13. BLAKE
Chapter thirteen
BLAKE
T he morning sun cast a warm glow over Savannah's face as she slept peacefully in her cot.
Blake lay beside her, overwhelmed by how vulnerable he felt right now.
She was so precious. So sweet. So bright.
He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.
Last night, he’d been mad as hell that she’d left the safehouse without his permission. But more than anything, he’d been so fucking scared . If their relationship had been solidified, if they’d signed a contract, he could have disciplined her for her behavior. But now he had no idea whether she even wanted him in that way, and he felt powerless.
He got up and put on some coffee, and noticed that the contract was lying on the kitchen counter, in a different place to where he’d left it last night. Savannah’s bubbly writing was all over it in colorful pencil crayon.
She’d filled it out!
He sat at the counter, scanning over the things she had written.
I want freedom and independence and a daily candy bar.
I want to be in control sometimes even though I’m a submissive.
I want to be spanked when I’m naughty, but I always, always want to have sex at the end of the punishment.
I want at last three orgasms a day.
Blake smiled at Savannah’s list of demands. She’d drawn bunny rabbits and smiley faces and hearts all over the paper, and he loved how much her personality shone through on every page. He never, ever, wanted to squash that part of her. In fact, he wanted her to help it flourish.
He read the rest of her comments on the contract, including her hard limits. He was pleasantly surprised to see how into butt stuff she was, and how large her appetite for sex was. Blake had always had a voracious sexual appetite, and with Savannah, it felt like he’d finally met his match. In fact, she seemed even more desperate for it than he was.
She made it clear that she didn’t want anything sexual to happen when she was tucked up in bed at night, as she needed that to feel like her “innocent time.” Blake was proud of her for being so direct about it. Most of all, he felt excited, though. Savannah seemed every bit the hungry, horny, sweet thing he’d hoped she was.
He finished making the coffee, and—feeling generous—he took a candy bar out of the supplies cupboard and took it over to Savannah.
"Morning, Savvy," he murmured, gently placing a palm on her shoulder.
Her green eyes fluttered open and she yawned. “Is it morning already?”
He chuckled, handing her a steaming cup of coffee and candy bar.
The surprise in her expression quickly turned into delight. “A Butterfinger! That’s my favorite candy bar!”
Blake smiled, a warmth running through him. “Oh yeah. What do you love about Butterfingers, little one?”
She frowned, as though trying to remember something. “I don’t know really. I think someone kind gave me one once and I kinda got hooked. I wasn’t allowed candy in most of my foster homes, but sometimes I managed to save up and buy these in secret.”
Blake smiled. “Well, lucky for you, they’re my favorite candy bar too. And I keep a whole bunch of them in the cupboard here.” He paused, then pointed to the contract over on the counter. “Not sure I’ll be letting you have one every day though, babygirl.”
She giggled. “You found my list of demands, then?”
“I did,” he said with a grin. “And I’m so happy you decided to fill out the contract. Thank you for reading it, darling. And for being so honest in your answers.”
She smiled. “Well, I figure it wouldn’t hurt to read it. And once I started, I realized that as long as I got my own wishes across, it didn’t actually seem as scary as I was imagining. In fact, I’m rather excited by it.”
“How about we take our coffees over to the counter and talk through what you’ve put on there? I’d like to add a few things of my own, too.”
“Okay,” said Savannah. “Sounds good.”
When they sat down at the counter, Savannah said, “I really am sorry about last night, by the way. I guess I’m struggling to find the right balance between my old self and my new self.”
Blake nodded, reaching for her hand. “I totally get that. And believe me when I say my job as your Daddy Dom isn’t to separate the two. It’s to embrace all the different parts of you, Savannah. Each and every quirk. I don’t want to change you. I want to make you feel as good as you can possibly feel.”
She smiled. “So, three orgasms a day is a reasonable request then?”
He chuckled. “If you behave yourself, babygirl, you may even get a few bonus ones.”
“Ooh,” she said. “How about one now before we get started?”
“Nice try,” Blake replied, running his eyes over her cute little onesie. “But we have a contract to discuss first. And there’s no way I’m letting anything sexual happen between us again before we’ve signed on the dotted line.”
