19. Jasper
19
JASPER
I move through the bedroom, only the soft light from bedside lamps illuminating the space. Ariana stands near the foot of the bed, fidgeting with the hem of her towel, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth.
Her eyes are wide and trusting, already a little sleepy from our time together in the garden, and it punches me right in the goddamn heart how much she waits for me to guide her.
No fear. No hesitation. Just pure, complete trust.
I clear my throat, taking a steadying breath to calm my rising dick from the mere sight of her. “All right, rainbow. Let’s get you ready for bed.”
I move to the dresser, pulling open the top drawer where I’ve already stashed a few things for her. I lift out a pale pink nightie that matches her hair. Soft. Sweet. Innocent. Perfect. Just like her. Then I grab a pair of white cotton briefs that will come up to her belly button with scalloped trim and a tiny pink bow. Cute as fuck and Little. So damn Little.
My throat feels tight as I run my thumb over the bow unintentionally before turning back to her. This feels like a special moment. A defining moment.
“Come here, baby.”
She pads over shyly, her bare feet silent on the thick carpet, her cheeks already rosy. I hold the panties out first, crouching to help her step into them. She lifts one foot, then the other, silent and obedient, bracing her delicate hands on my shoulders for balance.
Jesus Christ.
Her hands on me, her trust sinking into my skin, is enough to make both my heart and dick squeeze painfully.
I pull the panties up slowly, running my fingers up her milky thighs and round ass.
“Arms up.”
She raises her hands and waits until I drop the nightie over her head, letting me dress her like she’s the most precious thing in my care, because she absolutely is.
Patting her softly on the hip, I smile down at her, studying her closely. “Good girl.”
Next comes her hair, so I lead her into the bathroom, then plug in the blow dryer, setting it to the lowest, warmest setting. She stays still, staring back at me in the mirror, her expression curious and soft.
I take my time.
First, I untangle the mess with my fingers, separating her silky locks carefully. Then I find her brush and start working gently, trying not to hurt her. She hasn’t shared much with me about her past, but I suspect she’s been hurt enough in her lifetime already. I’d rather be the person who helps her heal that pain.
She hums occasionally, a sleepy, happy sound that fills the quiet space between us. Fluffy walks between our ankles a few times and then moves on to find something else to entertain him. The animal might be an eyesore, but he’s a pretty damn good cat. And thankfully, the vet I called to come give him an exam said he didn’t have rabies or any other diseases. So I’m putting up with him for Ariana’s sake.
“Bye, Floofers,” Ariana mumbles sleepily, waving at Fluffy’s butt as he leaves.
I mask my smile and force myself to focus on the task at hand. Once her hair is mostly tangle-free, I sweep the brush in slow, soothing motions as I finish blowing it dry. I run my hand through the pink strands repeatedly, loving the way it flutters through my fingers like satin.
“Fucking Kool-Aid,” I mutter.
Her eyes are closed as she soaks in my touch, but she smiles. “It’s cheap and really, it’s the better choice since there are fewer chemicals in it than regular hair dye. In my opinion, they’re doing themselves a disservice by not marketing it as temporary hair color.”
She shrugs like what she said makes perfect sense, so I don’t argue. If she wants to use a juice drink to make her hair pink, I’ll buy the company and keep her cupboards stocked with the stuff.
After one last sweep with my hand, I lean down so my mouth is near her ear press a gentle kiss to her temple. “All done, baby.”
“Thank you,” she whispers shyly as she opens her eyes to look at me.
I can’t stop myself. I turn her to face me, then kiss her forehead, holding my lips there for a long beat before pulling away.
Next is her teeth.
I find her toothbrush in the drawer and squeeze a dollop of minty toothpaste onto it and hold it up.
She blushes but opens her mouth when I tap her lower lip with the bristles.
My chest aches in the best way as I brush her teeth, careful and thorough, making sure to get every corner. She presses her warm hand to my chest as if she needs me for balance, making me feel like a king. Her king.
