Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Yes, Daddy.” I hug Emma against my naked chest. I’ve slept naked for years, but not with a man. A naked man. My naked man.
“You’ll let me know if you don’t like me touching you.”
I wiggle into him closer, aware of his erection against my butt. “I like it when you touch me. I want you to hold me.”
“I want to hold you too, Baby girl, but if you change your mind, you need to tell Daddy.”
“Okay.” His attentiveness and thoughtfulness are off the charts, and I fall asleep with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.
It seems like only moments pass before I open my eyes to find the sun up. My Daddy is still holding me close. His lips are on my neck, tickling me as he nibbles around my ear.
I smile, and I don’t stop smiling as he dresses me, feeds me breakfast, and takes me to play in my new nursery. I spend all morning exploring my new toys, coloring, and playing with my dolls.
Daddy is preoccupied. He regularly checks on me, but he’s on his phone a lot and runs his hand through his hair often. Finally, he comes into my nursery, sits on the rocking chair, and reaches for me. “Come here, princess.”
I leave my dolls on the floor and head toward him, so excited when he lifts me off the floor and settles me on his lap sideways. He rubs my back and meets my gaze. His brow is furrowed.
“I hate to do this, princess, but Daddy has to go to work for a while. There’s a problem with one of my cases, and I need to go handle it.”
“Oh.” My heart sinks. Bad thoughts run through my head. Maybe he’s making that up because he’s tired of me. I’m a handful. Heck, my adult is a handful by herself. When my Little is added to the mix, I’m a lot of work.
I swallow and nod.
“I’m so sorry, Baby girl. I know we were supposed to spend the entire weekend together, and I hate this. I don’t know how long it will take me, but as soon as I fix this problem, I will be all yours again.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Do you want to stay here in Daddy’s house? I’d love for you to. But if you’d rather go to your own apartment while I work, I can drop you off there first.”
I think about it. I don’t want to be here alone in Daddy’s house without him. I’m scared I’d panic. I do better in my own environment. I’m pretty sure I could slay a red, fire-breathing dragon wearing a zipped-up hoody with flashing lights and chomping on potato chips if Daddy was with me. But I don’t want to wander around his house alone.
“Can you drop me off, please?”
He holds me tight. “Yes, Baby girl. And again, I’m so sorry. Sometimes Daddy’s job requires me to go into work unexpectedly. I hate that it happened on your first weekend here.”
Will there be more weekends here? I know he’s saying all the right things, but my brain isn’t wired to trust people as well as other people do. I keep worrying he’s tired of me.
He keeps a close eye on me as he puts my shoes and socks on and then my coat. He grabs my purse from the counter and hands it to me, squatting down in front of me. “We can leave your suitcase here if you want.”
I shrug. “Whatever.”
He holds my gaze, taking a deep breath.
I stare at him. I’m not mad. I keep telling myself I’m not mad. And I’m not. I’m scared.
He hauls me into his arms and kisses my forehead, letting his lips linger before releasing me.
I stay very little on the way to my apartment and offer him a forced smile after he helps me inside.
He tips my head back, kisses me, and says, “I’ll text you when I know what time I’ll be done, and I’ll come back and pick you up.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He flinches, and I know it’s because I didn’t call him Daddy. After he leaves, I stand in my spot for a long time, staring at the door, my heart beating fast. Finally, I turn and run to my room. I kick off my shoes and crawl under the covers. I don’t even care that I’m dressed. I just want to fall asleep and escape before I have a panic attack.
I’m crying uncontrollably when I call my mom later that night. It’s after ten, but she picks up instantly. She always does. She keeps her phone close by at all times, always worried I might need her. I try not to be needy with my parents, but I need her more than ever tonight.
“Honey, calm down. Take a breath. What happened?”