“Alright,” said Savannah, playfully rolling her eyes. “Let’s read this boring old document, then.”
“Okay,” said Blake. “Well, first up, you’ll be glad to know I’d be very happy to have sex with you at the end of your punishments. After all, spanking turns me on. But—and this is important—I’ll only allow that for minor misdemeanors. If you ever do anything really naughty, like putting yourself in danger again, then Daddy won’t fuck you after he punishes you. He may even withhold your orgasms completely until he’s satisfied that you’ve learned your lesson.”
Savannah pouted. “No fair.”
“As for your daily candy bars, I think one a day is too many. But one a week sounds fair.”
“What about the thing I wrote about wanting to be in control sometimes?”
“What kind of control are we talking about?” Blake asked. “Do you mean you want to dominate me sexually?”
Savannah blushed. “Uh, no . . . I don’t think so. Although I don’t mind being on top when we, you know. If it’s what you ask me to do. I’ll do anything you ask me to do. But I guess sometimes, I’d like to be in charge of thinking of activities for us to do and I need to feel able to have my say.”
Blake smiled. “Darling, I’d never stop you having your say. And it’s good to know that you’re up for a variety of sexual positions. I’ll definitely bear that in mind.” He felt horny just picturing all the positions he wanted to bend Savannah’s petite, curvaceous body into. But he had to focus. He turned the page of the contract. “Now, let’s talk hard and soft limits. I see you don’t want me doing anything sexual with you at bedtime—”
“I n-never really felt that safe at bedtime in foster care. Sometimes things happened that I didn’t want to happen.” She screwed her eyes shut.
“Savvy, I completely respect your wishes on that. Any time you’re in bed, I won’t even try to initiate sexual contact. In fact, at those times, you’re completely in control, okay? What you say goes. If you want something to happen, you just ask me.”
She smiled and nodded. “That sounds good.”
“I love the fact you’re curious about anal play,” said Blake, “and you’re a very good girl for being honest about it. I’d love to explore that with you. I’d like to try out some toys with you, too. How do you feel about that?”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “You mean . . . sexy toys?”
“I do,” he replied.
She bit her lip. “I never had the money to try anything like that before. I’d love to see what’s out there.”
He grinned. “Lucky for you, it’s a kink of mine that I need to see you orgasm before I can do it. So, I will never, ever fuck you without making you come at least once first. Is that okay?”
“Okay?” Savannah said, eyes lighting up. “It’s more than okay, Daddy.”
“Good. Now, the main thing about this contract is that it isn’t there to trip us up or catch us out. It’s simply an agreement between the two of us that we will respect each other’s boundaries, and honor each other’s desires. And if it ever stops working for us, we discuss it, and if needs be, we end it. Nobody is trapped.”
“So, it’s not, like, legally binding then?”
He laughed. “It’s more like a sacred pact between us. There are things that I’ve sworn to you that I would never let you down on, and you have sworn things that you’ll never betray. If we respect each other, and if we agree to the terms in this contract, then we’re bound together by respect and trust.”
And, if we’re lucky, love.
Savannah's eyes filled with tears. "I never thought I could trust anyone like this. You're making me believe that there are people in this world who can really care for me."
He took her hand. "And I believe that you can heal, Savannah. You deserve the best, and I want to give you that."
"Thank you, Blake." She sniffled and wiped away her tears. "I want to give you my best, too.”
He turned to the final page. “I’ve written down our safeword—‘red’—here and so all that remains is for us to sign it, if you’re happy?”
“Do you think ‘red’ is an inventive enough safeword? Shouldn’t it be, like, ‘pineapple’ or ‘flamingo’ or something?”
“Whatever you want, babygirl,” said Blake. “I like ‘red’ because it reminds me of your beautiful hair, but if you want something else, go for it.”
Savannah blushed. “We’ll stick with ‘red.’ It’s romantic now you say it like that. You know, nobody has ever said anything nice about my hair before.”
“People are idiots,” said Blake, shaking his head.
Savannah took a red coloring pencil off the counter and signed her name, and Blake signed his name beside it.
“It’s official now,” said Blake. “I’m your Daddy Dom. Can I kiss you, Savannah?”
Savannah nodded. “But I haven’t brushed my teeth yet, so no tongues, Daddy.”
