything. His expression doesn’t give me any clues as to how he’s going to take it if I say I want to treat him to dinner.

“Please, please, could we go to dinner there and please can I pay for it because it’s not included in the cruise and I haven’t paid for anything?”

I watch his face anxiously as I speak but I can’t tell anything from his expression. He simply watches me back. His smile has faded, but he’s not frowning so I don’t think I’ve made him angry. I hope I haven’t.

“How is it a reward if you pay for it?” he asks.

“It’s a reward because we both like sushi, and it’ll make me happy to treat you. Please, Daddy, please?”

“Mmm.” He taps the tip of my nose. “I like the idea of sushi for dinner. Nice and light before our scene. And I’d like you to have a few sips of sake as well. What I don’t like is the idea of you paying. First, I invited you on this cruise and Daddy pays for the things Daddy invites you to. Second, this is your reward for being an angel today. You shouldn’t pay for your own reward.”

“Please?” I whisper. I don’t want to make him angry, but I don’t want sushi if he has to pay extra for it. He opens his mouth, and I can tell he’s going to insist on paying. “Can I pick something else? Please?”

He tips his head to the side. “You really want to pay, huh?”

I nod so hard my eyes water.

“Okay, this once. One time. I mean it, Emily. You’re getting your way because this is a reward, but this is not going to start a pattern, either in you paying for things, or in finding ways to work around Daddy’s rules.”

“I promise I wasn’t trying to work around your rules. I didn’t even think about that. I just want to pay for this one thing because you’ve paid for everything and I feel guilty.”

“I don’t want you to feel guilty. All I’ve paid for is your plane ticket. The cruise line’s comping your room and board because you’re my cover.”

My stomach drops. “You paid for me to fly first class? That must have cost a fortune!”

Logan chuckles. “I’d like to claim credit since it made an impression, but, no, I upgraded both of our tickets with frequent flyer miles.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief.

“Emmy, I appreciate your frugality. Believe me, I appreciate it. And I understand that although you’re my submissive, in terms of money, you want us to be equals—”

I shake my head. That’s not what I want. Not at all.

“Um, okay. Let’s back up.” He strokes his knuckles down my cheek and I lean into his touch. When his hand lingers, I kiss his knuckles. “If you could have anything, not thinking about practicalities