Looking up at him and being so close to him, feeling the heat from his body makes me feel so small and feminine. More than anything I feel safe, which is not an emotion I’m at all accustomed to.
“Remember who makes the rules around here?” his deep voice somehow finding another octave lower.
“Yes, but—“
“No, but’s,” he jumps in, the rough tip of his index finger finding the bottom of my lips before sliding along my jawline then across my cheek before finally coming to rest over my lips, gently silencing me…for now. “You’re mine in all ways. Understand?”
“I…I understand, but that doesn’t mean I completely agree.”
“My little Jewel,” he says, shaking his head from side to side. “This isn’t open for debate. You saw how I tried to stay away and how I made you tell me you wanted this, that you were ready.”
“I am ready, it’s just…”
He cocks his head waiting for me to finish.
“For starters, I don’t want to feel indebted to you,” I begin, immediately wishing I could reel the words back in.
“Indebted?” he snaps with a look like someone just put a foul smelling substance in front of his face, his head pulling back. “Everything inside me wants to take care of you, protect you, spoil you. You’re not indebted to me. As your Daddy, I’m the one who’s indebted to you. It’s my job to take care of you in all ways, and guide you.”
“What if I don’t need guiding?”
“In that very, very, very unlikely event then I’m your biggest supporter, your cheerleader so to speak, although that word doesn’t exactly fit me.”
“No it doesn’t,” I laugh immediately, imagining him in some varsity cheerleading outfit, completely full of glee with a big letter affixed to a sweater, matched with a pair of short shorts.
“See how easy this is? You just let Daddy make all the decisions and everything will be fine.”
“It’s still embarrassing, Jake. Doing what we just did…here at the coffee shop with customers inside. People talk.”
“Let them. Why would either one of us ever be embarrassed by what we do, especially when we’re together. Little one, I want to pick you up right now and hoist you up on my shoulders and carry you through the streets as my very own one-woman parade, celebrating what we did, not trying to hide it. You belong to me, angel. And you will give your body, your mind, your soul to me how, when, and where I want it. Are we clear?”
Something about his words make my skin cover in goosebumps and then go cold before turning red hot. I feel like agreeing with him sets back the women’s movement one hundred years, yet deep down inside I know he’s right. I trust him, not just as a man and for his own decisions, but to help me with my own.
“Yes,” I nod.
“Yes…?” He taps a foot waiting on me.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“That’s more like it,” he says, the tension he was holding in his face, shoulders, and neck disappearing when I give him the right answer. “You’re a good girl. Daddy’s good little girl,” he praises.
Leaning in closer he kisses my forehead and then his hands find my hips, jerking my body into his. “Are we clear on everything? Do you truly understand what it means to be mine?”
I nod, realizing this isn’t just a huge deal for me. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Very good, my little Jewel,” he says, giving me a big bear hug. What seems like a full minute or two passes, not that I’m counting as I would be happy for time to stand still right now, and then he continues. “Are there any other fears, worries, or wants that you’re holding back? Anything that’s bothering you that we need to talk about so you feel good about everything after I walk out that door and go back to my shop for the day?”
“You’re leaving?”
He smirks. “I don’t think you realize just how long Daddy was in-between your luscious thighs.”
I slap him on the chest but also can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, there’s one thing,” I say playfully, but then the terror of the reality of this moment comes crashing back and the seriousness of my next words sinks in.
“You can tell your Daddy anything, precious.”
“Anything?”
“Anything and everything. That’s why I’m your Daddy. I’m not here to judge I’m here to help you in all ways.”