11. ALEXI

I really liked him, but I couldn't fall in love with him. The feelings hit me so sudden. My last relationship ended a year ago, and Warren was older, eight years older. I knew I shouldn't get involved with anyone from work, but whenever I was with him, those thoughts vanished.

Warren had all the answers, even to questions I didn't ask. He was just there, assuring me, telling me everything was going to be ok.

Every night for the last two weeks, he'd invited me over and told me he wanted me there, but it was all going to be different now. I started my new job in the morning, and that meant I was working under him—directly.

The anxiety about the situation was slightly lessened by the fact he was allowing me to wear regular clothes. I hated the office clothes I bought, that made my neck itch, and I was sure brought me out in a rash.

Luckily, I also had Benny sending support.

Alexxxi: [image attached]

BabyBoy69: I love the white top with those cream trousers.

Alexxxi: Thank you! He picked them out.

BabyBoy69: I want a daddy to pick things for me.

Alexxxi: Didn't you say there were sugar daddies around?

BabyBoy69: I'm not interested in those anymore. I want to be touched and someone's hand in my mouth.

Alexxxi: Mine has great taste, and he's kind, but he's definitely not fisting my mouth.

BabyBoy69: I'm surprised he hasn't asked you to move in.

Alexxxi: I already told you, I don't even know what's going on between us. And what is that supposed to mean?

BabyBoy69: You need to get out of your head. Your Daddy has been picking clothes out for you, and it makes you feel good. So, it sounds like you're connecting.

Alexxxi: We are!

BabyBoy69: I'm shocked you're not staying over with him every night. You won't show me any pictures, so I'm using my imagination, and he sounds like someone I'd keep close.

Benny hyped me up with confidence through our messages. Although I didn't share every detail of my life with him. And I didn't want to share anything about Warren, especially since we worked together. What we had was ours, and I didn't need any opinions from outside on us.

Alexxxi: I don't want to be a burden on him. It's still new.

BabyBoy69: Daddies should want to take that on. They should want to care for you.

He did. In fact, if I'd spent as much time with him at his place as he'd invited, he probably would have invited me to live with him. He knew my address, but he didn't really know where I lived, or what my room looked like.

Alexxxi: He does care. He got me a new job because of how stressed I'd been.

BabyBoy69: Maybe I'll get to meet you both soon. I'm coming through to Manchester this weekend.

Alexxxi: YES! That's when the food festival is happening.

BabyBoy69: I'm actually coming through to meet someone. Apparently, he has some toys I can play with. You know, toys. *winking emoji*

I knew what Benny meant when he was talking about toys, and he didn't mean plush teddies, dolls, or action figures. He was talking about the ones with flared silicone bases.

Warren's text notification came through.

—Want me to pick you up?he asked.

—Won't it be weird arriving together? My anxieties weren't playing around.

—You're my assistant now, and you live on the way, it would be weird if I didn't.

—And you could have stayed over last night.

—Sure, pick me up!

BabyBoy69: I hope you don't mind me meeting you. Daddies find me irresistible. *laughing emoji*

I snorted out my nose like a piglet, grabbing my things and putting them into my bag.

Alexxxi: No, no, he's not like that. He doesn't like your stuff.

BabyBoy69: I was kidding, anyway. When does the festival start?

Alexxxi: Friday until Sunday, we'll be there all three days. I think.

I would be there, but only because Warren was going to be there. They were going to be doing surveys and selling drinks, offering them out in shot glasses. A weird choice for a soft drink, but I didn't question it.

Warren met me outside the building in his car. His window down, he pushed his sunglasses up his forehand and winked. "Come on," he said, slapping at the passenger seat.

His car had a cherry smell, it was sweet. I got comfy in the seat with my bag on my lap. "I could've walked to the bus stop."

"I missed you," he said, his hand on my knee. "I don't see why you don't just stay at mine, and we can drive in together."

"I don't want you to get bored with me," I said, placing my hand over his. "And I like what we're doing."

"We can make a report with HR to say we're dating," he said, leaning in for a kiss on my forehead. It sent a warm chill down my body. I couldn't help smiling when he did it.

"But I don't want people to—" I panicked, looking out of the window to the building.

"I know, I know." Warren turned his hand on my knee, locking his fingers with mine. "I just want you to be comfortable, and happy. And I know you're happier now."

I was, but I couldn't escape the looming dread of the other shoe waiting to drop. "I can't wait to work with you," I said, "but I don't want people to talk about me—us."

"Nobody would dare," he said, "everyone knows I'm a professional, and I am." He smirked. "Except that time when you showed me your underwear."

My hands clenched. "Only because you asked," I said. "And you're basically my boss. And—" He looked at me, waiting for me to say it. "My Daddy."

"Oh, Alexi," he chuckled. "That's something a bad boy would say. And bad boys don't get colouring pages on their desks at lunch."

"No, no, it was a joke. I wanted to show you," I said. He liked it when I wore the lace. "But you mean it? You've got colouring pages for me?"

"Of course, and one of those pens with four colours," he said. "I want to make sure you look professional in the boardroom meetings."

It made me incredibly excited to hear, I couldn't wait for my first official day to start. "Thank you."

"Good boy." He kissed my forehead. "We should go. I have to drive slow when I'm driving precious cargo." He squeezed at my hand. "That means you."

I blushed. "We're gonna be late."

"I think we might even have enough time for Starbucks."

"No. The drive-thru is too far."

"We'll be fine," he said, removing his hand to place on the gearshift. "And if we're late, we say we were in an early meeting."

I didn't mind that it might've been a lie if we were caught, but Warren's actions were never questioned, only from Marcus, the owner, but even then, I'd heard of Warren talking him down from some crazy decisions.

"Tonight, I want to take you somewhere special," Warren said. "To celebrate."

"Oh? Where?"

"It's a secret." He smirked. I hated surprises, but I'd gotten used to them from him. They were always nice. They made me warm and fuzzy. I remembered what I'd told Benny in the forum. Benny was always talking about sex being the most important part of his relationship with a Daddy. But the most important part for me was having someone there. Reassurance was almost a sexual act.

"You'll have to tell me where," I offered back in a softer voice, "you know, so I can make sure I wear the right clothes."

"Don't worry," he said, "you look perfect the way you are."

"Thank you." The same warm chill up my chest and face. "I am your assistant now," I continued in my soft voice, "so, if it's in your calendar or diary, I should know."

He didn't take his eyes off the road. He smiled, his hand instinctively reaching for mine. "Well, it's not there," he said, "if you want a clue—" he sucked on his teeth, "I'm not sure I can give you one."

"What if I stayed over?" I suggested in a blurt.

"Oh, now you're bribing me," he chuckled. "I think you'll want to stay over tonight, anyway."

"Ok." I was suspicious, but I wasn't nervous about it. Warren knew how to tease, and my anxiety wasn't triggered too much by it. Perhaps because I knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. "When we get to Starbucks, I want one of those strawberry drinks, with the cream. I don't trust myself not to spill coffee on my clothes."

"A Frappuccino?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Then I'll have to request seven million kisses as payment," he said, squeezing my knee lightly.

"Make it one and we have a deal."

"Make it two."

"Done!"

I'd never thought of myself as someone who could haggle, but now I was, and my favourite currency of choice were kisses. All the kisses in the world.

"When we get to these traffic light, I'll take that payment."