Chapter 17
Kairo
He finally asked me. It was the question I’d been dreading.
We sat at the dining table eating breakfast. Daddy made the best breakfasts ever even though I was used to professional cooks. But his was way tastier, nicer, like having him touch me through food.
We’d been talking about returning to Kings and Queens next weekend. I was still reeling from my experience.
“I guess I like being a sub, Daddy. And tied up.” I held out my wrists to him, a grin on my lips.
“You really want to do it again?”
“Please. Yes. It felt like nothing ever before.”
“Like to the moon and back?” he asked with a silly smile.
“No. That’s even more special. A one-of-a-kind trip only with you in bed. But the impact play and letting you take over everything got me ready for the moon.” I couldn’t suppress my giggle.
“I’m not surprised we’re compatible in that way, too, as well as Daddy-Little.”
“Everything you do for me and to me feels that way.”
He raised his eyebrows but wouldn’t meet my eyes when he said, “Maybe we’re meant to be?”
I nodded, swallowing my toast. It went down scratchy as my throat swelled. Tears came to my eyes. “Really?”
“What do you think?”
My breath hitched. I opened my mouth but all that came out was a squeaky noise that sounded like, “Yes.”
“I agree.”
I couldn’t stop myself from jumping up and running around the table. I pushed my way onto his lap, threw my arms around his neck and kissed him over and over. He held me close and stroked my hair.
“I love you, Kairo-baby.”
My heart stopped. I barely managed to get the words out. “I love you, too, Truce-Daddy.”
We hugged and kissed, our food growing cold.
Then Daddy said the question.
In my chest, something started to give way. A barrier that had not yet been breached.
“Are you ready, now, to show me where you live?”
Darkness creeped into the sides of my vision. I buried my face in his chest.
“Baby, what are you afraid of?”
I had too many answers but none that might make sense to him. Just, well, I was afraid of everything when it came to my wealth.
“Nothing.” I shut my eyes, delaying a couple more seconds, and grabbed Area 51 who sat at his own place setting on the table. “Do you want to go today?”
Daddy looked at the toy he’d given me, my arms tight around it. “Today? I wasn’t trying to press you. But we have no other plans.”
“Okay.” I couldn’t meet his eyes as I got up. “Let me go get dressed, Daddy. I’ll be a big boy today and drive.”
Frowning, Daddy began to clear the plates from the table.
I was half-dressed when Daddy entered the bedroom. He came around the bed to face me.
“I’m very sensitive to the feelings of subs. And littles by default.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Something’s wrong.”
“No, Daddy.” I pulled my sweater over my head. It was dark blue with silver sparkles.
“If you don’t want to show me, it’s all right. But you go home every day. And since I don’t know where that is, I worry.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry, Daddy.”
“But if you might be cold or hungry when I’m not there….”
I gulped. “But Daddy. I come to your place every night. I get to be with you. It’s wonderful and I don’t want that to change.”
“Why would it change?”
I plopped on the floor to put on my socks and shoes.
“Kairo? Answer me, please.”
I sighed purposefully loud.
He slid off the bed so we were face to face. “You’ve never taken this attitude with me before. I’m sorry I brought it up.” His hand went to my chin to tilt it up. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m tired of my secret anyway.”
“You tell me everything, don’t you?” Daddy asked. “Wait, no. Don’t answer that.”
“I tell you everything about whatever is between us,” I replied, staring at his intense eyes. “Now this is.”
“Because I asked?”
I half-shrugged. “Yeah. I guess.”
“I didn’t know it would be such a wrong question. I’ll take it back. We can do something else today.”
He was so good to me. He had just said the three words last night. And I said them back. He shouldn’t have to avoid any subject with me. Not if we were for keeps.
“No takesies backsies,” I said in a little’s small voice.
Daddy inched closer and held out his arms. “Come here.”
I moved into his lap, wrapping my legs around his waist.
He whispered into my hair. “No matter what, baby, I love you. That doesn’t stop. Okay?”
I hugged him hard but didn’t answer.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you. Is your car new?” Daddy asked when we got in.
“Yeah, I got it about six months ago.”
“It still has the new car smell.”
“Uh huh.”
My mouth was completely dry and it was difficult to talk. So I focused on driving. Daddy was quiet for a long while before he spoke again.
“You’re a good driver. I shouldn’t always insist I drive everywhere.”
