20. Chapter Twenty
CHAPTER TWENTY
MAYLEE
“ W here are we going?” Maylee asked.
They had been driving for what felt like eternity. Well, she knew it wasn’t an eternity, but it felt like it. They were outside Deadwood and heading toward the club. Or in the direction of the club.
“Are we going to the club?” she asked.
It was Sunday, and she had to leave in a few hours to head back home. She needed to get ready for tomorrow’s workday, but everything inside of her didn’t want to leave. This weekend was everything she had imagined and hoped for.
It was by far the best weekend, and she wanted to do it again. Well, she didn’t want to just do it again, she wanted to have that every day. If she could, should be so happy. It would be a dream come true—a dream she realized this weekend. That was okay because sometimes dreams came later in life, and sometimes a dream stayed a dream for a long time.
Like her dream of getting back with Ezra. It had finally come true after so many years apart. Never in her life had she expected it to happen again.
And yet, he told her last night he loved her and wanted to be with her.
One of her dreams had come true.
“No, we aren’t going to the club,” Daddy said.
“Then where are we going?”
“We’re going to Walker’s Little Haven.”
She scrunched up her nose. “What is that place?”
“It’s a place where you can buy all the things you need for being a Little. We’re going to buy you a couple outfits and some more pacifiers and baby things.”
Excitement bubbled inside her. They were going to go to a place where she could get things for her Little side? An actual place.
“Is it safe?” she whispered.
“Lee, I wouldn’t take you somewhere it wasn’t safe. Donald and Sabastian asked us to do their security system when they first opened the place. It’s safe.”
She sighed in relief. She didn’t know why she was so worried about it being safe. It was not like she had ever worried about that stuff before.
“You’re okay,” Daddy said. “No one is going to bat an eye when we walk into the store. Other people who are in there are also like-minded.”
She nodded. This was good to know. Maybe that was why she had asked if it was safe. She didn’t want other people to find out or even tell other people she was a Little.
“Everyone knows when they walk into the store, we don’t talk outside of the store about who was in there. Some people aren’t in safe situations, and it’s also not our information to share. Not unless they have given us explicit consent to talk to other people about it.” Daddy grabbed her thigh as they pulled into the parking lot. “Understand me?”
“Yes, Daddy. I do understand you.”
She didn’t know anyone else to talk to about who she saw in the store. Well, Daddy and Liv, but there was no one else. They probably also knew the people were already in the lifestyle because they went to the club.
“Ready to go in?” Daddy asked. “We’re only going to stay for a little bit. Get the necessary stuff and maybe one stuffy. Can’t stay long, since we’ve got to get you back home.”
Right then her mood dampened. She didn’t want to go home. She had tried so hard to forget, and now it was back on her mind.
“Ready to go in?” Daddy asked.
She nodded and waited for him to get her out of the car. Ever since he’d started driving, he told her he would always open the door. In the beginning it had been a struggle for her to wait, but now she didn’t even think about it.
“We’ll be quick, so we don’t get you home too late,” Daddy said as he helped her out of the car. “You do have a bedtime and work tomorrow.”
Maylee whined. “I still don’t think I need a bedtime.”
“Oh, you definitely do. If I didn’t give you one, you would be exhausted every morning. That’s also why you are taking naps over the weekend.”
“Still don’t think I need to do that either,” she mumbled.
“Every Little girl needs to take naps,” someone else added .
She let out a little squeak. Shit. She wasn’t expecting someone to be around.
As she looked up, she widened her eyes even more. “Donald?”
“Well, hello there,” he replied.
“Figured you would remember him once we saw him,” Daddy said.
Donald had been her brother’s best friend. That was before her brother moved and got into some shady business. Maylee didn’t know where he was now. She hadn’t talked to him in more than ten years.
“I thought you left the state,” she replied. “Last I heard you didn’t want anything to do with Deadwood.”
Her brother had spread some nasty rumors about him.
“Sorry about my brother,” she whispered. “I didn’t know he would do that.”
“You’re okay. You don’t need to apologize for him. Everything has been cleared up.” Donald waved his hand in the air. “I did leave because of those rumors. Went to college and met my business partner, Sabastian. We came back here and opened up this shop. Now he’s in New York at our second location.”
“Wow. That’s so cool!”
“Thank you. We’ve had this location open for about five years and the other one for a year.”
How did she not know about this store? It wasn’t far from the club. Well, she hadn’t ever been around the club until Daddy asked her to go.
“We’re just going to be here for a couple of minutes. I need to get this Little one back home so she can get ready for tomorrow’s workday,” Daddy said.
“If you need anything, you let me know.”
Daddy grabbed her hand and started to walk through the store. She goggled at everything as they went further and further into the store. There were so many different things—beds, cribs, clothes, toys, food, and so much more.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Daddy replied. “We’re going to stop by the clothes real quick. I’m going to get you some onesies to wear.”
