Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Rhodes
“All done, Daddy.” Oops. “Um, my Knight. Yes.”
Caught it.
My Knight smiled as he went crash into the couch. “You are about as subtle as fireworks, Bouncy.”
Oh.
“They’re pretty.” Climbing onto my Knight’s lap, I smiled and kissed his cheek because he already said I could. No take-backs on kisses. “And sparkly and they have lots of colors.”
“Just like you.” My Knight pretended to be a Daddy and kissed my cheek as he wrapped his arms around me. “So, little firework, should we go play or read books?”
Hmm…
“Grown-ups who take care of Little people and help them and watch out for them sometimes get tired. Are you tired?” He looked like a very tired Daddy. “It’s not grown-up late but we had a big day. Big. Big. Yes.”
Because the invaders had stayed a long, long time.
My not-yet-Daddy groaned. “Don’t even think about saying the word nap or I’ll fall asleep and then we’ll be up half the night.”
I liked naps.
“Don’t give me that face either.” Not-Yet-Daddy glared. “We’re not taking a nap at eight o’clock at night.”
Naps were always good for Littles.
Everyone knew that.
“You were a good helper.” Petting his head made him sigh. “Good helpers get snuggles.”
“We can have an early bedtime to make up for all our hard work.” Daddy chuckled when I groaned and collapsed into him. “See? That’s a good plan.”
“Naps and bedtime aren’t the same.” I sighed and groaned and put on my pouting face before I sat up. “I like naps… and cuddles.”
Ugh.
He smiled.
Smiling should be good but my Knight’s made me worry about getting my way.
“You’re cute when you do that.” He was already a Daddy… a sneaky one because he was cute when he smiled. “I might not know much about being a Daddy, but common sense says letting you take a nap this late would be a terrible idea.”
Aw nuts.
“But I like naps.” And he’d cuddle me and rub my head and say nice things to me. “We’ll just do a tiny one.”
His big hug said I wasn’t going to get my nap.
“What’s the best thing about a nap?” My Knight asked good questions for someone who said they weren’t a Daddy yet.
I’d show him.
Wrapping his arms around me, I made one rub my back. “Rubs and cuddles are on my best things list. And… And you’d make soft, happy sounds and tell me I’ve been a good boy.”
Oh, he did that good too.
“You’ve been a very good boy today and you worked hard.
” My Knight made the right sounds and was a good cuddler.
“That’s why we’re going to do something fun and relaxing together.
We can do all the best parts of naptime if we go read a book and then find some cartoons to watch once you’re in your jammies. ”
Oh.
“I get bubbles before jammies. That’s the rules.” I needed to tell him the rules since he’d never had a Little before. “And I have toys.”
Making the shush face, I put my finger to my lips. “That’s why I don’t let people use the upstairs tiny bathroom. It’s just mine.”
“That makes sense.” My Knight kissed my head again. “The one down here is very nice for guests. You don’t have to let them upstairs.”
“You put gates up and defended the castle.” My Knight was a good protector. “That was a good idea.”
He was going to make a good Daddy.
My Knight grinned. “That worked out pretty good and kept the troublemakers on the first floor.”
Because my Knight made the upstairs gate hard to reach and Axel almost fell.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
He was naughty and didn’t like being told no.
“I’ve got an idea about some long-term options that are permanently installed, but I’ll figure that out before the next family event.
” Daddy did a big laugh as I groaned and hid against his shoulder.
“We both know they’re going to invade again, so we’ll plan ahead next time and family-proof the stairs. ”
“I’m going to practice saying no.” Maybe? “You can help me say no.”
My Knight kissed my head. “We will talk about that this week and make limits about family stuff. Once we have limits, I’ll know what to do.”
Oh.
“You know limits?” What else did Not-Yet-Daddy know?
He snickered.
He liked that question.
“Yes, I know limits. I haven’t been a Daddy before but I’ve seen Littles and I’ve been involved in the BDSM community.
” Daddy made more happy sounds when I hummed and tried to be curious without asking questions.
“I don’t mind talking about that part, but right off the bat I’ll tell you that I’m on the caretaker side of the spectrum so this isn’t something I’m worried about. ”
Whew.
I knew he was special but he was big-big special.
“Are you a happy spanking caretaker or a naughty boy spanking one?” That was important to know… but what else? “Oh, do you like playing a tiny bit or a big lots?”
Daddy made a thinking sound. “Well, I’m a happy spanking caretaker, but if you needed naughty boy spanks I could do that. I like rewards, though.”
Yay.
Funishments.
“I’ve never played with a Little but I think I’m going to like playing because I already enjoy things like coloring and watching cartoons and reading stories.”
Whew.
“Those are important stuff.” Sitting up again, I petted his head to let him know he was a good boy. “You’re going to be a very good Daddy.”
His chest jerked but he didn’t laugh out loud that time. “You sound very confident about that.”