“I like when you drive. You’re the daddy. But now you don’t know where to go.”
“Nope. I have no clue.”
My eyes welled a little. “I’m a bad boy.” I choked out my words.
“Why do you say that?”
“I wasn’t honest with you.” I started to cry.
“It’s all right, baby. Hey, pull over.”
Luckily, we were out of the city and I saw a turnaround space up ahead. I steered into it. Daddy unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over the console to take me in his arms. I began to sob.
“If it’s a bad place, baby, it doesn’t matter. You’re with me now.”
I cried harder.
“Turn around then,” he said, patting my back. “Let’s go back to my place.”
“No. You have to see.”
When I was composed, I pulled onto the road again. I could tell Daddy was confused at the turns I made and the streets I drove on. But he said nothing.
Then I turned onto a road with signs that said Private on either side of the entrance. Foliage lined the little avenue, shadowing the pavement.
“I think this is a wrong turn,” Daddy said. “It’s not a public road. Someone owns it.”
“Oh. Um. You’re right.” I kept going forward.
“There was a space back there where you could turn around.”
I pressed my lips tight and turned onto a brick drive. Ahead was a huge gate and through the foliage you could barely see the rock wall that surrounded the huge property.
“Why are we pulling in here?” Daddy turned all the way around to peer out his side window. “I think this road leads to that enormous mansion on the hill. It’s private property, you know.”
“I know.” At the same time, I spoke, the gate opened. There was a guard station that looked like a mini cabin. Today it was Trevor in the little house. I rolled down my window.
He came forward with that smile he always gave me. “Kairo. Hey. Good to see you.”
“Hi, Trev.” Nothing else needed to be said.
All the muscles of my face went taut as I drove forward. I didn’t dare sneak a peek at my daddy as the big house came into view. I sensed him turning his head, looking at everything, including me.
The house wrapped a section of land littered with pines. It had sections with different kinds of rooftops like curved or pointed or flat. Attached to one side was an atrium where a lot of plants could thrive. I didn’t know anything about plants so it stood empty. The gardeners only worked outside.
We drove past the wide front porch, the high roof supported by four columns. Everything was white and tan. Grandfather liked luxury but in a sedate manner so there was little color. Plus, the light colors made the greenery stand out.
There were a total of five doors leading into the humungous garage. I only used the first one. The door opened when I touched a switch on the dash. I drove slowly in.
Lights popped on showing a huge area for cars. And there were many. Grandfather loved to collect classics and antiques. There were about a dozen of them. The limo was at the far end.
I said nothing. Daddy said nothing.
I sniffed and opened my door. As I turned, a hand touched my arm, pressing down. I glanced over my shoulder.
“Baby, you said your grandfather died. Whose place is this?”
“Um. Well. Mine.”
“This was where you grew up?”
Gulping, I nodded. “I was raised here. Most of my life.”
“Who else lives here?”
“Um, well, Sorel lives in quarters out back. The cooks and housekeepers have families they go home to every night. Donny, the limo driver, has an apartment out back but he comes and goes. And the gardeners and gate guards work shifts. They don’t live here.”
“So, you live here alone?”
I tilted my head. The question was simple, but not. People came and went. They took care of the place. Sorel was currently the only one living on the property. So technically I wasn’t alone.
“No. Sorel’s always around.”
“But you are the only one actually living inside this house?”
“For four years. Yes.”
I couldn’t read his face. His body looked frozen.
To break the tension, I lifted my chin and said in my big boy voice, “C’mon, Daddy. I’ll show you around.”
My heart pumped furiously for no reason. I trusted Daddy now. But my anxiety fed itself. This was a pretty big secret I’d kept from him.
We moved toward the inner door. I keyed in the code and it opened onto a back foyer, marble-floored, with closets for jackets and a table where fresh flowers bloomed from an artisan vase.
Sorel ordered the flowers daily for placements throughout the first floor.
Grandfather liked to have the scent of more than cleanser following him around. After his death, I kept up the routine.
I wanted to take Daddy’s hand as we moved forward, but I was afraid. What if he saw me differently now? What if he didn’t want to touch me anymore?
“This way.” I made my voice sound light and airy.
Behind me, his shoes padded gently on the marble.
My insides shook. I could barely breathe. I was sure I would faint here and now. But I kept putting one foot in front of the other. I knew this place backward and forward. I could give a tour of it in my sleep.