8. Carly

He offered to be my Daddy. Do I actually want that? He seems to think I do. I kind of feel like I want it too. He’d be the hottest Daddy ever.

Damian followed her upstairs to her room. She had no idea what being tucked in would be like. Would he kiss her? What if he wanted sex as part of being her Daddy? She had never had sex with anyone except for James. Not that she hadn’t thought about it. She had. She was way overdue for some hot sex. Hell, she just wanted to have hot sex once in her life because with James it was anything but.

“Go brush your teeth and go potty. I’ll wait in your room.”

A shiver ran down her spine at his simple yet innocent statement. Why did she like it when he talked like that to her?

Maybe because deep down you’ve fantasized about having a Daddy, dummy.

After brushing her teeth and doing her business, all while overthinking their entire conversation during dinner, Carly stepped into her bedroom and felt a shyness overtake her. She wasn’t usually one to be shy, but this large, handsome man who wasn’t as much of a jerk as she’d initially thought was taking up a good amount of space in her room, and he smelled so damn edible.

He had already turned down the bedding and smiled softly when she walked in.

“Ready for bed?”

Nodding her head, she padded over to the bed and practically dropped in, causing Damian to chuckle.

“Tired girl.”

She smiled and nodded, “So tired.”

When he leaned over her and began arranging the blankets around her body, Carly couldn’t feel herself breathing. After he got her tucked in, Damian sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at her.

“Even if you decide you don’t want to try out being a Little, I will still protect you, and nothing will change. But, can you at least try to be a little less snarly with me and attempt to be my friend instead?”

She couldn’t hide the smile that crept across her face.

“I make no promises on toning down the snarl. You’re kind of annoying sometimes.”

Damian rolled his eyes and shook his head in exasperation.

“You are really a brat. You know that?”

She did. Her brother had told her many times over her life, yet he always loved her despite her brattiness. Would a Daddy of her own be able to love her even though she was difficult sometimes?

“I know,” she said with a grin.

“You know you don’t have to be a Little to get a spanking.”

Her eyes widened, and she could feel her cheeks warm. It was weird to get turned on by the thought of being spanked.

He chuckled, “You need a stuffed animal or something to sleep with. Do you have a favorite animal?”

Could she show him Annabelle? Would he think she was weird because she had a stuffed doll that she slept with?

Just show him. If he’s really a good Daddy, he won’t judge you.

Rolling onto her side, she slid her hand under her pillow, grabbed onto one of her doll’s legs, and slowly pulled her out of her hiding spot. She watched his face for any signs of him thinking she was weird or dumb for having a doll, but she saw nothing but approval in his expression.

“She’s cute. What’s her name?”

“Annabelle,” Carly said in a small voice.

Holy shit, that was weird. Where did that voice come from? She had never heard herself sound so childlike.

Damian reached out, ran his hand over Annabelle’s hair, and nodded.

“Annabelle looks very well-loved. Have you had her a long time?”

She nodded, “My mom gave her to me when I was a kid. I sleep with her every night. Well, not when I was with James because he thought it was “creepy” as he liked to say.”

Damian furrowed his brows into a scowl.

“James is an asshole that didn’t deserve you. I’m glad you have Annabelle to sleep with now. Let’s get her tucked in too.”

When he reached out for her doll, Carly hesitated before releasing her into his hand. Damian pulled the covers back slightly, tucked Annabelle in beside her, and then tucked the covers back in so both of them were snug in the blankets.

“That’s better. Don’t want your dolly getting cold.”

Carly studied this man in front of her, and she felt herself wanting to ask him to stay and snuggle her. It had been so long since she’d been snuggled, and the way Damian was making her feel so safe was doing things to her that made her wonder what it would be like to have his large muscular arms wrapped around her tightly.

She also wondered how long it had been since he had been in a relationship. He was extremely good-looking and sweet, so Carly was sure he would have no problem getting any woman he wanted. And for some reason, the thought of him with someone else made her feel cranky.

“You need to sleep. I’m just across the hall if you need anything, okay?” he asked quietly.

When she nodded, he stood and turned out the lamp beside her bed before walking to the door.

“Goodnight, Carly, and Annabelle. Sweet dreams.”

“That’s such a beautiful picture, baby. Can Daddy have it so I can put it on the fridge?”

Looking up at her Daddy, she grinned and held the picture out for him. He leaned down and kissed her lips gently before taking the paper from her.

“Daddy, can you read me a story?”

Daddy smiled and nodded. He came over to where she sat and picked her up, carrying her on his hip to the couch, where he settled her onto his lap and opened a picture book. As he read, he made funny voices to go along with the characters, making Carly giggle and squirm with happiness.

After the story ended, Daddy cradled her in his arms and rocked her into a deep slumber while singing soft lullabies to her.

Carly woke and sat straight up in bed.

What the hell was that all about?

Had she seriously had a dream about Damian being her Daddy?

She couldn’t deny the attraction she felt for him. He was handsome, funny, and thoughtful. He had said that there was a vast difference between a Dom and what James was. She had always thought that James was a Dom. Mostly because he called himself one. He had even told her that she should call him Master, but she had refused, which pissed him off. She had also read plenty of BDSM books, and none of the Doms in those books had acted the way her ex-husband did, so maybe he was just a narcissistic asshole who claimed to be something that he obviously wasn’t.

