Chapter 26
PATRICK
Istepped away to take a call and returned to find Kylie had made a friend.
She was a nervous little girl in what could only be described as a tin man costume if the tin man were a ballerina.
She picked at her tutu with one hand while coloring with the other.
A man hovered near a decorative pillar, his gaze fixed on her, protective.
He leaned forward when I approached. He seemed nervous, too.
It was amazing to see Kylie in little space, playing and enjoying herself. Her little shoulders were no longer up near her ears, and her demeanor was sassy but sweet. I was so proud of her.
I placed a hand on Kylie’s shoulder. “Hey little one.” I sat down in a small chair; it creaked under my weight. “You ready to show me your drawing?”
She covered it with her arm.
“Almost.” She never looked up. I loved that she knew my touch.
“Who’s your friend?”
“This is Annabelle.” Kylie looked up for the briefest moment, smiled, and then her attention went right back to her paper.
“Hi, Annabelle.”
“Hi, Mr. Complicated.” Annabelle’s eyes grew wide as a blush bloomed on her cheek. Kylie lifted her head and bit her bottom lip. A beat of silence passed before they both burst into giggles.
What was that about?
“Kylie.” I turned my attention back to her. “It’s getting late, and the party is winding down. Time for bed.”
“Yes, sir.” She put her markers back in the bin and rolled up her picture.
“It was nice meeting you, Annabelle.” Kylie walked around the table to stand in front of her. “I’ll see you next time.”
“Oh, wait.” Annabelle stood up. “Will you be here tomorrow?”
“I’m not sure, but if so, I’ll look for you.”
“Yeah.” She clapped her hands and leaned in to hug Kylie. Kylie stiffened from the contact but hugged her back.
“Good night, Annabelle.” I nodded and took Kylie’s hand, and we left the party.
KYLIE
Was our evening over?
I was too afraid to ask. We walked through the Quad courtyard.
I hadn’t been back since the first time Patrick brought me.
My heart pounded in my chest as he interrogated me about my motives for being in his hotel.
Never in a million years would I have thought we’d end up here, holding hands after a littles’ party.
We made our way across the lobby. The casino was bustling with people; when we walked over to Quad II, my heart sank. I wasn’t ready for him to take me home.
I thought we were going to his room. I had never seen it. It was down the hall from Kyler’s, so maybe that made sense that he wouldn’t take me there. He didn’t want me to run into the girls yet.
We headed up the elevator to my floor, hand in hand.
“Oh, no.” I reached out and tried the door, knowing it was locked. I forgot my employee badge, which also gave me access to my room.
“Where’s your card, little girl?” Patrick stared down at me.
“I know exactly where it is.” My sassy attitude came out unprompted. I placed my hand on the door and pouted.
Patrick turned to me and leaned over. “I told you about those pouty lips.” He pressed his lips to mine. It was a brief kiss, but it made me curse the badge sitting uselessly on the table inside.
Patrick took out his phone and tapped a few buttons. He waved his phone over the door reader, and it popped open.
“There you go, little girl.” He pushed it and stepped to the side. “I think we need to start writing rules down, so you won’t forget.”
“They are written down.” I stepped inside and turned around. “In the employee handbook. But I’m not sure I’m an employee anymore.”
“Until someone tells you you’re fired, you are still an employee.” He leaned against the doorframe.
“What about Kyler and Josh?” I dropped my bag on the table, next to the name badge. “Do they want to fire me?”
“They left it up to me.”
“Do you want to fire me?” I looked up into his handsome face. It was late, and a bit of stubble had formed on his cheeks. I liked it. It made him look rugged and sexy. I wanted to rub my hand against it, and maybe my thighs. I attempted a seductive smile.
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.
So much for my seductive side.
“But we can discuss it on Monday.”
It was Friday night. Monday seemed like forever away. “Well, what do I do until Monday?”
“How about we take the rest of the weekend, and you just be my little girl?”
In theory, it sounded wonderful. But, how could I be little, his little for a weekend knowing on Monday he could send me away?
But maybe my little could convince him to keep me.
I was learning that she can be very convincing.
Why not let my little take the reins for a while?
It beat stressing for the next two days.
“Okay, Daddy.” My adult side had protected my little all these years; maybe it was time for my little to return the favor.
“Good.” He stepped forward and grabbed the back of my head. His fingers massaged my scalp while he tilted my head and landed a perfect kiss on my waiting lips. He coaxed my mouth open and tasted me, but before it got too deep, he pulled back.
“Now, change into your pajamas and get into bed.” He kissed me again and stepped backward toward the door. “Once you are all settled in bed, text me goodnight.”
He opened the door and stepped out.
“Wait.” I ran to the door. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Aren’t you going to help me get my pjs on and read me a story?” I tried to play it with sarcasm, but it came out desperate and pathetic. I really wanted him to stay. “Aren’t you going to tuck me in?”
“Not tonight, my little sneak.” He frowned. “I think we need some time to think about the events of the evening.”
