Dr. Daddy Dom (Little Lake Bridgeport 2) by Breanna Hayse Page A

is allowed to make most of her personal choices on her own. She has rules that are non-negotiable, though."
    "What kind of rules?"
    "For safety, respect, and how she expected to behave in public. She also has chores and other responsibilities as part of the household." He waited until May had picked up the second armload of dishes and returned to the kitchen before he continued. "Girls like May thrive in strictly structured environments where they are encouraged to experiment without fear of judgment. They know where they stand at all times, so the fear of the unknown is removed."
    "Is this need something that comes from trauma?" Ian asked.
    "Not necessarily." Caine poured himself some sweet tea. "Some age-players come from healthy, happy homes. Others, like Maybelle, did not. She was raised in a neglectful home around a part-time alcoholic father and a spiteful aunt, and when she didn't fit into the 'good girl' crowd, she tried her hand on the other side. It ended in tragedy for her, but Pop found her and worked his magic, and then he gave her to us."
    "Did you know that we both met Savannah when she was a freshman in high school? She dumped a Slurpee on my lap during a football game." Layton laughed. "Caine said that you've been married three years. How did you hook up?"
    "My kid brother introduced us during one of his frat parties where I was asked to be a bouncer. She was flying around the room and flirting with all the guests, pretty as a picture and wilder than a bee. As the night progressed, she started drinking and, the next thing I knew, she was being shoved about by several of the men she had been teasing. My brother called me in to get her out of there before she was gang-banged. She fought me tooth and nail even then," Ian said.
    "Is that when you started dating?"
    "Not exactly. I took her home and met her parents when I carried her to the door. Her father started shouting at us, calling her a slut and me a low-life. He then accused me of taking advantage of a drunk girl and threatened to call the cops. He wouldn't listen to a word I said. Not then and not now."
    "You can see where she gets that from, can't you?" Caine asked.
    "Now that you bring it up, yes. She started screaming back and announced that if he hated me so much, then there had to be something good about me. She kissed me right in front of him and then stumbled into the house. I figured that I'd never see her again, but the next thing I knew, she showed up at the arena where I was training. Waltzed right in and kissed me without so much as a howdy-do."
    "And like a well-bred Texas gentleman, you couldn't embarrass her in front of the other cowboys and tell her to leave, could you?" Layton asked, his eyes twinkling.
    "Hell, no. She started showing up every day, bringing me food and staying to watch me practice. She was pretty, smart, and made me laugh, so I played along even though I knew she was out of my league. Eventually, I started looking forward to her visits, and finally got up the guts to ask her out. I fell in love with her and four months after we met, I asked for her hand. The first few months were great, especially since her father was so pissed that he left for months and wouldn't speak to her, but then things started to change." Ian paused as May rejoined them and snuggled herself on Layton's lap.
    "The occasional glass of wine grew to an entire bottle, and then she started going out with her friends while I was at competitions. Eventually, she stopped coming to see me altogether, and was only concerned about the amount of money I won, not my placing."
    "That must have hurt your feelings very much," May said softly. "Maybe she was getting worried. Rodeos are dangerous, especially the bull pits."
    "It did, but I understand that people get bored, so I didn't think twice about her not being there. Plus, she started flirting with the other competitors and I guess a part of me didn't trust her. Not that I trusted her friends, either, but at