He laughed and cupped her face in his large hands, kissing her gently on the lips. “Now, how about we spend some quality time together? I’d like to give you some freedom today.”
“Freedom?” asked Savannah, sitting up straight. “Are we leaving the safehouse?”
"How about we take a day trip?" he suggested with a wink.
"Really?" Savannah raised an eyebrow. "I thought you had that gala operation tonight."
"Tonight, yes," Blake confirmed. "But we have a few hours before then. We can go out and explore." He paused, his gaze never leaving hers. "I promise I’ll make you come at least three times.”
She hopped off her stool and threw her arms around him. “Okay, Daddy! I’ll go and put my big girl clothes on!”
"Good," Blake said, his eyes softening. “Don’t be long, pickle. And remember to brush those teeth. Tongues may be involved at some point today.”
Savannah cackled with laughter. “I’ll brush them extra thoroughly!”
***
“I never knew there was so much amazing countryside right outside the city!” said Savannah, twirling around in circles as she took in huge lungfuls of air.
“It’s great, right? I used to take Chloe here after our parents died. If you know the right places to go, you can end up in areas where you don’t see another human being for hours on end. It’s bliss.”
“I can’t believe that literally all I can hear when I stop talking is birds. Birds! No traffic, no sirens, no shouting. It’s heaven.”
Blake led Savannah along a winding trail, his protective gaze never straying too far from her.
"Okay, Savvy," he said when they reached a small clearing. "Today's about testing your independence while still maintaining our dynamic. I've got a few challenges for you."
"Challenges?" she asked. Then, her expression clouded over. “Wait. You’re not going to make me do a trail run, are you? I hate running. Always have done, always will.”
“No,” he said laughing. “Not that kind of challenge. This’ll be fun, I promise.” Reaching into his backpack, Blake pulled out a small, black silicone butt plug.
Savannah's eyes widened at the sight of it, but she didn't shy away. “So that’s what you stopped off to buy on the way here, eh?”
Blake grinned. “Among other things.”
He’d made a very brief stop-off at an adult store on the drive out of the city, and he’d picked out a few toys he hoped Savannah would enjoy. Using this one was going to be fun.
“Do you know what this is, Savvy?” he asked.
“Uh, a butt thingy?” Savannah asked.
“That’s right,” Blake said. “In a moment, I’m going to insert it into you. But I’ll keep the remote control for it in my pocket.”
“Remote control?”
He held up the remote. “Every time I press this little red button, your butt plug will vibrate, and that’s your signal to come back to me. Whatever you’re doing, you stop doing it at once, and return straight to me. Got it?”
“Got it,” said Savannah, looking around. “But . . . what if someone sees us?”
“There’s nobody out here,” said Blake firmly. “Just me, you, and the birds. And believe me, the birds won’t mind. They get up to all kinds of mischief in these trees. Filthy little things.” He winked.
Savannah snickered. “Okay. I’ll give it a try.”
“Good girl,” praised Blake. “I promise you, once you get used to it, it’ll feel good.” He gestured to a nearby tree trunk. “Now, go give that tree a big cuddle for me and show me that pretty ass of yours. That’s it. Well done.”
She stood there motionless as she waited for him to pull down her pants and panties and insert the plug. He made her wait for a moment, enjoying the rising tension. Then, he took a bottle of lube out of his bag and drizzled a generous dollop onto the plug.
“You ready for this, sweetie?”
“Mm-hmm. Ready as I’ll ever be!”
“Don’t forget you have your safeword if you need it.”
“I won’t forget, Daddy. But I don’t think I’ll need it.”
Blake slid his hand between Savannah’s thighs, delighted by how wet she felt already. He sought out her clit and gave it a couple of teasing strokes, then he kneeled down, pulling her butt cheeks apart a little. He couldn’t resist giving her ass cheek a little bite, and then he pushed the tip of the plug into her tight rosebud.
Damn, it looked hot. That rubbery black tip sticking out between her ass cheeks, splitting her open. He wished he could make her come right now, and then fuck her up against the tree, his cock sinking deep into her tight back passage . . . but that wasn’t what this exercise was about. Not yet, anyway.
