Chapter Eight
Eloise
Do you want more tea, Daddy?” I asked, holding a pink plastic tea pot up to Blade.
“I would love some more tea, darlin’.”
I pretended to fill his cup and he extended his pinky before slurping the tea.
“This might be the best tea I’ve ever had,” he teased.
Giggling, I tucked my hair behind my ears. I loved when we played together in the playroom he’d set up for me in his house. He wanted me to move in with him. He’d asked me every day since I’d been discharged from Dr. Elliot’s house—so seven times. It would have bothered me if anyone else asked me to do something for that many days in a row, but Blade did it so patiently and kindly that I didn’t mind. He never got upset when I told him I wasn’t ready yet. It was on the tip of my tongue to say yes, though. He was such a good man, and that made the choice so easy.
“You’re thinking hard, darlin’.”
“Sorry,” I said, shaking my head and offering him a plastic cookie I’d been holding.
“Do you want to talk about what’s on your mind?”
“I was just thinking about moving in with you,” I answered, picking up the spider stuffie he'd given me. I’d named her Patty Long Legs. Rubbing her furry leg against my face calmed me.
“Oh?”
“Can you hold me?” I asked. I’d grown very attached to his cuddles.
He slid back from the table that was holding all our tea party goodies and opened his arms for me. I walked over and sat on his lap, wrapping my arms and legs around him.
“You know you can tell me anything, right?”
He was being genuine and I cherished that he meant what he said. I nodded into his neck.
“Do you understand why I ask you every day?”
Shaking my head, I slipped my two middle fingers in my mouth. I’d taken to sucking them when it was just me and him.
“Because your brain and your heart are having a hard time understanding that I will take care of you forever. I can be as patient as you need, Little one. I love you.”
I jerked my head up to look at him. “You love me?”
“I do. Very much, darlin’.”
I loved him too. So fucking much.
He was quiet, giving me time to get my thoughts together.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, Little one?”
“Yes,” I said, wishing I could articulate a better way to accept his offer.
“Yes, you’re moving in with me?” He sounded so damn happy and I hoped I would always keep him that way.
“Yes,” I answered again.
He squeezed me tight and kissed the top of my head. “This is the best news, sugar. What a happy Saturday.”
I laughed into his neck because the night before, he’d complained about how awful Satudays were at Daddies Ink. He said they were always slammed with people who had a bit too much to drink and then decided they wanted a tattoo. The employees always turned them away with a business card in case they still wanted their design when they were sober.
“I gotta tell Ms. Ramsey,” I said, thinking out loud.
“I think she’ll be very happy for you.”
Daddy had helped me sell the things I didn’t want from my parents’ apartment. Their landlord had moved our things to a storage unit for me, hoping I was okay. It was an incredibly nice gesture. I’d saved half of the money and given the other half to Ms. Ramsey, along with some of the things that didn’t sell. The things I had wanted to keep were in Leland and Rogue’s attic and I felt so much peace knowing I hadn’t lost anything from my childhood.
I nodded. “And Allyson too.”
“You can tell Allyson today,” Blade said.
That was true. I would see Allyson when I went to work with Blade. We were both working at Daddies Ink now. They were so swamped with clients, Leland had given us both jobs as receptionists. I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure they needed both of us, but I was thankful Leland was giving us both a chance.
“Yeah.” I kept my head resting on his shoulder and he kept rubbing my back. “Daddy?”
“Yes, darlin’?”
“I love you too, so much.”
“Oh, Eloise, that makes me so happy to hear.”
He tried to move me off his lap, but I whined, wanting to stay glued to him.
“You’re a sleepy baby,” he said when I yawned.
I was tired. I hadn’t slept well at the shelter the night before, probably because I had missed him.
“Do you want to take a nap in my bed?”
“Yes, please.” I loved taking naps in his bed. His sheets smelled like him and they made the coziest cocoon.
“Do you need to go potty?” he asked, carrying me into his bedroom.
“No, sir.”
“You haven’t been since you got here this morning. How much water did you drink from your sippy cup?”
I grinned sheepishly.
“I can see I’m going to need to monitor that more closely.” He pulled down his navy-and-cream-colored comforter and settled me into his bed. Covering me up, he bent and kissed my forehead.
“I’ll wake you up so you have enough time to get ready for work, darlin’,” he promised.
“Stay,” I whined, already snuggling into the bedding and breathing in his scent.
I heard him chuckle before he tucked me a little tighter into the blanket.
“Please.”
The bed dipped as he climbed in behind me. “You know, one day I’m going to start telling you no. The only reason I haven’t yet is because I’m so damn proud of you for asking for the things you want.”
I smiled before turning to snuggle into him instead of his blanket.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead and patted my bottom gently. “I love you, Little one.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
He flipped me over on my back, and cupped my face in his hands. “Fucking say it again. Those words together sound like music.”
Giggling, I lifted my hand and trailed my fingers over the bridge of his nose. “I love you, Daddy.”
Dropping his head, he pressed a soft kiss to my mouth and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He rubbed his calloused hand under my shirt and rubbed my lower back. Fuck, my clit swelled and that familiar heavy feeling settled low in my belly again. I shifted in the bed and brushed up against his erection. “Fuck, darlin’,” he said before turning and positioning me against his side in the bed.
But no matter how tired I was, I couldn’t settle down.
“Why are you so wiggly, Little one?” Blade rumbled. His deep voice vibrated through his chest.
“I dunno,” I answered, too embarrassed to tell him the truth.
“Does your leg hurt?”
“No.” Truthfully it hadn’t hurt much at all lately.
“Does anything hurt?”
“No.” Unless you counted the ache between my legs.
“What’s wrong then, baby?”
