Page 21 of Daddy's Lesson

Bas raised his brows and smirked. “Oh, did it? It wasn’t too awkward, what with the history of you being her student and all?”

I rolled my eyes. “College was a long time ago, my friend. I’m a new man these days, and Zoe sees that.”

Bas scoffed. “Does she? That’s interesting, bro, ‘cause I can’t.”

Annoyed at their ribbing in a way I usually wouldn’t be, I rolled my eyes and stomped to my office, pulling the door closed behind me. Why had I decided it was a good idea to go into the office today?

Oh, yeah. To get away from Zoe. Not that I really wanted to; of course I didn't. But learning that she was practically a virgin with her lack of experience had been a lot. I wanted time to read over the rest of her answers in private, and I’d feared that if I didn’t have a good reason to make her go, she’d stay. I didn't really think she would, since it seemed like she was wildly independent, but one never really knew. If she’d wanted to stay, though, I’d have let her, and if she wanted me to undress her and start knocking experiences off her list… well, I definitely would have done that, too.

I couldn’t get the idea of being the one who would open up this whole new world to her—a world she’d only ever dreamed of—out of my head. I wanted it more than anything. But I couldn’t rush it.

I had to take it slow so as not to scare her off. We’d made significant progress in just a few short hours, but with Zoe I wanted everything, including myself, to be perfect. And that meant taking time when we both needed it. Like now.

CHAPTER 7

ZOE

Stepping out of the tub Wednesday evening, I heaved a happy sigh as I dried off and slipped into the same pink pajamas I’d worn the night before, and wrapped a towel around my hair so it wouldn't soak the fabric.

Taking so much unproductive time for myself in the evenings still gave me pangs of guilt, at least until I sent Lennon the required picture.

Stalking out of my en suite and into my bedroom, I glanced longingly at the leopard-print pajamas Lennon had bought me. They were by far my favorite, even though I hadn't worn them yet. I was saving them for a night where Lennon might see them in person, assuming that night would ever come.

I hadn’t seen him since Monday afternoon, when he’d randomly announced he had to go to work, kissed me senseless, told me I wasn't allowed to touch myself and called me an uber to take me to my car.

That fact alone was starting to give me a complex. Or, it would have, if not for the fact that Lennon, despite not making plans to see me, had been in constant contact. He texted me every morning, several times throughout the day, and every evening.

As if on cue, my phone chirped from my nightstand. Although the instinct was to rush to it, I ignored it for now, taking my time to dry my hair and rub lotion into my skin. I sat at my vanity and did my nighttime skincare routine, and when I was finished I grabbed my phone without looking at it and went to the kitchen to brew a pot of tea.

While it brewed, I opened the drawer under the microwave where I’d stashed my self-care truffles and placed two on a saucer before pouring my tea into a matching cup. Carrying both back to the bedroom, I placed them on my bedside table and climbed up onto the bed, sitting cross-legged in the center of it to finally read my messages from Lennon.

Hey, little girl, are you getting ready for bed yet? It’s almost bedtime.

I sighed as I looked at the clock, wishing he wasn’t right, or that he hadn’t given me a bedtime, but that was his newest rule. After finding out I normally operated on less than five hours of sleep, Lennon had implemented a bedtime that would guarantee me at least seven, and as much as I hated it, I had to admit that I’d woken up this morning feeling refreshed, a fact that had delighted Lennon when he checked in with me this morning.

Deciding not to answer with words, I pulled up my camera and stretched out on the comforter, holding my phone at an angle above me to snap the pic. Then I sent it without looking so I didn't have to worry about my crow’s feet.

Good girl. Did you take a bath?

I did. And I’ve got my tea and chocolates.

Even though I knew he couldn’t see me, I sat up and sipped my tea, then bit into a decadent truffle.

You have class tomorrow, right?

Two in the morning and then I’m off until the Monday after next.

I nibbled my lip as I waited to see what he would say. He’d demanded that I take the time off, but hadn’t mentioned what he expected me to do with that time, or whether he planned to be a part of it.

I decided to add:

I’ll be done at one o’clock.

When his next text came through, I let go of the breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

I’ll be at your place at two.

Just as soon as the relief settled, a fresh wave of panic broke through. I hadn’t expected him to want to come to my home, even though Archer always had. With Lennon, it seemed different.