“Don’t forget,” he said, pulling up her pants. “Every time your ass buzzes, you come back to me. It's a reminder that you’re mine, that I'm in control, even when you're exploring on your own."
Savannah hesitated for a moment before nodding. “It’s making me very horny, Daddy,” she said quietly. “I feel very full in my butt. But very empty in my . . . front.”
He smiled. “You’ll get used to it. Now, your first challenge is to build yourself a den. Use branches and leaves and anything you find around here, and make it as cozy and private as you can." He gestured to the surrounding woodland. "I'll be watching from a distance, but you're on your own."
Savannah hesitated for a moment before nodding determinedly. She ventured into the woods, and he couldn’t help but notice the slightly strange way she was walking, with her legs a little wider apart than usual.
He watched her gather materials and construct a small shelter, humming quietly to herself. First, she laid large branches up against a tree, then she filled it with smaller branches and leaves, creating a kind of rudimentary teepee. The sight of her hands, covered in dirt and scratches, stirred something deep within him—pride in her resilience and a fierce desire to care for her.
She was almost done when Blake reached into his pocket for the remote. He gave the red button a firm push and then felt his cock lengthen at the sight of her dropping the branches she was holding, and squirming with pleasure.
“Mmm,” she panted. “That feels . . . oh, that feels—”
“Don’t forget to come back to me, little one,” he reminded her.
She turned to look at him, her legs trembling and teeth chattering as she made her way slowly back to him.
“Good girl,” he said, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her. He slipped his tongue between her lips, kissing her long and deep. Then, ever so gently, he reached down to her butt and pressed the vibrating plug a little harder into her, letting her feel the full force of it. He pushed his hard cock up against her stomach, letting her know how much he was enjoying this too, and then he bent down and slid his fingers inside her pants, teasing her clit until she cried out his name, a rush of moisture seeping out of her.
“See? Good things happen when you obey your Daddy.” He turned off the remote control.
She gasped, looking up at him. “That was . . . I’m . . . Oh my.”
He grinned. “Pretty good, huh?”
She nodded.
"Next challenge," he said, fixing her with a stern expression. "Light a fire without matches or a lighter."
She frowned but set to work, green eyes focused.
Blake leaned against a tree, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Savannah work. She rubbed sticks together and blew on the tiny sparks that leaped to life. When the flames finally licked hungrily at the kindling, she looked to Blake with a triumphant smile. “I did it! Do I get to come now, Daddy?”
“I’m impressed,” said Blake. “Didn’t think you could actually do that.”
“You forget I grew up in the wrong part of town,” she replied. “I learned to make fire out of anything and everything as a kid.”
“Is that so?” Blake asked, pressing the remote again. He felt a possessive thrill knowing that she would be reminded of his control over her.
“Nnnng,” she said, shivering. “It’s happening again.” Shakily, she stood up straight and bounded over to him, jumping up and wrapping her arms and legs around him like a starfish. “I’m back!”
“Very impressive,” he muttered into her ear, his hands cupping her butt, fingers finding the plug between her cheeks. He began massaging it through her clothes, applying firm pressure and rhythmic circular movements, as she gasped with pleasure in his ear.
“I think I can make you come with this butt plug alone,” he told her.
He pressed another button on the remote control, making the plug pulse within her, and then he resumed massaging it in time with the vibrations.
“Ooohhh,” she gasped. “I can feel the vibrations all over.”
“Surrender to it,” he urged her. “Let the pleasure take over. It’s all that matters right now. Give in, babygirl.”
Savannah shuddered in his arms, then bit down on his shoulder as she cried out in ecstasy, and Blake smiled. She looked so pretty right now, with her flushed cheeks and her eyes glazed over in post-coital bliss. His cock was rock-hard and he was desperate for release, but it wasn’t time just yet.
“You’re doing so well,” he told her, switching off the vibrations. “I have one final challenge now. You’ve made shelter, you’ve lit a fire. Now I need you to go and find water. But don’t stray too far.”
He knew this area, and that there was a river just a couple of minutes from this spot. He watched happily, with the mother of all hard-ons, while Savannah wandered off to look for water.
She was clearly relishing her challenges, and enjoying the treat she got each time she obeyed the rules. He was going to enjoy thinking up all kinds of interesting ways to teach her this lesson throughout their relationship.
