Chapter 6

6

Kiren

A real honest-to-good daddy wanted me. Or, at least, wanted to date me.

Was I dreaming?

After dinner, while driving home, Max asked if I would like to meet again. Wasn’t it obvious?

“I’d love it,” I said. Before I allowed my shyness to stop me, I blurted, “Can it be very soon?”

“Tomorrow’s Saturday,” he began.

“I’m free all day.” I could barely look at him. If I looked too eager, that might be bad. It had been so long for me; I didn’t know how to behave. Second-guessing my every move wasn’t going to work, but I didn’t always control that part of myself.

“What would you like to do?” Max asked.

“Me?” I hunched down. “I don’t know. You could come to my place.”

“Or you could come to mine.”

“Oh. Wow.” I didn’t want to sound desperate, but I was. Max made every spot on my body tingle.

“Am I moving too fast? I promise I’ll be a complete gentleman.”

“What does that mean?” Honestly, I didn’t want him to hold back. But I wasn’t good at instigating more where this stuff was concerned.

“It means I’ll be on my best behavior.”

I frowned, letting him see it in the dash light of the car. “But—I mean—I’m not that fragile.” Was I? My doctor used that word. But it wasn’t like I’d break.

“You’re a bit skittish. I like that, though.”

I shook my head, trying to clear it and make sense of him. “Why do you like me?”

Max stopped for a red light. “I like sweet things.”

“No, really. Is it because now you know I’m a little?”

“In part. But before that, the way you reacted when I brought you the Dirty Shirley.”

“It had a cherry. My favorite drinks have cherries, and you just seemed to know that. I liked that you didn’t ask but just brought it to me. I know some people want to be asked. Like everyone always said back in college, ‘Can I buy you a drink?’ which translated to, ‘I’m interested in you.’ But you didn’t. I—I—need that sort of thing in my life. Where someone just figures it out.”

“Thank you for telling me that.”

“What I’m saying is there’s no need to be a complete gentleman tomorrow.”

“Got it. You want someone to make decisions, someone who can read your needs.”

“That’s exactly it.” I nearly whispered the words.

“I understand that more than you may think.”

“Because you’re a daddy.”

“Exactly.”

“Then that’s what I need. We were talking about it at dinner, but I couldn’t exactly put it into words like that. Now it makes more sense to me. Does it to you?”

“Very much.”

“Okay.” Now was the moment. Time to ask the first big question that sat imposing between us. “When can I call you Daddy?”

Max let out a sigh that sounded like a soft, low whine. “Now, baby. Now is good.”

For some reason, my eyes filled and the pretty Christmas lights we passed by all blurred into one kaleidoscope mandala.

When we got to my condo lot, I thought Max would simply drop me off. Instead, he turned off the engine, got out and opened my door for me.

“This is me being a gentleman,” he said with a grin. “Can I walk you to your door?”

My eyelids fluttered. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Such a good boy.” He chuckled. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow, then.” He took my hand in his as we walked up the cement path to my doorstep. It was warm, firm.

“What time do you think, Daddy?” It was a relief to ask. It was too much for me to make the choice.

“Spend the day with me, Kiren.”

“I’d love that.”

“Then how about ten? You can sleep in a bit and maybe pack some things you want to bring over.”

“Things? Like what?”

“Whatever you want. There’s no wrong move with me. And if you get out of line at all, you can be sure your daddy will let you know. Without judgment. And with all the decisions made. Does that sound all right?”

“Better than all right, Daddy. I didn’t know until tonight that’s what I’ve been craving.”

We reached the door, and Max raised his hand, his thumb and forefinger touching my cheek as if to pinch it. But no pinch came.

“May I kiss you?” Max asked.

“Please, Daddy.” I lifted my face to his.

The porchlight showed his smooth jaw and every long, black eyelash framing his dark amber eyes. He was so handsome, this daddy. Would he be mine? For Christmas?

He leaned down. His breath warmed my face. His lips seemed to trip at first, skating over my cheek and down toward the corner of my mouth. They were soft and hot and it felt like they brushed over my whole body.

Then they were on my lips, pressing, moving against my mouth like he had always noticed it and always wanted to do that. His mouth encompassed mine. It was like being held, owned but not enslaved. Simply, it was as if he was seeing me and touching me with just that one chaste kiss.

Was I truly this lucky? That this man had, by chance, found me and we shared the same kink?

When he pulled back, his left eyebrow rose. “Well?”

“I think I’m dreaming.”

He laughed. “I won’t fade like a dream.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. I told you I’m not looking for a hookup.”

“It’s really strange, though. That we’re alike. I mean, you know, lucky for us that our needs match.”

“We’re very lucky. And that’s that.”

“But you’re like psychic, I think. You knew.”

“Hmm. Maybe.” He laughed, then leaned down and kissed me again.

I rocked back, and Max caught me in his arms. One of them curved around my waist right up against the edge of my scars. I started to flinch. But as he hugged me, there was only warmth and safety. No pain. No roughness. He seemed to know just how to hold me so I could relax.

Yep. Psychic.

I had no idea what to bring to Max’s house for the day. For the night? He didn’t say anything about nighttime, but what if I did end up spending the night? It was technically the third date, and didn’t that include sex?

I stared about my bedroom, hands on my hips. My bed had stuffed animals all up by the headboard and shoved in and around the covers. I hadn’t made it. I couldn’t sleep without stuffies, but I had no clue which ones to bring.

Should I pack a clothing bag? And include my rocket ship pajamas with feet?

The thought thrilled me. Better safe than sorry.

I got out my duffle bag and started to fill it up. When it was full, I suddenly felt ridiculous. This was a day trip. What was I thinking?

But Max said nothing I might do would be wrong. I wanted my things so I’d be prepared for anything to happen.

Downstairs, I grabbed two coloring books and a pack of crayons. I put everything by the door before ten. I was ready.

I wore jeans and a nice pullover winter sweater, along with my thick, hiking-style ankle boots. I looked okay. Not little, but good.

Max showed up exactly on time. He came to the door and, without a word, took my face in his hands and kissed me.

I was breathless as I watched him take my bag for me, escorting me to his car. He did everything for me, including opening the door for me to get inside and buckling me into my seat. I wanted it. I wanted to be the spoiled brat.

My parents might be rich, but they had been pretty strict. They had given me what I needed, college, paid for my condo and car, taken care of me when I was healing, got me a job, but they did not let me get away with having every single thing I asked for.

Would Max?

“I’m glad you followed my instructions and packed things you wanted to bring along today,” Max said.

“It was hard.”

“What was hard?”

“What to decide to bring. I ended up bringing a lot.”

He chuckled. “That’s fine.”

I folded my hands in my lap, pressing hard on my fingers until my knuckles turned pale. I could barely contain myself. Max was my boyfriend now. I hoped after today it would stay that way. Together, we would find out.