7. Damian

The day was long and draining, and Damian wasn’t even the one who was hard at work all day. It seemed like once Carly was in work mode, she never stopped. After the early studio call, she’d had a full day of clients, and she had to travel to each of their homes because of the damage to the salon. He practically had to force her to eat a sandwich and drink water as they traveled between jobs. She had rolled her eyes and tried to argue that she only needed more coffee to get through the day, but once he gave her a firm look, she snatched the sandwich from his hands and ate it.

That morning, after he had told her how impressed he was with her work, she seemed to relax a little bit around him. It had surprised him the night before when he’d come across her social media accounts as he’d been researching her and James.

He could tell she worked hard on her content, and the comments on her pictures and videos made him smile. Her fans loved her, and it seemed as though she answered every comment, which he found impressive since she didn’t have an assistant.

After her last job, she asked if he could take her to the salon so she could see the new windows and make sure everything was good to go to open up again. He agreed and told her to text Lainey to see if she and Keith could meet them there so he could talk to Keith about installing a new security system.

When they arrived at the salon, Lainey and Keith were already inside. Lainey rushed over to hug Carly as soon as she saw her and the women began chatting about how good the windows looked and then went to look over their appointment schedule.

“Is Lainey giving you any trouble?” Damian asked.

Keith smiled and shook his head, “No. She’s behaving. I think she enjoys the company. You know how much she misses Evan.”

Damian nodded. He couldn’t imagine having a Little and being halfway around the world away from her and not being able to have any form of communication. He felt for Lainey. And for Evan.

“I contacted Ian, and he has all the equipment we need to set up a new security system.”

Keith nodded and looked back at the women speaking in hushed voices across the room.

“How’s it going with Carly?”

Damian shrugged, “I don’t know. She’s hot and cold. Greyson seems to think she’s a Little, but he said she will deny it.”

“You like her,” Keith said with a grin.

Yeah, he liked her. She was stunningly beautiful, driven, intelligent, and kind to pretty much everyone except him. She also had something about her that screamed Little, and he really wanted to see that side of her.

He didn’t want to acknowledge Keith’s observation. He wasn’t sure Carly even found him attractive. Hell, half the time, she was snarling at him in a way that made him want to bend her over his knee and spank her cute bottom. It had only been one day, and she was just starting to warm up to him, though, so it was a little too soon for any kind of commitment.

Yeah, he was probably being a creep. He’d been looking at her bottom throughout the day. It was the most beautiful upside-down heart he’d ever seen, and he had to adjust himself in his jeans several times.

Keith chuckled, knowing he wasn’t going to get an answer from Damian.

“Let me know when the cameras are all ready to go. I can swing by Ian’s office and pick them up. I think Lainey is itching to start taking clients in the salon again so I can install them while she works. Oh, and Damian, Carly’s definitely a Little. I thought it the first time I saw her at the news station.”

It was nearly seven before they got home that night. Well, back to his house. Damian realized that he was thinking about it as a home for the both of them and an overpowering possessiveness that he hadn’t ever felt before nearly overwhelmed him. Hell, he didn’t remember ever feeling even half as possessive with his ex-girlfriend.

Carly was quiet on the ride, and he chalked it up to her being tired after a long and busy day. He had never seen someone work as hard and long as she had. She was a force of nature when it came to her job, and he felt a sense of pride as he watched her work.

“I’m going to go take a shower and wash my face. I’m so tired,” she said as soon as they walked into the house.

He nodded, “Okay. After you’re done, come back down and eat something before bed. You haven’t eaten since lunch.”

She paused and turned around, glaring at him as though she was going to say something, but she must have thought better of it because she turned back and started walking upstairs. Good choice, because it wouldn’t have worked out well for her if she had argued. He’d go up and haul her downstairs over his shoulder if he had to.

While she showered, he cooked up some bowtie pasta, tossed it in freshly made pesto sauce, and added some diced chicken to it. It was simple yet tasty and would give her plenty of protein and carbs to have a good night”s sleep. Luckily, they didn’t have to be anywhere early the following day.

As soon as she stepped down the last step, Damian looked up from his phone and nearly dropped it. Carly looked as sweet and innocent as he’d ever seen her, making his cock instantly harden. She wore a pair of pink cotton shorts and an oversized shirt that nearly went past the hem of the shorts. Her hair was still wet from her shower, and her face was bare of makeup. She was the most adorable thing he’d ever laid eyes on, and she looked a bit unsure. Almost shy.

Damian smiled and stood, going to the stove to dish up a bowl of pasta for her.

“Hungry?”

She sighed, and he heard her moving a chair at the dining table.

“Starving, but more tired than anything. I might be too tired to eat.”

Setting a heaping bowl of pasta in front of her, he grinned when she gave him an annoyed look.

“What is it with you and trying to feed me constantly? There’s enough pasta in my bowl to feed a football team.”

He chuckled and sat down with his own bowl of food.