Funny to call it that.
A relationship.
He hadn’t committed to anyone in so long. In fact, he’d never really committed fully to anyone. Not emotionally, anyway. With Savannah, it was easy. She was so brilliant, so brave, so perfect for him, that nothing else mattered. Even fighting for justice felt like it took a back seat when he was with her. He just wanted to fight for her . The girl who had struck him so deeply when he was just a teenager.
Damn. He’d have to tell her about that soon. He wondered if she remembered it too. Whether she’d like to be reminded of it.
Five minutes passed, and Blake grew a little concerned. He’d expected to see Savannah by now.
“Savvy?” he called out.
He pressed the button on the remote control, but still, he heard nothing.
Shit. Had he just fucked up? Was he making her butthole vibrate while she was trapped somewhere, or in some kind of trouble?
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, pushing off from the tree and striding into the woods after her. “Savvy!”
All kinds of terrible things flashed before his eyes. What if someone had taken her? What if she’d had a nasty fall? What if he never saw her again, or she showed up dead one day like Chloe? He hadn’t felt this vulnerable in such a long time, and it wasn’t altogether pleasant. Just as he was reaching for the remote, about to turn it off and shout out for her again, he saw her.
She was crouching by a stream, engrossed in looking at something in the water.
Relief flooded him. “Savannah? Why aren’t you coming back to me?”
Savannah looked up in surprise when she heard Blake approach. "Look at this!" she exclaimed, pointing at her discovery, completely oblivious to her mistake. “I saw a fish!”
"Did you feel the buzz?" he asked tersely, his hands on his hips.
Savannah's face fell as realization dawned on her. "I . . . I did, but I got sidetracked."
"Stand up," he commanded, his voice firm but not unkind.
Savannah obeyed, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Go hug that tree and remove the clothes on your bottom half.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, going over to the tree and obeying him.
Damn, the sight of that plug again . . .
“I’m going to punish you for your disobedience now, Savannah. You understand that you’ve been naughty?”
“Yes, sir,” she said, positioning herself her against a tree, her hands gripping the rough bark above her head. “I should have come straight back to you. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you for apologizing. I’m still going to have to discipline you to make sure you learned your lesson.”
“Will you keep the butt plug v-vibrating while you do it, sir? It’s a little hard to c-concentrate.”
“Glad you’re paying attention to the plug now,” he told her. “And yes, it stays on.”
Savannah moaned.
“I thought I’d lost you for a minute,” said Blake. “I thought something had happened to you. And that’s not acceptable. I must know where my Little is at all times. You understand?”
Savannah nodded. “I understand, sir.”
"You know the safeword,” he reminded her. “If you need to use it, then do so."
“Okay.”
"Count them out as I give them to you," he instructed before delivering a sharp spank to her backside. This was a lesson she needed to learn: to be aware of her surroundings and to trust that he had her best interests at heart.
"O-one," she stammered, her breath hitching.
"Two," she gasped as another spank landed.
"Three . . . F-four . . ." She counted each swat, her voice growing more and more strained, all the way up to nine.
“This last one is for leaving the safehouse without my permission last night,” he told her, turning up the vibrations on the plug to the maximum and then delivering the hardest smack yet.
"T-ten," she croaked, her body trembling all over.
"Good girl," Blake murmured. “Now, stay exactly where you are.”
His heart raced as he stood behind her, looking down at her beautiful body pressed up against the tree. He admired the deep pink of her ass cheeks, and how hot the plug looked inside her. In a moment, though, it was time to take it out. It was time to satisfy his own needs as well as hers.
"Are you ready for your reward, babygirl?" Blake asked, his voice low and husky.
Savannah looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes a mix of vulnerability and desire. "Yes, Daddy," she whispered.
"Good. And don’t worry. I'll take care of you." His fingers trailed down her spine, making her shiver in anticipation.
"Thank you, Daddy," she breathed.
With one hand on her hip to steady her, Blake carefully removed the vibrating butt plug. Her soft moans only fueled his desire as he pushed a finger deep between her buttocks. She was still very wet from the lube, and he used his fingertip to smear a little of the moisture around her asshole, to make her as comfortable as possible.