Maybe he had brainwashed her, and she’d spent all that time thinking all Doms were evil when really, he was the bad one. She knew Greyson was a good man and would never treat a woman like James had treated her. He also seemed to think highly of Damian, and she knew her brother would never put her in the care of a man who would mistreat her.

She had been under James’ thumb for so long, constantly being put down for her career choice, her choice in clothes, the way she cooked… He never let her have any independence, either or even let her have friends. That was one of the biggest concerns that she had about the whole dynamic. How could she be a respectable businesswoman and at the same time be a Little who submits to her Daddy?

There was no way of telling how long she would have to stay at Damian’s, but it was only temporary, so what would be the harm in giving it a try? If she felt like he was asking too much of her, she could end it right away. She was an adult, and if she really wanted to, she could leave Damian’s and go home at any time. She had agreed to let him protect her for her brother’s peace of mind, but she wasn’t really a prisoner. If she really wanted to, she could put her foot down.

The dream she’d woken up from had done things to arouse her body, so obviously, there was something there that appealed to her. And the way he had tucked her in so sweetly the night before and didn’t judge her when she pulled her doll out had warmed her from the inside out. It had also made her panties wet with desire. Would he want sex from her?

Throwing her legs over the side of the bed, Carly got up and padded across the hall to the bathroom. After she did her business, she went downstairs to find Damian. She had questions that she needed to ask before agreeing to anything.

The smell of bacon and pancakes hit her nose, and she just barely stopped herself from clapping her hands with excitement. She loved pancakes. With a lot of syrup.

“Morning,” she said softly.

He turned around, and the sight of him in his pajama pants, tight white tee, and ruffled hair from sleep took her breath away. He looked delicious, and she didn’t miss the way his eyes lit up when he saw her. She didn’t think she would ever get tired of looking into his eyes. They were mesmerizing, and she was pretty sure that he had women falling at his feet wherever he went, and she really didn’t like that thought. Which was dumb because she had no right to be jealous over who he dated. They weren’t together.

But you are jealous because you want him.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. How’d you sleep?”

She entered the kitchen and came to stand beside him at the stove as he flipped one of the pancakes.

“I slept well. I was exhausted.”

Grabbing a plate from the counter, Damian filled it with several pancakes and strips of bacon.

“Sit down. Do you want some juice?”

Carly scrunched up her nose, “Coffee?”

He chuckled and nodded, pulling a mug from the cabinet and filling it with steaming hot coffee. He grabbed creamer from the refrigerator and set the cup and cream on the table before going back to grab her plate. She sat, and he brought her a fork and napkins before sitting down in the chair next to her with his cup of coffee.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked.

“I already ate. I’ve been up for a couple of hours already.”

She blushed, “Oh.”

He winced when she poured an obscene amount of syrup over her pancakes and bacon and when he reached for the syrup bottle, she pulled it further away from his reach.

“You’re going to give yourself a cavity,” he scolded.

She laughed and shook her head.

“Never had a cavity in my life, so let me have my syrup.”

He raised his hands in defeat and rolled his eyes, though she could see the corners of his mouth curving up in amusement. Taking her first bite, she let out a moan.

“These are so yummy. It’s been so long since I’ve had pancakes.”

Damian watched her in silence while she ate. She probably should have felt self-conscious about the amount of food she was shoveling into her mouth, but he seemed delighted that she was eating. He also seemed to enjoy watching her mouth because she caught him staring at it several times as she ate. When she pushed her plate away and picked up her cup of coffee, Carly eyed him, unsure of where to start.

“Something is on your mind. What is it?” he asked.

She didn’t like that she was so readable to him.

Clearing her throat, Carly leaned back in her chair.

“I have questions about your… uh… offer last night.”

Smooth, Carly.

He smiled and nodded, “Ask away, baby doll.”

Baby doll. She liked that nickname. She liked the thought of being a doll. His little doll.

Carly swallowed nervously.

“Why do you want to do it?”

“Are you asking me why I want to be your Daddy?”

She nodded.

“Well, honestly, I’m attracted to you. I was attracted to you the day I saw you in Maddie’s dressing room on the day of her wedding, and I have been drawn to you ever since. I think you’re sweet, adorable, and fun, and I see something in your eyes that tells me that you need a loving Daddy. I think you were mistreated in your marriage, and you need someone who will give you the extra care and attention that you didn’t have.

“You need to experience what it feels like to be taken care of and appreciated for who you are. Someone who will build you up instead of tear you down, and that’s exactly what a good Daddy would do for you. That’s what I would do for you as your Daddy... Oh, and you also need your bratty bottom spanked.”

He winked at her as he said the last part, and she grinned, not really hating the idea of being over Damian’s lap.

She really hadn’t expected such a deep answer, and when Carly looked up to meet his dark gaze, she could see that he was being genuine.

“What would you get out of it? Do you want sex?”

Damian shook his head, “No, I don’t want sex.”

Ouch. Why did that sting so bad? He must have sensed that he’d hurt her feelings because he quickly continued.

“I’m sorry. Let me rephrase that. I don’t want to be your Daddy just so I can get you into bed. Being a Daddy is more to me than just sex. It’s about having a deeper connection and trusting me to take care of you and letting you be free of all the adult stresses when you’re in Little space. Sex is just a bonus, but it isn’t something that I expect in this situation. I am just offering to be your Daddy while you’re here so you can see how it feels to be Little. Although, I would probably hug and kiss you a lot.”

She couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Boy, you’re just full of wisdom, aren’t you?”

He chuckled and winked, “Daddy wisdom.”