The weekend crowd at the mall was a goddamn nightmare, and for Thomas, it was the definition of agitation.
People were everywhere, a sea of mindless drones that forced him to press his body even tighter against Emma's.
At forty, the owner of a top-tier jewelry empire was a titan among men, his commanding presence drew the hungry eyes of every woman they passed.
Some even had the audacity to "accidentally" brush against his broad chest, hoping for a taste of the luxury hidden beneath his designer shirt.
Get lost, vultures, he thought. To him, these women were nothing more than chirping sparrows—annoying and insignificant.
His razor-sharp focus was reserved for Emma and Emma alone. From behind, he watched the rhythmic sway of her lush, rounded hips, even under the loose fabric of her sweatpants.
Every step she took was a provocation that made his blood boil with a primal need.
He usually loathed chaos, and he had zero patience for high-maintenance women, but Emma was the sole exception to every rule in his book. Her whining, her clinginess, her constant demands—they weren't burdens, they were the purest form of fuel for his obsession.
Keep acting up, little girl... beg for my attention.
He thought darkly.
Because once I have you pinned under me, I want to see if that sweet voice of yours still sounds this innocent when I'm buried deep inside you, pounding the mercy right out of your lungs.
The mere thought sent a surge of heat through his groin, a violent throb that made his skin crawl with anticipation.
"Daddy! Wait here, okay? I need to grab some new underwear,"
Emma chirped, skidding to a halt in front of a high-end lingerie boutique.
"You don't want Daddy's help picking them out, sweetheart?"
He arched a brow, a predatory smirk playing on his lips.
In truth, he was the ultimate authority on her body.
He knew the exact rate at which her breasts were outgrowing her cups and the precise curve of her hips—measurements he'd taken with his eyes a thousand times, and more than a few times with his hands.
He'd picked out everything for her, from her tampons to her slinkiest nightgowns. But this time, she just puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
"No way! It's embarrassing. Megan still hasn't stopped teasing me about last time!"
She shuddered, remembering the day Thomas stood there boldly debating the merits of lace cups in front of her best friend.
"Fine, my love. Just try not to bankrupt me,"
he chuckled, his voice a low vibration in his throat as he handed her his sleek Black Card.
"I'm gonna swipe this until your hair falls out!"
she laughed, darting into the store. He watched her go, a smirk of pure possession on his face. Swipe it all you want, baby. Because tomorrow night, I'm going to be swiping my thick cock inside you until I've spent every last drop I have.
Thomas took a seat in the lounge area, pulling out his phone to check on the custom jewelry piece he'd designed for her birthday. A flawless diamond for a flawless girl. But a message from his assistant soured his mood—the piece might be delayed by a day.
The news stung, but his irritation with work was nothing compared to what he saw when he glanced toward the boutique.
His jaw tightened, a sharp furrow appearing between his brows. Emma was at the counter, leaning in and chatting with some pretty-boy brat.
The kid was blonde, handsome in that punchable, preppy way, and he was flashing a charming smile at Thomas's stepdaughter. Thomas ground his teeth, his jaw muscles bulging like granite.
He stood up abruptly and stormed into the shop, his stride heavy and cold. He got close enough to catch their playful banter.
"You better be there, Aiden!"
Emma's voice was far more cheerful than Thomas could tolerate.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world,"
the boy replied, his eyes roaming over her with an adoring gaze.
"Emma."
The name left Thomas's lips like a crack of thunder, heavy with authority. Emma jumped, turning to find him with wide, innocent eyes.
"Oh, Daddy!"
She turned back to the boy, grinning with pride.
"Daddy, this is Aiden. He's a friend from my class. I invited him to my birthday party tomorrow."
Aiden tried to offer a polite smile, but Thomas met it with a gaze as frigid as the Arctic. The sheer, murderous aura radiating from a man of Thomas's stature made the boy's face go pale.
The kid looked like he wanted to vanish through the floorboards.
"We're leaving, Emma."
Thomas's hand clamped around her small wrist, his grip firm as he began to half-drag, half-lead her out of the store.
"Ugh! Daddy! You didn't have to be such a jerk to him. You probably scared him half to death!"
Emma protested as she was hauled back to the car.
Thomas ignored her. He practically threw her into the passenger seat of his luxury ride before sliding into the driver's seat.
His breath was ragged, fueled by a scorching jealousy at the sight of his girl getting cozy with another male.
"Just a friend, huh? This Aiden brat?"
he growled, his eyes boring into her, demanding the truth.
Emma bit her lip, twisting her wrists shyly. The way she looked away, the faint, rosy flush creeping up her cheeks... it told him everything he didn't want to hear. She had a goddamn crush on that boy.
Is that right? Thomas thought as he tore out of the parking lot, his fury simmering into something much darker.
I think it's time I taught my little girl a lesson she'll never forget. If she thinks she can go around batting her lashes at other men, I'm going to have to break her in properly.
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Dark Romance by Sunisa