"Relax, sweetheart," he murmured. “Daddy’s going to take this nice and slow.” He positioned himself at her entrance and began to push inside her slowly but steadily.
"Oh my . . . Daddy," Savannah gasped, gripping the tree bark tightly as her body adjusted to the feeling of fullness. “It feels like I’m still vibrating.”
"You’re doing so well, darling," Blake praised, giving her a moment before starting to move in a gentle rhythm, each thrust met with a soft whimper or moan. “How’s that, babygirl?”
“It’s g-g-good. Like nothing I ever felt before. Can I touch myself while you do it?”
“No,” he replied, sliding his hand around her possessively. “Your clit belongs to me.” He began showing her just how much he owned that part of her body, how he knew exactly what was best for it.
As they moved together, Blake marveled at the trust Savannah had placed in him, allowing him to lead her through this intimate act. It made him want to protect her even more fiercely.
"God, Savvy . . . you're incredible," he grunted, his control slipping as he teetered on the edge of ecstasy.
"Please, Daddy . . . let’s both come together" Savannah panted, her voice desperate and pleading.
"You’re gonna have to come quick,” he said, voice strained. “Daddy’s about to explode.”
“I can be quick,” she panted.
“Then let go, darling. The moment I hear you come, I’m gonna fill up that sweet little butt of yours with everything I’ve got.”
Savannah didn’t need telling again. The second she’d been granted permission, she came harder than he’d ever felt her come before, her asshole tightening and throbbing around his cock, instantly milking the cum out of him as he filled her up.
“Holy fuck,” he panted. “Slip your finger inside your pussy. Feel those muscles throbbing.”
Savannah did as she was told, moaning with delight.
They stayed like that for quite some time, until Savannah had completely stopped trembling. Then, as they caught their breaths, Blake tenderly turned Savannah around and gathered her in his arms, holding her close.
"Daddy . . . I'm sorry for not following your instructions earlier," Savannah murmured, her voice muffled against his chest. “I got lost in my own world.”
"Hey, it's okay. You took your discipline like a champ."
"I know. And I promise I'll do better." She looked up at him, her eyes filled with sincerity and determination.
"Good girl. Let's focus on building a safe, sexy, and fun future together, alright?" Blake suggested, brushing a stray curl from her forehead.
"Sounds perfect to me," Savannah agreed, snuggling closer to him as they soaked in the tranquility of the forest around them, their bond strengthened by the shared experiences of the day.
They washed briefly in the river, then Blake led them back to the shelter Savannah had built.
“Good thing we didn’t leave this fire unmanned for too long,” he said. Then, he opened up his bag and took out a pack of marshmallows, and skewered two of them on sticks and sat down, starting to toast them.
“Ooh, yummy!” said Savannah. “I like toasted marshmallows almost as much as Butterfingers!”
Blake stared into Savannah’s emerald green eyes, his heart swelling with love for this strong, beautiful woman who had entered his life and turned it upside down.
"Hey, Savvy," he began, his voice soft and hesitant. "I have something to tell you."
Savannah propped herself up on one elbow, curiosity lighting her eyes. "What is it, Daddy?"
"Remember that candy bar I gave you this morning? It’s my favorite candy for a reason." He paused, taking a deep breath. " You're the reason I started carrying those around. We actually met when we were kids."
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and she searched his face for any hint of jest. "What do you mean?"
"You were only a kid at the time. I wasn’t much older, but I'll never forget it. We were under a bridge. You were being bullied for holding a stuffie, and I chased the assholes away. I gave you one of my candy bars, and ever since that day, they've been my favorite, too."
The realization dawned on her face as she gasped. "Oh my god. You’re the Butterfinger boy?”
Blake nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yep. That’s me.”
“Holy bananas. I’d forgotten all about that. But Butterfingers always made me feel kinda . . . looked after somehow. Now I remember why.” She grinned. “Ooh, you were pretty hot as a teenager. I went under that bridge looking for you a few times after that happened, but I never found you.”
Blake smiled. “I went there looking for you too. Damn, I’m sorry we missed each other.”
“Lucky for you, I still think you’re pretty hot. In fact, you’re much hotter now.”
