Chapter 3 #3
I think about it. "I've always felt younger than I am.
Not immature exactly, but like there's this part of me that didn't grow up with the rest of me.
The part that still gets excited about simple things.
That wants to be taken care of sometimes.
That needs reassurance and cuddles and someone to tell her everything's going to be okay. Like, when a kid is looking for an adult, I look around too… I mean, I know I’m an adult, but I look for a more adultier adult. "
"That sounds like a Little to me."
"The girls in book club would agree. They've been hinting for months that I should explore it. Emily especially."
"Emily seems like a good friend."
"The best. She's been pushing me to take risks. To be honest about what I want." I look up at him. "I think she'd like you."
"Yeah?"
"She wants all of us to find our Daddies. Our happily ever afters. Lily and Ethan, Madison and Ty, Holly and Justin—they all have it. And Emily keeps saying the rest of us will find it too."
"The rest of you?"
"Me, Emily, Maya, Amber. We're the single ones left in the littles group. Well, I guess I'm not single anymore. Or am I? Is this—are we—" I'm rambling now.
Tyler cups my face, tilting it up to look at him. "Chloe. Breathe."
I take a shaky breath.
"We're whatever you want us to be. If you want to take this slow, explore the dynamic gradually, we do that. If you want to jump in with both feet, we do that. But I need to know what you're comfortable with."
"I want to try. But I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Of being too much for you to handle, or like, being too needy. What if you realize I'm more work than I'm worth?"
"Hey." His voice goes firm. "Look at me."
I meet his eyes.
"You are not too much. You will never be too much. And taking care of you isn't work, it's a privilege I'd be honored to have."
"You keep saying perfect things."
"I'm saying true things. You deserve someone who sees your needs and wants to meet them. Not someone who makes you feel bad for having them."
"I want you to be that someone."
"Then I will be. If you'll let me."
"Yes." The word comes out barely above a whisper. "Please."
He leans in slowly, giving me plenty of time to pull away.
I don't.
Our lips meet, and the world disappears.
The kiss is soft and gentle at first. But then his hand slides into my hair, tilting my head to deepen it, and heat floods through me.
This isn't like any kiss I've had before. This is a claiming kiss, it’s full of possessive heat. It feels like he’s marking me as his.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"Wow," I manage.
"Yeah." His voice is rough. "Wow."
"So... does this mean we're trying the dynamic? Like, officially?"
"If you want to. But Chloe, I need you to understand something first."
"What?"
"This isn't just about the dynamic for me.
I like you. Really, like you. I like the person you are when you're making coffee, when you're taking care of that kitten, when you're being vulnerable with me.
" He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I want to date you. Get to know you. Build something real.
The Daddy Dom stuff is part of that, but it's not all of it. "
My heart swells. "I want that too."
"Good. Then here's what I'm thinking. We take this one step at a time. We date and talk. We explore the dynamic as we go. And we check in constantly to make sure we're both getting what we need."
"That sounds perfect."
"And you promise to use your safe words if something doesn't feel right?"
"I promise."
"Good girl." He kisses my forehead.
"You keep calling me that," I whisper.
"Calling you what?" Tyler's voice is low, intimate.
"Good girl."
"Do you want me to stop?"
I shake my head. "No."
His smile is slow and devastating. "Then I won't. Now let's get you home. It's late, and you have to open the shop early tomorrow."
"How do you know my schedule?"
"Because I pay attention, sweetheart. I told you that. I know what time the coffee shop opens and I’m assuming you get there, what an hour early?"
“About that.”
We walk back to my apartment hand in hand, and when we reach my door, Tyler doesn't push to come inside.
"I should let you rest," he says.
"Will I see you tomorrow? At the shop?"
"Absolutely. Same time as always."
"What if I make you something special? To celebrate?"
"Celebrate what?"
"Our date. Us. This." I gesture between us.
His smile is warm. "I'd love that."
He kisses me again, soft and sweet. “Text me before you go to bed. Don’t stay up too late.”
Then waits until I'm inside and the door is locked before leaving.
I check on Mochi, who is still sleeping, apparently kittens sleep a lot, then collapse onto my couch, grabbing Mr. Snuggles and hugging him tight.
My phone buzzes immediately.
Emily: How was the date???
Lily: DETAILS. NOW.
Madison: Did he kiss you?
Holly: Is he your Daddy?
I stare at the messages, a smile spreading across my face.
Chloe: He's a Daddy Dom. And he knows I'm a Little. And we're going to explore it together.
The chat explodes.
Madison: I KNEW IT!
Lily: This is the best news ever!
Holly: Welcome to the Daddy club!!!
Emily: I'm so proud of you for being honest with him.
Amber: Wait, backup. Start from the beginning.
Maya: Yes! We need every detail.
I spend the next hour typing out everything. The conversation at dinner. The walk in the park. The kiss.
By the time I finish, my thumbs are tired and my face hurts from smiling.
Madison: You deserve this, babe. You deserve someone who sees all of you and loves all of you.
Lily: Ethan and I are so happy for you.
Holly: Can we do a double date? Or like a group thing? I want to meet Tyler properly.
Emily: Chloe gets to enjoy this first. Then we can all interrogate him
Chloe: I love you guys so much.
Madison: We love you too. Now go cuddle Mr. Snuggles and get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day.
Chloe: Why is tomorrow a big day?
Holly: Because you get to see your Daddy again, obviously.
My Daddy.
The words make something warm and safe settle in my chest.
I curl up in bed with Mr. Snuggles, Mochi jumps onto my chest and is purring away, and smile.
For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel hopeful.
Have I really found it? Someone who sees me, all of me? Someone who wants to take care of me? Someone who makes me feel safe enough to be exactly who I am?
Have I found my Daddy?
Who would have thought it. The Tyler Reid. The sexy as hell soldier who I’ve been crushing on took me out and told me he’s a Daddy. He’s interested in me? Is this real life?
And tomorrow, I get to see him again.
I fall asleep smiling, dreaming of storm-gray eyes and gentle hands and a voice calling me a good girl.