“I care about your health, and you have to eat to stay healthy. You’ll feel better once you’ve had some food. Eat what you can, and then you can go straight to bed.”

Carly spooned a bite into her mouth and sighed happily.

“Oh crap, this is so freaking good.”

Her delight amused him, and he watched her eat for several minutes until she realized his eyes were on her.

“What? Do I have food on my face? Shit.”

She started wiping at her face, but Damian reached out and stopped her.

“No swearing. You don’t have anything on your face. You just looked so adorable eating. You were really enjoying it.”

A blush spread across her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze to her food. Damian picked up his fork and began eating, hoping she would continue as well. When she took another bite, he relaxed a little, happy that he hadn’t scared her away.

“Are you like Greyson?”

He paused with his fork mid-air to his mouth and stared at her.

“If you’re asking me if I’m a Daddy Dom, then the answer is, yes, I am.”

Carly’s shoulders sagged, “Did he send you to me because he thinks I need a Daddy?”

Damian chuckled. She knew her brother well.

“More or less. He wants what’s best for you.”

“He is always insisting that I would be happier if I had a Daddy. That I would bloom under someone’s care. I spent four years of my life under someone’s thumb, being insulted and treated like a doormat. I don’t have any desire to experience that again. And I’m not a Little like Grey seems to think I am.”

Putting his fork down, Damian reached out and hooked his index finger under her chin to tilt her head back. When she looked back at him, he could see sadness and fear in her expression. Not as though she was fearful of Damian but fearful of going through what her asshole ex-husband had put her through.

“First of all, the way your ex treated you is nothing like how a Daddy would treat you. There is a huge difference between abuse and consensual dominance and submission. Usually, Daddy Doms are more loving and nurturing, only wanting what’s best for their Little. Most Daddy Doms aren’t into the hardcore stuff like whips and chains and degradation. They prefer cuddling and guiding in a loving way and providing discipline when needed, but never abuse. You’ve seen Ian and Maddie. She’s as happy and free as can be, even with having rules and discipline given by her Daddy.

“Secondly, your brother isn’t wrong. You have been mistreated for so long that being under the loving care of a Daddy might do you wonders as well as make you feel completely safe. It can even be therapeutic for some. You’re also kind of a brat, and you swear like a trucker, so I think some discipline would do you good.”

Carly smiled but seemed to think about his words as she chewed another bite, and before she could think of an argument to his words, he spoke again.

“Close your eyes.”

She looked at him with uncertainty, and he just smiled.

“Trust me. I won’t hurt you. I’m not even going to touch you. Close your eyes.”

Slowly, she put her fork down and closed her eyes, settling her hands into her lap.

“Keep your eyes closed. I’m going to ask you some questions, and as I ask those questions, I want you to answer with the first answer that comes to mind.

“When you think about your dream man, does he choose the restaurant you’re going to go to, or does he leave it up to you to figure out?”

“He decides.”

“And when you are running yourself ragged with work, would you prefer he continues to allow you to continue, or would you prefer he confront you lovingly and help you figure out a way to slow down a bit?”

“The second because it means he’s paying attention and cares.”

Damian smiled even though she couldn’t see.

“If you were to put yourself in danger, does the thought of being put over your man’s lap and having your panties pulled down and getting your bottom spanked until it’s bright red scare you or intrigue you?”

Carly nibbled on her lower lip, and he noticed her squeezing her thighs together. He knew his answer to that one without her saying it.

“Both?”

He chuckled, “There are no wrong answers, Carly. Littles are typically a little bit scared of being spanked, but it also usually intrigues them as well. It can be a release for them in a way. Some Littles need to be spanked to be able to have an emotional release. Some enjoy the pain because it intensifies their pleasure. And some just enjoy submitting to what their Daddy or Mommy feels that they need.”

She opened her eyes, and he raised his eyebrows.

“I didn’t tell you to open,” he growled.

Her eyes slammed shut again, “Sorry.”

She giggled, making him grin. Yeah, he was starting to definitely see her Little side.

“When you think about your future man, does he take control during sex, does he tell you what to do, or does he leave it up to you to initiate and do all the work?”

Even though her eyes were closed, he could sense the eye roll behind her lids.

“He would be in control and tell me what to do.”

“One last question… Have you thought of wanting to try being Little?”

“Yes.”

Her face twisted as soon as the word came out, and she began fidgeting.

“Open your eyes and look at me, Carly.”

When she immediately did as he’d said, he felt a surge of arousal rush through him, then he saw the lust in her eyes, and his cock thickened with need.

“How would you like to try being Little while you’re at my house? It can just be something to try while you’re here and see if you like it. You would be completely safe to be yourself here and experience any form of being Little that you’d like.”

He could see the wheels turning in her head, but he also saw the exhaustion on her face and cursed himself for asking such a big question while she was so tired.

“How about this, you finish eating, and then I’ll tuck you into bed, and you can think on it overnight. Sound good?”

“Okay.”