Blake handed Savannah a gooey marshmallow. “Give it a minute before you eat it,” he said. “It’s burning right now.” He cleared his throat. “You know, meeting you as a teenager kinda changed the course of my life.”
Her eyes widened. “It did?”
“I was mad as hell around that time. My parents had been killed in this mindless shootout, and I wanted to rip my heart out and stamp all over it. Then, I saw you, getting treated like crap by these lowlife jerks, and I realized that I didn’t want to destroy my own life, after all. I wanted to destroy theirs . All the assholes who hurt innocent people. I wanted to make the world a better place.”
“Oh, Blake. That’s . . . beautiful.”
“I joined the military a few months after that. Ended up joining special ops, and it felt amazing to fight for good like that . . . but then Chloe disappeared. I came home from the military. I made a vow to find the assholes who did it. That’s how me and my brothers ended up setting up Paladin Security.”
“You’ve been on such a journey,” said Savannah, looking into his eyes with an expression of deep sympathy.
Blake nodded. “A journey that you were part of, in some way.”
Savannah smiled, taking a bite of her marshmallow. “God, that’s good.”
“That’s not the only way you affected me, though,” Blake continued. “Seeing you stand up to those bullies while still clinging to your stuffie . . . it made me realize how much strength and vulnerability can exist together. I loved the fact you weren’t afraid to embrace your inner child. Over time, I learned about the DDlg lifestyle, and it chimed with me. I’m not saying you’re the one and only reason I ended up becoming a Daddy Dom, but—”
“I’m one of the reasons, huh?” said Savannah, with a mischievous grin. “Well, maybe you’re the reason I never gave up on men completely. Having you stick up for me that day made me see that there was hope.”
Blake swallowed, deeply touched. “One more thing, while we’re confessing things.” He reached out for her hand. “I found you so fucking beautiful that day. It was more than a crush. It was . . . an instant obsession. You gave me a taste for redheads for life." He winked and she laughed.
“I got bullied and harassed so much as a kid,” she admitted with a sigh. “Hardly anyone ever stood up for me. Except for you . . . and Mia.” She paused. “But . . . why didn’t you tell me we’d met sooner?”
“I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable if it was an embarrassing memory,” said Blake. “Plus, I didn’t want you thinking I thought you owed me or something.”
“I don’t think that. I’d never think that. I just thought the boy who gave me a Butterfinger bar was very brave. And very freaking handsome.”
Blake smiled. He leaned in and captured Savannah’s lips in a tender kiss. As they broke apart, he whispered, "In a way, I've been looking for you ever since that day."
Savannah's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for another passionate embrace. "I’ve been looking for you too, Butterfinger Boy."
***
As they drove back through the suburbs, Blake couldn't help but imagine a future together with Savannah.
"Once this mission is over," he said, gripping the steering wheel tightly, "once we take down the Alderman and Scarface and all the other scumbags, maybe you and I can find a quiet place like this to settle down. A house in the suburbs, just you and me. That’s what you used to dream of, right? A white picket fence? A cute house like one of these?"
They cruised through quiet streets lined with neatly trimmed hedges and children's laughter. It was a picturesque scene, one that tugged at Blake's heartstrings with the promise of a peaceful life just within reach.
"Blake," Savannah said suddenly, her voice firm and resolute, "I want to be part of your team. I want to help you go after the bad guys."
He glanced over at her, his heart skipping a beat. Her eyes blazed with determination, her fingers gripping the door handle as if ready to leap into action right then and there.
"Are you sure?" he asked cautiously, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "It's dangerous work, Savvy."
"I know," she replied. "But I can't just sit on the sidelines—in the suburbs—while there are bad guys out there. I want to help make a difference."
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. He knew Savannah well enough by now to recognize the stubborn set of her jaw, the fire in her eyes.
His mind raced as they continued driving, thoughts of Savannah charging headlong into danger sending a cold shiver down his spine. The idea of losing her was unbearable, but how could he deny her the chance to fight alongside him?
He swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. The weight of his decision hung heavy in the air. Could they truly find a balance between their two worlds, or would the shadows consume them both?
"We’ll talk about it later,” he told her at last.
He’d have to think about it later. Tonight, he had a mission to focus on. A mission that might just get him killed.