Chapter Eight
Star
I woke to the click of an opening refrigerator door and the smell of dark-roasted coffee in the air. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I rolled over and pressed my nose to the space where Caelum had slept.
The night before had been nothing less than incredible.
We fit together as we always had. Perfectly.
He was so attentive and loving. Although we had only been back in each other’s company for less than a day, it felt like he was making love to me instead of the few short-term romances I’d had in the last few years.
He wanted nothing from me. Only to please me—satisfy me—which he did over and over again.
I got up and took the liberty of having a shower. There were fresh towels stacked up in the bathroom, along with a new toothbrush.
My heart plummeted to my stomach. Did he have people over often? Was I one in a line of others he saw or dated or…
Before my thoughts ran away from me, I heard the door to the bathroom open and Caelum stood outside the glass shower doors with a smile. “I was hoping to come back in and wake you up myself.”
“I heard you in the kitchen and thought I’d grab a quick shower.”
“Of course. Take your time. Unless you want me to join you?” The gleam in his eyes made me forget everything else. I had to push those thoughts aside and trust my gut.
“I need a minute to myself, if that’s okay.”
He didn’t flinch. No hint of aggravation or anger. “No problem. Take your time.”
I did just that. Caelum had multiple showerheads and endless hot water. I stayed under the spray until my fingers pruned and I smelled like him from head to toe after using his shampoo and body wash.
Once out, I dressed in more of his clothes he laid out for me. Everything he offered was soft and warm.
“Good morning,” I said, walking into the kitchen. Caelum had upbeat music playing in the background and was setting the table for two.
“Good morning,” he said and opened his arms for me. How could I resist him? I couldn’t. I laid my head against his chest and soothed myself with the sound of his heartbeat. “I didn’t know what you’d like these days, so I made a few things.”
I turned, still in his hold, and saw French toast sticks and eggs in the shape of stars and mini pancakes.
Had he gone shopping? Or did he keep them here just in case a little stopped by?
He said there was no one else, but that didn’t mean that like me, he hadn’t been with people in the past. Maybe in the short term.
“I love all those things. Thank you, Daddy.” I didn’t get to call someone the name often, but with Caelum, it came naturally.
“You’re very welcome. Coffee?”
I nodded and he brought me a cup and had me sit at the table. If we were a committed couple, I might ask for a bib or some cute plates and cups, but I had no idea if we were temporary or not.
Caelum watched with a soft smile as I mixed a lot of birthday-cake creamer into my coffee.
I’d been judged and once ridiculed about my needs and preferences by those who claimed to be daddies, but Caelum was nothing like that.
Maybe some time apart was what we needed to figure out who we were and what we needed out of life.
I hoped this wasn’t a one-night stand. If I’d missed Caelum before, after last night, being without him would be excruciating.
“What time do you have to be at work?” I asked before shoving a bite of mini pancakes into my mouth. The honey-and-vanilla taste exploded in my mouth. The only thing that tasted better was him.
“In about an hour. But I can go in late if you want to stay here longer. Or you can stay by yourself? I’m sure life is calling for you as well.”
It was. And not figuratively. I’d gotten four texts and innumerable emails about things that needed my attention.
But all I wanted to do was wallow in the attention of the man across the table from me. If only he was my daddy.
“I have to get back to the hotel, and I have to be on set today.” I huffed out a humorless laugh. “It feels like I have something planned every day. It never ends.”
Caelum cocked his head to the side. “Everyone deserves some downtime. You don’t have any free time for yourself?”
“A few minutes here and there. Especially lately. Yesterday was an exception and only because of an electrical issue on set. I work and have all this money, but I can’t even remember the last time I took a vacation or a day off to relax…or play.”
“What a shame for a little. No time to play and have fun.”
His empathy was sincere. And he was right. It was a shame. I probably should’ve done something about it, but what could I do? Stealing those few times for scenes with daddies had been difficult. My life was scheduled for me.
“I’ll go get dressed. Thank you for breakfast.”
“You hardly ate,” he said. “Life can wait. You have to have energy to get your stuff done, don’t you? You have to take care of yourself, Star.”
He was the reason I needed a daddy. I was the absolute worst at taking care of myself, and I told him so.
“Now I’m going to be worried about you.”
“I didn’t mean to add anything to your plate.”
Caelum shook his head. “You didn’t. I’ll be satisfied if you eat your eggs, at least.”
I finished up my eggs and we retreated to the bedroom to get dressed. We exchanged smiles and heated gazes, but life beckoned. Maybe he was right. Maybe I really did need a vacation.
“Why do you have extra toothbrushes?” I asked, the fact still whispering in my ear.
He smiled and took my hand, leading me to the bathroom.
He opened a large pantry-looking door and from what I saw inside, I felt so ashamed.
“I’m a pragmatic man, Star. I buy in bulk.
The truth is, I have a hate, no, a loathing for shopping in stores in general.
Once every few months, I place a huge online order and get everything I might need.
I don’t even go grocery shopping anymore.
The local market offers delivery for a monthly fee.
That’s where I got the goodies for this morning.
Delivery.” He turned and winked at me. “Does that dispel any notions you had?”
I gasped. This man. It was like he had some psychic hold on my brain. “How did you know?”
“Mmm, I’m learning about the new you, but some things never change. Your blush has always been one of my favorite things about you. Plus, you pout a little when you are jealous.”
I stomped my foot and crossed my arms over my chest. “I do not.”
He leaned forward and kissed my bottom lip. Damn it. I really was pouting. “Yes, you do, sweet one. Now, let’s get dressed.”
Once we were dressed, me in my own clothes, my stomach tightened. I didn’t want this to be goodbye, but I also had no right to claim anything more considering I was the one who ghosted him before.
“Thank you for last night and this morning, Caelum,” I said, watching him gather his keys and wallet.
“There’s no reason to thank me, Star. It was my pleasure. Are you telling me goodbye, sweet one? Is one night all I get?”
“Is one night all you want?” I asked.
“What do you want, Star?” he asked, edging closer to me. He looked so good in his suit, it made me want to rip it off him again.
“I don’t want this to be one night. I want more, Daddy.”
His smile lit up the room and my heart. “Then we’ll make that happen. I want that too.”