I pouted, but quickly hid it. I didn’t want him to kiss it away. Not when he wasn't sure. He wanted more time to find out if he wanted to be my daddy.
“Oh, Kylie.” He approached again and caressed my cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“You want more time to change your mind?” I pulled his hand away from my face. “It’s okay. I understand.”
“The time isn’t for me. Little sneak.” He bent down and whispered against my lips. “It’s for you.”
Little sneak. He called me that twice. I opened my mouth to protest, but he silenced me with a scorching kiss. It zapped my brain and made me forget what I was going to say. By the time I regained consciousness, he was at the door.
“Text me when you are in bed.” He stepped out of my room and stopped. “Maybe if you’re a good girl, I’ll read you a bedtime story over the phone.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“I saw that.” He waved and shut the door behind him.
I stuck it out again. Bet he didn’t see me that time, unless he could see through doors.
I missed him already. I kind of liked the nickname, little sneak.
In his presence, every care seemed to vanish, but alone, I had an entire night for anxiety to creep back in.
I double-bolted the door and went to the bathroom to change.
The evening's activities played over and over in my head, from the spanking to the kissing and the playtime.
It was all a dream. My mind was too antsy to relax; a hot shower would do the trick.
My usual boring pajamas hung on the back of the door, but I was deep in little space.
The employee apartment didn’t have much storage. The stuff I didn’t need every day, I kept in a suitcase under the bed. All my little stuff was in a storage unit in New Jersey. Not that I had much, but nothing beat a flannel onesie on a cold winter night. I rummaged through the bag.
“Bingo.” I yanked it out and held it up.
“Yay, me.” I shimmied my shoulders, dropped the towel I had wrapped around me and slipped into the pink-and-green plaid onesie.
It didn’t have the feet attached, but my warm, fuzzy slippers did the trick.
I blow-dried my hair before putting it in braids and crawled into bed.
Patrick had already texted me.
Patrick: Did you fall asleep on me already, little girl?
Kylie: No, Daddy. I wanted to take a shower and blow-dry my hair.
Patrick: Are you in bed now?
Kylie: Yes, sir.
Patrick: Okay, sneak. You under the covers? What are you wearing?
Kylie: Are you trying to be sexy, Daddy?
Patrick: I want to make sure you’re warm enough. You want me to send you more blankets from housekeeping?
Kylie: No, I’m fine. I have my pink and green onesie on and my fuzzy slippers.
The three dots popped up and then disappeared several times before his next message came in.
Patrick: Send me a picture.
A shiver ran through my body. I pushed the covers off and snapped a few photos. I texted him the best one and hid under the covers, waiting for him to reply. He called instead.
“You’re making it hard for me to be good.”
“You can be bad, Daddy.” I giggled. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“You are adorable, my little sneak.” He sighed. “Now go to bed.”
“Why do you keep calling me little sneak?” I had to know.
“Because you came here and snuck into my heart.” He chuckled.
“Oh, Daddy.” I groaned. “Super corny.”
“I thought it was cute.” I could picture his smile over the phone. “I’ll show you how corny I can be.”
“Come back to my room and show me.”
“Oh, baby girl. Not tonight.” His voice lowered. “Get some sleep.”
“You’re no fun. I will be telling everyone that.” I settled back into bed and pulled the covers up to my neck.
“No one would be surprised.” He laughed.
“I’m just kidding.” I loved hearing him laugh. “I had a great time tonight, Daddy. After the spanking.”
“I think you liked the spanking part, too. Maybe just a little.”
Maybe. But that was a secret I’d be taking to my grave.
“Thank you for giving me another chance.” I wasn’t sure I deserved it, but I would take it. “At least not kicking me out onto the street.”
Although I guess he still could. We weren’t talking about work until Monday. We had the whole weekend, and I could fall deeper into him and still be out of a job and homeless on Monday.
He wouldn’t do that, would he?
“Don’t get out of bed until I come and get you. I’ll dress you and we’ll have a discussion over breakfast and then plan the rest of our weekend. How does that sound?”
His voice sent a shiver right through me. He was being so nice to me and wanted to spend time with me.
Did he say he was going to dress me?
Oh boy. Now, how was I supposed to get any sleep?
“Kylie, did you fall asleep on me again?”
“No, sir.” I zoned out daydreaming.
“What did I say?” he asked.
“Get some sleep. Don’t get up until you come and get me. Breakfast, discussion, plan.”
“Very good, little girl.” He chuckled. “It’s nice to know your little is as detail-oriented as big Kylie. Do I have permission to enter your room in the morning? I don’t want you getting out of bed before I get there.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?” I suddenly had to go.
“You have Daddy’s permission to use the potty, but then right back in bed, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy.” I felt my hot cheeks.
“That’s my good girl.” His voice dropped to a sexy growl. “Goodnight, Kylie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Daddy.” I hung up the phone and plugged it in to charge on my nightstand. The way he said my name had me rethinking the onesie.
When did it get so hot in here all of a sudden?