“I’ll get with you later, Aria.” I finish closing the door.
Caroline stands nervously beside my desk, looking at the mess of charts and couple photos of my daughter and me. I hope that doesn’t cause her to consider my age.
She doesn’t say anything about the contents of my desk. “You said “we” in the texts. Will Bennett be here?”
“Yes. He’s finishing up with a patient. Did you like the gift?”
She clasps her hands together. “About that…you don’t—”
“Shhh.” I tap my finger to her plump lips. “The condition of you coming here was that you’re ready to be ours. I told you what that means to me. I will provide anything you need, or even want.”
“That’s sweet but you don’t have to.”
Pulling her hips against mine, I scrunch the back of her dress up then let my fingers caress her bare ass. She chose one of the thongs. Nice. “I don’t think you quite understand what I’m saying.”
I kiss her lips, refreshing myself on the way her kisses make me feel invincible. I wait for her to lift her gaze to mine. “Baby, Bennett and I talked, we will take care of all of your needs. We’ll show you everything from the beauty of the world to the intimacy of what we create in our little corner of it. We’ll explore anything you want, anything money can buy, and anything it can’t, because you’re ours.”
She sets her hand on my wrist but still holds uncertainty in her eyes.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” I don’t want to freak her out, but I don’t know how else to convey my need to care for her. Bennett’s experiencing the same thing, but I need to narrow this down to what I can back up…my role.
She nods but worries her lower lip. What’s unsaid between us is too big. She needs me. She needs to be cared for. I can feel it in my core. I was going to wait but my heart blurts out its truth.
“Baby, I’m going to be your daddy.”
“But—”
“No buts. I’ll take care of you in every way.”
A knock on the door halts our words. We don’t move or even blink.
“Say yes.”
“I want you to be my…Daddy. It’s just so fast.” Her eyes lifting to meet mine solidify our connection, but why’d she put the damn qualifier?
Am I pushing her too fast? Just because I have a sense of familiarity with her doesn’t mean she thinks we’re soulmates. There’s no way to walk back from telling someone you’re their daddy, though.
I stroke her cheek, kiss her forehead, then let Bennett in.
He glances between us, must sense that something changed, then glares at me. “Did something go wrong?”
“We’re good, right Baby?” Please say it…please confirm that you’re mine. My pulse escalates. I trail a hand down her arm.
“Yes, Daddy.” She smiles. Her words relieve the tension in my body so quickly I slump. And breathe, apparently even my lungs had tensed. But with her assurance, my cock is rock hard.
“Well damn, what does that make me?”
She licks her lips. “Is there something you’d like me to call you?”
“I’m gonna think on that.” He strides over and wraps her in an embrace. “The important thing is that you showed up.”
While they hug, I finally notice she’s wearing the new shoes.
“Nice flip-flops.” I wink, and opt against a joke about both kinds of thongs. “Does your other gift fit as nicely?”
“Fuck yeah, I almost forgot.” Bennett raises his eyebrows and waits for her to nod before he lifts her dress. Dropping to his knees, his inhale is anything but subtle.
Caroline rolls her eyes, gathers her dress from his hands, and shares a laugh with me while he drags his finger over the silky material covering her mound. “This is the perfect way to break up my day. Any chance you’re ready to let us explore more of you?”