Harboring Hannah by Pepper North

Chapter 12

“I’m starving, Little girl. Let’s go have a big breakfast before setting out this morning,” Deke suggested as he held her close to him.

After two days of waking up in his arms, Hannah had already decided this was where she wanted to be every day. With a start, she realized she hadn’t even thought of being scared in a hotel last night. Everything was better with Deke there to take care of her.

Before she could answer him, her stomach growled on cue. She clamped a hand over her abdomen as she looked up at his eyes. The merriment welling from his gaze made her giggle aloud.

“That settles that,” he declared. “I feed you or there’s going to be a rebellion inside your tummy. Showers first. You go first, Little girl. Take your time.”

She hugged him close, not wishing to leave the warm nest they’d created in the wide, king-size bed. “Five more minutes?” she asked before bolting upright to wrap her arms around herself when he whisked the covers away.

“No fair!” she accused.

“We can lie in bed tomorrow morning. Today, I want to get to SANCTUM so we can get settled.”

Apprehension coiled in her stomach. What if no one liked her? What if Lollipop decided he loved Kenzie and couldn’t stand her?

A firm hand lifted her chin so their gazes met. “Everything is going to be incredible, Hannah. I know you’re worrying. I promise you, we’ll handle any difficulties—together.”

Suddenly, she couldn’t allow him to take her there without him knowing the truth about her. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Okay. Want to tell me over blueberry pancakes or now?”

“I’m not a good person. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. You may not want me as your Little,” Hannah blurted.

“I can’t imagine any reason that would change my mind about you. We haven’t known each other for long but I’m confident that’s not true. Would you let me try to guess what’s bothering you?”

“What?” she asked, looking at him in surprise that quickly flamed into a flash of anger. “You want to guess? This isn’t a game.”

“I know it’s not. I’m not making light of your feelings, sweetheart. I think I know what’s worrying you.” Deke sat up and pulled her resisting body close. Pulling the sheet loose from the bed, he wrapped it around her body as if he knew she needed the protection of not being naked for this conversation. Taking her hands, he waited for her to agree.

Hannah could only stare at him wordlessly. She didn’t know what he was going to guess, but she knew he’d change his mind about her once he heard the truth. Finally, she nodded, giving him permission.

He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. “A jerk named Tommy is blackmailing you with a video of you having sex with him. He has threatened to broadcast it through the media.”

“What? How did you know?”

“You told me.”

“I did not!”

“You, Little girl, talk in your sleep,” he shared softly. “I’ve already contacted a lawyer who is a Little and visits SANCTUM from time to time. She located Tommy Newton in your hometown and sent him a strongly worded letter. Blackmail is a second-degree felony in your state and is punishable by a lengthy sentence and a fine. In addition, your father has removed himself from the case Tommy was trying to influence.”

“Dad never puts family before his job.”

“He did this time.”

Unable to process all this information, Hannah stared at him. Could it really be handled this easily? She remembered Deke sending lengthy messages several times when they’d stopped to get gas and finding him on the phone when she’d come back from the bathroom. Had he accomplished all this in a few snatched moments alone? For her?

She sat there silently for a few minutes, trying to process through all that he had done for her. Deke had handled what had looked like a huge barrier to her with ease and a few contacts. “Did Tommy answer the lawyer?”

“The follow-up letter from the lawyer was returned as undeliverable. It appears Tommy has moved and not left a forwarding address.”

“He ran.” Hannah tried not to celebrate that the tables had turned on Tommy.

“He ran,” Deke confirmed. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her onto his lap. Hugging her close, Deke pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Safely tucked in his arms, Hannah processed everything that he had shared with her. She relaxed against him as she realized he’d eliminated the threat looming over her. A thought flashed into her mind. Would he judge her for the recording?

“I can explain what happened. You know, with the tape.”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me. Tommy taped you without your consent. That alone is illegal. But, even if the two of you had created that video for your own fun, it doesn’t matter. It is illegal to threaten to share it with the world for money.”

“I’m not sure what to say. Why did you do all of this? If you get rid of me, you’re not involved at all,” she finally asked.

“Getting rid of you is not an option I will ever consider. You needed help. I knew people who could take care of this jerk. You don’t have to handle things on your own anymore,” he shared.

“I don’t have to run away?” she asked, tears streaming slowly down her cheeks as hope kindled inside her.

“You never have to run away again. In fact, you better not run away again because your bottom wouldn’t allow you to sit down for days if you take off without talking to me. You are not alone now. Being your Daddy means sharing the best of life and its challenges.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks with a corner of the sheet before leaning in to kiss her tenderly.

“I seem to have a lot of challenges,” she warned.

“Then we will deal with them together. Things crop up for us all. If I became seriously ill tomorrow, would you leave?”

The thought of her vital Daddy being sick and alone brought tears back to her eyes. “No. That tears my heart out.”

“Now you know a fraction of what I’d feel if you weren’t with me. Today starts a new phase of your life, sweetheart. You are no longer just you. You’re my Little girl and you have a Daddy who is way too protective.”

Nodding, she smiled whole-heartedly for the first time in what felt like forever. “Do I have to do anything?” she asked. “You know, with the video?”

“If Tommy releases any revealing images, he will be prosecuted. You might have to testify. I don’t think Tommy will show up on our radar anymore.”

“It’s over?”

“Yes. Your worries about Tommy are over.”

Deke brushed her hair from her face before adding, “There is one important thing we need to discuss before we get to your new home. You’ll have a new start at SANCTUM. I will be there to support and care for you. But there is one thing that I will not allow at SANCTUM. Starting today, if you talk badly about yourself, your bottom will receive a consequence.”

“A spanking?” she said, hearing the warble in her own voice.

“A spanking,” he confirmed. “It’s time for you to be nicer to yourself.”

Dropping her gaze to her sneakers, Hannah nodded.

“Ready to go to SANCTUM now?” he asked, lifting her chin gently with a finger.

His eyes were kind. She knew he really cared about her. Hannah wasn’t going to ruin this chance to be with him. “Please.”