Daddy’s Little Pet

RENEE

I awoke with a start, disoriented and unsure of my surroundings. The last thing I remembered was warm, masculine hands gently stroking my hair until I fell asleep. And then it all came rushing back-the surprise trip and the thrilling ride to Robert’s cabin in Aspen, as I’d later discovered.

Last night was a blur, but I remembered the incredible ride. I got to just be with Robert, and make small talk with the love of my life. A cheesy grin spread across my face at the memory.

When we arrived at the luxury cabin, he showed me around briefly-saving the rest for morning, before taking me straight to the bedroom, where I fell asleep immediately.

With the sun shining brightly through the windows and into my eyes, I stretched out my limbs, groaning as my joints popped. I whispered Robert’s name and looked at his side of the bed. It was empty, and I blinked, perplexed.

Last night, I distinctly remembered Robert caressing my brow and kissing my forehead before lying beside me. He’d wrapped his arms tightly around me. So, where was he?

“Robert?” I called again, but there was no answer. Just silence.

With a sigh, I sat up, immediately scanning the room with my eyes, and that’s when I saw him.

By the right side of the room was a huge glass sliding door opening onto an outdoor balcony, overlooking a veranda. scattered about, and in the near distance stood Robert leaning against a rail.

I couldn’t see his face because his black locks cascaded down his shoulders, but I could feel him-his entire body stiff, every muscle taut. He wore shorts and a white tee, his muscles bulging with each breath.

Damnit, Robert was fucking hot. So hot and incredibly sexy. My mouth watered.

It took everything in me to keep my lusty looks under control as he slowly turned and caught sight of me sitting up in bed. His eyes widened, a dark flush crept across his tanned complexion. His lips then curled upward, a smile tugging at the corners.

“You’re awake.”Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“Yes.” I said quietly, my fingers twitching as I stepped up from the bed. I tried to ignore the fluttering in my stomach as his eyes swept over my half-naked body.

I still wore the same shirt from yesterday-a tank top that clung loosely to my curves and exposed the outline of my breasts. Robert had removed my bra while I slept, so there was nothing I could do about my nipples peeking through the thin fabric of my shirt.

My jeans were gone, too, leaving matching thong panties and socks to cover my bare legs. Socks? Robert didn’t comment on the extra clothing. Instead, he continued to stare at me with his intense blue eyes, the smirk on his face widening. His scrutiny made me blush-hard!

“Morning, Robert.” I greeted, walking out of the bedroom and onto the balcony. He still stood by the railing, watching me.

“My love.” He said, his whisper barely audible. It sent an electric thrill through me, and suddenly, his hand came out, firmly grabbing mine.

I felt flush against his chest, breathing in his musky, familiar scent. He held me tight, one arm slithering protectively around my waist, the other caressing my neck.

“Sleep well?” I smiled against his chest as his low voice rumbled in my ear.

“Yes, you?”

“I always sleep well with you by my side.” He murmured, the corner of his mouth tipping up even more, and I chuckled softly.

Pulling away and turning my chin to the side, I gasped at the view before me.

Last night had been dark except for the dimly lit-up bulbs, and I could barely see the cabin’s surroundings. But this morning, the view was truly breathtaking.

From the balcony, I could see mountains on three sides of the house, with snowflakes drifting lazily in the clear blue sky above. There was also a vast expanse of pristine grasses and distant trees that shimmered golden in the sunlight.

This place was stunning. So tranquil, quiet, and secluded. It was the perfect vacation spot.

“Wow.”

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Robert remarked, his voice calm and soothing.

I nodded, unable to take my gaze away from the beautiful scenery. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

“You know…” Robert began, trailing off as if unsure of what he wanted to say. “I got this cabin because I always imagined my future family coming here to spend the holidays, which is ironic given that years later, I divorced the woman I’d thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with.”

My cheeks burned as he spoke about Amanda, his ex-wife-the woman who’d cheated on him while pregnant with their son. He continued to talk about her, and I couldn’t help but feel repulsed.

I felt so bad for him. He was such a good soul. The sweetest man on Earth. How could she be so low as to break someone so pure? She’d damaged him, and the scar left behind was still there, deep in his heart, like an untreated wound.

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Robert. You deserve much better than her, and I hope you find that happiness again someday.” I said quietly.