She hopped up and down at the mention of onesies. “With little foot things?”
“If that’s what you want. Do you also want your hands covered?”
“Please?”
“Of course you can. I’ll make sure to grab a couple.”
Excitement filled her. She couldn’t wait to wear one. If only she could wear it to work. That would be a dream come true.
They headed down a clothing aisle where the onesies were displayed.
“Giraffes!” she yelled and tugged on Daddy’s arm. “Daddy! Giraffes!”
“I see them, Lee. No need to rush. They aren’t going anywhere.”
“Daddy! Wants giraffes!”
“Maylee.”
She stopped in her tracks and looked at him.
“I said they weren’t going anywhere, and there was no rush. We’re going to get some.”
Maylee looked down at her feet. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“It’s okay. I know you love giraffes, but those onesies aren’t going to be taken before we get there.”
She nodded and looked back at them. She so badly wanted them. They were calling her name.
“I think we should get four to start with, and if we need more, we can get more later. Two for my house and two for your house.”
“Okie.”
She looked around as Daddy started to pick the four she was going to get.
“Okay, ready to go look at pacifiers?”
“Yes!”
Maylee was leaving in a few minutes. They had arrived back from the store and Daddy had packed all her things they had bought. She didn’t know how to feel. Well, she did. Maylee was sad their time together was coming to an end. This wasn’t the last time, but they weren’t going to do this again until next weekend or longer. Would she be able to last until then?
She had loved every minute of this weekend. It reaffirmed so many things, and she also loved that she knew it wasn’t going to end. Daddy wanted her, and she could relax about that now.
Maylee hadn’t realized how much it had taken out of her to have that at the back of her mind. She had been trying to guard herself, but now she didn’t have to do that. They were meant for each other.
“Are you okay?” Daddy asked.
For a second she considered lying and telling him everything was all right. She didn’t want him to worry, but she also didn’t want to get into trouble.
“I’m not ready to go back to my house,” she whispered.
It was her home, but it didn’t feel like a home. She had been renting it for years because she didn’t want to own a home by herself. They were all too big for her. She also didn’t want the reminder that she couldn’t have a family. In addition, until this weekend she hadn’t expected anything to go further than him being her best friend.
“I know you don’t, but I need you to take the next couple of days to really think about this. About us. I know we both said we loved each other, and we wanted to be together, but I need you to think about all the pros and cons. And I don’t want to be around to sway your decision,” he said, gently. “You need to be away from me while you think about this so you truly can think and not be persuaded one way or the other.”
He’d had this conversation with her on the way home from the Little store. She understood where he was coming from, but at the same time, she wanted to let him know she didn’t need time to think about it. She had considered this for the past ten or more years. Being with him had been on her mind since she broke up with him.
The only thing different now was that they were adding a different dynamic into the relationship—a dynamic she was okay with.
But Daddy still wanted her to think about it.
He wanted her to be sure about them being together and him being her Daddy. He wanted to give her time, since this was their first official weekend together. She was grateful, but she also wanted to tell him yes. She didn’t want to think about it.
“I know, Daddy, but I still don’t want to go. I really enjoyed this weekend, and I don’t want it to end.”
“I know, and I’ve enjoyed this weekend so much. I don’t want it to end either, but I need you to think about it and be one hundred percent sure that this is what you want for the rest of our lives.”
She nodded. Maylee was going to think it through for the next few days. She already knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, but he had kindly asked her to do this, and she was going to. It wasn’t hard—she could do it.
“Lee, can you look at me for a second?” Daddy asked.
She looked at him and gave him a strained smile. She would see him for the next few days—they had lunch together almost every day—so why was it so hard to leave?
“Such a good girl.” He held her face. “If you feel any symptoms of sub drop, I want you to call me immediately. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy, I do.”
“And if you need or want a hug, tell me, and I’ll will make it work. If you need anything at all, you can text me, and I’m here for you. I’m always here for you, no matter how small or big the thing is.”
She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes for a second. Things were getting more real between them, and she was here for it.
“Now, it’s getting late, and I know you like to drink and unwind a little before going to bed. Let’s get you home,” Daddy said.
But it wasn’t her home. It was merely a house where she kept her stuff and slept. She had never considered it her home. It certainly didn’t feel like one. She didn’t own many things because she didn’t want to settle, but maybe it would all change soon.
Maylee opened her eyes and straightened. If she had it her way, she wouldn’t leave.
“I know you don’t want to leave, but the longer we stay here, the harder it’s going to get. So, why don’t we head to your place.”
She sighed and nodded. He was right. The longer she stayed in his house, in his arms, would make it more difficult to leave for home. She was already struggling.
“It’s not the end of the world. You’re just sleeping at your own house. I’ll see you soon. I need to check my work schedule, but I’m pretty sure we can have lunch tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
Daddy grabbed her hand and her bag before heading to the front door. Maybe she could think about this for the day then let him know that she was ready and wanted this. She didn’t want to be away from him for a while .