When I finish, I offer her a cup to rinse her mouth and then wipe a tiny leftover spot of toothpaste from her lower lip with my thumb.
“Such a good girl.”
She beams up at me like she always does when I praise her. I need to do it more often.
“You thirsty at all, rainbow?”
She nods sleepily. “A little.”
I go into the bedroom and find one of the new sippy cups I bought, a soft-seal kind that changes from purple to pink when there’s cold liquid in it. I fill it with water, click the lid on tight, and hand it to her.
She hugs it happily against her chest and smiles so sweetly, I have to grit my teeth until it’s painful to keep from mauling her. She’s probably sore from all the gardening, and it might be even worse tomorrow.
Finally, I lead her to the bed, pulling back the comforter and helping her climb in. I slide in beside her, tugging the covers around us before gathering her smaller body against mine.
She fits perfectly there.
Tucked under my arm. Nestled against me
My fingers trail up and down her arm in slow, lazy patterns as she snuggles her face into my chest, her body curling around mine like she belongs nowhere else.
This... this is peace.
The kind I never thought I’d find. The kind I never thought I’d deserve.
I could stay like this forever.
My hand tightens on her hip without thinking as the thought strikes me.
Would she even want that? Forever?
Would she ever settle somewhere? Instead of drifting from town to town, camper to camper? Ariana is a free spirit. She might love traveling from place to place.
The thought claws at me, cold and invasive.
“Rainbow?” I ask into the soft cloud of her hair.
“Yeah, Daddy?” she mumbles sleepily without thinking.
Daddy.
Fuck.
I have to clear my throat to focus. “Why haven’t you ever had a Daddy before?”
Her cheeks turn red. “I don’t know. No one’s ever wanted me like that, I guess.”
The snarl that builds low in my gut almost escapes unchecked. I bury my face into the top of her head and breathe her in before answering.
“Idiots,” I growl. “Every last one of them.”
She giggles faintly.
Feeling suddenly, fiercely protective over every inch of her, I press my lips to her hair, my mind racing.
I’m a greedy bastard, and I’m going to hell for thinking this, but I was already going there anyway.
I want to be her first.
Her only .
I squeeze her a little tighter. “I have an idea, Little one.”
She squirms to look up at me, her eyes big and curious. “What?”
“What if,” I say, deliberate and slow, “while you’re here, you and I agree on something... temporary. A Daddy and Little relationship, just for the time you’re staying. That way, you can experience everything you deserve. Care, rules, structure. Without any pressure. A trial run.”
Her mouth drops open, and before the words are fully out of my mouth, she blurts, “Yes. Yes, please!”
I chuckle softly, cradling her closer. “No thinking about it?”
“Nope. I kind of already talked it through with the girls anyway because they thought, for sure, you would ask,” she says, grinning up at me, her cheeks glowing pink.
Brats.
I don’t even want to know what kind of shit Rowie and Ember told Ariana. I’m going to have to have a talk with them. I have a feeling they wouldn’t think twice about trying to play matchmaker for any of us guys.
“Of course they did,” I grumble.
She glares at me. “You can’t be a grumpy Daddy all the time, or else.”
I bark out a rough laugh, pressing another kiss to her hair. “I’ll try to be the least grumpy Daddy I can, rainbow. But there will be rules. And you will be getting your bottom really spanked if you’re naughty.”
Her smile doesn’t fade as she rolls her eyes. “Of course there will be rules. If you didn’t make rules, I’d think you were ill or something.”
This time, I glare at her and lean closer, so our faces are only inches apart. “You’re a sassy Little thing for someone who just entered a dynamic with a strict Daddy.”
She runs her fingers along my jawline, studying my face. “I trust you.”
Then she burrows into me once more, her small body warm and secure against mine.
I swallow and close my eyes, forcing myself to ignore the aching feeling in my chest.
She’s mine .