“I know stuff.” I shrugged and didn’t look sneaky at all. “And you’re smart.”
Ha.
He liked that too.
“Thank you.” Daddy kissed my head. “This smart Daddy is going to say it’s book time.”
Hmm.
“I get more cuddles?” I had to know before I moved. I was getting cuddles now and he wouldn’t be big mean and make me move. “You said I got cuddles.”
I wasn’t going to let him forget.
He gave me a happy smile that time. “Yes. We’re going to sit upstairs in your big chair or on your bed and cuddle while I read you a book. Then we can play or you can get a bubble bath.”
Hmm.
“I got bubble bath questions.” Yes. Before I moved because I was happy on his lap. “What kind of limits do you got with bubbles?”
Did he know they were important?
Daddy’s eyebrows went up. “I feel like that’s a trick question. I haven’t even taken you on a date.”
He was so silly.
“You brought me meat at lunch and helped me make dinner.” I shrugged. “That’s two.”
He got a thinking frown. “This is not leading into our third date.”
Was he big serious about that?
“Second?” Yes. “Compromise. Yes.”
Daddy tried to look serious, but he laughed and shook his head like I was silly. “Are you comfortable with me giving you a bubble bath, cutie?”
Of course.
“It’s a Daddy job.” Oh well. “Unless you have limits.”
Did Daddy have bathtime limits?
“Do you got bath limits?” Hmm? “What are your Daddy kind of limits?”
He groaned.
Ha.
I was gonna get a bubble bath.
“This is a hard conversation for a first date, cutie.”
“Second.” I was helpful and didn’t let Daddy forget our compromise.
“Fine. Second.” Daddy made big sounds but he kept rubbing my back so I didn’t worry. Some Daddies were just dramatic. Everybody knew that. “I’m…”
Worried.
“You already did the hard stuff.” Baths were happy. “Me and bubbles and toys. That’s fun easy stuff.”
“I’m worried about making the wrong choices and upsetting you.” Daddy took a big breath and let it out slow. “I’m also worried about saying things wrong. I’ve never had a Little before.”
Littles were easy.
He’d see.
But I had a worrier Daddy, so I petted his head and made soft sounds. “I use my stoplight if I don’t like something and I’ll tell you what I like. I’m good at talking.”
He laughed. “Okay, yes. You’re a good talker.”
No more worries for Daddy.
“You’re a nice person and a helper. You’re nice to the rude pizza lady who glares. You’re not messy and you didn’t yell at me for being upset this morning.” Or for buying a silly grill.
So many pieces.
Ugh.
No thinking about pieces.
“You’re cute.” Ha. That made Daddy smile. “And you saved me.”
Daddy tried to look serious. “What’s something wrong with me?”
Ugh.
“You worry.” Lots. “And…”
This game was so hard.
“And you only let me have one brownie. One. That was very sad.”
He rolled his eyes. “They were huge and you’d already eaten a ridiculous amount of food.”
Maybe.
“Still sad.” I pouted good. “I need more brownies. Hmm? Bath or brownies? What should we do?”
Ha.
I was so smart.
He wanted to laugh but he tried to look bored. “If those are my only two options, I guess a bubble bath.”
Ya.
“But what are your bathtime limits?” I needed his limits because he was important to me.
“You’re going to tell me if my limits bump into yours.” Daddy was very serious. “This isn’t bumper cars.”
“No bumps. Got it.” Daddy worried about bumps. “I’m bad at family bumps but I’m good at new people bumps.”
No.
No.
No.
Red.
I could do it.
Daddy was still frowning but his face slowly went soft like the good Play-Doh not the yucky kind. “So while I’m new and I’m still learning your limits you’ll be good at telling me if there’s a problem, but if I get to be family that’s when I have to be careful.”
He was so smart… it was amazing.
“You’re so smart.” Cheek kisses. “You got it so fast.”
He was going to be a great Daddy.
“Lord have mercy.” Daddy groaned one more time before he smiled. “Thank you for explaining that. I know what to worry about now.”
I was helpful too.
“Welcome.” More cheek kisses. “Now we need your limits. No forgetting.”
“I’m happy to help you get a bath but seeing you naked might make me think of grown-up things not Daddy things.” He shrugged when I giggled. “I don’t know what will happen.”
Naked things happened in bubble baths.
“Toys go up. Toys go down.” I shrugged. “No worries.”
Daddy scrunched his face up. “I’m not sure that was as helpful as you seemed to think.”
It was cute and he was trying super big hard not to smile. “I’m your good helper.”
Kiss.
Kiss.
Smile.
“I think you’re a mischievous little firecracker.” He had his serious face on but his smiling one was sneaking out. “Let’s go read a book and I’ll worry about bathtime later.”
Yay.
Jumping off Daddy’s lap, I grabbed his hands and tugged-tugged-tugged to help him stand up. “Then you can worry about bedtime.”
Ha. Ha.
I was a good helper about worries too.