“I’ve found my happiness, Renee, and it’s twenty times better than I expected.” He paused, his arms tightening around my waist. “You are my happiness. Everything I prayed for and more.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Oh… Robert.”

“I gave up on love, Renee. But you? You changed everything. I love you so much, and I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone like I do you.”

I squeezed his arms, trying not to cry. “I love you, too.”

He brushed a light kiss against my temple, and we stared at each other for the next minute, lost in our thoughts.

The sound of someone knocking broke the moment, jolting us back to reality.

“Who’s that?” I asked, frowning. “I thought we were the only ones in the cabin.”

“No, we’re not. There’s the housekeeper, her assistants, and some handy security personnel.”

“Security?”

A sardonic grin spread across his face. “Yes. They’re private guards hired from a friend’s security company. They’ll watch us, providing additional safety during our stay here.”

“But-” Another knock sounded at the door, interrupting me.

“Come in.” Robert called out.

Releasing me swiftly, he walked to the main door, swinging it open to reveal an elderly woman dressed in white chef scrubs. Her gray-streaked hair was put back neatly into a little bun, and her wrinkled face was creased in an amiable smile.

“Good morning, Mr. Clarke.” She greeted pleasantly, dropping a large silver tray packed with food and drinks on a table.

“Morning, Mrs. Herbert.” Robert said, nicely.

“Here’s breakfast for you and your guest.” She pointed at the tray.

“Thank you, Mrs. Herbert. You know Miss Micheal already, though you haven’t formally met.”

“Indeed.” She nodded curtly.

“Come in, Renee.” Robert beckoned with a finger, and I entered the room nervously.

A blush crept up my cheeks as I became self-conscious of my clothing-or lack of. Mrs Herbert, though, seemed unconcerned about my state of undress. Instead, her hazel eyes sparkled as she smiled at me.

“Miss Micheal.” She began. “It’s wonderful to meet you finally.”

“Thank you, Mrs Herbert.”

“You may call me Helene.” She insisted, flashing another charming smile, winning me over.

I returned her smile. “All right, Helene.”

“Good. If you need anything, call me. I’m always at your service.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope you enjoy your meal. Have a nice morning.” She cheerfully intoned. With a small curtsy, she headed for the door, closing it behind her.

“She has a sweet personality. I like her,” I told Robert.

“I see you do.” Robert said with a smile. “She’s been taking care of this cabin for as long as I can remember. She may look frail, but she’s tough.”

“I can tell.”

“Hm, enough about Mrs. Herbert. You’re hungry?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Let’s eat then, shall we?”

I grinned. “Yes, we shall, Mr. Clarke.”

~~

The day went by quickly.

After breakfast, Robert showered and left for a business meeting, promising to return before evening or whenever he was through. He left me alone with Mrs. Herbert, her assistants, and one of the security personnel.

Mrs. Herbert chattered happily beside me as I spent most of my morning touring the cabin, pointing out and describing any feature that caught my interest.

The cabin was incredible. With an elegant, antique feel to its thick stone walls and heavy wood floors, I fell more in love with the place. The interior was unique, and the furniture was ornately carved and designed with flawless woodwork. All the rooms were well maintained. In one of them, I saw a glass cabinet containing some beautiful paintings-Robert was a sucker for artwork.

Like its interior, the exterior was equally stunning. Huge wooden decks overlooked a spectacular mountain landscape, and the cabin grounds were covered in a green ivy that crept across the smooth granite stones, creating the illusion of a lush forest.

The cabin was magnificent. The perfect escape from the insanity of modern times, and I was delighted Robert brought me here.

After touring the cottage with Mrs. Herbert for several hours, getting enough photos to show Nicole. Then I decided to go out.

With my guard and one of Mrs. Herbert’s aides escorting me, I explored the town of Aspen.

It was beautiful, with tall, comforting buildings along the streets. Trees were peppered on every other slab of sidewalks. Cars and taxis zipped past us in an endless stream, making the entire experience ethereal.

I first stopped at an art gallery, admiring the work of renowned artists. Then I bought a painting for Robert-something I hoped he’d like because he officially sponsored the trip, so he deserved a gift. Then, I stopped at a local diner and treated myself and my escorts to lunch.

