“And that’s why I love you, daddy.”
My eyes widen. We haven’t said I love you, yet.
Livia suddenly claps both hands over her mouth and turns red. “Oh, my god. I didn’t mean to say it out loud.”
I put the knife down and wrap my arms around her, kissing her cheeks and trying to get her to look at me. I can’t stop smiling. “You love me, bunny-girl? You love daddy?”
Livia starts laughing and hides her face in my chest. “I guess the secret’s out.”
I put my lips against her ear and whisper, “Don’t ever let it be a secret. Daddy loves you, too.”
Livia looks up at me with big eyes. “You do?”
With my arms around her, I settle back against the counter, her body against mine. I breathe in her warm, sweet scent. These are the moments that mean so much to me. Private, quiet moments with my girl when I can feel her love and happiness, and it makes mine complete.
I plant a kiss on her plush, pink lips. “Every bit of you, and I plan on telling you every day. I love my bunny.”
Livia’s eyes shine. “I love my daddy.”
Epilogue
Trey
Six months later
It’s late afternoon on New Year’s Eve and Dom and I are the last trainers in the gym. We’re closing early today so there are only a handful of members working out.
And our girls, Peaches and Bunny, also known as Amelia and Livia.
They’re supposed to be working out, anyway. Mostly they’re chatting over their exercises and reps as if they have all the time in the world, which they don’t. Dom and I are standing by the water fountain, discussing the big changes that have happened this year. Dom Fitness has grown more and more popular. It’s rarely quiet in the gym so this is our time to chill. We’ve earned it.
The girls, though…
I pause what I’m saying to frown at Livia, which would normally be all it takes to pull her up and make her focus. Except it doesn’t work because she’s so deep into her conversation with Dom’s girlfriend and sub to notice my expression.
Livia’s asked me to be stricter with her now that we’ve grown closer and she trusts me, including at the gym. She’s asked questions about what it feels like for me to lay down the law, a bright, interested expression on her face. So far I haven’t needed to punish her for anything as she’s followed all her rules that we agreed upon together. Maybe today’s the day that that changes.
As Dom and I talk, each with an eye on our subs, we notice how they’ve stopped doing their exercises altogether in favor of talking.
Dom calls across the gym to his girlfriend, “Peaches, baby. Have you forgotten that the gym is closing early tonight for New Year’s?”
Livia and Amelia jump and glance at the clock.
“Sorry, daddy!” Amelia calls back, and they head over to the stationary bikes together for the last thirty minutes of their workouts. I relax back against the wall, because one reminder to focus is all Livia ever needs.
Except that a few minutes later, the two of them are so deep in conversation that their pedaling has slowed right down until they’re barely moving.
Dom’s noticed, too. “Sorry, Trey. My girl’s distracting yours.”
“I think it’s mutual distraction,” I observe, eyes narrowed as Livia stops to exclaim over something Amelia has said. It’s not that they’re not allowed to talk, but they’re supposed to be working out, as well. Dom might be louder and shoutier than me and look scary with his flashing eyes and dark beard, but he’s actually a big softie on the inside. I’m the one who gets told he has a lovely smile, and I look sweet, but then I’m strict as hell.
Let’s just say I don’t have a thing for good girls because I like to be disobeyed.
I push away from the wall and make my way over to my sub, eyes still narrowed. Livia asked me to be stricter with her and if that’s what she wants, that’s what she’s going to get.
“Livia. Care to explain to me what you’re doing right now?” I ask.
Her eyes snap to mine and the smile drops from her face. “Uh…uh…I was getting on with my workout because the gym is closing early tonight. That’s what I was supposed to be doing, anyway. Sorry, daddy.”
She puts on her best good-girl voice as she says sorry, daddy. Usually that would make me melt and have me smiling at her. Actually, it does make me melt, on the inside, but not enough.
Today, I want more.
“How many times were you reminded to get on with your workout?”
She starts pedaling fast. By her side, so does Amelia, who’s shooting furtive looks at her own dom. “I’ll get on with it now, I swear.”