Taking a deep breath for courage, I pushed my hip into his groin just enough to feel his erection.
“Eloise? Daddy asked you a question.”
Oh, fuck me.
Squeezing my legs together, I peeked up at him.
“Do you need something from Daddy?”
I nodded… and then promptly slapped my hands over my eyes, making him chuckle.
“Eloise, are you hiding from Daddy?”
***
Blade
“Can you move your hands and look at Daddy?”
After a few seconds she did as I asked and her pretty green eyes peered nervously at me.
“Daddy can take care of you, darlin’, but you don’t need to be embarrassed.”
She nodded, biting her lip.
I wouldn’t push her. Pleasure may be new for her and she’d spent most of her life being told how her desires were wrong. I would just love her and let the pieces fall together.
Rolling onto my side a bit more, I unbuttoned her pants and slid my hand down into her panties. Thankfully she relaxed her legs a little and I had more room to explore her heat. My fingers were drenched with her sweet honey.
Another time I’d gently tease her about it, but not now. Her clit was swollen and so hard, it won’t take long for me to guide her to bliss.
Using my middle finger to strum her clit, I dipped my head and took her mouth in mine. Sweet kisses turned hot very quickly, especially since she opened her mouth in shock and I took advantage by using my tongue to sweep her mouth.
“Blade!” she cried, arching off the pillow.
“Let it feel good, baby. Don’t fight it,” I whispered against her lips. Her thighs closed, squeezing my hand and she rode the waves of pleasure. Once I’d made sure she'd gotten every stroke she could take, I removed my hand and sucked my finger clean. She tasted so sweet.
“Take a nap, darlin’. I’ll stay right here.”
***
I held Eloise’s hand as we drove across town to Daddies Ink. The only sound in the truck was the radio playing softly. I had learned it was best to let her wake fully before trying to conversate with her. She could be a grouchy Little girl when she first woke.
I pulled the truck into Rolling in Dough and drove up to the window.
“Hello. Welcome to Rolling in Dough, what can I get you today?” a young girl asked. Damn, she looked familiar.
“Hello, can I get two dozen glazed donuts, and one chocolate sprinkle donut, please?”
Eloise perked up in the passenger seat.
“Sure. Anything to drink?”
“A large black coffee and a milk, please.”
“Yes, sir. Give me just a second,” she said, flashing a smile and shutting the window.
“A donut?” Eloise asked with wide eyes and a hopeful grin.
“A donut for my best girl,” I answered.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
It hurt me that a three-dollar donut made her so damn happy. I couldn’t wait for her to experience other things, things better than a donut. Pulling her hand up to my mouth, I kissed it.
“You’re welcome, darlin’.”
The window opened and I turned my attention back to the girl working. It was driving me crazy that I couldn’t place her. I paid, taking my order after thanking her.
“Is she one of our clients?” I asked Eloise after we drove off.
“I don’t think so, Daddy.”
Shaking my head, I tried to put her out of my mind. We’d chalk it up to one of life’s mysteries.
“Can I has my dodo now?” Eloise asked.
I knew I should tell her no, but she was just too damn cute sitting shotgun with her space buns and oversized sunglasses.
“Yeah, baby. You can have it now.”
She squealed before tearing into the bag and practically inhaling her treat.
Laughing, I pulled into my spot at the shop.
“You’re too damn cute.”
She flushed, but met my eyes. “You’re very handsome, Daddy.”
“Thank you, Little one.”
Cutting the ignition, I climbed from the truck and walked around to help her out. It had taken several rides to get her used to me helping, but she’d made tremendous progress.
“Thank you for waiting, darlin’.”
She placed her hands on my shoulders. I kissed her mouth before lifting her, and then setting her on her feet.
“Oh, Uncle Smoke is already here. That’s a first,” I joked.
“Yeah, he’s never here early… or on time.” She laughed.
Nodding, I agreed.
“Is gonna be a good night, Daddy. I can feel it.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep!”
“Well, that’s exciting to know. Maybe we’ll have nothing but sober clients.”
“Daddy, I said it would be a good night. Not a night of miracles.”
Laughing, I very gently smacked her sassy butt and led her to the back door.
“Smoke, you good?” I yelled.
“I’m good,” he said, stepping into my line of vision.
Eloise said, “You’re here early. We thought maybe it was the apocalypse or something.”
Smoke tried to look at her menacingly, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
“You need to stop hanging out with the other Littles. You’re getting mouthy,” he teased.
She grinned at him before skipping off to my station.
“You know, a month ago I never would have imagined I’d see you so happy. I’m glad you’ve found someone, man.”
“Thank you. She’s really special.”
“It’s good to see her so happy, too,” he said, nodding.
“Not to be a brat too, but are you sure you’re good? It’s not like you to be here early.”
“Yeah. I’ve got… we…my…” He hesitated. “I’ve got some personal stuff going on, so I was already on this side of town. I just came on in.”
“Well, if you want to talk about it or need anything, you know my booth is open.”
“I appreciate it. I’m gonna go get set up,” he said, walking away abruptly.
I frowned at his retreating back, but let him go without pushing. Smoke was the type of man that would eventually open up and let us help him. He just needed to work through whatever it was on his own first.
After a quick check of the messages, and social media platforms, I had enough time for a super fast snuggle with my girl. Walking to my station, I lifted my hand to knock on the divider so I didn’t startle her, but stopped when the scene in front of me melted my heart.
Patty Long Legs was sitting in a chair and Eloise was pretending to tattoo her.
“Ya know, I think getting a fly tattoo is kinda morbid,” she said to the stuffie, “but I love you so I’m listening and not judging you.”
I stood and watched her as she gently talked Patty Long Legs through her tattoo. I was a damn lucky man.