There was no guarantee she would be able to see him tomorrow. Sometimes, his workload got so heavy he couldn’t have lunch with her. Those days were hard because she looked forward to having that time with him. Normally, it was the highlight of her day. Without it, her day dragged on.
“In you go,” Daddy said as he opened the door.
Maylee slowly got into the car. Daddy helped her buckle up, his hand gently grazing against her nipple. She shivered and looked at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. Was he really going to make her turned on and not give her any pleasure before he dropped her off?
Though, she could give herself pleasure since their weekend was over. Daddy had only mentioned her pleasure was his only over the weekend. So, technically, she could give herself pleasure once he dropped her off.
Daddy went around the car after he closed her door. She watched him every step of the way, but he didn’t look at her. Was he regretting everything they had done? Was that why he wasn’t looking at her?
Unease filled her with that thought. Maybe his suggestion that she think about everything for a few days was his way of pushing her away. Did he not want her anymore? This saddened her.
“Are you okay, Lee?” Daddy asked as he pulled out of the driveway.
How was she supposed to answer that question? There was so much going on in her mind.
“Maylee?” Daddy said.
She hadn’t even realized that he’d stopped the car. They were out on his road, pulled to the side, and he was looking at her.
She shrugged. “I guess?”
“Talk to Daddy. I’m here for you.”
Maylee looked away and out her window. Did she want to tell him about it? Was he going to tell her that he didn’t want her anymore?
“The only way this is going to work is if we have communication. Talk to me,” he said, gently.
She drew a deep breath in and turned back toward him. “Do you not want me anymore?”
His eyes went wide, and he shook his head. “Of course I want you. Where did you get a thought like that?”
She shook her head. That wasn’t important. Daddy still wanted her, so maybe he was just thinking when he was buckling her in and walking around the car. She shouldn’t have concluded that he didn’t want her so quickly. But it was hard when her dream was coming true, and she still couldn’t believe it.
“Why did you think that?” Daddy asked.
“When you’re buckling me, and you didn’t look at me, and you didn’t look at me when you walked around the car. I figured it was your way of trying to push me away. Especially since you want me to take time to think about everything,” she blurted out.
“Oh, baby. I didn’t mean for you to think that. That wasn’t my intention at all. I want you. I still want you. I was just thinking and trying to hold myself back.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to keep you here. I don’t want to let you go, but you need time to think about it, and I don’t need to be rushing you.”
That made sense.
“I don’t want you thinking that I don’t want you anymore. I told you I love you, and nothing is going to change that. I’m going to want you for the rest of my life. So anytime you get that thought of me not wanting you, throw it out of your head because I’m always going to want you.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“There’s no need to be sorry. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn’t have made you feel like that, and I’m sorry.”
Maylee nodded and relaxed in the car seat. Now she didn’t have to worry about him not wanting her while she considered everything else. Well, she wouldn’t have thought about anything else but the thought of him possibly not wanting her.
“And if you ever have the thought again of me not wanting you, text me, and I will reassure you that I still want you. I will always reassure you because you’re stuck with me now.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
He started the car back up and continued the drive to her house. They sat in silence the whole way.
“First thing in the morning, I’m going to check to see if I can have lunch with you or not and let you know,” Daddy said as he pulled into her driveway. “And if I can’t then try for the next day or maybe we can have dinner together.”
“I don’t know what time I’m going to get off tomorrow,” she replied.
Her not knowing when she got off every day was kind of annoying. Sure, most of the time it was six pm but occasionally it went later. Normally, if it was later it was because they were adding new art to the museum and they were doing a grand opening the following day.
“No worries. We’ll plan for lunch the following day if I can’t do it tomorrow.”
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.”
Daddy nodded before he got out of the car and came to her side to open her door. He helped her out and grabbed her stuff before accompanying her to her front door.
“I loved every minute of this weekend. I want you to know that, and I want you to know that I love you,” he said as he kissed her forehead.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
Once she’d opened her door, she stepped in, and Daddy placed her bag in before he closed the door. She locked, knowing Daddy was waiting for her.
“Good girl. I’ll see you soon.”
Maylee leaned up against the door and inhaled deeply. It was going to be so hard to get back into the rhythm of him not being around to take care of her for the rest of the week. She didn’t think she would have grown accustomed to it so quickly, but she had.
It felt natural.
Her phone buzzing brought her out of her thoughts. Was he messaging her already? He couldn’t have arrived home so fast, unless he was speeding.
She pulled out her phone to see who was messaging her. Liv.
Liv
I’m back in town. Do you want to meet up tomorrow and talk?
Maylee
Sure! Lunch sound good?
Liv
Yep!
Maylee quickly brought up Ezra’s contact and messaged him.
Maylee
Can’t do lunch tomorrow. I’m meeting with Liv. She’s back in town.
Ezra
Sounds good. Be safe.