After that, I went sightseeing. I stopped at a mall to get a few pieces of clothing and jewelry to add to the vast wardrobe Robert had set up for me at the cabin. Finally exhausted, I decided to head home.

As the Jeep sped down the road toward the cabin, I stared out the window. The sun had already set, casting an orange hue, coloring the clouds. The evening breeze gently caressed my skin, making me shiver.

Sighing softly, I rested against the window, eyelids fluttering closed when my cell phone began to ring. Reaching for my purse, I searched until I located it.

The screen instantly lit up, displaying Nicole’s name, and a smile grew across my face. I swiped the answer button.

“How’s Aspen, baby?” She asked and her voice purred happily through the speaker.

“You naughty bitch! How could you keep it from me!”

“What? I don’t think you should blame me for this now, Renee. Your man wanted to surprise you, and why would I want to spoil it? Now, stop complaining. It would help if you were thankful instead of sulking. Anyway, how are you? Are you having fun?”

“Yes.” I answered truthfully. “The weather is amazing. And everything is great. I explored the city and went shopping. I had fun.”

“Just you? Didn’t Robert go with you?”

“No. He left this morning to attend some business-related matters.”

“Okay. Did you take pictures?”

“Yes, I did. I took photos of the cabin, the city and a lot of other picturesque views you’ll like. I’ll send them to you tonight.”

“That’s my girl.” I laughed. “Alright. We’ll talk later. Need to prepare for my night shift.”

We said our goodbyes and then the car came to a halt as soon as I hung up my phone. I looked out the window to see we were home.

I got out of the Jeep, muttering thanks as the security guard opened the door. The assistant, Oliver, offered to carry my shopping bags, but I declined politely, wanting to take them myself.

I went inside and as I stepped into the living room, I heard voices. It was Robert’s, and he sounded frustrated and… and angry.

What was wrong? I walked in gently, approaching the room where he was. He was on the phone, talking to someone. I considered leaving, but my curiosity won out, and I lingered, catching bits of the conversation.

“I leave Orlando for a day, and shit hits the fan.” He said, his tone cold.

“Well, guess what…” His deep voice continued menacingly. “I’m not going back there. Ever. I’ll make sure of that.”

“Take care of every goddamn thing, do you understand?”

A moment of silence followed as he listened to whomever was on the phone. When he spoke again, his voice was calmer and less tense. But the words were loaded with venom and malice, shaking me to the core.

“Make no mistake, you do not want to get on my bad side. You will regret it.” He snapped and ended the call.

Throwing his phone aside, he glared furiously at the wall. Wrath was in those stormy blue depths, something dark and frightening lurking just beneath the surface. His fists were curled, and his eyes narrowed.

I couldn’t see anything beyond him, but I could hear his heavy breathing. His hands shook slightly as if wanting to strike out, and I saw he was trying to contain his rage. Seeing him like this worried me.

“Robert.” I called softly, my pulse hammering. “Is everything okay?”

He dragged his gaze from the wall and stared squarely at me, a look of absolute misery replacing the wrath in his eyes. For a second, I wasn’t sure if he was looking at me or something else. I wasn’t sure if he even noticed I was there.

“Are you alright?”

There was nothing but anguish in Robert’s features. He closed the distance between us in seconds and tried to lift a hand toward me, but he couldn’t. His fingers trembled even more frantically than before, and his face paled.

“Robert?” I called again, a little louder this time. Still no response, yet his stare never wavered.

Finally, he broke eye contact and stepped back, looking anywhere but at me.

“Please, talk to me? Who was on the phone? What’s wrong?” I persisted, not giving up until he said something.

“Renee…” He groaned, his eyes bloodshot. “I know we said no secrets, but I can’t tell you this. At least not now. I don’t want you to worry.”

“Bullshit, Robert!” I exclaimed angrily. “You not talking will only make things worse. We said no more secrets. You promised, and you don’t break your promises. So don’t do this now, I beg you.”

Silence filled the room. Robert seemed frozen in place, still unable to look at me.

“Renee…”

“Talk to me.”

After what seemed like hours, Robert exhaled deeply and ran his hands over his face.

“Fine, I’ll talk.” He conceded reluctantly, his voice hoarse as he spoke. “Someone is trying to blackmail me.”