Can you trust him with it?
“Eden, if you don’t answer me in the next fifteen seconds then I’m busting down this door, got me?”
His voice was filled with concern. And that cinched it. Maybe this was a stupid idea. Maybe she’d regret it horribly in the morning but right now she had the chance to experience something she never thought she would.
She wasn’t going to be a coward.
“I’m coming,” she called out. “Don’t you dare break my door, you Neanderthal.” She pushed her chair over and unlocked the door. It slid back into a cavity in the wall, making it easier for her to get through. Not that she usually bothered pulling it shut, let alone locking it.
She’d never had a reason to before.
Sure enough, Zeke was looming in the doorway. He braced his hands against the frame, glaring down at her.
“Why didn’t you answer me?” he barked.
“I was getting ready for bed.” She’d taken a nightgown into the bathroom with her. Luckily the dress she’d worn to the wedding didn’t have a zip or buttons so it had just slid off and she’d slipped into the nightgown.
He raised an eyebrow. “You couldn’t answer me while getting ready?” He looked frustrated as he stared down at her.
She shrugged. “Maybe I was brushing my teeth.”
He reached down and grasped hold of her chin, raising her face. “Don’t lie to me, Eden. You don’t have to tell me everything, but you can’t ever lie. Understand?”
“And will you do the same?” she whispered back.
“Yes.”
He leaned in, his face a few inches from hers. She stared into his smoke-colored eyes.
“I would have helped you get ready for bed. I could have helped you brush your teeth and wash your face. That’s kind of my job as a daddy.”
A daddy. Not her daddy.
A jab of hurt crushed her and she reminded herself that this night didn’t mean anything. She had to guard herself against getting hurt. Just because he said all the right things didn’t mean he would enjoy the reality.
“I don’t. . .I’m not ready for that.”
Was that a flash of disappointment in his eyes?
“See, I told you I wasn’t going to be any good at this. I don’t even know how to bring out that part of me. I don’t know how to relax and let go. I don’t know how to do anything.” Frustration filled her.
He placed a finger over her lips, surprising her into silence then he removed his finger and replaced it with his mouth. His lips were soft against hers. Not probing. The kiss was sweet and over far too soon. And yet when he pulled back, her head felt like it was spinning, her body tingling.
“Everything will be all right, little one. Sometimes, Littles need coaxing to come out. They need to know they’re in a safe place with someone who will take care of them. It doesn’t make you a failure for not being able to release that side of yourself.”
Shit. How could he read her so easily?
“It’s not always like flipping a switch. Sometimes you can do things, like let Daddy give you a bath to relax.”
“I don’t. . .I’m not. . .” She’d told him she wasn’t ready to be naked in front of him.
“It’s okay, I know you’re not there. Yet. There are other things we can do, don’t worry. I’m just giving you some examples. Other times, it can be putting on different clothes. Taking off your adult clothes, and putting on some little girl ones. What’s your favorite animal?”
“Um, wombats.” She couldn’t follow the change in topics.
“Wombats? Really?”
“Yeah, Macca showed me some pictures of them. They’re really cute. He said if he ever goes back to Australia, he’ll bring me a toy one.”